Terms of Service

Effective 6 August 2026

These terms govern your use of the ScanMyRock mobile application and the scanmyrock.com website (together, "the Service"), operated by ScanMyRock ("we", "us"). By using the Service you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. What the Service is

ScanMyRock helps you identify rocks, minerals and gemstones from photographs, read reference information about them, and keep a personal collection of your finds. The reference catalogue is available to browse without an account. Scans and saved finds work without an account too: they are kept under a device identity created automatically the first time you open the app. Creating an account upgrades that identity so your collection follows you across devices.

2. Identifications are suggestions

An identification produced by the Service is a suggestion based on visual analysis of your photograph, together with a confidence score. It is not a certified determination, valuation or guarantee of any kind. You are responsible for how you use it.

Visual identification of minerals from photographs has inherent limits. Some materials cannot be reliably distinguished by appearance alone. Always treat a result as a starting point, and where it matters, confirm with the hands-on tests described in the app or consult a qualified professional.

3. Safety

Some minerals are toxic, radioactive or otherwise hazardous. Nothing in the Service is advice to handle, taste, ingest, inhale, grind or otherwise interact with any material. Handle unknown specimens with care, wash your hands after handling, and keep specimens away from children and animals. Identification tests described in the app (for example scratch or streak tests) are performed at your own risk.

4. Prices are estimates

Price information in the Service consists of estimated market ranges for typical specimen types and sizes. These are not appraisals, offers or valuations of any specific specimen, and must not be relied on for buying, selling, insuring or declaring the value of any item. Market prices vary widely with quality, provenance and locality.

5. Metaphysical content

Some entries include content about healing traditions, chakras, zodiac associations and similar subjects. This content describes cultural beliefs and folklore. It is presented separately from scientific information, makes no claims of physical effect, and is not medical, psychological or health advice. Never use it as a substitute for professional medical care.

6. Your account

On first launch the app creates an anonymous identity for you, so scan history and your collection work straight away. Creating an account upgrades that same identity and keeps everything you have already saved.
Signing in to a different, existing account replaces the guest identity on that device. Anything saved as a guest stays with the guest identity; the app tells you this before you switch.
You must provide accurate registration information and keep your credentials secure. You are responsible for activity under your account.
You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your country, if higher) to create an account.
You may request deletion of your account and its data at any time by contacting us. Deletion removes your collection and personal data as described in our Privacy Policy.

7. Your content

Photographs you submit, and the notes, locations and other details you attach to your collection, remain yours. By submitting them you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free licence to store, process and edit them in order to:

operate the Service: run identification on your photos, keep your collection available to you, and maintain and improve the reliability of identification;
illustrate the reference catalogue: a photograph you submit may be selected to appear on the detail page of the stone it shows, for all users, including in edited form, for example with the background removed, cropped or colour-corrected.

Catalogue use is anonymous: your name, notes and any location details are never shown with the photo. If you would rather a particular photo of yours not be used this way, tell us at [email protected] and we will take it out of the catalogue. Deleting your account ends the licence for future catalogue selections. We do not sell your content.

You agree not to upload content that is unlawful, that infringes anyone's rights, or that contains personal data about another person without their permission.

8. Catalogue content and photo credits

The reference catalogue, including its text, structure and curation, is our intellectual property or is licensed to us. Specimen photographs in the catalogue are used under their respective licences, including Creative Commons licences, and carry the photographer's credit where they appear. You may not extract, scrape or republish the catalogue or its images except as the applicable licences allow.

9. Acceptable use

Do not interfere with or disrupt the Service or its infrastructure.
Do not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Service or to other users' data.
Do not use automated means to bulk-download catalogue content.
Do not use the Service for any unlawful purpose, including misrepresenting the identity or value of items you sell to others.

10. Availability and changes

We work to keep the Service available and accurate, but it is provided "as is" and "as available". Identification requires an internet connection. We may add, change or remove features, and we may update the catalogue, at any time. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these terms.

11. Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss arising from reliance on identifications, price estimates or other content in the Service. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence. Where liability cannot be excluded, our total liability is limited to the amount you paid us for the Service in the twelve months before the claim arose.

12. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. If a change is material, we will give notice in the app or by email before it takes effect. Continuing to use the Service after a change takes effect means you accept the updated terms.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands, and disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dutch courts, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer protections that apply in your country of residence.

14. Contact

Questions about these terms: [email protected].