The facts
What fossil Shark Tooth actually is
Mineralogically, fossil Shark Tooth is fossil vertebrate tooth, mineralised — Fluorapatite, Ca₅(PO₄)₃F, replacing original bioapatite, crystallising in the cryptocrystalline apatite system.
The colour is caused by colour is inherited from the burial sediment: iron gives brown and orange, manganese and organic carbon give black and blue-grey. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.62–1.64, and the specific gravity sits near 2.8–3.2; cleavage is none.
Where fossil Shark Tooth comes from
The recognised sources are Bone Valley Formation, Polk County, Florida, USA, Lee Creek Mine, Aurora, North Carolina, USA and Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How fossil Shark Tooth is treated
Genuine teeth are untreated, but repair and restoration is rampant in large Otodus megalodon specimens — chipped serrations and broken roots are rebuilt in filled resin and painted to match, and composite teeth assembled from two fragments are common. Examine under UV and look for colour breaks across the join.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What fossil Shark Tooth is confused with
The usual confusions are Restored and composite teeth, Resin casts and Fossil ray dental plates.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.62–1.64 and specific gravity 2.8–3.2 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What fossil Shark Tooth is used for
Fossil Shark Tooth is bought by mineral collecting, jewellery and decorative objects — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 4–5; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What fossil Shark Tooth costs
Indicative pricing for fossil Shark Tooth is Small common teeth 2–20 USD; large undamaged megalodon teeth 300–10,000 USD.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is fossil Shark Tooth treated, and how?
Genuine teeth are untreated, but repair and restoration is rampant in large Otodus megalodon specimens — chipped serrations and broken roots are rebuilt in filled resin and painted to match, and composite teeth assembled from two fragments are common. Examine under UV and look for colour breaks across the join.
Where does fossil Shark Tooth come from?
Bone Valley Formation, Polk County, Florida, USA, Lee Creek Mine, Aurora, North Carolina, USA and Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is fossil Shark Tooth hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4–5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does fossil Shark Tooth cost?
Indicatively Small common teeth 2–20 USD; large undamaged megalodon teeth 300–10,000 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is fossil Shark Tooth confused with?
Most often Restored and composite teeth, Resin casts and Fossil ray dental plates. A refractive index of 1.62–1.64 and a specific gravity near 2.8–3.2 separate it quickly.
What is fossil Shark Tooth used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for fossil shark tooth?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about fossil shark tooth