Through two cases involving a murder and drug investigation, this paper will demonstrate how pedological, mineralogical and chemical investigations involving sandy materials recovered from shoes, have been critical in developing reliable forensic information on sandy materials, from landscape to microscopic scales were used as evidence in Australia.

Sufficient descriptive and mineralogical (X-ray powder diffraction) data was acquired on all questioned sandy samples collected from shoes and control samples collected from sand dunes associated with both crime scenes. This information was used in both the murder and drug investigation to determine the major similarities and differences between the questioned samples and control samples using no, limited, moderate, moderately strong, strong, very strong or extremely strong “Categories of Comparability” of being from a single location.

Murder case: Two suspects denied ever being on the beach in South Australia where a body was found. Questioned sandy material samples were recovered from the shoes of the suspects. Control samples were collected at the crime scene on the beach where the body was found. Based on morphological and mineralogical examination the questioned samples recovered from both the suspect’s shoes have an extremely strong degree of comparability to control sites at the crime scene. A jury found the suspect guilty of murder.

Drug case: Five men were arrested after locating 486 cannabis plants being grown on sand dunes in 2 locations in dense Mallee scrubland near Coonalpyn, South Australia. They were arrested at their homes across Adelaide where 6 pairs of shoes with lambswool covered soles were seized. Based on morphological and mineralogical examination the questioned samples recovered from 6 pairs of suspect’s shoes have an extremely strong degree of comparability to the control surface soils collected at the 2 adjacent outdoor cannabis plantations. A jury found all suspects guilty.