# Mancos

> Geological mapping and fossil discovery tool for the United States. (iPhone/iPad app by Hunt Mountain Software.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancos/id541570878 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Hunt Mountain Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/328710008)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 13 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 10 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-03-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancos/id541570878/reviews.md

## What is Mancos?

Mancos brings the geology of the United States and beyond to your iPhone. Tap the map, search by name, or use GPS to instantly locate yourself, show state-level geological maps, the geological formation and the regional stratigraphic column, all supplied by the servers at earth-base.org. Also view any fossil collections from your region, supplied by paleodb.org.

## Key features

- Interactive geological maps
- Searchable by name or GPS
- State-level geological data
- Geological formation information
- Regional stratigraphic columns
- Fossil collection discovery

## Chart rankings

- #168 in Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 10)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancos/id541570878/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Really great

*2019-10-18*

Love it! Wish I could copy the text descriptions though. Other than that, I highly recommend it to students and professionals. A+++

### 5/5 — Old Man

*2018-11-18*

I’ve had this app for a few years or more now. Very impressive. The search feature is Awesome. Search by the actual address is “very helpful “ Well done.

### 5/5 — Love the Latest Update

*2016-05-21*

Mancos keeps getting better and better.  I especially enjoy the seemless drill down from continent-wide views, all the way to my street and house, with clickable geological overlays.

Add to that, nearest strat columns, and paleo links ... Mancos is by far the best geology app available.

Strongly recommended.

### 5/5 — Great Tool

*2015-11-21*

Has helped me locate actual and potential fossil sites. Not for everyone, but it works very well for me.

### 1/5 — Broken

*2015-09-27*

Does not show geology overlay at all, just some orange lines. Cannot close the stratigraphic column even though none of it is shown on the map anyway. Stopped working on my iPad Mini and iPad Air so apparently the app is broken.

### 1/5 — Does not download

*2015-04-26*

I tried downloading it onto a iPod-Touch v4 and a iPad v2 but it would not download.
Message says “Cannot Download. This app is not compatible with your device.”

What gives?

### 3/5 — Not quite

*2014-09-27*

It's a great idea but it doesn't go into much detail and only lists map units in very large groups (e.g. Precambrian rocks, Mesozoic granitic rocks).  It's a good beginning.

### 5/5 — Pretty good

*2014-06-18*

Great app every geologist should have. Limited but still quite useful.

### 4/5 — Promising

*2013-06-07*

This app has a promising start and makes available a lot of information. It would be great if fossil info could be even more prominently displayed.

### 4/5 — Neat, just wish there was more to it...

*2012-10-09*

I live in Utah where lots of geology is exposed to the surface. Being an amateur geologist, there are many things I know, but many I don't and I got this app in the hopes that it would help me further increase my knowledge of local geologies as I travel around the state and the region. I only just recently started using apps and I found myself wishing I could find one that does just what this one does... so it was a nice find. I do think the app will help me learn more, however there are still some features I wish it had.

In terms of usability, Mancos is easy. It shows your position in the US on a broad map, then you have to zoom in to see the geologic map. If you hit the screen at that point, you can get more information about the geologic layer represented there. Unfortunately, at least for the sedimentary rock formations in southern Utah, the information is not always very specific. For example, the pinpoint will read something like "Jurassic (1) Sedimentary Rocks." When you follow the link to the next page, a regional strat column is offerred... which for me doesn't necessarily help to narrow things down more without further research. Formations and members are listed at the same level, where I wish it would list just formations and then members as a branch of formations. Sometimes you can find the formation if you happen to be able to access a fossil record for that layer, but that is not always the case. I understand they are just using one specific database, but I know that more detailed geologic maps have been created for most places and it would be really awesome and helpful if you accessed more detailed maps the further you zoomed in. That being said, a basic working knowledge of the stratigraphy of the area helps to get a lot more out of the info offered through the app.

The links to fossil information is pretty neat. I wish there was more information about the species listed, like another layer to the program that says something more about that. Similarly, I also wish there was a way to access more information about the the geologic layers from the page with the stratigraphy column. It would be cool to use this to learn more about depositional environments, geochemistry, etc. At the very least, these types of information could just be linked through the program to the internet. I can just look these things up online myself separately, but having access through the app would make it more powerful.

To sum it up, I really like this app and will be using it a ton. It will help me in my endeavor to learn more about the geology of Utah, and will hopefully come to the rescue during those moments where I just can't quite remember what the order of stratigraphy is somewhere. Access to further information through the app (whether embedded or linked) would give it way more power as a learning tool.

## Frequently asked questions about Mancos

### What is Mancos?

Mancos is an educational app that provides detailed geological information for the United States and beyond. It allows users to explore geological maps, formations, and fossil collections.

### What devices does Mancos support?

Mancos is available on Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad, offering a versatile experience across different Apple devices.

### How much does Mancos cost?

Mancos is a paid application, priced at $2.99. This one-time purchase grants you access to all its geological and fossil discovery features.

### Is Mancos suitable for children?

Yes, Mancos has an age rating of 4+, making it appropriate for younger learners interested in geology and science.

### How often is Mancos updated?

Mancos was last updated on December 8, 2024, with version 4.1. This indicates ongoing support and potential for future improvements.

### Where does Mancos get its geological data?

The app sources its geological maps, formation data, and stratigraphic columns from earth-base.org, and fossil collections from paleodb.org.

### Does Mancos have ads?

No, Mancos does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted learning experience.

### What is the user feedback on Mancos?

Mancos has received excellent feedback, boasting a perfect 5.0-star rating from 13 reviews, indicating high user satisfaction.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.2 — 2026-07-25

• Updated for iOS 26
• Bug fixes

### 4.1 — 2024-12-08

• Updated for iOS 18
• Bug fixes

### 4.0.1 — 2023-03-11

bug fix

### 4.0 — 2023-03-10

• Includes all-new Apple Watch companion app

### 3.9 — 2023-02-18

• Added a lock screen widget: now launch Mancos right from your lock screen
• Bug fixes
• Updated for iOS 16
• Apple Watch app has been temporarily removed; it will return after a complete redesign in a future update.

## Apps similar to Mancos

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Fossil Finder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fossil-finder/id1316597015) | 1.9 (8) | Free | Education |
| [Geology Dictionary - Offline](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/geology-dictionary-offline/id1488197434) | 3.4 (5) | Free | Education |
| [GMDE Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmde-lite/id1557325241) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education |
| [Soil Explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soil-explorer/id996159565) | 4.4 (7) | Free | Education |
| [PaleoEarth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paleoearth/id1358958723) | 5.0 (7) | $1.99 | Education |
| [Rockd](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624) | 4.4 (183) | Free | Education |

## More apps by Hunt Mountain Software

- [Coordinates](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coordinates/id328710005)
- [Strike and Dip](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strike-and-dip/id335517528)
- [Coordinates Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coordinates-lite/id357411098)
- [Taxon for ecology](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taxon-for-ecology/id1091005506)
- [Jake for stratigraphy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jake-for-stratigraphy/id1486090789)

All apps by Hunt Mountain Software: https://appshunter.io/developer/328710008

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*