Espada Formation
| Espada Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Late Jurassic, Late Cretaceous | |
Beds of the Espada Formation in the western Santa Ynez Mountains. | |
| Type | Sedimentary |
| Underlies | Jalama Formation, Sierra Blanca Limestone, others |
| Overlies | Honda Formation, Franciscan Formation |
| Thickness | Up to 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale, sandstone |
| Location | |
| Region | Coastal and interior southern California |
| Country | United States |
| Type section | |
| Named by | Thomas Dibblee (1950) |
The Espada Formation is a sedimentary rock formation widespread in Santa Barbara County, California. Of late Jurassic to Cretaceous age, the unit consists primarily of shale with some interbedded thin layers of sandstone, conglomerate, and limestone.