Rock Identifier
Shark Tooth Fossil (Chondrichthyes fossil) — fossil
fossil

Shark Tooth Fossil

Chondrichthyes fossil

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 5-5.5 (enamel), dark brown to black color, vitreous to dull luster, composed primarily of fluorapatite.

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Physical properties

Mohs hardness 5-5.5 (enamel), dark brown to black color, vitreous to dull luster, composed primarily of fluorapatite.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization where organic tooth material is replaced by minerals over millions of years, typically dating from the Cretaceous to Neogene periods.

Uses & applications

Valued by fossil collectors, used in educational displays, and sometimes crafted into jewelry.

Geological facts

Sharks shed thousands of teeth during their lifetimes, making their teeth among the most common vertebrate fossils found worldwide.

Field identification & locations

Found in marine sedimentary deposits, river gravels, and coastal erosion sites; identified by distinctive triangular shape and glossy enameloid surface.