mineral

Fossilized Shark Tooth (Otodus obliquus)

Otodus obliquus (Mineral: Fluorapatite)

Hardness: 5; Color: Tan to reddish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to sub-glassy; Structure: Dense crown with a distinct, often porous bony root; specific gravity: ~3.1.

Hardness: 5
Color: Tan to reddish-brown
Luster: Vitreous to sub-glassy

Identified June 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5; Color: Tan to reddish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to sub-glassy; Structure: Dense crown with a distinct, often porous bony root; specific gravity: ~3.1.

Formation & geological history

Formed via permineralization during the Paleocene to Eocene epochs (approx. 40-60 million years ago) in marine sedimentary environments where hydroxyapatite in the tooth was replaced by minerals like fluorapatite.

Uses & applications

Highly valued for education, fossil collecting, and occasionally used in jewelry or as decorative display pieces.

Geological facts

Otodus obliquus was a massive prehistoric shark and is considered an ancestor to the famous Megalodon. These teeth are often found in huge quantities in the phosphate mines of Morocco.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its triangular crown and large, distinct root with small side cusps (though cusps may be worn). Commonly found in sedimentary deposits in Morocco, the USA (Chesapeake Bay), and Europe.

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