Choose identifiers before categories
Start with a simple sequence such as R001, R002 and R003. Put the same number in the image filename and the written entry. Keep any existing label and record its wording separately instead of replacing it with an AI suggestion. Describe where the object is currently kept so you can reconnect the physical item with the record. Two similar-looking stones need two entries, even when a scanner gives both the same possible name.
Record the origin of each statement
Separate your own observation, an older label, a person’s recollection and a reference-based suggestion. Write who supplied each piece of information and when you recorded it. For example, bought as quartz is a record of a label, not a confirmation of composition. If the original location is unknown, say so. Do not copy a typical occurrence from a geology article into the specimen’s history merely because the suggested name appears to match.
Update without erasing the trail
When a new interpretation arrives, add it with a date and a reason. Keep the previous proposal visible so later readers understand what changed. Use a small review queue for entries needing better images or source details. At the end of a session, choose one unfinished record to improve next time instead of reorganizing the entire collection. The objective is a usable chain from object to photo to note, not a perfectly filled database with every uncertainty hidden.
Take it with you
- Use a permanent specimen number, not a changing name.
- Distinguish labels and recollections from confirmed information.
- Add dated revisions instead of erasing earlier interpretations.
Rock ID
Rock observations and geology
Photo identifications and AI explanations may be wrong or incomplete. They are not safety assessments, certified appraisals or authenticity guarantees. Reference properties are not measurements of your specimen. Feature access and any paid options depend on current in-app terms.