Use an up-to-date client and tool. I remember some old clients and tools that do not support all datatypes. For example, if I remember correct, Toad 9.0 for Oracle does not support the TIMESTAMP
(or maybe it was caused by and old Oracle client, I do not use Toad, just seen this once at a client on-site). Below works just fine from 12.1.0.2 SQL*Plus or SQL Developer (4.1.5.21).
SQL> desc oe.customers
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- ----------------------------
CUSTOMER_ID NOT NULL NUMBER(6)
CUST_FIRST_NAME NOT NULL VARCHAR2(20)
CUST_LAST_NAME NOT NULL VARCHAR2(20)
CUST_ADDRESS OE.CUST_ADDRESS_TYP
PHONE_NUMBERS OE.PHONE_LIST_TYP
NLS_LANGUAGE VARCHAR2(3)
NLS_TERRITORY VARCHAR2(30)
CREDIT_LIMIT NUMBER(9,2)
CUST_EMAIL VARCHAR2(40)
ACCOUNT_MGR_ID NUMBER(6)
CUST_GEO_LOCATION MDSYS.SDO_GEOMETRY
DATE_OF_BIRTH DATE
MARITAL_STATUS VARCHAR2(20)
GENDER VARCHAR2(1)
INCOME_LEVEL VARCHAR2(20)
SQL> select CUST_GEO_LOCATION from oe.customers where rownum = 1;
CUST_GEO_LOCATION(SDO_GTYPE, SDO_SRID, SDO_POINT(X, Y, Z), SDO_ELEM_INFO, SDO_OR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SDO_GEOMETRY(2001, 8307, SDO_POINT_TYPE(-91.66643, 41.977151, NULL), NULL, NULL)