fossil

Shark Tooth Fossil

Vertebrate fossilized tooth

Hardness: 5 on the Mohs scale (due to mineral replacement by apatite/phosphate minerals). Color ranges from amber, brown, black, to tan depending on the minerals in the sediment where it was buried. Luster is typically vitreous to dull. Crystal structure is microcrystalline.

Identified August 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization, where minerals carried by groundwater replace the original organic material of the tooth over thousands to millions of years in marine sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Collected as a natural specimen, used in jewelry making, and studied by paleontologists to understand ancient marine ecosystems.

Geological facts

Sharks lose thousands of teeth in their lifetimes, making their teeth some of the most common fossils found in marine sedimentary rock layers worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinctive triangular or pointed shape, often with serrated edges and a root portion. Commonly found in riverbeds, coastal cliffs, and areas with exposed Cretaceous or Cenozoic marine strata.