sedimentary
Fossil Shark Tooth
Carcharodon or Carcharias fossil (Vertebrate Fossil)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale); Color: Cream to white (partially mineralized); Luster: Sub-vitreous to pearly; Structure: Characteristic triangular crown with a distinct root; Composition: Phosphate minerals like hydroxylapatite.
- Hardness
- 5 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Cream to white (partially mineralized)
- Luster
- Sub-vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale); Color: Cream to white (partially mineralized); Luster: Sub-vitreous to pearly; Structure: Characteristic triangular crown with a distinct root; Composition: Phosphate minerals like hydroxylapatite.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the process of permineralization where organic bone material is replaced by minerals over millions of years after being submerged in sediment. Typically dates from the Miocene to Pleistocene epochs.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for fossil collecting, educational purposes, and as a component in jewelry (pendants).
Geological facts
Sharks can shed tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime. Because their skeletons are cartilage, the teeth are often the only parts of the shark that fossilize.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for the triangular blade and the thick, dense 'root' area. Commonly found along coastal beach shorelines, riverbeds, or in phosphate mines in regions like Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.
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