Rock Identifier
Shark Tooth Fossil (Carcharocles megalodon or similar fossilized elasmobranch tooth) — fossil
fossil

Shark Tooth Fossil

Carcharocles megalodon or similar fossilized elasmobranch tooth

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale (due to mineralization); Color: Grey, black, or brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Composition: Calcium phosphate replaced by silica or other minerals during fossilization.

Hardness
5 on Mohs scale (due to mineralization)
Color
Grey, black, or brown
Luster
Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale (due to mineralization); Color: Grey, black, or brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Composition: Calcium phosphate replaced by silica or other minerals during fossilization.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization where buried teeth are slowly replaced by minerals in marine sediment over millions of years, typically dating from the Miocene to Pliocene epochs.

Uses & applications

Valued primarily as a collectible specimen, in educational displays, and sometimes crafted into jewelry.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are shed in the thousands by a single shark during its lifetime, making teeth the most common shark fossil found worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Found in marine sedimentary rock layers, riverbeds, and coastal erosion sites; identified by its triangular shape, serrated edges, and distinct root structure.

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