Rock identification · CapKnow

AI takes photos to identify rocks and minerals

Take photos of rocks that look special and note the color, texture, sheen and possible categories to create your own geological observation manual.

Basalt identification exampleRecognition results Demo

basalt

Dark appearance, fine-grained structure, and columnar joint environment.

Judgment cluesDark appearance, fine-grained structure, and columnar joint environment.
Result presentationPossible answers, rationales, and similar results.
rocktexture colorprofessional judgment
Usage scenarios

These scenes are great for filming

Picking up special stones at the beach or on the mountain road

Take photos of the color, texture, section, and environment to understand the possible rock types first.

Want to differentiate between rock, mineral, and gemstone appearances

Look at crystals, luster, grains, and layering to sort out appearance clues.

Parent-child geological observation or classroom supplement

Turn roadside stones, beach gravel, and mineral specimens into readable observation cards.

Recording landforms and stones while traveling

Save landform photos, stone appearance, and location notes together for easy review later.

Organize mineral collection photos

Add manual notes such as hardness, weight, magnetism, etc. to each photo to form your own collection list.

result card

What's in the result

  • possible rock or mineral type
  • Color, grain size, texture and layering
  • Gloss, fracture, hole or crystal form
  • Volcanic, sedimentary or metamorphic rock clues
  • Remarks such as hardness, magnetism, weight, etc.
  • Differences between similar rocks
  • Value, Authenticity and Ingredient Testing Alerts
Identification samples

Common identification examples

Basalt Basalt

Look for the dark color, fine-grained texture and pores commonly found in volcanic rock environments.

Granite

Look for the light base, black and white mineral particles and coarse-grained structure, commonly used in construction stone.

Quartz Quartz

Look for glass luster, transparent to translucent appearance, and crystal morphology, and pay attention to comparisons with calcite.

Calcite

Look at the rhombohedral cleavage, light-colored appearance and crystal surface reflection, and professional judgment can be combined with the hardness test.

Obsidian

Look for the black glassy sheen and shell-like fractures, the edges may be sharp.

Sandstone Sandstone

Look at the sand texture, bedding and depositional environment to distinguish it from limestone and siltstone.

Photography suggestions

How to shoot to make it easier to identify

Shoot colors in natural light and avoid strong filters

Filters can change color and shine, affecting the appearance of rocks.

Simultaneously capture sections, textures, grains and size reference objects

Rock judgment often relies on grain size, bedding, pores and crystal details.

You can add manual notes such as hardness, weight, magnetism, etc.

This information cannot be firmly judged based on photos alone, but it can help you double-check on your own.

Professional testing is required when transactions or security are involved

Images do not confirm composition, radioactivity, value or commercial authenticity.

Things to note

Things to note

Image identification cannot determine gem value, mineral composition, radioactivity, or commercial authenticity. Transactions, collections and security judgments require professional testing.

Related content

Related Identifiers

FAQ

FAQ

Can CapKnow determine the price of gemstones?

No. CapKnow provides visual identification and knowledge clues only and should not be relied upon for valuation, trading, or authenticity.

Why do rock photos need size reference?

Grain size, texture and luster are helpful in rock judgment, and reference objects can reduce misunderstandings.

The next time you encounter the unknown, don’t miss it.

When you see something you don’t recognize, take a photo of it. CapKnow will give possible answers, basis and related knowledge, and save them to your knowledge record.

Download for iOS