Collecting Fossil Shark Teeth: What You Should Know
When pricing megalodon teeth or any other fossil shark tooth, it all comes down to location, colour, quality and size. There are many other factors involved as well, like, does the tooth have any repair or restoration? Is it a pathological tooth or a Hubbell?
Measuring fossil shark teeth properly
In order to properly measure a fossil shark tooth, you must start from the very tip of the tooth and measure diagonally to the left or right root lobe, whichever is longer. A tooth is not measured from the tip directly vertical. The measurement will be able to decide how much is a megalodon tooth worth.
Location
The location happens to be one of the biggest factors when pricing a shark tooth. Some of the locations may produce more shark teeth than others. Some locations may also be closed to collecting, meaning that there will be no more fresh teeth coming out of the specific location. A great example of the same is Aurora, North Carolina. There is a phosphate mine there named Lee Creek which is now closed to collecting.
Each and every location may even produce more of a specific tooth.
Colour
To most collectors, colour is the topmost priority. Colour plays a very important role when it comes to pricing a megalodon tooth. Certain locations may even produce a variety of colours, some being much more common than others.
Even though they are all from the very same location, each tooth is priced differently because of its colour. The classic blue enamel and white root is quite common, while something such as the orange tooth is pretty rare.
Size
Size plays a crucial role when it comes to pricing any kind of shark tooth. The bigger their size gets, the rarer they become. When it comes to megalodon teeth, the average size and the most common size found happen to be ranging around 5 inches or less. Anything over 5 inches begins to get rare and pricey. Especially, when the overall condition is pristine. This size tooth is not extremely rare, but they are not very common either. When talking about the 6-inch range, that is when things begin to get really rare, and if you are hoping to get your hands on a 7-inch tooth, remember that only a handful of them have been found.
Repair vs. Restoration
Repaired teeth and restored teeth are two different things and both may have an effect on the price of a tooth.
Repair
Repaired teeth happen to have pieces that were broken off and glued back into place.
Restoration
Teeth that have been restored usually have more work put into them and often also have parts reconstructed to make them look good again.
Author’s Bio: The author is an avid blogger. This article is about megalodon teeth.
