fossil
Fossil Shark Tooth
Phylum Chordata, Class Chondrichthyes (Possibly Cretalamna or Otodus)
Hardness: 5 (Enamel); Color: Cream, tan, or light brown; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Triangular or peg-like crown with a bony root
- Hardness
- 5 (Enamel)
- Color
- Cream, tan, or light brown
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Enamel); Color: Cream, tan, or light brown; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Triangular or peg-like crown with a bony root
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where hydroxyapatite in the tooth is replaced or stained by surrounding minerals in marine sediments; typically Cretaceous to Paleogene period
Uses & applications
Scientific study, educational collecting, and unique jewelry items
Geological facts
Sharks can lose tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime, making their teeth the most common vertebrate fossils found worldwide
Field identification & locations
Identify by the distinct enamel-covered crown and porous root structure; commonly found in riverbeds and coastal areas with exposed sedimentary layers
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