sedimentary
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Basal Bone)
Otodus sp. (Mineralized Hydroxyapatite)
Hardness: 5; Color: Cream, tan, or yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (as apatite); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: Approx 3.0
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Cream, tan, or yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5; Color: Cream, tan, or yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (as apatite); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: Approx 3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals like silica or apatite in marine sedimentary layers, typically from the Paleocene or Eocene epochs (approx. 50-60 million years ago).
Uses & applications
Primarily for paleontological study, educational displays, and personal fossil collections. Often used in wire-wrapped jewelry or as curiosities.
Geological facts
Shark skeletons are cartilaginous and rarely fossilize, but their enamel-hard teeth are abundant in the fossil record. A single shark can lose thousands of teeth in its lifetime.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its slender, tapering conical shape and smooth, hard enameloid surface. Often found in phosphate mines, coastal riverbeds, and sedimentary exposures in Morocco and the SE United States.
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