fossil

Fossilized Shark Tooth

Chondrichthyes (Class) fossilized tooth

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;…

Identified August 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

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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Crinoid Stem Fossil in Matrix

Phylum Echinodermata, Class Crinoidea

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Sedimentary Outcrop (Sandstone/Shale)

Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)

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Chert with Fossil Brachiopod

Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with Calcitic Brachiopod inclusion

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Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone

Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix

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Fossiliferous Limestone

Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section

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Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems

Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils

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