How to Identify a Rock: App Edition

In this video I ask the age-old question, can an app identify a rock? I tried using several different apps to identify various rocks, minerals, and even fossils. The results were...well you will see! Thanks for watching! :)

#agateariel #rockhound #thefinders

Happy Hounding! 🪨✨

[MrPuncher]

"yes this is indeed a rock, thank you for buying our monthly subscription"

[zdclan]

I am an absolute beginner and the Rock identifier app helps quite a lot. It is not 100% accurate but sometimes you get an idea in which direction to look further. It is faster than a book.

[fatunclefishing]

I love using Rock Identifier! I have never paid for a subscription and have been able to identify hundreds of rocks. One trick is to use the flashlight when you take your picture and zoom in as far as you can. It also has helped the app that we rock hounds that use it can correct the name when it does get it wrong. I have had a 90% accuracy rate with this app.

[kerriannepetrakis]

I have been trying the first app out and getting the stone wet and filling the frame and getting close up gets pretty accurate results. I think for these to work you really have to get a good photo and have a wet stone to see detail better

[bethgracehallmark]

Been watching Michigan Rocks for years, just found you. Great content, thank you!

[_cummingtonite_]

Hi, interesting video!
Just a brief comment on the porphyry. The term porphyry can be used basically for any type of volcanic rock if it has a porphyritic texture. Porphyritic texture means, that larger crystals (e.g. feldspars or quartz) are embedded in a fine-grade matrix. In fact, however, rhyolites exhibit commonly a porphyritic texture, so the app was not so wrong at this point.
Addition for the ironstone: Ironstone is usually composed of hematite or magnetite, therefore hematite was also a quite good guess.

[LemonySnicket-EUC]

I would think wetting the rocks for the picture and filling the frame as much as possible with the rock would help.

[CityRockhounding]

Oh yeah, what a great video idea here, loved this! I'm not great at identifying rocks, not even good, but I will listen to everyone's opinions and that goes for an app too! This was cool to see, thanks!

[nativewildman]

Nice hooded sweater! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the rock id apps! Have a great day!

[Bang_Akik_CHANNEL]

The stones are very beautiful with various motifs. I am a stone craftsman, every stone that has a good motif, I shape it as a ring to decorate my finger.

[emmikate]

I have the first app and i mainly use it to identify if it is hard enough to tumble. I hope the technology gets better in the future.

[robinhood]

Thank you Ariel, I have just signed up to the rock identifier app, have just id'd most of my unusual rocks. The first was a green & cream striped rock which I had no idea of & it's Amazonite.:)

[drippedinglitter]

I literately just commented on another video about the first app 😅😅 I’ve been binge watching all your videos I didn’t notice you made this one until now but it’s ok love the videos ❤

[clentonweston]

Great video...thanks so much for posting this. I tried to down load the rock identifying app and had a bit of trouble 😅 getting it successfully onto my phone.

[kellyngrey]

Thank you so much for showing what the apps are like - including how obnoxious some apps are with pushing subscriptions and ads!
If someone wants to pay for a subscription, awesome! But it's a hard "no" for me. So, I guess I'll stick to Reddit and Google.

[Trtlman]

Actually it was correct with the fossil. The fossil is likely made of limestone or sandstone. It got the geode correct too. Geode is just a word for a hollow rock that gets filled with quartz. Quartz is what it is.

[penelopepitstop]

I might put the stone or fossel or mineral on a black or white background.
White for dark stone, black for light stones.
Wet your rock all way around. Fill your screen with clear image. Rotate rock and take different pics. Take specimen in bright light such as outside in sunlight. If unable I might use a flashlight to gain reflections, deposits, veins etc...
Good hounding, hope you find something amazing!

[DopamineKata]

GPT-4 vision seems to do a good job if you also tell it where the rocks came from,

[camelotcandle]

I use the first rock identifier and it actually worked fairly well

[patriciamckean]

Those apps are usually a waste of money. I like "Rock & Minerals". A field guide... for each state. Usually very accurate.