APP SEARCH

Smart mineralogist has a built in search engine that allows you to search for minerals if you know their names, synonyms, varieties, year of discovery, IMA numbers or formulae. To start a search…

• Tap the search icon (represented as a magnifying glass) always available on the Toolbar, provided the Navigation menu can be accessed and unopened. 

• Once tapped, the Icon will expand and provide you with a virtual keyboard to input your search phrase on the now available text input area.

• The virtual keyboard will not be available for devices with connected physical keyboards. For these devices, you can input your search phrase directly through the connected keyboard.

While searching, the engine will attempt to make comparison based on the search options that are enabled in App settings. If no search options are enabled, a warning will be shown and no search results will be returned. If names are selected, the engine will also auto convert special characters present in non-English mineral names. Example, if your search phrase is "Makinenite" the engine will auto converts and matches for "Mäkinenite", which is the correct name of the mineral. Tapping on any of the results will take you to the dedicated 'Mineral details' section of your chosen answer. For more on this, jump to the dedicated 'Mineral Details' help guide.

The App search functionality is also a very handy mini comparison tool, especially if you just want to compare formulae between closely related minerals. All you have to do is to input an impartial name and hit the 'Enter' or 'Go' button on your keyboard. This will match all the minerals that come close to your name. Example, type 'pyrite' on the app search and hit the 'Enter' key to see the various minerals related to pyrite. 

Formulae search

For the search engine to match a formula, please follow these guidelines… 

• Make sure formulae search is enabled under App settings.

• Unicode super and subscripts are not recommended due to different ways Android manufactures have implemented them on their devices. For example, inputting Fe²⁺Al₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈ by copying and pasting the formula might produce erroneous results or outright fail due to the presence of both the super and subscripts. To input the formula, type or paste the formula as-is without any super/subscripts, Example Fe2+Al6(PO4)4(OH)8. But if your device correctly supports the full super and subscripts Unicode set, then feel free to use them without error. If the search results display them correctly, then your device is good to go.

• Special formula Unicode characters are supported such as the vacant '☐' and Bullet '·' symbols. Example, this is a valid search phrase: (Ca,Na,☐)2Y3Si6O18·2H2O

• If you lack the vacant symbol on your keyboard, then use the letters 'Vc' in its place.