--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Minera: Mineral ID" developer_entity: "Luke Macmillan" bundle_id: "com.mineralabs.mineralidentifier" app_store_id: "6754896560" category: "Education" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: true market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2025-11-29" report_date: "2026-10-23" last_verified: "2026-10-23T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "1.07" total_reviews: 1 overall_rating: 2 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 25 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.3 top_complaint_theme: "Annual subscription pricing feels excessive for the current feature set offered to casual users" review_sample_size: 1 total_review_count: 1 analyzed_review_count: 1 data_age_days: 22 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 2 tags: ["education", "freemium", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "geology", "students,", "professional"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/minera-mineral-id" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Minera: Mineral ID Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Education · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 2 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Annual subscription pricing feels excessive for the current feature set offered to casual users (top complaint) > **TL;DR:** Minera: Mineral ID is a education app by Luke Macmillan, rated 2/5 by 1 users, with Frustrated user sentiment (25/100), available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Minera: Mineral ID faces Frustrated user sentiment (2/5 from 1 review), with users reporting annual subscription pricing feels excessive for the current feature set offered to casual users as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 2/5 (1 review) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Education | | **Developer** | Luke Macmillan | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Low (0.3/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 22d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Luke Macmillan - **Category:** Education - **Target Audience:** Geology students, professional geologists, and serious mineral enthusiasts. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 1.07 - **Report Date:** 2026-10-23 - **Signal Count:** 1 review analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.3/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 6754896560 - **Bundle ID:** com.mineralabs.mineralidentifier - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-10-23 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Minera: Mineral ID is a professional field and classroom tool for identifying minerals via physical properties on iOS. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the dependency on internet connectivity and unreliable image recognition, serving users who require scientifically defensible identification in remote terrain. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] Physical Property Identification:** Systematic classification based on hardness, streak, and cleavage without image recognition. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Differentiator] Offline Database:** Full access to 300+ mineral entries without internet connectivity. * *User Intent:* Users want uninterrupted access without internet dependency. - **[Standard] Advanced Filtering:** Search minerals by density, habit, and lustre. * *User Intent:* Users want to quickly find relevant content or features. ## Market Position {#market-position} Minera: Mineral ID holds a niche position in the Education category, currently maintaining a 2-star rating from a limited review sample. The lack of recent updates (328 days since last store update) limits its ability to compete with more active educational tools. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free tier, Premium tier (annual subscription) - **Analysis:** The app recently integrated a new paywall provider, which triggered user complaints regarding the high annual cost. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (Low Confidence: 1 of 1 review analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 2/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 2.0/5 (1 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Annual subscription pricing feels excessive for the current feature set offered to casual users** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Systematic identification workflow provides a defensible, professional-grade instrument **Growth Levers:** - Introduce lower-cost one-time purchase to capture casual student segment ## What's New - **Latest (v1.07, 10 months ago):** Integrated a new paywall provider. ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - Ships no feature updates for 10 months. - Integrated new paywall provider in latest release. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 328 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Minera: Mineral ID is an education app that is free with in-app purchases. It holds a 2/5 rating from 1 review. > **Bottom Line:** Restructuring the monetization model to align with casual student budgets would address the primary sentiment drag, while a stability-focused update is required to signal that Minera: Mineral ID is not an abandoned project. **Best for:** Geology students, professional geologists, and serious mineral enthusiasts. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] Pivot monetization to a tiered one-time purchase because annual subscription pricing is the top complaint → increase conversion ### Outlook: Declining The market for specialized geological tools is shifting toward reliable, maintained instruments that offer clear value. Minera: Mineral ID is currently exposed due to its lack of recent updates and a pricing model that alienates its core student user base, necessitating a pivot to regain market trust. - 🔴 The 10-month update silence signals potential abandonment, which erodes the trust required for professional field tools to remain relevant. - 🔴 Negative sentiment regarding the annual subscription model suggests the current value proposition fails to justify the cost for the target audience. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 2/5 | | Total Reviews | 1 | | Sentiment | Frustrated (25/100) | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Minera: Mineral ID** (this app) | 2/5 | Frustrated | Luke Macmillan | | [ALPA: Lernspiele für Kinder](https://marlvel.ai/apps/alpa-lernspiele-fur-kinder) | N/A/5 | N/A | ALPA Kids OU | | [ATPdigital (Legacy)](https://marlvel.ai/apps/atpdigital-legacy) | 2.0/5 | n/a | Bristol Groundschool International Ltd | | [Catbus Student](https://marlvel.ai/apps/catbus-student) | 4.1/5 | N/A | Cohota Join Stock Company | | [Chinese Tibetan Dictionary](https://marlvel.ai/apps/chinese-tibetan-dictionary) | 5.0/5 | Thrilled | Lobsang Monlam16922404891 | | [Insights to Behavior](https://marlvel.ai/apps/insights-to-behavior) | N/A/5 | N/A | Insights to Behavior | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Luke Macmillan ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store ID:** 6754896560 - **Sources:** App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*ALPA: Lernspiele für Kinder*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/alpa-lernspiele-fur-kinder) (ALPA Kids OU) · N/A Rating - [*ATPdigital (Legacy)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/atpdigital-legacy) (Bristol Groundschool International Ltd) · 2.0/5 Rating - [*Catbus Student*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/catbus-student) (Cohota Join Stock Company) · 4.1/5 Rating - [*Chinese Tibetan Dictionary*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/chinese-tibetan-dictionary) (Lobsang Monlam16922404891) · 5.0/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Insights to Behavior*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/insights-to-behavior) (Insights to Behavior) · N/A Rating - [*Legasthenie & LRS Trainer*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/legasthenie-lrs-trainer) (Matthias Aigner) · N/A Rating - [*Lyceum Leaf Parent*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/lyceum-leaf-parent) (Techcess Business Solutions (Pvt) Ltd) · N/A Rating - [*MapTap.gg*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/nibble-games-maptap) (MapTap Inc) · 4.9/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Money Matrix (CAD)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/money-matrix-cad) (Blooming Kids Software LLC) · 5.0/5 Rating - [*myTibetan*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/mytibetan) (Yury Nevalenny) · 4.8/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Minera: Mineral ID suitable for professional field use? Minera: Mineral ID is designed for professional geologists and students, offering offline-first identification based on physical properties. However, the lack of updates over the past 10 months may impact its reliability for critical field work. ### Does Minera: Mineral ID require an internet connection? No, Minera: Mineral ID is built to work entirely offline, making it suitable for remote field environments where connectivity is limited. ### Why is there a subscription fee for this app? The app uses a freemium model with a premium tier gated by an annual subscription. Recent user feedback indicates that this pricing is perceived as high for the current feature set. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.3/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 1 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 22 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/minera-mineral-id) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.