Ivory
the osseous matter of the tusks of the elephant, and of the teeth or tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, and narwhal. The ivory of the hippopotamus is preferred by the dentist, being free from grain and much harder and of a purer white than that of the elephant. The shavings and saw-dust of ivory may by burning be converted into a black powder, used in painting, named ivory black.
Africa supplies the great bulk of ivory, the Indian wild elephant having become so scarce of late years that India is now obliged to import a considerable quantity of ivory. A vast amount of fossil ivory is also exported from eastern Siberia to various countries. African ivory fetches a higher price than any other, being dense in texture, susceptible of a higher polish and not so liable to turn yellow when exposed to the light as the Indian kind. The tusks of a full grown elephant seldom measure over six feet and weigh from 100 to 200 pounds.
The tusk is usually solid for about half its length, the base being quite thin and, therefore, of little use for commercial purposes.