fossil

Shark Tooth Fossil

Otodus sp. (possibly Cretalamna)

Hardness: 5 (enameloid), Color: Tan to cream-colored, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Triangular blade with a distinct porous root base, Composition: Calcium Phosphate (Apatite)

Identified July 6, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 (enameloid), Color: Tan to cream-colored, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Triangular blade with a distinct porous root base, Composition: Calcium Phosphate (Apatite)

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization where minerals replace organic bone/tooth tissue over millions of years. This specimen likely dates to the Eocene epoch (approx. 50 million years ago) or late Cretaceous, often found in marine sedimentary layers.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for educational purposes, paleontological study, personal collections, and occasionally wire-wrapped and used in jewelry.

Geological facts

Sharks can lose tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Modern shark teeth are white; fossilized teeth change color based on the minerals in the sediment where they were buried (iron turns them red/orange, phosphate turns them black).

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for the distinct serration-free blade and the darker, porous root structure in coastal sedimentary deposits or riverbeds. Common in Morocco and the US Atlantic coastal plain.