fossil

Mammoth molar tooth fossil

Mammuthus sp.; fossilized molar with enamel plates and dentine

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brown, highly ridged chewing surface with repeated enamel lamellae; fossilized dentine is typically Mohs 3–5, with earthy to dull luster and irregular fracture. The specimen appears mineral-replaced or heavily mineralized rather than a rock in the strict classification.

Identified August 20, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from a Pleistocene mammoth tooth, likely 2.6 million–11,700 years old, preserved in sediments where groundwater mineralized the porous dentine. Mammoth fossils commonly occur in permafrost, river gravels, loess, and cave deposits across Eurasia and North America.

Uses & applications

Primarily a collectible, educational specimen, or display fossil; intact teeth may be used in paleontology research. It has little jewelry or industrial use compared with mammoth ivory, which is usually sourced from tusks.

Geological facts

The parallel enamel plates were adapted for grinding grasses and are characteristic of mammoth molars. Wear patterns can help identify species, age, diet, and environmental conditions.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by the dense stack of transverse enamel ridges, contrasting brown dentine, and tooth-like crown/root shape; elephant and mastodon teeth have different ridge patterns. Common sources include Siberia, Alaska, Yukon, and the central United States.