Dracarys Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I just obtained a Nanotyran tooth that is 2.2 inch. It's beautiful but wanted to know what causes the unique difference in the color of the teeth between the nano teeth or any tooth for that matter. Golden brown vs Chocolate brown vs black vs the variant that I have. Thanks in advance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcfossilcollector Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Variations in the colour of a fossil are often the result of the type of sediment the tooth/bone was buried in and the subsequent mineralization process that allowed for the organic material to fossilize. Beautiful tooth really impressive! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 In addition I believe what you are seeing in your specimen is post mineralization. Moisture/Heat for example can weaken and discolor the the enamel and cause it to flake 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dracarys Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 Thank you both. And so the baseline color will be related to the mineralization process but the color variations afterwards is based on heat/sun/moisture, etc, damaging the enamel. Theoretically then, an undamaged tooth should be the same color, Does the enamel of the tooth also mineralize or just Bony matrix? I thought enamel was a very hard substance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Enamel mineralizes to obtain its color and is hard. Unfortunately just like bone lots of element come to play after that to impact what it looks like when its removed from its resting place. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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