fossil

Fossilized Shark Tooth (Drum Fish Tooth/Pavement Tooth)

Sparidae or Sciaenidae (Crushing plate dental fossil)

Hardness: ~3.5-5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cream to light gray, Luster: Dull to pearly/enamel-like, Structure: Rounded to hexagonal button shape with a textured crushing surface.

Hardness: ~3

Identified July 19, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: ~3.5-5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cream to light gray, Luster: Dull to pearly/enamel-like, Structure: Rounded to hexagonal button shape with a textured crushing surface.

Formation & geological history

Formed from the mineralized dental plates of prehistoric boney fish or rays, typically from the Cretaceous to Neogene periods. These were used to crush shells of crustaceans and mollusks in shallow marine environments.

Uses & applications

Paleontological study and amateur fossil collecting. Small specimens are often used in educational kits or as curiosity pieces.

Geological facts

These 'button' teeth are often mistaken for shark teeth but actually come from fish with 'pavement teeth' designed for a durophagous (shell-eating) diet. They are highly resistant to erosion due to their dense enamel coating.

Field identification & locations

Look for a diagnostic 'pitted' or honeycomb-like texture on one side and a smoother root base on the other. Commonly found in riverbeds and coastal sediment sites like Peace River, Florida or the Maryland Calvert Cliffs.

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