RockHound-GO is built by collectors, for collectors. Your privacy is a first-class feature — this policy explains what we collect, why, and how you stay in control.
Information We Collect
•Account information: your name, email address, and a profile avatar when you create a RockHound-GO account.
•Specimen data: photos you capture or upload, mineral identification results, GPS coordinates (when you choose to share them), field notes, rarity, and collection metadata.
•Usage data: which features you use, quest and badge progress, streaks, and analytics events that help us improve the app.
Location Data & Stealth Mode
•Location is permission-based. We only access your device location when you grant permission and actively use map, scan, or expedition features.
•Stealth Mode is a first-class privacy feature: when enabled, exact GPS coordinates of your finds are never stored or shared — only approximate or private labels are kept.
•You can revoke location permission at any time from your device settings; the app will continue to work without location features.
AI Mineral Identification
•When you scan or photograph a specimen, the image is sent to our AI identification service (powered by Google Gemini) to produce a mineral match and confidence score.
•Images are processed to generate identification results and are stored in your private collection unless you choose to share them to the community feed or market.
•We strip EXIF and metadata from uploaded images before processing to protect your privacy.
Permissions We Request
•Camera: To photograph specimens for AI mineral identification. Photos are processed to generate identification results and stored in your private collection unless you choose to share them.
•Microphone: For voice interaction with Clover, our AI field companion. Audio is used for speech recognition during your session and is not permanently stored unless you save a recording.
•Location: To tag finds with GPS coordinates, show nearby hotspots, and provide geological context for AI identification. Permission-based; revoke anytime in device settings.
•Notifications: For streak reminders, storm hunter alerts, and quest updates. Control each type in Settings.
•Payment: For physical specimens and goods (rocks, Mystery Mineral Minis, show tickets, paid digs) processed via Stripe. Digital subscriptions (Season, Hound, Steward, Club) are sold only on the web at rhgo.me — not as in-app purchases inside the iOS or Android app.
Child Accounts & COPPA
•RockHound-GO offers child-safe accounts managed through a Parental Dashboard. A parent or guardian must create and manage accounts for users under 13.
•We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verified parental consent.
•Child accounts have restricted sharing and community features by default. Parents can review and delete their child’s data at any time.
How We Use Your Information
•To provide AI mineral identification, hotspot maps, your Geo-DEX collection, quests, badges, and community features.
•To improve identification accuracy and feature quality through aggregated, anonymized analytics.
•To send optional service communications such as streak reminders and weekly summaries (you can control these in Settings).
•We never sell your personal data to third parties.
Third-Party Services
•Google Cloud: AI identification (Gemini) and maps. Subject to Google’s privacy policy.
•Stripe: payment processing for physical goods and digital subscriptions on the web. We do not store your full card details.
•Instagram (optional): if you connect your account, we can publish hotspot finds on your behalf with your consent.
•Each third-party service operates under its own privacy policy; we share only the minimum data required to provide the feature.
Data Retention & Deletion
•Your specimens, collection, and account data are retained for as long as your account is active.
•You can delete individual specimens, your entire collection, or your full account at any time from the app’s Settings or by contacting us. Deletion is permanent and irreversible.
•Some anonymized, aggregated data may be retained for analytics and model improvement after account deletion.
Your Privacy Rights & Contact
•You have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal data.
•To exercise any privacy right, or to ask questions about this policy, contact us at the support channel listed in your app Settings.
•We will respond to verified requests within a reasonable timeframe.