It was deposited about 1660 million years (Ma) ago, corresponding to the Statherian period.

The Abajo Lithic Arenite consists of various metasedimentary rocks interbedded with amphibolites interpreted as metamorphosed gabbroic dikes.

[3] The formation is interpreted as sediments deposed during a period of volcanic activity.

[1] Detrital zircon grains in the formation are almost identical in age and isotope composition to the underlying Sevilleta metarhyolite, suggesting that the sediments of the quartzite were weathered almost exclusively from local sources.

The minimum zircon age is about 1660 Ma,[4] and radiometric dating of underlying and overlying formations place the age of the formation at about this time.