sedimentary
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Partial)
Elasmobranchii (fossil tooth fragment)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Bio-apatite (calcium phosphate). Note: This is an incomplete specimen, likely a root plus a fragment of the blade or a smaller lateral tooth.
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull, Structure: Bio-apatite (calcium phosphate)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Bio-apatite (calcium phosphate). Note: This is an incomplete specimen, likely a root plus a fragment of the blade or a smaller lateral tooth.
Formation & geological history
Formed during the Cenozoic era. Occurs when shark teeth are buried in seafloor sediments; minerals like phosphate replace the organic structure over millions of years. The location in Virginia (Coastal Plain) is famous for Miocene and Pliocene marine deposits.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational purposes, personal collections, and as a hobbyist find.
Geological facts
Virginia's Coastal Plain is part of the Salisbury Embayment, where fossils of megalodon and various extinct mackerel sharks are commonly found in formations like the Yorktown and Eastover.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for distinct patterns of phosphate mineralization and symmetrical shapes in riverbeds or coastal cliffs. Common in the James and York River areas of Virginia.
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