fossil

Mammoth Tooth

Mammuthus tooth fossil

Hardness: Varies (fossilized enamel is very hard, Mohs 5-6, while dentin and cementum can be softer); Color: Typically dark brown, black, grey, or bluish due to mineralization; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Complex series of alternating plates of enamel, dentin, and cementum.

Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified August 1, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed during the Pleistocene epoch (Ice Age), approximately 10,000 to 2.6 million years ago. These teeth fossilized through perimineralization where minerals in groundwater replaced the original organic material.

Uses & applications

Collected by fossil enthusiasts, used in educational displays, and sometimes cut for scrimshaw or unique jewelry components.

Geological facts

Mammoths had highly specialized molars featuring flat, ridged surfaces designed for grinding tough grasses and tundra vegetation. An adult mammoth would go through six sets of teeth in its lifetime.

Field identification & locations

Easily identifiable by the distinctive parallel ridges or lamellae (plates) on the chewing surface. Commonly found in riverbeds, gravel pits, and coastal erosion areas in North America, Europe, and Siberia.