fossil
Elephant Molar Fragment (Fossil)
Proboscidea (Elephantidae) molar fragment
Hardness: 5 (enamel is harder than bone); Color: brownish-grey, tan, and olive; Luster: waxy to vitreous on enamel ridges; Structure: distinct laminated plates of enamel, dentine, and cementum.
- Hardness
- 5 (enamel is harder than bone)
- Color
- brownish-grey, tan, and olive
- Luster
- waxy to vitreous on enamel ridges
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (enamel is harder than bone); Color: brownish-grey, tan, and olive; Luster: waxy to vitreous on enamel ridges; Structure: distinct laminated plates of enamel, dentine, and cementum.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the permineralization of elephant or mammoth teeth, typically dating from the Pleistocene epoch (approx. 2.6 million to 11,000 years ago). These are commonly found in alluvial deposits where ancient river systems preserved skeletal remains.
Uses & applications
Scientific study, educational collections, and jewelry making (specifically for knife handles or beads when stabilized).
Geological facts
Elephant teeth are highly specialized; they grow in sets and move forward like a conveyor belt. The ridges seen here were originally used to grind tough vegetation.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the parallel, wavy plates of enamel which are much harder and shinier than the surrounding rock or bone. Often found in riverbeds, coastal erosion zones, or areas with rich Pleistocene deposits like Florida or the North Sea.
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