Teeth that Tell Time: Elemental Analysis from Shark Teeth

Authors

• Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, St. Mary's University

Files

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Keywords

Geochemical elemental analysis, sharks, shark teeth, evolution

Contributor

Turner, David (Faculty Mentor)

Description

Sharks (Chondrichthyes) have hunted in the oceans for over 400 million years, their teeth leaving history behind, constantly becoming a part of the fossilization process (Worm et al. 2013). Their survival throughout 5 major extinctions is due to their ability to adapt easily with slow metabolism, a wide range of diet, and an efficient physiology. Shark teeth are vital to the hunting and consumption of their prey, making it a point for scientists to study them. Their tooth minerals contain fluorapatite in their enameloid, and dentin in the “root” of the tooth, with extinct species containing dentin and hydroxyapatite in more recent shark species (Lübke et al. 2015). As environmental changes occur, teeth analysis can become prominent in learning how prehistoric and modern shark species differ in their environments. This geochemical elemental analysis will examine the trace element chemistry of 127 shark teeth from geologic eras and geographic locations. The non-destructive analytical technique uses a portable Niton X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer.

Collection

Culminating Research Experiences

Format

PDF

Medium

Poster

Size or Duration

1 page

City

San Antonio, Texas

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Perez, Gisele-Elizabeth, "Teeth that Tell Time: Elemental Analysis from Shark Teeth" (2026). Culminating Research Experiences. 2.
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/culresexp/2