Query stratigraphic and geological formation data (formation name, age, period, epoch, location). Use when: identifying rock formations, checking geological ages, correlating strata, finding formation fossils.
Query geological formation and stratigraphic data.
✅ USE this skill when:
❌ DON'T use this skill when:
Primary: Paleobiology Database (PBDB) Secondary: Macrostrat, Geolex (via API when available)
# Query formation by name
curl -s "https://paleobiodb.org/data1.2/occs/list.json?formation=Yixian&limit=5" | jq '
.records[0] | {
formation: .formation,
age: .max_ma,
period: .period,
country: .country
}
'
# List taxa from a formation
curl -s "https://paleobiodb.org/data1.2/occs/list.json?formation=Hell+Creek&limit=20" | jq '
[.records[].taxon_name] | unique | .[]
'
# Find formations from specific time period
curl -s "https://paleobiodb.org/data1.2/occs/list.json?min_ma=145&max_ma=66&limit=10" | jq '
[.records[].formation] | unique | .[]
'
# Formations in a country
curl -s "https://paleobiodb.org/data1.2/occs/list.json?country=China&limit=10" | jq '
[.records[].formation] | unique | .[]
'
**Stratigraphic Information**
**Formation**: [Formation name]
**Age**: [XX] Ma ([Period]/[Epoch])
**Location**: [Country/Region]
**Lithology**: [Rock type, if available]
**Associated Fossils**:
- [Taxon 1]
- [Taxon 2]
- [Taxon N]
**Stratigraphic Context**:
- Underlies: [Overlying formation]
- Overlies: [Underlying formation]
- Correlates with: [Equivalent formations]
Eon: Phanerozoic
├─ Era: Cenozoic
│ ├─ Period: Quaternary (2.6 Ma - present)
│ │ ├─ Epoch: Holocene (0.0117 Ma - present)
│ │ └─ Epoch: Pleistocene (2.6 - 0.0117 Ma)
│ ├─ Period: Neogene (23 - 2.6 Ma)
│ └─ Period: Paleogene (66 - 23 Ma)
├─ Era: Mesozoic
│ ├─ Period: Cretaceous (145 - 66 Ma)
│ │ ├─ Epoch: Late Cretaceous (100 - 66 Ma)
│ │ └─ Epoch: Early Cretaceous (145 - 100 Ma)
│ ├─ Period: Jurassic (201 - 145 Ma)
│ │ ├─ Epoch: Late Jurassic (163 - 145 Ma)
│ │ ├─ Epoch: Middle Jurassic (174 - 163 Ma)
│ │ └─ Epoch: Early Jurassic (201 - 174 Ma)
│ └─ Period: Triassic (252 - 201 Ma)
└─ Era: Paleozoic (541 - 252 Ma)
⚠️ CRITICAL: