Fossilised tooth, tusk, unknown? Found On beach Australia

[Jackie_O]

Hi everyone! Looking for help in ID-ing a found object from the beach. We are absolutely bewildered as to what this is!

 

details:
-Found 1 hour north of Sydney, Australia on the beach

-Heavy, fossilised object with very distinct “ribbon” like formation patter on end

-texture is reminiscent of a claw or tusk

-plaque-like material in crevices (it is not sand)

[Jackie_O]

Adding one more photo of the texture 

[Fin Lover]

Looks like an Equus (horse) tooth

[Jackie_O]

Great suggestion! It does look like horse tooth fossils I can see online, but how on earth it would end up on a beach in Australia has me stumped. 
 

Are there any prehistoric marsupial species that would have a tooth like this?

[val horn]

Horse teeth do not need to be fossil

[Jackie_O]

I would say this has definitely mineralised - the weight, texture, sound when hit… mineralised right through. How long would it take to mineralise in ocean water?

 

first documented horses were in 1788 when the English brought over 7 horses on the first fleet - does anyone know if this could this mineralise in just a few decades or a century?

[Baking Geologist]

Horse molars are heavy. I found a modern horse molar along Lake Michigan.  I posted photos of it elsewhere in the forum. And can’t remember where the photo is on my camera.  

[val horn]

Teeth are always highly mineralized.  I would take it to your local museum where a paleontologist who is familiar with the area will be in a better position to give you an informed answer.