Every rock identification app feature, in one field kit.
Rockhound packs instant AI rock identification, expert geologist verification, an atlas of 200,000+ collecting sites, offline maps, and a complete mineral database into a single free iOS app.
Free download · 5.0★ on the App Store · iOS 17.6+
Instant AI identification
Point your camera at any rock and get an accurate identification in seconds. Rockhound's AI recognises thousands of rocks, minerals, crystals, gemstones — and even fossils — from a single photo, snapped live or uploaded from your gallery.
Confidence scores
Every identification comes with a confidence score, so you always know how reliable the result is before you label your specimen.
Full geological detail
Results include hardness, chemical composition, crystal structure, and more — not just a name, but the geology behind it.
Rocks to fossils
Identify rocks, minerals, crystals, gemstones, and fossils with one tool — no need to guess which category your find belongs to first.
Expert geologist verification (Pro)
AI is fast, but sometimes you want a human who reads thin sections for a living. Rockhound Pro lets you send any identification to a team of professional geologists.
- Request a review in one tap — straight from the results screen, no forms or emails.
- Answers in 24–48 hours — expert confirmation or correction of the AI result.
- Detailed notes included — learn why your specimen is what it is, from a real geologist.
Geologist verification is part of Rockhound Pro — see pricing.
An atlas of 200,000+ collecting sites
Stop wondering where you're allowed to dig. Rockhound maps more than 200,000 collecting sites, so your next find is never far away:
- BLM and Forest Service lands
- Known mineral localities
- Collecting site details and directions
Smart clustering keeps the map readable even in mineral-rich regions — zoom out for a regional overview, zoom in and clusters break apart into individual sites.
Offline maps for remote adventures
The best collecting sites rarely come with cell coverage. Before you head out, download outdoors and satellite map tiles for the area you're exploring — the atlas keeps working when your signal doesn't.
Pick your area, choose a map style, and Rockhound saves the tiles to your device. Out in the field, you still get sites, details, and directions.
A complete mineral database
Detailed reference pages for thousands of minerals — the kind of data you'd otherwise dig out of a field manual.
Physical properties
Mohs hardness, optical and mechanical properties, crystal systems and morphology for every mineral in the database.
Chemistry
Chemical formulas and constituent elements, so quartz reads SiO₂ and fluorite reads CaF₂ — right where you need it.
Context & status
Formation environments, historical information, and official IMA status, from long-recognized species to recent approvals.
Build your rock collection
Every identified specimen can go straight into your personal collection — a digital display case that travels with you.
- Save identified specimens to your personal collection
- Organize with custom collections
- Add notes, locations, and multiple photos per specimen
- Cloud backup keeps your collection safe across devices
Field tools: interactive Mohs hardness tester
The scratch test is the oldest trick in mineral identification, and Rockhound makes it interactive. The Mohs hardness tool walks you through testing with common objects — fingernail (2.5), coin (3.5), knife (5.5), glass (5.5), and steel file (6.5) — and narrows down what your rock can and can't be.
Pair the hardness result with a photo ID and you have two independent lines of evidence for your specimen, right on your phone.
Feature questions, answered
Quick answers about what Rockhound can do.
What can the Rockhound app identify?
Rockhound identifies rocks, minerals, crystals, gemstones, and fossils from a photo. Every result comes with a confidence score plus details on hardness, chemical composition, crystal structure, and formation environment.
How does expert geologist verification work?
With Rockhound Pro, you can request a review from a professional geologist directly from the results screen. You get expert confirmation or correction within 24–48 hours, complete with detailed notes.
What are Hidden Gems and My Locations?
New in version 1.2.2, Hidden Gems are curated rockhounding locations with photos, videos, and collecting tips, while My Locations lets you save and organize your favorite spots with custom lists.
Does the mineral database include Mohs hardness and chemical formulas?
Yes. The database covers thousands of minerals with Mohs hardness, crystal systems and morphology, chemical formulas and elements, optical and mechanical properties, formation environments, and IMA status. There is also an interactive Mohs hardness test tool with common testing objects like a fingernail (2.5), coin (3.5), knife (5.5), and glass (5.5).
Every feature, one free download.
Identify your first rock in under a minute, then explore the atlas, the mineral database, and the Mohs tester — all in Rockhound for iOS.
Download Rockhound FreeiPhone & iPad · iOS 17.6+ · Pro features optional