In the Big Hatchet Mountains the Upper Devonian Percha Shale rests unconformably on the Upper Ordovician Montoya Formation and is overlain by strata referred to the upper part of Sabin's Portal Formation. To date, this is the farthest east the Portal has been observed. Devonian rocks record a shallowing-up sequence from the lower Percha (Ready Pay-Box Members) deposited in quiet water to the Portal grainstone deposited at or above wave base. The Portal contains Upper Devonian (Famennian) conodonts indicative of Sandberg's shallow-water polygnathid-icriodid biofacies.

Mississippian strata, represented by the Escabrosa Group, contain Early Mississippian (Osagean) conodonts at the base. Lower Mississippian strata record 2 Osagean cycles of submergence and emergence. Encroachment began in the early Osagean (isosticha-upper crenulata Zone) when the basal oolitic grainstones of the Bugle member of the Keating Formation were deposited. A shallowing-up sequence followed, culminating in the deposition of high-energy grainstones of the upper Bugle. The end of Bugle deposition is marked by a second submergence (lower typicus-Anchoralis latus Zone) when argillaceous wackestones were deposited. This deepening continued during deposition of the basal Witch member. Regression began during deposition of the Witch, as suggested by the vertical sequence from fine-g ained mudstones to high-energy grainstones. This shallowing sequence continues into the lower Hatchita Formation.

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