Minnesota Shark Teeth

[Prairie Chick]

Hello-

I just joined for my son who is wondering if these are fossilized shark teeth. They were found in the gravel of western Minnesota. We have found about 50 of them over the course of two years. My son finds them by laying on our gravel driveway with his face about 6 inches from the ground. From the research I've done, I am thinking they are possibly sand shark teeth? That is also what professionals at the Science Museum have stated. Any opinions?

[Parthicus]

Yes, definitely fossil shark teeth. I see a few that definitely look like sand shark, but not sure of the exact species (there are a bunch of different named species, many of them similar-looking). The tooth at the very bottom of your photo looks like Cretodus (an extinct mackerel shark). Welcome to the group!

[PA Fossil Finder]

I think most shark teeth from Minnesota are from the Cretaceous. The thin ones that look like Sand Tiger teeth are probably from Goblin sharks (Scapanorhynchus sp., I think) - especially the one second from the bottom of the picture with lots of striations.

For comparison, here's a Scapanorhynchus texanus tooth from New Jersey:

Welcome to The Fossil Forum!

[tmaier]

Yes, part of Minnesota was in the ocean in the Cretaceous period.

Here's a web page about fossils from that period in the midwestern states. Scroll down about 2/3 way to see a map of the Oceans of Kansas.

http://oceansofkansas.com/

The only other sharks I know of in the Minnesota area hang out around pool halls.

Edited April 29, 2016 by tmaier

[Fossildude19]

[Raggedy Man]

smileys-billiards-425060.gif

That's an amazing specimen Tim. I mean ...WOW! ROFL

[Fossildude19]

That's an amazing specimen Tim. I mean ...WOW! ROFL

[Prairie Chick]

Thank you all for your replies! My son is very excited to start following The Fossil Forum.

[minnbuckeye]

Great teeth! No such thing here in SE Minnesota. If your son gets a chance to be in my area (close to Rochester), let me know and I can put him on Ordovician sealife.