Rockhounding MapGem and gold collecting sites
Privacy Policy
This policy explains what Rockhounding Map (“the app”) does with information about you. It is written from how the app is built. koykstudio publishes the app; “we” and “us” below means koykstudio.
The short version
- Some information leaves your device so the app can work. The table below lists all of it, why, and who receives it.
- You don’t need an account to use the app.
- The app shows no ads.
- The app does not track you across other companies’ apps or websites.
- We don’t sell your personal information.
Who we are
Rockhounding Map is made and published by koykstudio, an independent app studio. You can reach us at support@koykstudio.com.
What stays on your device
Find photos, notes, spots and saved sites stay on the iPhone until you delete them or the app. Photos are taken with the camera or chosen with the photo picker, which shows the app only the photos you pick. Shared items leave the iPhone only when you share them.
- The site data and the offline terrain map are bundled in the app and drawn on the iPhone with MapLibre, an open-source map library.
- Distances to sites are worked out on the iPhone from your location.
- Finds (photo, what, notes, date, place), your own spots and saved sites are stored in the app on the iPhone (SwiftData and app settings).
- The CSV export of your finds is created on the iPhone and leaves it only when you share it.
Permissions the app asks for
iOS asks for your permission before the app can use these. You can change your answer at any time in the Settings app.
| Permission | What it’s used for | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Location (while using the app) | Show sites near you, sort them by distance, center the map on you, and place a find you log away from a site. Asked only when you use one of these. | Optional |
| Camera | Take a photo of a find for your log. Asked only when you tap Take a photo; choosing from your library needs no permission. | Optional |
Information that leaves your device
| Information | Why | Who receives it | Linked to your identity? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer support and site reports (email address, message, site details) | Answer your question or fix a site. Only if you choose to send an email; site reports include the site's name, ID and coordinates and the app version. | koykstudio (support email) | Yes |
We don’t use this information to identify you, and we don’t combine it with information from other companies.
Services the app connects to
To work, the app requests information from these services. Like any internet request, each one reveals your device’s IP address to the service it contacts.
- National Weather Service (api.weather.gov): The coordinates of the site or spot you're viewing, with a User-Agent naming the app and the studio's support address. No user ID.
- USGS The National Map (topo and satellite tiles): Map tile requests for the area on screen, only when those layers are on. Like any web request, the server sees your IP address.
- BLM Surface Management Agency (land ownership tiles): Map tile requests for the area on screen, only when the land layer is on.
- Apple MapKit (place search): The town or place name you type in search.
- Apple Maps or Google Maps (directions): The destination's coordinates when you tap Directions; the trip is handled by Apple or Google under their own policies.
Location
Optional, while using the app only (about 100 m accuracy). Used on the iPhone for distances, the Nearby list, centering the map and placing finds. Your coordinates aren't sent to anyone; with online layers on, map tiles for the area on screen (which may be around you) are requested from USGS or BLM.
Your location is used on your device. The app doesn’t send it to us.
Purchases
Purchases are made through Apple’s App Store. Apple processes the payment; we never see your payment card or Apple Account details. The app checks with Apple which purchases you made so it can unlock them.
Crash reports and statistics from Apple
If you agreed to share analytics with app developers in your device’s settings, Apple gives us crash reports and statistics that don’t identify you. You can change this in Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements. Apple’s handling of this data is covered by Apple’s privacy policy.
Tracking and advertising
The app does not track you, as Apple defines tracking: it does not link information from the app with information from other companies’ apps, websites or data brokers. It shows no advertising.
Children
The app is not directed to children under 13, and we don’t knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
How long information is kept
On the iPhone until you delete them or the app. The studio runs no server. The government data services may log ordinary web requests under their own policies. Support emails are kept only as long as needed to answer.
Your choices and rights
- Deleting the app deletes the information it stores on your device.
- Depending on where you live (for example California and other US states), you may have the right to know what personal information we hold about you, to get a copy, to correct it, to delete it, and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We don’t sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
- We will answer requests within the time the law requires and won’t treat you differently for asking.
Make a request on our data request page, or email support@koykstudio.com.
Security
We keep what the app handles to the minimum it needs and rely on the security built into iOS. No method is perfectly secure, but we take care to protect your information.
Changes to this policy
If the app’s handling of information changes, we will update this page and the date at the top. If a change is significant, we will also tell you in the app.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your information: support@koykstudio.com.