fossil
Mosasaur Tooth
Mosasaurus sp.
Hardness: 5-6 (apatite/enamel), Color: Brown to blackish, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Conical, curved tooth with enamel coating
Identified More fossil →
Explore Mosasaur Tooth in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 (apatite/enamel), Color: Brown to blackish, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Conical, curved tooth with enamel coating
Formation & geological history
Formed during the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 70 to 66 million years ago) through the process of permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals in marine sediment environments
Uses & applications
Used primarily in fossil collecting, educational displays, and occasionally in jewelry or decorative items
Geological facts
Mosasaurs were gigantic marine lizards that ruled the oceans at the end of the dinosaur era, growing up to 50 feet in length and featuring a second set of teeth in their upper palate to prevent prey from escaping
Field identification & locations
Commonly found in marine sedimentary deposits, particularly in Morocco, North America, and parts of Europe; collectors look for well-preserved enamel and distinct curved tips
More like this
Other fossil specimens
Crinoid Stem Fossil in Matrix
Phylum Echinodermata, Class Crinoidea
fossil
Sedimentary Outcrop (Sandstone/Shale)
Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)
sedimentary
Chert with Fossil Brachiopod
Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with Calcitic Brachiopod inclusion
sedimentary
Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone
Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix
fossil
Fossiliferous Limestone
Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems
Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils
sedimentary