The most notable distinguishing feature of elephant ivory is the cross hatch pattern that can be seen in cross section. Elephants are the primary source of this material, and as a result, it always exhibits this characteristic. Translucence is another characteristic that can help identify elephant ivory from other materials. Elephant ivory is relatively transparent, making it easier to see fine details compared to bone. Finally, elephant Ivory often has a slight sheen or film on it due to the fact that it contains a high percentage of natural oils.