sedimentary

Fossilized Megalodon Tooth Fragment

Otodus megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon fossil)

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Varying shades of gray, brown, or black depending on mineral replacement. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Dense enameloid covering a porous osteodentine root. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture on enamel).

Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified March 26, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization, where minerals crystalize inside the pores of the organic material. This specimen likely dates to the Miocene or Pliocene epochs (approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago), typically found in marine sedimentary layers.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a collector's specimen and for paleontological study. Fragmentary pieces are sometimes used in wire-wrapped jewelry or as decorative 'pocket stones' for nature enthusiasts.

Geological facts

Megalodons were the largest sharks to ever live, reaching lengths of up to 50-60 feet. Unlike most of their skeleton, which was cartilage and rarely fossilized, their teeth were bone-like and preserved easily in the fossil record.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for a distinct serrated edge (though often worn) and a dark, glossy 'V' shape of enamel known as the bourlette against a coarser root material. Found commonly in blackwater rivers and coastal beaches of the US East Coast (SC, GA, FL).

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