sedimentary
Tiger Shark Fossil Tooth
Galeocerdo cuvier (fossilized)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to tannish-gray, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Bio-apatite (mineralized enameloid), Sharp serrated edges on a curved blade.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to tannish-gray, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Bio-apatite (mineralized enameloid), Sharp serrated edges on a curved blade.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals in marine sediments; typically dates from the Miocene to Pleistocene epochs (approx. 23 million to 11,000 years ago).
Uses & applications
Collectible items, jewelry (pendants), and used for paleontological research on ancient marine ecosystems.
Geological facts
Shark teeth are the most common shark fossils because their skeletons are made of cartilage which rarely fossilizes, while teeth are made of hard calcium phosphate. A single tiger shark can produce thousands of teeth in its lifetime.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the notched 'cockscomb' shape and heavy serrations. Commonly found along the Atlantic coast of the US (especially Florida and the Carolinas) and in phosphate mines.
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