Rock Identifier
Fossilized shark tooth (Fossil shark tooth; exact shark species cannot be determined from this image) — fossil
fossil

Fossilized shark tooth

Fossil shark tooth; exact shark species cannot be determined from this image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small, worn tooth with a broad crown and narrow root, tan-brown coloration, and a dull, mineralized surface. Fossil teeth are commonly composed of apatite-rich enamel and dentine; hardness and crystal structure vary with preservation and replacement minerals.

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Physical properties

Small, worn tooth with a broad crown and narrow root, tan-brown coloration, and a dull, mineralized surface. Fossil teeth are commonly composed of apatite-rich enamel and dentine; hardness and crystal structure vary with preservation and replacement minerals.

Formation & geological history

Formed as a biological tooth, then buried in sediment and mineralized during fossilization. Its age and original depositional environment cannot be established from the image.

Uses & applications

Primarily collected as a fossil; shark teeth are also used in jewelry and educational displays.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are continually shed, so fossil beds may contain abundant isolated teeth.

Field identification & locations

The tapered root and crown suggest a tooth, but wear obscures identifying features such as serrations. Fossil shark teeth occur in marine sediments worldwide; species identification needs clearer views and locality information.

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