fossil
Fossilized Sand Tiger Shark Tooth
Carcharias sp. (likely Carcharias taurus or Striatolamia)
Hardness: Approx 5 (apatite); Color: Tan to light brown; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel; Shape: Slender, curved, needle-like with a distinct root base.
- Hardness
- Approx 5 (apatite)
- Color
- Tan to light brown
- Luster
- Vitreous/shiny enamel
Identified More fossil →
Explore Fossilized Sand Tiger Shark Tooth in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: Approx 5 (apatite); Color: Tan to light brown; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel; Shape: Slender, curved, needle-like with a distinct root base.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where hydroxyapatite in the tooth is replaced by minerals from surrounding sediment. Most common specimens are from the Eocene to Miocene epochs (approx. 5 to 50 million years old).
Uses & applications
Primarily for educational specimens, paleontological study, personal collections, and occasionally used in jewelry such as wire-wrapped pendants.
Geological facts
Sand tiger sharks lose thousands of teeth throughout their lifetime, which is why they are one of the most common vertebrate fossils found worldwide. They use these narrow teeth to snag slippery fish.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its long, narrow, pointed shape and often 'hooked' appearance. Commonly found along shorelines in Maryland (Calvert Cliffs), North Carolina, and Florida by sifting through sand and shell debris.
More like this
Other fossil specimens
Sedimentary Outcrop (Sandstone/Shale)
Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Fossiliferous Calcilutite / Biomicrite
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Biogenic Limestone with Brachiopod/Crinoid fragments
sedimentary
Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone
Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix
fossil
Fossiliferous Limestone
Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems
Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils
sedimentary