Rock Identifier
Fossil Shark Tooth (Odontaspididae (Sand Tiger Shark family)) — fossil
fossil

Fossil Shark Tooth

Odontaspididae (Sand Tiger Shark family)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: Approx 5 (enameloid); Color: Tan, beige, or brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Pointed cusp with a distinct root base; Composition: Hydroxyapatite replaced by minerals during permineralization.

Hardness
Approx 5 (enameloid)
Color
Tan, beige, or brown
Luster
Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties

Hardness: Approx 5 (enameloid); Color: Tan, beige, or brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Pointed cusp with a distinct root base; Composition: Hydroxyapatite replaced by minerals during permineralization.

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization in marine sedimentary environments where tooth minerals were replaced by groundwater minerals over millions of years, typically dating from the Cretaceous to the Neogene periods.

Uses & applications

Educational purposes, museum displays, jewelry (pendants), and personal fossil collections.

Geological facts

Sharks can lose tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Unlike bone, shark skeletons are cartilage and rarely fossilize, making teeth the most common evidence of prehistoric shark life.

Field identification & locations

Commonly found in coastal regions, phosphate mines, and riverbeds. Identification is based on the slender, dagger-like shape and the presence of a bulbous or bifurcated root.

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