A transgressive-regressive sedimentation sequence is recorded in a band of middle Eocene strata a few miles wide. An abundance of primary sedimentary structures, along with interfingering relationships and paleontology, define 12 lithofacies representing depositional environments including nearshore shelf, outer and inner barrier island, tidal flats and channels, lagoon and lagoonal delta. Tide-influenced sedimentary features are well defined and include meandering and abandoned tidal channels, oppositely inclined superimposed cross-strata, interlaminated mud and sand along the basal and lateral accretion surfaces of migrating tidal channels, flaser and wavy bedding, and storm-deposited strata.

The first sedimentary half cycle was transgressive and documents the compression of dominantly tidal-flat and lagoonal environments against a steep, hilly coastline by the overall rising sea level of early and medial middle Eocene time. The inboard tidal-flat and lagoonal mudstones (Delmar and Friars Formations) and outboard tidal flat, channel and bar sandstones (Torrey Sandstone and Scripps Formation) interfinger in a landward-climbing, 3-dimensional sedimentary mass that parallels and meets the basement with a pronounced unconformity.

The second half cycle was regressive and occurred in the medial and late middle Eocene. It formed due to the influx of coarser, more angular sediment from the adjacent basement into the narrowed paralic zone. This westward (seaward) progradation of lagoonal delta and inner tidal-flat sandy sediments occurred despite the still-rising sea level.

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