Macrostrat Stratigraphic Column Search
macrostrat.geology.columns_searchRead-onlyIdempotent
Search worldwide stratigraphic columns by coordinates, stratigraphic name, time interval, lithology, or geologic age to retrieve column IDs, names, coordinates, area, and thickness.
Instructions
Search worldwide stratigraphic columns (a summary of the rock units at one location) by point location (lat/lng), stratigraphic name, chronostratigraphic time interval, lithology, or geologic age (Ma). Returns column IDs, names, coordinates, area, and thickness — use the returned col_id with macrostrat.units_search or macrostrat.fossils_search. Data: macrostrat.org/api/v2, no auth required, CC BY 4.0.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| age | No | Numerical age in millions of years before present (Ma) | |
| lat | No | Decimal degree latitude (WGS84) — must be supplied together with lng | |
| lng | No | Decimal degree longitude (WGS84) — must be supplied together with lat | |
| lith | No | Lithology name to filter by, e.g. "sandstone" or "shale" | |
| age_top | No | Younger bound of an age range in Ma — must be used with age_bottom | |
| adjacents | No | If lat+lng given, also return columns touching the same polygon (default false) | |
| age_bottom | No | Older bound of an age range in Ma — must be used with age_top | |
| strat_name | No | Fuzzy stratigraphic name to match, e.g. "mancos" or "jordan" | |
| interval_name | No | Chronostratigraphic time interval name, e.g. "Permian" or "Cretaceous" |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| error | No | Present only when the call failed. Includes error code, message, request_id, and any provider-specific extras. | |
| result | No | Tool response payload. Shape varies per tool — consult the tool description and inputSchema. May be an object, array, string, or number depending on the upstream provider response. |