In general, how rare are Rooted Mosasaur Teeth?

[Rock Hound]

How rare is it to find a Mosasaur Tooth, with the Root Preserved?

[musicnfossils]

Seen tons for sale for not much $ so I assume not very. 

[Rock Hound]

I believe the tooth is real.  The root looks pretty real too.  The discoloration between the tooth and root, appears to be glue?  Is this a reattachment repair of a genuine tooth and root, or is the root also a clever fabrication?  4.7 inch total length.

 

 

 

[Guns]

Tons of them available online but al ot of them have Fake root . 

[LordWampa]

7 hours ago, Rock Hound said:

I believe the tooth is real.  The root looks pretty real too.  The discoloration between the tooth and root, appears to be glue?  Is this a reattachment repair of a genuine tooth and root, or is the root also a clever fabrication?  4.7 inch total length.

 

 

 

This ones I think the roort is real, but the crown has been glued. I would try to buy one that is not glued. because in this case it's impossible to know if the tooth crown belong to the root.

[TyBoy]

Very common with roots the ones you are showing appear composited crown and root which is also common. 

[Runner64]

7 hours ago, Rock Hound said:

I believe the tooth is real.  The root looks pretty real too.  The discoloration between the tooth and root, appears to be glue?  Is this a reattachment repair of a genuine tooth and root, or is the root also a clever fabrication?  4.7 inch total length.

 

 

 

Composite of 2 different teeth

[North]

Like others have said. Root and tooth are glued together with sand/glue mix.

 

Authentic rooted teeth are not common, but can be found. Rarity of species also makes lot of difference.

[Rock Hound]

4 hours ago, LordWampa said:

This ones I think the roort is real, but the crown has been glued. I would try to buy one that is not glued. because in this case it's impossible to know if the tooth crown belong to the root.

Thank you, for your insight.

[Rock Hound]

It is so nice, to be able to communicate with others; via the Fossil Forum.

[Gareth_]

Mosasaurs regularly shed their teeth, like sharks do.... so there are many, many crowns only found. A rooted tooth wasn't shed so it's likely the animal died. So shed teeth are far more common than rooted teeth. 

A rooted tooth should have a smooth, uninterrupted transition between the crown and root.... you will not see a band of sand/off colour plaster etc.  

[Rock Hound]

16 hours ago, Gareth_ said:

Mosasaurs regularly shed their teeth, like sharks do.... so there are many, many crowns only found. A rooted tooth wasn't shed so it's likely the animal died. So shed teeth are far more common than rooted teeth. 

A rooted tooth should have a smooth, uninterrupted transition between the crown and root.... you will not see a band of sand/off colour plaster etc.  

Nice specimens, you have there.

[Gareth_]

5 hours ago, Rock Hound said:

Nice specimens, you have there.

Thank you
It's taken a while to collect this many.... I've been fussy on the quality I want - it's easy to get beaten up, full of glue teeth.

Here are the rest of my Mosasaur teeth.... 

 

 

[North]

8 minutes ago, Gareth_ said:

Thank you
It's taken a while to collect this many.... I've been fussy on the quality I want - it's easy to get beaten up, full of glue teeth.

Here are the rest of my Mosasaur teeth.... 

 

 

You seem to have good ammount of Moroccan species. Very nice.

[Rock Hound]

As a follow up, I received the pictured tooth, as a gift.  The shading of the glued area, is somewhat light dependent.  Sometimes it's more easily visible, and sometimes less.  This is the same tooth, as pictured in the opening post.

[LordWampa]

I mean at the end, I am not against composites/restorations. Just that the vendor needs to be straight forward about that and the price needs to be reflected. But everybody knows how much wants  and can spend on fossils, so as a cheaper option I think it's always alright. 

[Rock Hound]

On 1/4/2024 at 3:41 AM, LordWampa said:

I mean at the end, I am not against composites/restorations. Just that the vendor needs to be straight forward about that and the price needs to be reflected. But everybody knows how much wants  and can spend on fossils, so as a cheaper option I think it's always alright. 

Yes.  If sellers would just be clear about what a specimen is or isn't, I wouldn't mind.  Casts, repaired / restored specimens, glued pieces and parts / composites, etc.  Label it accurately, and price it accordingly.  Just be honest, and fair.  Then it's all buyer's choice.  Deception, is evil.