Why a Worn Megalodon Tooth Can Still Be an Incredible Fossil

In the past, before anyone could place a Megalodon tooth on a table, take a photo of it, or look at its serrated edge, the tooth was doing something much more gruelling. The tooth belonged to the largest predatory fish ever live in the oceans of Earth. The tooth then disappeared. That’s it for the majority of items. For a fossil this could be the beginning.

Fossil Driven’s fossils have been through a geological experience which is not measured in years or decades instead, millions of years. This trip can alter your perception of the fossil. It’s no longer an intriguing object. You’re seeing physical evidence of an entire world that vanished long ago.

Image credit: fossildriven.com

The First Stop: An Ancient Ocean

Look at the Megalodon Molars that are found in West Java, Indonesia. At around 20 million years ago, the regions of dry land that we are seeing today were warm marine environments. Megalodons, along with a variety of other marine species, inhabited the oceans of the past.

Megalodon, like modern sharks present, continuously produces teeth and then loses them. Some of those teeth were later buried in sediments from the sea. If the conditions are suitable burial could shield them long enough to allow fossilization.

Then geology took over

The next chapter went on slowly. Sediments started to build up. Minerals interacted and buried material. The effects of geological forces changed the landscape and submerged environments eventually became part our land. This is why shoppers immediately notice when looking at megalodon teeth on sale: genuine fossil teeth can differ in color dramatically.

Indonesian specimens found in West Java’s Miocene Bentang Formation may appear in shades of tan or gold and brown or red. Blue, blue, and. They also have several shades in one tooth. The surrounding mineral environment contributes to the look a specimen takes on during its lengthy burial. It is impossible to produce the final product in large quantities through natural methods. Each fossil has experienced an evolution in geology.

Discovery Begins Another chapter

Then, a fossil which remained hidden for thousands of years is found. The identification and documentation of the fossil are now important.

Collectors do not just focus on the appearance of megalodon teeth as they hunt for them. The information regarding the area and the age of geological formation, preservation, repairs and restoration can assist in understanding what collectors are actually studying.

Natural wear can’t erase a fossil’s past. A worn or damaged tip, an imperfect tooth, or even a missing serration may be just a small part of the process that happened to this specimen prior to and following burial. Most important is to portray the specimen with accuracy.

Fossil Driven has more than 13 years of experience in fossil identification and works with well-established suppliers and fossil hunter. If possible, fossils are described and examined with all the relevant details.

Eventually, the Fossil is found by someone’s hands.

People buy real Fossils for many reasons. Some collect carefully categorize collections. Some individuals want a dramatic piece to provoke discussion. A child who is interested in the prehistoric animals may receive the first fossil of its kind which sparks an interest in paleontology.

Megalodon’s teeth provide a method to enter the world. Dinosaur teeth, trilobites and ammonites are among numerous fossils that are a part of the Earth’s past.

The best part of knowing it’s real

A replica is able to reproduce the general shape of a prehistoric tooth. It is not able to recreate its history. The original Megalodon tooth was found in an animal from the past, found an environment completely different from our current environment it was resistant to geological changes, remained buried for decades, and was later discovered.

This is why authenticity is essential. A fossil is the tangible evidence of a journey that’s been difficult to imagine. The display case is the latest stop in its journey.

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