fossil
Fossilized Shark Tooth
Elasmobranchii dentition (calcium phosphate / hydroxyapatite)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Triangular blade with a distinct root base and enameloid covering.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Triangular blade with a distinct root base and enameloid covering.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the process of permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals from surrounding marine sediments. Most specimens range from the Cretaceous to the Neogene periods (approx. 2 million to 100 million years old).
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry (pendants), museum displays, and as a popular collector's item for amateur paleontologists.
Geological facts
Sharks lose thousands of teeth throughout their lives, which is why they are some of the most common fossils found. The color of a fossilized tooth is determined by the minerals in the sediment where it was buried, not the original color of the tooth.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its sharp triangular shape and hard enamel surface. Commonly found along coastal beaches (especially Florida and the Carolinas in the US) or in limestone quarries that were once ancient seabed.
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