The formation is interpreted as a nearshore fluvial and tidal deposit. It has been heavily deformed by thrusting that produced ~50% shortening. The formation was deposited in a large basin, the Yankee Joe — Defiance basin, which is contemporaneous with the Picuris basin. Detrital zircon age spectrums and isotope ratios from the formation support a reconstruction of the supercontinent, Rodinia, in which Australia was a source of sediments for southwestern Laurentia.
