Why is a beach shark tooth dark?

Minerals filled the buried tooth over hundreds to a few thousand years. Iron, manganese, and other elements caused its color to change.

Why are shark teeth common finds?

Sharks continually replace their teeth. One sandbar shark has around 35,000 teeth over its lifetime.

When is a good time to look?

Look on beaches at low tide. Receding water erodes sediment and exposes fossil shark teeth.

May a visitor keep a found tooth?

The cited collection note applies to Florida. This site prints no Surfside Beach collection rule.

Shark teeth

Recognize a fossil shark tooth

Fossil shark tooth identification uses clues such as mineral color changes to help you recognize a fossil tooth. During fossilization, organic material decays and minerals fill some space.

Sources checked August 23, 2026: Florida Museum of Natural History shark tooth fossilization page (opens in a new tab), Florida Museum of Natural History fossil shark tooth facts (opens in a new tab), and NOAA Fisheries shark facts (opens in a new tab).

Three choices

Recognize a fossil tooth

Look for a dark color. Organic material decays, and minerals fill some space over hundreds to a few thousand years.

Know why teeth are common finds

One sandbar shark has around 35,000 teeth over its lifetime.

Search the low-tide line at beaches

Look along the low-tide line at beaches.

What this page covers

This record gives general fossil shark tooth recognition and search guidance. The cited collection note applies to Florida.

It does not report a Surfside Beach find, local abundance, local species, collection rule, legal allowance, value claim, or phone number.

Source: Florida Museum of Natural History shark tooth fossilization page (opens in a new tab) · Source: Florida Museum of Natural History fossil shark tooth facts (opens in a new tab) · Source: NOAA Fisheries shark facts (opens in a new tab)

Shark tooth questions

Why is a beach shark tooth dark?: Minerals filled the buried tooth over hundreds to a few thousand years. Iron, manganese, and other elements caused its color to change.; Source: Florida Museum of Natural History shark tooth fossilization page (opens in a new tab)
Why are shark teeth common finds?: Sharks continually replace their teeth. One sandbar shark has around 35,000 teeth over its lifetime.; Source: NOAA Fisheries shark facts (opens in a new tab)
When is a good time to look?: Look on beaches at low tide. Receding water erodes sediment and exposes fossil shark teeth.; Source: Florida Museum of Natural History fossil shark tooth facts (opens in a new tab)
May a visitor keep a found tooth?: The cited collection note applies to Florida. This site prints no Surfside Beach collection rule.; Source: Florida Museum of Natural History fossil shark tooth facts (opens in a new tab)