Identification of geographical origins of exotic wood using $^{87}$Sr/$^{86}$Sr isotope ratios as a forensic tool

ORAL

Abstract

Exotic rosewood species of the Amazon rainforest have desirable properties that have made them valuable for commercial use. Unsustainable logging has resulted in overexploitation. In effort to protect the endangered species they are illegal to trade and controlled by the Washington Convention (CITES). Despite united efforts of international trade officials to prevent trade and export of the species it is still an ongoing business. The goal of this study is to use variations in isotopic composition of strontium to assist in the identification of the geographical origin of wood samples. This can be used to target illegally logged wood and aid the effort to prevent the trade. The $^{87}$Sr/$^{86}$Sr isotope amount ratios in 25 samples have been analyzed using thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The samples were identified by their species and country of origin. The result of this study is the most recent expansion of a database consisting of more than 250 samples with ratios between 0.704174(4) and 0.790396(3) with typical external reproducibilities of the order 10 ppm. Of the different geographical locations represented by the set of samples many exhibit distinct isotopic fingerprints that facilitate the strontium isotopic abundances as a forensic tool.

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Authors

  • Amanda Kiilerich

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

  • Kerri Miller

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Univ. Calgary, Canada

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • Michael Wieser

    University of Calgary, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada, Associate Professor, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Univ. Calgary, Canada, None