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Mammoth tooth is a fossilized biological specimen characterized by its distinctive corrugated occlusal surface consisting of parallel enamel ridges. Collectors should look for the unique 'Schreger lines' in the dentin, which help distinguish it from modern elephant ivory. It is typically sourced from ancient permafrost deposits in Northern regions where the remains of the extinct Mammuthus genus are preserved.

Hardness
2.5-3
Mohs
Luster
Dull to silky
Transparency
Opaque

Is this mammoth tooth?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

  • 1
    Test the hardness
    Try to scratch mammoth tooth with a known reference. Mammoth Tooth sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
  • 2
    Name the organism
    Decide what left the fossil before worrying about the rock. Organism: Mammoths (genus Mammuthus). Age: Late Miocene (about 6.2 million years ago) to the Holocene (about 4,000 years ago).
  • 3
    Read the luster
    Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull to silky.
  • 4
    Match the color range
    Compare against the expected color range: tan, brown, cream, gray, black.

Often confused with

Mammoth Tooth vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

A petrified log section lying on desert ground, red and orange against bare dirt
fossil
Petrified Wood
Mohs 6.5-7

How to tell apart: Petrified Wood is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads dull to silky on Mammoth Tooth and vitreous to waxy on Petrified Wood.

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Often found alongside mammoth tooth

Minerals reported to co-occur with mammoth tooth. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Mohs hardness
2.5-3
Density
1.7-2.0 g/cm³
Colors
TanBrownCreamGrayBlack
Luster
Dull to silky
Transparency
Opaque
Rarity
Common
Uses
Lapidary, Collector, Decorative, Jewelry
Host rock
permafrost, alluvial gravels
Organism
Mammoths (genus Mammuthus)
Age
Late Miocene (about 6.2 million years ago) to the Holocene (about 4,000 years ago)

Where rockhounds find mammoth tooth

Classic worldwide localities

  • Siberia
  • Alaska
  • Yukon Territory
  • North Sea

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: permafrost, alluvial gravels. If you start seeing vivianite in float, you are in the right ground.

Common questions

How do you identify mammoth tooth?+
Mohs hardness is 2.5-3. Organism: Mammoths (genus Mammuthus). Luster: dull to silky. Common colors include tan, brown, cream, gray.
Where is mammoth tooth found?+
Notable localities include Siberia; Alaska; Yukon Territory; North Sea.
What rocks look like mammoth tooth?+
Mammoth Tooth is most often confused with Petrified Wood. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.
What minerals are found with mammoth tooth?+
Mammoth Tooth commonly co-occurs with Vivianite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.
What kind of rock does mammoth tooth form in?+
Where it forms: permafrost, alluvial gravels. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.
What is mammoth tooth used for?+
Mammoth Tooth is used in lapidary, collector, decorative, jewelry.

Find mammoth tooth on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.

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