sedimentary
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Otodus)
Otodus sp. (calcium phosphate/hydroxylellite)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs), Color: Charcoal black to dark gray, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Biological mineral replacement, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs), Color: Charcoal black to dark gray, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Biological mineral replacement, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where minerals replace organic bone/enamel over millions of years; common in Miocence and Pliocene marine deposits (approx. 5-50 million years old).
Uses & applications
Educational collections, jewelry (pendants), and scientific research into paleo-marine ecosystems.
Geological facts
Otodus is an extinct genus of large mackerel sharks and is considered an ancestor to the Megalodon. Black coloration often comes from phosphate-rich environments during fossilization.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the characteristic triangular shape, serrations (if present), and the preserved root. Commonly found in Florida riverbeds (Bone Valley) and coastal areas.
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