fossil
Sand Tiger Shark Tooth (Fossil)
Carcharias taurus (fossilized dentin/enameloid)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cream, beige, to tan, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Elongated central cusp with smaller lateral cusplets, Cleavage: None
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cream, beige, to tan, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Elongated central cusp with smaller lateral cusplets, Cleavage: None
Formation & geological history
Formed via permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals (phosphates/calcite). This specimen likely dates from the Miocene to Pliocene epochs (approx. 5-20 million years ago).
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational collections, jewelry (necklaces), and as a collector's item.
Geological facts
Sharks can lose tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Unlike bone, shark teeth are often the only part of the shark to fossilize because the rest of the skeleton is made of cartilage.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the distinct 'T' shape and the presence of small 'side teeth' (cusplets) near the root. Frequently found on beaches in Florida, the Carolinas, and Morocco by sifting through sand at the tide line.
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