fossil

Mammoth Tooth

Mammuthus primigenius (Tooth fragment)

Identified August 1, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Composed primarily of dentin, enamel, and cementum, mineralized via permineralization (often hydroxyapatite). Hardness around 5 on the Mohs scale. Dark brown to black coloration due to mineral absorption in sediments. Distinct series of parallel, transverse enamel ridges (lamellae) designed for grinding tough vegetation.

Formation & geological history

Formed during the Pleistocene epoch (Ice Age, roughly 2.6 million to 10,000 years ago). Organic tooth material was slowly replaced by minerals over thousands of years while buried in alluvial, river, or permafrost deposits.

Uses & applications

Valuable collector specimen, educational display, and object of paleontological research.

Geological facts

Mammoths had six sets of teeth over their lifetime, replacing them sequentially as old ones wore down from grinding abrasive grasses.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its heavy weight, dark color, and distinct ridged 'washboard' pattern on the occlusal surface. Frequently found by river gravels, eroding shorelines, and construction sites in North America, Europe, and Siberia.

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