How to identify rocks with your phone

Key Takeaways

• You can use apps like “Rock Identifier: Stone ID” to quickly determine the number of rocks.
• These applications have a database for you to refer to different types of rocks for identification.
• A valuation tool can help you determine the value of your stones and gems.

You have probably kicked a thousand stones in your life while walking down the street or on the sidewalk and thought nothing of it. Driving over rocks on the road is something that happens every day a million times — rocks are rocks. No one is going to carefully scan everything they step on, but what if you pass up something really important? The rocks can sometimes shake.

What if you could find out if the rock you kicked or the one you saw on the beach was worth something?

You no longer have to take it to a jewelry store to see if you have found a rare piece of the world. As you can imagine, there is an app for that. In fact, there are many apps that you can download to your iPhone or Android phone that will quickly give you an idea of ​​what type of stone it is. It doesn’t take long to see what you’re working on, whether you can jump over a pond or something you’ll want to hold on to.

Technology is in your pocket. Payday may be at your feet. Here’s how to see the rocks with your phone.

How to scan rocks and stones with your phone

Downloading the app makes sense

There are several apps you can use if you want to know what gems you might be holding or finding. There is Rock Identifier: Stone ID, Rock & Crystal Identifier, Rock Master: Stone Identifier, and more. Most apps seem to do the same thing. What I tested was Rock Identifier: Stone ID on the iPhone.

Rock ID: Stone ID offers a seven-day free trial to use its app, which I signed up for after downloading the app. Once you open the app, you must allow the app to use your camera to take pictures of your rocks and stones. Then, you can start scanning rocks and stones to better understand what you have.

Getting what you have

Extracted from the database

When you first open the app, there is a search bar that allows you to look up gems and stones to refer to the database entries the app has made for them. You can also look up the measurement of a particular stone, identify a stone or gem, or use the detector function to find out where someone is. Then, it gives you a list of other popular gems and stones that people are searching for. At the bottom of the home page, there is a button that allows you to take a picture of the rock you are holding.

Grid lines are displayed on the screen before a decision is made about what you have.

If you hold it still, the app will blink, letting you know it’s ready to take a photo. Once you capture a photo, the app starts zooming and analyzing the image. Grid lines are displayed on the screen before a decision is made about what you have.

The database entries that most closely match the rock you own will appear. It gives you characteristics such as where it is usually found, whether it is a common rock or not, and whether it is a crystal, healing stone, or some other type of item. This allows you to use the app on all types of stones, gems, crystals, minerals, and more.

It showed pictures of what it looks like in general and even allowed a side by side comparison of the picture I took with the one on the website.

The first stone I picked up and picked up was considered to be pyrite, a common mineral also known as fool’s gold. The stone was shiny and shiny, so this rock may have been it. It showed pictures of what it looks like in general and even allowed a side by side comparison of the picture I took with the one on the website. The app gives you more information about the rock such as what it can be used for, its meaning, and where it is found. You have the option to add it to a collection where you can keep all the gems, stones, and minerals that you enter for reference at any time.

Appreciate what you have

This gives you an idea of ​​how much the item might sell for

You can value what you have by using the measurement tool. This allows you to take a picture, and it will tell you what it’s worth. It will not work for those who are already in the jewelry. Scanning one will give you a price and what you might be able to get for it.

This works best for polished and untarnished gems and stones.

Of the three stones I scanned, only one was worth anything. The first was Basalt, a type of igneous rock commonly used in construction. Not worth more than $4 a piece. Pyrite, especially if it is large, can cost up to $80 per piece. The third stone was classified as Epidote, a rare mineral that is not incredibly valuable, as it can fetch about $60 per piece. But its scarcity marks it as a precious gem.

From doing more research online to see if the app was right about my stones, I can say, without much certainty, that it is probably right about the three stones and gems I found.

Good for beginners

If you know nothing about rocks, gems, and minerals, an app like this one will make starting a collection fun. Maybe you want to go to thrift stores and look for new pieces for your show. Maybe you want to start searching for the healing power of crystals and want to see if the ones you find are good or not. This can easily see what you are getting and be able to give you the facts about it and how much it costs. This would be a useful tool for any novice collector or just someone who likes to pick up rocks and stones from the ground while walking.