Rock Identifier
Fossilized tooth, likely mammoth or mastodon molar fragment (Proboscidean molar enamel and dentin; Mammuthus or Mammut sp. (tentative)) — fossil
fossil

Fossilized tooth, likely mammoth or mastodon molar fragment

Proboscidean molar enamel and dentin; Mammuthus or Mammut sp. (tentative)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness is roughly 5–6 for enamel and 2–3 for dentin; brown to cream, with glossy enamel bands and layered/lamellar structure. The ridged plates and contrasting dark crown are characteristic of an elephant-relative tooth, though the fragment is insufficient for confident species identification.

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Physical properties

Hardness is roughly 5–6 for enamel and 2–3 for dentin; brown to cream, with glossy enamel bands and layered/lamellar structure. The ridged plates and contrasting dark crown are characteristic of an elephant-relative tooth, though the fragment is insufficient for confident species identification.

Formation & geological history

Formed biologically rather than as a rock: enamel and dentin developed in a continuously replacing molar, then mineralized during burial, commonly by silica, calcite, or iron oxides. Proboscideans lived from the Miocene through the Pleistocene; exact age and identity require locality and specimen analysis.

Uses & applications

Primarily a paleontological/collectible specimen; fossil ivory or tooth material may be used decoratively, but legal restrictions can apply, especially to mammoth or mastodon remains.

Geological facts

Mammoth molars generally have numerous closely spaced enamel plates, while mastodon teeth tend to show more pronounced rounded cusps. This appears to be a small worn fragment rather than a complete tooth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by alternating enamel ridges and softer dentin, visible growth layers, and irregular fossil mineralization; it is not a mineral crystal. Common sources include Alaska, Siberia, and Pleistocene deposits of North America, but provenance is essential.

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