fossil

Fossil Shark Tooth

Chondrichthyes tooth fossil

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale (for fossilized enamel/dentin); Color: Dark brown to black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous/mineralized replacement; Specific gravity: 2.7 - 3.0

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale (for fossilized enamel/dentin)
Color: Dark brown to black
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified August 6, 2026More fossil →

Explore Fossil Shark Tooth in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale (for fossilized enamel/dentin); Color: Dark brown to black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous/mineralized replacement; Specific gravity: 2.7 - 3.0

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization or fossilization, where minerals replace the original organic material of shark teeth over millions of years, typically dating from the Cretaceous to Neogene periods.

Uses & applications

Collected by fossil enthusiasts, used in educational displays, and fashioned into jewelry.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are shed in the thousands by a single shark over its lifetime, making teeth one of the most common vertebrate fossils found worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Found frequently in sedimentary rock layers, riverbeds, and sandy beaches where ancient marine deposits are eroded; identifiable by its triangular shape, serrated edges (in some species), and distinct root structure.