Macrostrat MCP Server

The Macrostrat MCP server bridges the powerful geoscience data of the Macrostrat API with AI assistants such as Claude. By exposing a structured set of resources, tools, and prompts over the Model Context Protocol, it lets developers ask natural‑language questions about geological formations, stratigraphic columns, mineral occurrences, and even generate map tiles—all within a single conversational session. This removes the need for custom API wrappers or manual data extraction, enabling rapid prototyping of geology‑centric applications.

At its core, the server offers a rich querying interface. Developers can retrieve detailed geologic unit information (e.g., lithology, age ranges), explore column data for a specific coordinate, or pull mineral inventory lists from regional datasets. The server also supports generating visual outputs such as map tiles, which can be rendered directly in the assistant’s UI or exported for downstream analysis. Because all interactions are mediated by MCP, the assistant can cache results, handle pagination, and maintain context across turns, providing a seamless user experience.

Key capabilities include:

• Natural‑language parsing: Convert user queries into precise API calls without exposing raw endpoints.
• Geologic unit discovery: Find units by name, age, or spatial location and receive full metadata.
• Column and stratigraphy access: Retrieve vertical profiles of rock layers for any latitude/longitude pair.
• Mineral and geochemical data: Pull occurrence statistics, concentrations, and provenance information.
• Map tile generation: Produce raster tiles that visualize lithological distributions for map‑based applications.
• Data analysis helpers: Summarize, compare, and interpret datasets within the assistant’s conversational flow.

Real‑world scenarios that benefit from this server include educational tools where students can query the geological history of a region, research assistants that automatically pull stratigraphic columns for field planning, or GIS workflows that overlay geological units onto maps without manual API integration. By integrating directly with AI assistants, developers can build interactive chatbots that answer complex geological questions, generate reports on demand, or even suggest field sites based on mineral abundance—all while keeping the codebase lean and focused on business logic.

The Macrostrat MCP server stands out because it combines comprehensive geological data with an intuitive AI‑first interface. Its ability to translate natural language into precise API calls, coupled with built‑in support for visual outputs and analytical prompts, makes it a powerful tool for any developer looking to embed earth science expertise into conversational AI applications.