sedimentary
Conglomerate with Fossilized Shark Teeth
Clastic sedimentary rock (Conglomerate) containing Elasmobranchii remains
Hardness: Variable (matix is 3-6 Mohs, teeth are 5-6 Mohs); Color: Tan, grey, and dark brown matrix with black or grey enameled teeth; Luster: Dull/Earthy matrix with Vitreous (glassy) fossils; Structure: Clastic with poorly sorted rounded fragments.
- Hardness
- Variable (matix is 3-6 Mohs, teeth are 5-6 Mohs)
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy matrix with Vitreous (glassy) fossils
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Physical properties
Hardness: Variable (matix is 3-6 Mohs, teeth are 5-6 Mohs); Color: Tan, grey, and dark brown matrix with black or grey enameled teeth; Luster: Dull/Earthy matrix with Vitreous (glassy) fossils; Structure: Clastic with poorly sorted rounded fragments.
Formation & geological history
Formed in a high-energy marine or coastal environment where sediments and biological remains were quickly deposited and lithified. Many such specimens date to the Cretaceous or Paleogene periods (approx. 50-100 million years old).
Uses & applications
Primary use is for educational purposes, paleontological study, and as a fossil collector's specimen. Larger conglomerate deposits are used as aggregate in construction.
Geological facts
This specimen is specific to 'bone beds' where ocean currents naturally aggregate heavy materials like teeth and pebbles in underwater depressions before they are buried and turned into stone.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for smooth, dark, glossy shapes (teeth) embedded within a rough, multi-colored stony matrix. Commonly found in riverbeds or coastal cliffs in regions like the Atlantic Coastal Plain (e.g., Maryland, North Carolina).
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