Rock Identifier
Fossil Shark Tooth (Elasmobranchii (Class) fossil - possibly Odontaspididae family) — fossil
fossil

Fossil Shark Tooth

Elasmobranchii (Class) fossil - possibly Odontaspididae family

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to creamy beige, Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, Structure: Conical with a broken root base, Composition: Hydroxyapatite (fossilized phosphate)

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to creamy beige, Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, Structure: Conical with a broken root base, Composition: Hydroxyapatite (fossilized phosphate)

Formation & geological history

Formed via permineralization where minerals replace organic bone/enamel over millions of years. This specimen likely dates from the Cretaceous or Paleogene periods (approx. 40-70 million years old) in a marine environment.

Uses & applications

Collation values, educational tools, and occasionally used in jewelry (wire-wrapped pendants or necklaces).

Geological facts

Sharks can lose thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Because their skeletons are cartilage and don't fossilize well, teeth are the most common shark fossils found worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for the smooth, hard enamel coating and the tell-tale triangular or conical shape. Commonly found on beaches or in riverbeds where ancient marine sediments are eroding.

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