Guide to Help Purchase Rooted Moroccan Theropod Teeth

[Troodon]

We very often see collectors asking if the tooth they are looking to purchase or have in their collection been restored, extended or is fake.  Most all the teeth in question come from Morocco and are Spinosaurid (sold as Spinosaurus) and Carchardontosurid (sold as Carcharodontosaurus).  

 

Sellers sometimes are aware of what they have and will state the resto and repairs, others may just be clueless, and others may just be deceptive.  Bottom line you always need to be very cautious with of any of these purchases.

 

How to avoid disaster

1) Buy high quality teeth, yes it will cost you more, but it may be the only way to insure you are getting what you are looking for.    

 

2) Become educated on what good and bad teeth look like and hopefully this topic may help.

 

3) Unless you are a real expert post your interest here on the forum before you purchase.

 

4) When buying anything online make sure it can be returned for a full cash refund

 

5) No guarantee but purchase from reputable dealers.  Avoid auction sites they typically have the most problem teeth.

 

Characteristics of Theropod roots:

:  Roots are not solid they are typically hollow and thin walled

: Although they are all slightly different depending on jaw position they may or may not have a lingual or labial depression which may begin in the crown.  Some may have a cavity, resorption pit, where the replacement tooth sits

: Roots should have some taper from the lingual to labial side, Spinosaurid roots are not round

: Roots may have a sheen depending on preservation.

 

Here are a few in my Collection to see what high quality rooted teeth should look like

 

 

 

 

Juvenile small Spinosaurid tooth

 

 

 

What are red flags:

: Matrix, matrix and matrix.  Moroccan's use it to hide defects, composites or repairs.  Avoid avoid ones that cover large areas..

: Colors, Colors and lots of different colors....

: Different surface textures.   Look at the examples there is a consistency in color and texture.  The surface is homogeneous..

: Teeth with long roots should be priced accordingly.  If you are looking at something big and all real it will be expensive.

: The transition between Crown and Root should be smooth, no bumps, gaps and areas of fill

 

My Recommendation:

Save your money and only purchase teeth that have clean roots.   Don't waste your time figuring out if it's been repaired, composited etc. or hoping its good.  Photos may not be adequate to see everything.  UV lights typically do not work on Moroccan matrix resto.  Best to be able to see what you are buying and not rely on guess work.  These clean rooted teeth are available you just have to be patient and be willing to pay more.

 

Now the ugly

Everything I've mentioned is seen below

Extended

 

Fake root

 

Orginal root Extended

 

Seller said this was composite

 

Fake Root, Looks like a Cylinder

 

Fake root,  Wrong shape

 

Extended Banana Spino Tooth

.

Who can say whats going on here

 

Fake Root

 

Fake root, Crown that has repaired/restored???

Composite using matrix fill

 

[Pliosaur]

Thank you for sharing this @Troodon a very invaluable resource for those looking to purchase such teeth, hopefully this gets pinned so more people will be able to see it 

[Phos_01]

A nice and good guide for collectors. Thank you Frank.

 

10 hours ago, Troodon said:

typically hollow and thin walled

I would like to add to this (for people who are looking for these), that these hollow roots are often also faked and altered . The people who make these fake fossils are also getting better at it.So to be very careful when you see a hollow root and don't asume its real immediately is adviced. A good example is a Carcharodontosaurus tooth that was posted earlier. A few pictures bellow of the bought tooth, and one from the result after treating it with acetone. 

[Troodon]

Thanks, not sure but the top one look like a composited root.  Also you have to consider every feature and not focus on just one.  But it all speaks to my recommendation  " purchase teeth with clean roots " which avoids trying to figure out what's going on.   Do not buy ones that look funky.

[Phos_01]

17 minutes ago, Troodon said:

not sure but the top one look like a composited root

Correct. These photos are all from the same tooth. First two photos were as the buyer has bought the tooth. Last one is after a bath of acetone. Indeed look for good ones. They are very pricy though. Btw really love your juvenile  Spino tooth. It really reminds me of Stromer’s first find. 

[JorisVV]

I find it really hard to find genuine rooted moroccon spinosaurus sp. Or Carcharodontosaurus sp. Teeth. I hope to find a small amount at St Marie aux Mines. But other than that, I really do not see them that much/at all.

[Troodon]

27 minutes ago, JorisVV said:

I find it really hard to find genuine rooted moroccon spinosaurus sp. Or Carcharodontosaurus sp. Teeth. I hope to find a small amount at St Marie aux Mines. But other than that, I really do not see them that much/at all.

 

I will PM you a vendor you can see at this show that had material you're interested in at the Tucson show.  No idea what he will have in June but you can certainly check him out.  If its typical like Tucson you MUST be there when he opens since the better material sells out within the first hour.

[Phos_01]

5 hours ago, JorisVV said:

But other than that, I really do not see them that much/at all.

Well they are pretty rare, especially the ones in good condition, sometimes you see a real rooted one but with a broken off crown or badly preserved. 

 

And there are lots of enthousiasts like us who instantly buy them as soon as they pop up. 

[Meatasaurus93]

Good, informative thread. 99% of the rooted Moroccan teeth I come across online are monstrocities like the ones you posted.