fossil

Fossilized Shark Tooth (Fragment)

Elasmobranchii gen. et sp. indet. (Calcium Phosphate / Apatite fossil)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 3.5-5 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark brown to shiny jet black; Luster: Vitreous to sub-metallic enameloid surface; Structure: Dense bone/dentine composition replaced by minerals like pyrite or apatite; Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 3
Color: Dark brown to shiny jet black
Luster: Vitreous to sub-metallic enameloid surface

Identified July 24, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization when shark teeth sank into anaerobic marine sediment during the Miocene or Eocene epochs (approx. 5 to 50 million years ago), where iron and manganese minerals replaced the original porous organic structure.

Uses & applications

Popular collector specimens, educational displays, and crafted into jewelry items such as wire-wrapped pendants.

Geological facts

Shark skeletons are made of cartilage which rarely fossilizes, but their hard enamel-coated teeth preserve exceptionally well. A single shark can shed tens of thousands of teeth in its lifetime.

Field identification & locations

Identified by the distinct shiny black enamel crown, smooth curved contours, and dense weight compared to ordinary rock. Frequently found along coastal beaches and riverbeds in Florida, North Carolina, and Maryland.