Rock Identifier
Fossilized Shark Teeth in Matrix (Cretaceous Chondrichthyes (Shark) remains in Sedimentary Matrix) — fossil
fossil

Fossilized Shark Teeth in Matrix

Cretaceous Chondrichthyes (Shark) remains in Sedimentary Matrix

Hardness: 5 (teeth), 2-4 (matrix); Color: Dark grey to brown teeth in tan/orange sandy matrix; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous to microcrystalline hydroxyapatite and quartz

Hardness
5 (teeth), 2-4 (matrix)
Color
Dark grey to brown teeth in tan/orange sandy matrix
Luster
Vitreous to dull
Identified More fossil
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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 (teeth), 2-4 (matrix); Color: Dark grey to brown teeth in tan/orange sandy matrix; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous to microcrystalline hydroxyapatite and quartz

Formation & geological history

Marine sedimentary formation from the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 66 to 100 million years ago), formed by the accumulation of biological remains on a shallow sea floor subsequently covered by silt and sand.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for scientific study (paleontology), educational purposes, and as a popular item for collectors and fossil enthusiasts.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are the most common fossil because sharks shed thousands of teeth throughout their lives and their cartilaginous skeletons rarely fossilize, leaving only the hard teeth behind.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the characteristic triangular or blade-like shapes embedded in softer rock. Commonly found in riverbeds and coastal regions of the Southeastern United States and Northern Africa.