Who operates LithoMap
LithoMap is operated by PTW Referrals LLC. Free map exploration and opening an account-free shared link do not require an account. An account is required for paid offline plans and direct member-to-member sharing. Public contributions, server photo uploads, and cloud-synchronized saved-place libraries are not currently offered.
Location information
With your permission, LithoMap uses your device location to show your position, open the map near you, and let you save a field location. LithoMap does not build or store a continuous GPS history.
Moving or searching the online map causes the app to request maps and scientific data for the visible area. Those requests can reveal an approximate area of interest and ordinary connection information, such as an IP address, to LithoMap or the applicable data provider. Creating or recovering a paid offline area sends its selected bounds, requested radius, release identity, and download status to LithoMap so the service can authorize, queue, meter, resume, and complete that download.
Searches and third-party data
When you search while online, the search text is sent to the configured geocoding provider to return matching places. Live map, geology, fossil, collectible-rock, mineral, and public-land requests may be handled by the providers identified in the app’s Data Sources screen. Their privacy practices and terms apply to their services.
Device storage and preferences
Saved offline areas, cached map information, map preferences, saved places, and an optional profile picture remain on your device. A saved place may contain its GPS coordinate, title, notes, folders, tags, and photos that you take or select. Attached photos are copied into LithoMap’s private app storage and are not uploaded. The profile picture is also copied into private app storage; it is not uploaded or included in shared places. Free exploration does not create a Firebase identity. LithoMap does not use Firebase Analytics or advertising identifiers.
You can remove saved areas, saved places, and the profile picture in LithoMap. Deleting a saved place also removes its private in-app photo copies. Deleting the app removes remaining local app data, including the profile picture, saved places, and their photo copies. Photos that already exist in your device photo library are not removed.
Website analytics
This website uses Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate page use and improve LithoMap. The site records the page viewed and, when you choose an app-download control, its destination, placement, and non-personal content label. LithoMap disables Google Signals and advertising-personalization signals for this implementation and does not send account credentials, saved places, precise device location, form contents, or specimen information to website analytics.
In the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland, Google Analytics does not load unless you select “Allow analytics.” Outside those regions, privacy-limited analytics may operate by default. The hosting edge evaluates the country associated with the request only to return whether affirmative analytics consent is required; LithoMap does not store that regional lookup. Because LithoMap is a U.S.-focused service, an unavailable country signal is treated as outside those opt-in regions. You can opt out or change your preference at any time through Analytics choices in the footer. Google may process ordinary connection and device information under its own terms and privacy policy when analytics operates.
Accounts, purchases, and sharing
When you create an account, Firebase Authentication processes your email address, authentication credentials, verification status, and a service-generated user identifier. LithoMap uses the account to verify paid access, enforce plan limits, restore eligible purchases, process deletion, and support direct sharing between paid members. An account is not required to accept an account-free private link.
Apple or Google processes payment details. LithoMap receives purchase evidence and subscription status needed to verify access. Raw store credentials are not retained; transaction identifiers are reduced to security-focused records used to prevent replay and duplicate credit grants.
Saving places requires a paid plan and sending requires Offline Plus. Paid members may choose a unique pseudonymous sharing username; recipients see that username rather than the sender’s email or real name. The server stores the username and a case-normalized uniqueness reservation.
A Plus member may send a saved location directly to a paid member’s exact username or create a time-limited account-free link. The shared copy can include its title, notes, coordinates, folders, and tags, but never its attached photos. Link codes are opaque and expire after seven days. Accepted items are stored in a device-local read-only Shared With Me inbox; copying one into editable Saved Places requires Basic or Plus. LithoMap does not currently accept public place submissions or server photo uploads.
Tracking, advertising, and sale of data
The app does not include advertising or cross-app tracking. The website analytics described above is used to understand site and app-download performance, not to create advertising profiles. PTW Referrals LLC does not sell personal information collected through LithoMap.
Your choices, retention, and deletion
You may deny or revoke location access in your device settings and continue using features that do not require your current position. Deleting the app removes locally stored preferences, saved places and attached in-app photo copies, and saved offline data. Free users who never create an account have no LithoMap cloud account to delete.
A signed-in user can request account deletion inside LithoMap. The process disables the account and removes its private cloud data, sharing records, and download-queue identity. Limited purchase, fraud-prevention, security, tax, or legal records may be retained only as reasonably necessary or required by law. Deleting an account does not cancel an Apple or Google subscription and does not remove device-local maps or saved places; those actions must be completed separately.
Children and security
LithoMap is a general-audience field reference and is not directed to children under 13. No system can guarantee absolute security. LithoMap minimizes current collection by keeping offline areas and preferences on the device and not creating a cloud identity for ordinary free use.
Changes and contact
Material changes will be reflected by a new effective date and, when appropriate, an in-app notice or renewed consent. Privacy and support questions may be sent to contact@ptwreferrals.com.