Imperial Formation

The Imperial Formation is the name of two distinct and unrelated geologic formations in North America, of different geologic Eras.

Imperial Formation
Stratigraphic range: 1.) Canada: Devonian of Paleozoic Era. 2.) California: Pliocene of Cenozoic Era.
Type	Two separate geologic formations
Underlies	Palm Spring Formation (California)
Overlies	Ocotillo Formation (California)
Location
Region	1.) Northwest Territories, Canada 2.) Colorado Desert, Imperial County, California, United States

Separate formations

Canadian Paleozoic Era formation

The older Imperial Formation occurs in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It preserves fossils dating back to the Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era.^[1]

Californian Cenozoic Era formation

The younger Imperial Formation occurs in the Colorado Desert, in Imperial County of Southern California. It dates to the Zanclean−Lower Pliocene stage of the Pliocene Epoch, during the Neogene Period of the Cenozoic Era.

It underlies the Palm Spring Formation, and overlies the Ocotillo Formation.^[2]

See also

• Paleontology portal

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California
• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Northwest Territories
• Pliocene California