GET /units

macrostrat.org:macrostrat-api

Summary: Get geologic units
Operation ID: getUnits
Auth: unknown
Description

Returns all Macrostrat units matching search criteria. Units represent individual rock layers or stratigraphic units within columns.

Parameters (24)

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 (8)

TitleTypeURLAction
Get Cretaceous units from San Juan Basin column sdk_extracted https://macrostrat.org/api/units?col_id={column_id}&interval_name=Cretaceous
Get marine units for Phanerozoic in North America sdk_extracted https://macrostrat.org/api/units?environ_class=marine&interval_name=Phanerozoic&project_id=1
Find units by geographic coordinates for Nashville TN sdk_extracted https://macrostrat.org/api/units?lat=36.1627&lng=-86.7816
Get all units (basic request) curl https://macrostrat.org/api/units?format=json&response=short
Search units by geographic location and lithology curl https://macrostrat.org/api/units?lat=43.07&lng=-89.4&lith_type=sandstone&format=json
Search units by age range and stratigraphic interval curl https://macrostrat.org/api/units?age_bottom=250&age_top=300&interval_name=Permian&format=json
Get all Macrostrat units probe-gate https://macrostrat.org/api/v2/units
Get geologic units probe-gate https://macrostrat.org/api/units

Probe History

Latency

Status Codes

TimeStatusLatencySize
2026-03-23 10:40:29.674847 200 1581ms 2.0MB
2026-03-23 10:27:17.143276 200 394ms
2026-03-23 10:26:14.661534 200 1261ms 2.0MB
2026-03-23 09:48:34.468105 200 442ms
2026-03-23 09:39:29.696416 200 399ms
2026-03-23 09:09:58.590431 200 648ms
2026-03-23 09:08:12.749207 200 398ms
2026-03-15 01:12:34.537487 200 434ms

Response Changes

WhenOldNew
2026-03-23 09:08:12.749207 05b71a1ca1d1 3d27995206d1
2026-03-23 09:09:58.590431 3d27995206d1 082989cdfad3
2026-03-23 09:39:29.696416 082989cdfad3 71af2670d6c3
2026-03-23 09:48:34.468105 71af2670d6c3 c77fea8354b1
2026-03-23 10:26:14.661534 c77fea8354b1 f759809f16d2
2026-03-23 10:27:17.143276 f759809f16d2 3d27995206d1
2026-03-23 10:40:29.674847 3d27995206d1 54c4f5f79d22