Mammoth Tusk
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Baomi" title="User:Baomi">Baomi</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameMammoth Tusk
Chemical FormulaCa₅(PO₄)₃(OH,F,Cl)
Mohs Hardness2.5
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lusterwaxy
Streak Colorwhite to light brown
Cleavagenone
Fractureuneven to splintery
Specific Gravity1.8
Colorsgreyish-brown, yellowish-brown
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityWeifang, China
Mineral GroupPhosphates
Usescarving material, scientific study, collector's item
Rarityuncommon
Description
A broken, conical segment of a fossilized mammoth tusk, displaying a weathered, rough surface with longitudinal cracks and a mottled greyish-brown and yellowish-brown coloration.
Geological Context
Mammoth tusks are biological structures made of dentin, which fossilize over geological time through permineralization in sedimentary environments, typically found in Pleistocene deposits.
