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LARGE GEM BONE VALLEY MEGALODON TOOTH - Bone Valley Formation, Central Florida, U.S.A. MIOCENE to PLIOCENE PERIOD: 23.3 - 1.81 million years ago From the Bone Valley Region of Central Florida, U.S., this fossil shark tooth is of the famous, giant Carcharodon megalodon shark. Megalodon teeth from Bone Valley are considered to be the most beautiful in the world. Compared to the ugly black and dark brown crud-stained Meg teeth found in rivers, Bone Valley specimens have white or very light roots and enamel in a rainbow of colors. This is a result of the unique chemistry of the sediments in Bone Valley. Before getting into the specifics of this tooth, I have to start by saying this is honestly the most beautiful fossil shark tooth from ANY species of shark that I have ever seen. For years we have hunted Bone Valley and one of our collecting associates has hunted the formation for over three decades. We thought we saw it all until this one. Even amongst Bone Valley which produces the most beautiful Megalodon teeth in the world, this ranks as the most artistic, most aesthetic and MOST UNIQUE tooth I ever encountered that came from the mines. To be a Bone Valley specimen of this size and in this state of preservation with such a sharp tip makes it in a class all its own. Anyone that is familiar with rare Meg teeth will immediately realize what is being offered here. Bone Valley is one of the rarest sites in the world for Megalodon teeth. This tooth has THREE major features that teeth from this rare formation seldom possess - giant size, incredible pattern and color and excellent degree of intactness. While river teeth are common in the 3" range, a 3" tooth from Bone Valley is quite a find. Teeth in the 4" range are hardly ever found today. A 4" tooth for Bone Valley is what a 6" PLUS tooth would be from any other source. This ULTRA-RARE specimen is a hair shy of FOUR INCHES! As being constantly in touch with the finds of Bone Valley, we are probably the only major shark tooth dealer that is as connected as we are with what is going on there. We actively hunt the formation ourselves and are also in contact with several individuals who are employed at the mines. I personally have never seen such a tooth as this one is and of this size with these features. Currently, we are finding the blue/black teeth with white roots as well as an occasional light tan specimen. Much of the formation that produced some of the larger teeth like this, is now reclaimed and replanted, never to be mined again and of course, the fossil bearing layers never available again for collecting. This beauty came from the private collection of an individual that had actively hunted the spoil piles for many years and long ago when better fossil producing regions were mined prior to reclamation. Most of the teeth today that are found today are lucky to be over 2 inches because of the region where the draglines are working. A tooth like this is beyond words if you know the situation with this site and certainly can be considered a zenith in rare Megalodon teeth as well as a surefire investment in light of what rare Megalodon teeth have done in price in the last many years. Known for their beautiful colors, Megalodon teeth from Bone Valley are expected to almost always be damaged and heavily worn. At best, nearly every one exhibits considerable feeding damage caused when the shark was alive. This is an unexplained phenomena with this site, alone. Despite this, they are so rare that this is the one world source where this damage is acceptable to collectors. Teeth that are intact with little to no wear or damage are amongst the rarest teeth known in the world. The details of this tooth are as follows. The pattern in the enamel is surreal to say the least. When the tooth is held point down, the pattern looks like an evil face. The colors of ivory, baby blue, cream and dark gold appear as if intelligently arranged with incredibly aesthetic symmetry. Both sides of the enamel are dense and NATURALLY glossy. The bourlette is virtually complete and pure white. The root is also complete and pure white, as well. The root is a light cream and completely intact and well mineralized. There is some very light encrustation on the reverse side of the root. The serrations run complete down both sides and exhibit light natural feeding wear from the shark's use. The tip is remarkably intact and sharp with only very minor feeding wear. For a tooth this size, this is unprecedented! At 4 inches in length, this tooth would have most likely come from a large (40+ foot!) shark. MOST IMPORTANT - THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESTORATION OR REPAIR ON THIS SPECIMEN.
Megalodon teeth tend to run smaller from Bone Valley and it is theorized that this warm shallow marine environment rich in food source was a nursery for the Megalodon shark. The larger adults would not have been able to swim into the shallow water and there was an abundance of small whales in the area. The fact that these fossil teeth run smaller than the bigger, black river specimens in no way detracts from their value. Bone Valley specimens are very rare and highly-prized by collectors. A megalodon tooth from Bone Valley is simply the most beautiful fossil tooth of this extinct monster one can acquire.
From the middle Miocene, 16 million years ago to the earliest Pliocene, about 4.5 million years ago, no other region in North America can claim a more varied and richer wealth of important vertebrate fossil finds than from the famous BONE VALLEY region in the phosphate mining district of Central Florida. During this time, thick forests and grassy plains covered a stubby peninsula that only went as far south to what is now Polk County. If you were to visit this area at that time, you would find six-foot tortoises, shovel-tusked mastodons, hornless rhinos, humpless camels, iguanas, gila monsters, and 30-foot crocodiles. The warm waters surrounding the area were filled with a rich variety of life as well, including long-beaked dolphins, bony fish, rays, sea cows and sharks including the notorious and now extinct giant killer shark, megalodon. Bone Valley fossils are rare and highly-priced specimens. Due to the unique geological characteristics of the phosphate-rich region, most of the fossils are beautifully preserved with amazing detail and color. Unlike the majority of southeastern U.S. fossils retrieved from rivers and streams, Bone Valley specimens are found in dry earth and are not stained with the typical cruddy black and brown muck from rivers. Because Bone Valley fossils comprise so much variety of both ancient marine and terrestrial creatures, along with their unique and rare beauty of preservation, specimens from this locality are very rare and of great value to any fossil collection. RARE OPPORTUNITY FROM OLD PRIVATE COLLECTION MOST BEAUTIFUL FOSSIL SHARK TOOTH WE EVER SAW FROM ANY SITE / ANY SPECIES!!! 3.97" in length on the diagonal edge x 2.75" wide SOLD SH683 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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At a length of 52 feet
and weighing in excess of 60 tons, Carcharodon megalodon was the second
largest predator that ever existed on this planet, the largest being the
sperm whale. Megalodon was larger and heavier than T. rex.
Scientific reconstructions of this shark estimate the dorsal fin 5.5
feet tall, the pectoral fins at 10 feet in length and the tail over 12
feet high. If you were unfortunate enough to have a megalodon swim
over you, the pectoral fins would measure 30 feet from tip to tip with a
torso in excess of 10 feet thick! The jaws were so large that
this shark would be able to swallow a Rhinoceros whole. A
predator this size would have most likely fed on large marine
vertebrates, especially whales. Fossil teeth have been found in
excess of 7 inches in length! Megalodon teeth are similar in
geometry to the modern White Shark and scientists are still passionately
divided on the origin of the two species and if megalodon is related to
the modern white shark. It is also not fully understood why this
giant killer became extinct but we can all be glad it is. A day at
the beach just wouldn't be what it is today!