sedimentary

Fossil Shark Tooth

Carcharodon or Carcharias fossil (Vertebrate Fossil)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale); Color: Cream to white (partially mineralized); Luster: Sub-vitreous to pearly; Structure: Characteristic triangular crown with a distinct root; Composition: Phosphate minerals like hydroxylapatite.

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale)
Color: Cream to white (partially mineralized)
Luster: Sub-vitreous to pearly

Identified April 6, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Fossil Shark Tooth in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization where organic bone material is replaced by minerals over millions of years after being submerged in sediment. Typically dates from the Miocene to Pleistocene epochs.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for fossil collecting, educational purposes, and as a component in jewelry (pendants).

Geological facts

Sharks can shed tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Because their skeletons are cartilage, the teeth are often the only parts of the shark that fossilize.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for the triangular blade and the thick, dense 'root' area. Commonly found along coastal beach shorelines, riverbeds, or in phosphate mines in regions like Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.