Rock Identifier
Fossil shark tooth (Shark tooth; species cannot be determined from the image) — fossil
fossil

Fossil shark tooth

Shark tooth; species cannot be determined from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small, dark, glossy tooth with a narrow pointed crown and broad root. Fossil teeth are commonly composed of mineralized dentine and enameloid; hardness varies with preservation, and the original biological structure is not a crystal mineral.

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Physical properties

Small, dark, glossy tooth with a narrow pointed crown and broad root. Fossil teeth are commonly composed of mineralized dentine and enameloid; hardness varies with preservation, and the original biological structure is not a crystal mineral.

Formation & geological history

Formed by a shark, then buried in marine sediment and fossilized as minerals replaced or filled its tissues. Its age and depositional setting cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Collected and displayed; fossils also help researchers study ancient marine ecosystems and shark evolution.

Geological facts

Sharks continually replace their teeth, so fossil teeth are abundant in many marine deposits.

Field identification & locations

The pointed crown and two-lobed root are consistent with a fossil shark tooth, but the image is too small and lacks detail for species identification. Fossil shark teeth occur in marine sediments worldwide; avoid abrasive cleaning.

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