Ruby Glint: Rock Identifier

I downloaded this app from Tik Tok, which suggested that I would be able to find cool rocks, gems, and minerals around my location. Upon downloading, and after creating an account, you are immediately brought to the option to subscribe monthly or weekly. I didn’t subscribe, because every app hides everything worth anything behind a paywall. Would you like to see the map? Sure! But you want to filter your results? You have to pay a subscription! Nope! No thank you! At this rate, I’d much rather just go to the creek bed outside and see what I can find there on a warm day and a good manual!

The app is either a monthly fee or annual for $40. And there’s a lot of information about different rocks, crystals, maps on where to find them, identifying properties, rock hunting guides, etc. But it’s all text. Zero visual references, which makes the app basically unusable for visual learners. I was really excited about the map and identification support, but I question the legitimacy based on the rest of the app. There’s a gem shop in the app selling gems and rocks, but the prices on most of the items I saw were extremely overpriced. The app feels a bit like a front for the gem shop.

Needed a rock identifier for my hiking trips and this delivers. Correctly identified quartz, feldspar, and even a piece of obsidian. The mineral identification feature helped with my nephew's science project. Sometimes needs good lighting but that's understandable. Great app for anyone into rocks.