Bedrock Privacy Policy – Nature Tools

Last updated: October 16, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Nature Tools, LLC (“Nature Tools,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information in connection with Bedrock, including the Bedrock mobile application, related subscriptions, support, data services, and exports.

Bedrock is built around a simple principle: a field notebook belongs to the person who keeps it. We collect only what is needed, keep as much information on your device as practical, and do not sell your personal information.

The Short Version

Your field notebook, including places, observations, samples, measurements, sketches, and photos, is stored on your device where practical.
To show geology, fossils, and hazards for a location, Bedrock sends that location or map area to geologic and scientific data providers.
We do not sell personal information, use it for targeted advertising, or track you across other companies’ apps and websites.
We do not use your photos or field notes to train identification models unless you choose to contribute them.
Precise coordinates for fossil sites, mineral localities, and cultural sites can be sensitive. Review exports before sharing them.

1. Information Bedrock May Process

The information Bedrock processes depends on the features you choose to use.

Location and geospatial information

current or selected GPS coordinates and elevation;
saved places, field stations, localities, sample sites, and map pins;
traverse tracks you choose to record;
the map area you are viewing;
location queries sent to geologic map, stratigraphic, fossil, paleogeographic, hazard, terrain, or map services; and
location metadata contained in photographs or files you choose to import.

Precise location can be sensitive. It may reveal where you live and travel, where you conduct research, where you access private land, or where fossils, minerals, or cultural resources can be found.

Photos, camera, and identification inputs

photographs of outcrops, hand samples, sediments, minerals, and fossils that you take or import;
observations you enter for identification, such as color, grain size, texture, hardness, luster, cleavage, and reaction to acid; and
identification and classification results.

Device sensor information

compass heading and magnetometer readings;
device orientation and motion readings used to measure strike, dip, trend, and plunge;
barometric or GPS altitude where available; and
camera input when a feature uses it.

Bedrock uses sensor readings to calculate measurements you request. It does not use them to build a profile of your movements or activity.

Field notebook content

notes, labels, collections, and preferences;
rock, sediment, mineral, and fossil observations;
sample records, numbers, and labels;
strike and dip and other structural measurements;
measured sections, traverses, and sketches; and
exported files and reports.

Device and diagnostic information

device type and operating-system version;
app version and installation status;
permission status for location, camera, and photos;
crash logs, error reports, and performance diagnostics; and
network information, such as IP address, needed to connect to Bedrock services and data providers.

Account, purchase, and subscription information

name and email address, if you create a Nature Tools account or contact us;
account or user identifier;
subscription plan and entitlement status;
purchase, renewal, cancellation, or refund status;
transaction identifiers supplied by the App Store or another payment provider; and
support and communication history.

Nature Tools does not receive or store your full payment-card number. App Store purchases are processed by Apple, and Apple does not share your payment details with us.

2. How Bedrock Uses Information

Bedrock uses information to:

show the geologic map, units, ages, lithology, and history for a location;
retrieve deep-time, paleogeographic, fossil, landform, and hazard context;
help you identify and classify rocks, sediments, minerals, and fossils;
calculate strike and dip and other field measurements;
save and organize your field notebook, samples, sections, and traverses;
generate exports and field documentation;
verify subscriptions and product access;
provide customer support;
diagnose crashes, errors, and performance problems;
maintain security and prevent abuse; and
comply with legal obligations.

3. Permissions

Bedrock asks for device permissions only when a feature needs them:

Location to show the geology where you are, record stations and samples, and record traverses. If Bedrock offers traverse recording while the app is in the background, it will use background location only while a recording you started is active.
Camera to photograph outcrops, specimens, and fossils.
Photos to import images you select. Where your device supports it, you can share only selected photos rather than your whole library.
Motion and orientation to measure strike, dip, and heading.

You can change these permissions at any time in your device settings. Some features will not work without them.

4. Identification and Your Images

Where practical, Bedrock analyzes images and observations on your device. If a feature needs to send an image or observation to a Nature Tools or third-party service for analysis, the app will make that clear when you use the feature, and the information will be used to return a result, keep the service working, and investigate problems.

Nature Tools does not use your photographs, observations, or field notes to train or improve identification models unless you choose to contribute them.

5. On-Device Storage and Sync

Where practical, Bedrock stores your field notebook, photos, preferences, downloaded data, and other working information locally on your device. Locally stored information may remain until you delete it within the app, uninstall Bedrock, or erase the device.

If Bedrock offers optional backup or sync, such as through iCloud, that feature will be identified in the app. Data synced through iCloud is stored by Apple under Apple’s privacy policy, and Nature Tools does not have access to the contents of your private iCloud data. Device backups you make may also include Bedrock data.

6. Geologic and Scientific Data Providers

To show context for a place, Bedrock may send a selected location, map area, time period, or related query to providers such as Macrostrat, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Paleobiology Database and paleogeographic reconstruction services, the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, FEMA, other public hazard and scientific datasets, and map-tile providers.

These requests include only what is needed for the lookup, along with standard network information such as your IP address. They do not include your name, email address, notes, or photos. Each provider’s own privacy policy, terms, logging practices, and retention rules apply.

7. Exports and Sharing

When you export or share a notebook entry, sample list, measured section, traverse, map, photo, or report, the exported file may contain precise coordinates, timestamps, photo metadata, and other sensitive information.

You are responsible for reviewing exported content before sharing it. Once information is sent to another person, app, platform, or service, that recipient’s own privacy practices apply.

8. Sensitive Localities

Bedrock is often used around fossil sites, mineral localities, archaeological and cultural sites, research stations, private property, and remote places. Published coordinates for fossil and cultural sites can lead to looting and damage that cannot be undone.

Before publishing locations, consider generalizing or withholding coordinates for sensitive sites, and follow any reporting or confidentiality rules from land managers, permits, institutions, or landowners. Nature Tools is not responsible for information you choose to disclose publicly or to third-party services.

9. Analytics, Diagnostics, and Advertising

Bedrock may collect limited technical diagnostics needed to understand crashes, errors, feature reliability, and performance. This may include app version, operating-system version, device type, error details, and diagnostic events. Diagnostic data is not used to identify you or to build an advertising profile.

Bedrock does not display third-party advertising, does not sell personal information, and does not track you across apps and websites owned by other companies.

10. Support Communications

If you contact Nature Tools for support, we may receive your name, email address, message, screenshots, attachments, logs, device details, subscription information, and any other information you choose to provide.

Please do not send precise coordinates for sensitive sites, or unnecessary personal or financial information, in a support request.

11. How Information May Be Disclosed

Nature Tools may disclose information:

to service providers that operate hosting, email, support, payments, subscriptions, security, diagnostics, maps, or geologic and scientific data services for us;
to the App Store or another payment platform when needed to process purchases and subscriptions;
to a third-party service you choose to use or share information with;
when required by law or a valid legal process;
to protect rights, safety, security, users, or the public; or
as part of a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets.

Nature Tools does not sell personal information and does not use personal information for targeted advertising.

12. Data Retention

Retention depends on the type of information and how Bedrock is used:

notebook entries, photos, and other local app data remain on your device until you delete them or uninstall Bedrock;
images or observations sent to a service for analysis are kept only as long as needed to return a result and investigate problems, unless you choose to contribute them;
account and subscription records may remain while the account or subscription is active and for a reasonable period afterward;
transaction records may be retained for accounting, tax, refund, fraud-prevention, and legal purposes;
support records may be retained to resolve issues and maintain business records;
diagnostic data is kept only for the limited period needed to investigate reliability or security; and
exported or shared information may remain with the service or recipient you selected.

13. Security

Nature Tools uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, misuse, loss, alteration, or disclosure.

No system is perfectly secure. You are responsible for protecting your device, account credentials, exported files, and any precise-location information you save or share.

14. Your Choices

You can:

disable or limit location, camera, photo, and motion permissions;
choose approximate rather than precise location where supported, understanding that some field features need precise location;
share only selected photos with Bedrock;
delete notebook entries, samples, traverses, photos, or all local app data;
remove location metadata from photos before importing them;
avoid exporting or sharing precise coordinates;
cancel subscriptions through the platform where they were purchased;
delete your Nature Tools account, if you have one, from within the app or by contacting us; and
contact Nature Tools with an access, correction, deletion, or other privacy request.

15. Children

Bedrock is not directed to children under 13, and Nature Tools does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate consent. Educators using Bedrock with students should follow their school’s policies for student data. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

16. U.S. State Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and whether applicable law applies, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of personal information, or to appeal a decision concerning a privacy request.

Because Nature Tools does not sell personal information and does not use personal information for targeted advertising, some statutory opt-out rights may not apply to current Bedrock practices. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

17. International Users

Nature Tools is based in the United States. If you use Bedrock from another country, information may be processed in the United States or in other countries where our service providers and data providers operate.

If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another region with similar laws, we process personal information to provide the features you request (performance of a contract), to keep Bedrock secure and reliable (legitimate interests), to meet legal obligations, and, where required, with your consent. You may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to processing of your information, to data portability, and to complain to your local data-protection authority.

18. Changes to This Policy

Nature Tools may update this Privacy Policy as Bedrock changes. The revised policy becomes effective when posted or on a later date stated in the notice. If a change materially affects how we handle your personal information, we will provide notice in the app or by other appropriate means.

Your use of Bedrock is also governed by the Bedrock Terms of Use.

19. Contact

Questions or privacy requests concerning Bedrock may be sent to:

Nature Tools, LLC
Missoula, Montana
radd@nature-tools.com

This document is a practical working draft and should be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before relying on it as final legal advice.