Rock Identifier
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Chondrichthyes (Class) fossilized tooth) — fossil
fossil

Fossilized Shark Tooth

Chondrichthyes (Class) fossilized tooth

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness typically around 5 on the Mohs scale due to mineralization (often fluorapatite or quartz replacement); color ranges from dark grey, black, brown to blue depending on the sediment it was fossilized in; luster is dull to vitreous;…

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Physical properties

Hardness typically around 5 on the Mohs scale due to mineralization (often fluorapatite or quartz replacement); color ranges from dark grey, black, brown to blue depending on the sediment it was fossilized in; luster is dull to vitreous; no crystal structure as it is organic-derived phosphatic material replaced by minerals.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization where minerals replace the original biological material of the shark tooth over millions of years, commonly found in marine sedimentary rock layers ranging from the Cretaceous period to the Neogene.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in educational exhibits, lapidary jewelry, and as a popular item for fossil collectors.

Geological facts

Sharks lose thousands of teeth in their lifetimes, making teeth the most common type of shark fossil found globally.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinct triangular shape, enameloid sheen, and characteristic root or serrations. Often found in riverbeds, coastal cliffs, and quarries associated with ancient marine deposits.

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Bioclastic limestone, composed chiefly of calcite (CaCO₃)

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Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with Calcitic Brachiopod inclusion

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