fossil

Fossilized Shark Tooth

Eocene Lamniformes (Mackerel Shark clade)

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Elongated conical crown with a narrow root structure, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture when broken)

Identified July 6, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to beige, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Elongated conical crown with a narrow root structure, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture when broken)

Formation & geological history

Formed via permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals like hydroxyapatite and quartz; these specimens are often Eocene in age (approx. 50 million years old) found in Northern Africa.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for educational collecting, decorative displays, and inexpensive jewelry components.

Geological facts

Sharks can shed tens of thousands of teeth throughout their lifetime; because they lack a bony skeleton, their teeth are often the only parts of the animal that fossilize.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for the distinct enameloid crown and the porous root base. Commonly found in phosphate mines or washed up on coastal sedimentary deposits.

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