sedimentary
Fossilized Shark Tooth
Otodus obliquus (Mackerel Shark)
Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to cream with white matrix; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root; Structure: Tricuspid with a central cusp and lateral denticles; Bone-like porosity in root.
- Hardness
- 5 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan to cream with white matrix
- Luster
- Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to cream with white matrix; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root; Structure: Tricuspid with a central cusp and lateral denticles; Bone-like porosity in root.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization within marine sedimentary layers during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs (approximately 40 to 60 million years ago) in the Tethys Ocean.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational collections, jewelry (pendants), and historical displays. Significant for paleontological study of prehistoric marine ecosystems.
Geological facts
Otodus obliquus is often considered the ancestor of the Megalodon. These teeth are frequently found embedded in large chunks of phosphate or limestone matrix known as 'bone beds'.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its triangular shape, smooth enamel, and distinctive side cusplets. Commonly found in phosphate mines in Morocco (Khouribga) and coastal regions with exposed Eocene strata.
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