Rock Identify
Identify rocks, crystals and minerals from a photo
About Rock Identify
Rock Identify is an AI photo identifier for rocks, crystals and minerals. You upload one to three photos of a specimen and it suggests a possible match, explains the visible clues behind it, lists alternatives and limitations, and lets you ask a follow-up question. It is built for the moment after you pick up a stone on a beach, a hike or a riverbank and want to know what it might be, without buying a field guide or installing an app.
What stands out is how carefully it frames its answers. Each result is presented as tentative, with the reasons and uncertainties next to the suggested name, and the site claims no accuracy percentage. It explains why a photo cannot measure hardness, density or composition, and it points people to a geologist or laboratory when a name really matters. Around the identifier sits an encyclopedia, a photography guide and a collection history. The free tier allows three identifications a day with no sign-up, and the Plus membership raises that to 100 requests a day. The domain is under two months old, and the operator is not named on the Terms page.
First, photograph the specimen. The photo guide recommends a plain background, indirect daylight, and different angles rather than near-identical shots: the whole rock, a close-up of grains or bands, and an existing edge. You can upload JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC files, up to three photos of the same rock and 40 MB each, or paste a photo. A location and your own observations are optional context.
Second, review the matches and evidence. The result gives a suggested name alongside visible clues such as grain size, banding and surface texture, notes what the photos cannot show, and lists possible alternatives. Reference cards describe typical properties of the candidate materials and link to educational sources.
Third, ask a follow-up about lookalikes, typical properties or care. The reply stays with that specimen, and each identification is saved with its photos, notes and conversation so you can reopen it later. A sample walkthrough with an azurite photo lets you see the whole flow without uploading anything.
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Photo-based identification - Suggests rock, crystal and mineral matches from up to three photos of one specimen, with optional notes and location.
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Explained results - Each suggestion comes with the visible clues that support it, the limitations of the photos and the alternatives worth considering, so you learn to read a specimen rather than just receive a label.
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Follow-up questions - Ask about lookalikes, properties or care. Free users get one follow-up a day; Plus draws from a pool of 100 daily requests with up to 20 questions per rock.
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Collection and history - Specimens are saved with their photos, notes and chat. Signed-in free accounts can keep 200 specimens, and Plus adds favourites, named collections and room for 500.
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Plus extras - Re-run a result for one of the alternative matches, get a detailed price analysis with its assumptions, and read meaning, folklore and birthstone traditions for a stone.
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Learning guides - An encyclopedia and guides cover photographing specimens, the difference between rocks and minerals, and how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks differ.
Rock hounds, beachcombers and hikers can get a quick, explained first guess about a find and keep a record of their collection. Students and parents can use it as a hands-on companion to earth science lessons, since each result explains the clues behind a name rather than just stating it.
Crystal and mineral collectors can use the follow-up questions and Plus price analysis to understand what they own, while treating every result as a starting point. Teachers can use the photo guide and rock group explanations to teach observation skills.
It is not a substitute for lab testing, and the site says so plainly. Anyone valuing or selling a specimen should still take it to a qualified geologist.
