Rock Identifier
Fossilized tooth or tooth fragment (Indeterminate vertebrate tooth; possibly a fossil shark tooth (Carcharodon/Carcharocles)) — fossil
fossil

Fossilized tooth or tooth fragment

Indeterminate vertebrate tooth; possibly a fossil shark tooth (Carcharodon/Carcharocles)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brown, partially mineralized, pointed specimen with a smoother enamel-like surface and darker porous material; apparent hardness roughly 4–6 Mohs, but identification requires close inspection. The shape and texture are consistent with a fossil tooth fragment, though the image is not definitive.

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Physical properties

Brown, partially mineralized, pointed specimen with a smoother enamel-like surface and darker porous material; apparent hardness roughly 4–6 Mohs, but identification requires close inspection. The shape and texture are consistent with a fossil tooth fragment, though the image is not definitive.

Formation & geological history

Formed when a tooth was buried in sediment and gradually mineralized during diagenesis, commonly over thousands to millions of years. Geological age and species cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Primarily a fossil-collecting or educational specimen; complete shark teeth may be used in jewelry and display. Value depends strongly on completeness, species, size, provenance, and preservation.

Geological facts

Fossil teeth often retain dense enamel while the root or dentine becomes porous and brown through mineral replacement. Shark teeth are frequently found in marine sedimentary deposits and coastal formations.

Field identification & locations

Look for enamel, a distinct crown/root boundary, serrations, and bilateral symmetry; a broken tooth may lack these features. Common sources include marine sediments in Florida, the Carolinas, Morocco, and Indonesia.

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