fossil

Polished fossil tooth, likely shark tooth

Fossilized selachian tooth; possible sand tiger shark (Carcharias sp.) or related lamniform

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brown, glossy enamel crown with a darker, porous fossilized root and rounded side cusplets. Original tooth apatite is commonly replaced or stabilized by iron-bearing minerals; hardness about 5 on Mohs, with conchoidal-to-uneven fracture and no cleavage.

Identified September 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

A marine vertebrate fossil formed when a shed tooth was rapidly buried in sediment and mineralized during diagenesis, commonly in Miocene–Pliocene coastal deposits. The layered texture and cusplets support a fossil tooth rather than a rock.

Uses & applications

Primarily a collector specimen, jewelry component, or educational fossil; not generally used industrially. Value depends on species, completeness, size, color, provenance, and preparation quality.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are continuously shed throughout life, making them among the most abundant vertebrate fossils. The visible crown consists of enamel, while the root contains vascular dentine and pulp-cavity structures.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the enamel crown, bilateral tooth shape, root texture, and cutting edge; shark teeth often show lateral cusplets, while ray teeth are broader and crushing-adapted. Common sources include Morocco, Indonesia, the southeastern United States, and European marine sediments.