[3] The remainder of the Elbert Formation consists of thin-bedded brownish-gray dolomite and sandstone, green to red shale, and small amounts of anhydrite.

[4] The McCracken Sandstone Member is interpreted as shallow marine sand deposited during a rise in sea level (a transgression).

The upper member contains casts of salt crystals, stromatolites, and fish fossils suggesting it was deposited in a tidal flat environment during a time of increasing sea depth and tectonic stability.

[2] The Elbert Formation extends in the subsurface into Utah, where the McCracken Sandstone Member is an important petroleum reservoir at Lisbon Valley.

[9] Evans, Maurer, and Holm-Denoma recommended reassigning the McCracken Sandstone to the underlying Ignacio Formation in 2019.