Weathered Fossil Shark Tooth (fragmentary)
Carcharocles cf. megalodon (eroded tip) or Otodus sp. (eroded crown fragment) • Vertebrate body fossil (tooth); mineralized chondrichthyan remains
Geological Period
Likely Neogene to Paleogene (typically Miocene or Eocene)
Estimated Age
Approx. 5 to 50 million years
Preservation Type
Permineralization with significant secondary water-wear (aeolian or hydraulic erosion)
Condition Assessment
Poor; heavily eroded, missing the root, distal tip, and enameloid detail.
Taxonomic Classification
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Chondrichthyes, Order: Lamniformes, Family: Likely Otodontidae or Lamnidae
Morphological Description
Specimen is an oblong, dark, mineralized fragment exhibiting a smooth, water-worn texture. It shows a tapered conical geometry consistent with a shark tooth crown that has lost its serrations and root structure due to hydraulic transport (tumbled in surf/riverbed).
Rock Matrix
None present; specimen is an isolated find, likely recovered from phosphate-rich lag deposits or beach gravel.
Formation & Location
Commonly found in the Bone Valley Formation (Florida), Calvert Formation (Maryland), or South Carolina coastal phosphate beds.
Size & Dimensions
Approximately 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm; small for a Megalodon but typical for common Neogene lamniform species.
Value & Rarity
Estimated Market Value
$1.00 - $5.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$0.00 (Typically sold in bulk lots of 'beach finds')
Rarity Assessment
Common; heavily worn fragments are ubiquitous in fossiliferous coastal and riverine deposits.
Scientific Significance
Low; provides evidence of marine paleoenvironments and chondrichthyan distribution but lacks diagnostic characters for precise evolutionary study.
Preparation Recommendations
No further preparation needed; rinse in fresh water to remove salts and store in a dry, padded container.
Notable Features
The specimen serves as a classic example of 'beach-worn' fossilization where the diagnostic features are obscured by natural tumbling.