GET /columns

macrostrat.org:macrostrat-api

Summary: Search and summarize columns
Operation ID: getColumns
Auth: unknown
Description

Search and summarize columns based on unit properties or geographic location. Columns represent geographic areas with defined stratigraphic units.

Parameters (25)

adjacents (boolean, query, optional)

If lat/lng or col_id is specified, optionally return all units in columns that touch the polygon containing the supplied lat/lng

age (number, query, optional)

Numerical age in millions of years before present (Ma)

age_bottom (number, query, optional)

Numerical age (Ma) - must be used with age_top and be greater than age_top

age_top (number, query, optional)

Numerical age (Ma) - must be used with age_bottom and be less than age_bottom

col_id (integer, query, optional)

A valid column ID

col_type (string, query, optional)

A column type

environ (string, query, optional)

Specific environment name

environ_class (string, query, optional)

General environments

environ_id (integer, query, optional)

Specific environment ID from /defs/environments

environ_type (string, query, optional)

Groups of environments

format (string, query, optional)

Desired output format (json, csv, geojson, geojson_bare, topojson, topojson_bare)

Constraints: {'enum': ['json', 'csv', 'geojson', 'geojson_bare', 'topojson', 'topojson_bare']}

int_id (integer, query, optional)

A chronostratigraphic time interval ID from /defs/intervals

interval_name (string, query, optional)

Chronostratigraphic time interval name (e.g., Permian, Cretaceous)

lat (number, query, optional)

Decimal degree latitude, WGS84

lith (string, query, optional)

Specific lithology name (e.g., shale, sandstone, limestone)

lith_class (string, query, optional)

General lithologies (sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic)

lith_id (integer, query, optional)

ID of a lithology from /defs/lithologies

lith_type (string, query, optional)

Groups of lithologies (e.g., carbonate, siliciclastic)

lng (number, query, optional)

Decimal degree longitude, WGS84

project_id (integer, query, optional)

A Macrostrat project ID (1=North America, 3=eODP, 5=New Zealand, etc.)

response (string, query, optional)

Response detail level (short or long)

Constraints: {'enum': ['short', 'long']}

section_id (integer, query, optional)

A valid section ID

strat_name (string, query, optional)

A fuzzy stratigraphic name to match units to (e.g., Mancos, Dakota)

strat_name_id (string, query, optional)

A single or comma-separated list of stratigraphic IDs from /defs/strat_names

unit_id (integer, query, optional)

A valid unit ID

Examples (6)

TitleTypeURLAction
Get column definition for San Juan Basin sdk_extracted https://macrostrat.org/api/columns?column_name=San%20Juan%20Basin
Search columns by geographic coordinates curl https://macrostrat.org/columns?lat=40.7128&lng=-74.0060&response=short
Search columns by geologic time interval curl https://macrostrat.org/columns?interval_name=Cretaceous&response=short
Search columns by lithology type curl https://macrostrat.org/columns?lith=sandstone&age_bottom=0&age_top=100&response=short
Search and summarize columns probe-gate https://macrostrat.org/api/v2/columns?format=json
Search and summarize columns probe-gate https://macrostrat.org/api/columns

Probe History

Latency

Status Codes

TimeStatusLatencySize
2026-03-23 10:52:03.835387 200 504ms
2026-03-23 10:48:01.178438 200 539ms
2026-03-23 10:28:34.594368 404 407ms
2026-03-23 09:43:22.707689 200 390ms
2026-03-23 09:26:34.805761 404 381ms
2026-03-23 09:04:18.534355 404 392ms

Response Changes

WhenOldNew
2026-03-23 09:43:22.707689 e3b0c44298fc 5dd7a434dfc0
2026-03-23 10:28:34.594368 5dd7a434dfc0 e3b0c44298fc
2026-03-23 10:48:01.178438 e3b0c44298fc 47696d49d83f