Differentiating Between Synthetic and Natural Ivory??

[CC]

In article <199403250014.AA14942 at sol.dmp.csiro.au>, lachlan at dmp.csiro.au
(Lachlan Cranswick) wrote:
> Does anyone have or know of references or techniques to
> unambiguously differentiate natural and synthetic ivory?
***deleted***
> have to deal with claims that the process for its manufacture is
> so good you can't tell the difference

It seems to me you could look for elephant DNA/protein in the material
(since ivory is an animal product), or at least check for the presence of
calcium in the appropriate state -- isn't most synthetic ivory made of
plastic (unless you are trying to differentiate between ivory and bone, or
walrus and elephant tooth material)?
                -- CC