fossil

Fossil Shark Tooth

Chondrichthyes (class); likely Lamniformes (order) fossilized in Apatite/Hydroxyapatite

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to creamy white, Luster: vitreous to dull, Structure: pointed crown with a distinct root base, Cleavage: none

Identified July 6, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to creamy white, Luster: vitreous to dull, Structure: pointed crown with a distinct root base, Cleavage: none

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals like silica or phosphate over millions of years; typically Eocene to Miocene epochs.

Uses & applications

Primarily for collecting, educational study, and occasionally used in jewelry such as wire-wrapped pendants.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are the most common shark fossils because sharks lose thousands of teeth throughout their lives, and the hard enamel resists decay better than their cartilaginous skeletons.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for a pointed, triangular shape with a dense, smooth crown and a porous-looking root. Common in sedimentary coastal deposits like those in Florida, Maryland, and North Africa.

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