Rock Identifier
Fossil shark tooth (Shark tooth fossil; likely a fossilized lamniform shark tooth, identification uncertain from the photo) — fossil
fossil

Fossil shark tooth

Shark tooth fossil; likely a fossilized lamniform shark tooth, identification uncertain from the photo

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Dark gray-brown, glossy, triangular crown with a broad base; hardness and specific gravity cannot be determined from the image. Fossil teeth are chiefly calcium-phosphate apatite, with mineral replacement during burial.

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Physical properties

Dark gray-brown, glossy, triangular crown with a broad base; hardness and specific gravity cannot be determined from the image. Fossil teeth are chiefly calcium-phosphate apatite, with mineral replacement during burial.

Formation & geological history

Formed as a shark tooth was buried in marine sediment and fossilized through mineralization over geologic time; the age and species cannot be established from this view.

Uses & applications

Primarily a collectible and educational specimen; fossils are not generally used as industrial materials.

Geological facts

Sharks continually replace teeth, so fossil teeth are common in marine sediments and can be found long after the animal’s death.

Field identification & locations

The pointed triangular crown and apparent basal root are consistent with a fossil tooth, but a clear view of both sides and the root is needed for reliable identification. Fossil shark teeth occur in ancient marine deposits worldwide.

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