The lithology and sedimentology of the unit reflect the different positions within the Umbria-Marche Basin, where the layers located towards Pozzale are of typical hemipelagic nature, lacking proper amounts of carbonate sediments.

[2] By contrast, towards Colle d’orlando and Fonte Cerro areas the influence of a nearby emerged landmass is evident, based on the amount of reworked calcareous sediments.

Additionally there is a record of changes on the fauna, specially bivalves that suggests a variable flow regime at the major wave base as a result of a storm event.

[9] The biota of the formation comprise mostly marine microinvertebrates and algae, with the presence of ammonites and abundant pollen in the Middle Toarcian sections.

[13] Foraminiferal analysis had been done, revealing changes in the salinity, with Spirillina as the most abundant genus found, followed by Prodentalina, Eoguttulina, Lenticulina, Nodosaria, Lingulonodosaria and Pseudonodosaria.

[14] Invertebrate remains are mainly brachiopods (Pseudokingena, Nannirhynchia and Lokutella, among others) and ammonites; Eodactylites, Pleuroceras, Canavaria, Trinacrioceras, Lioceratoides, and Praepolyplectus as predominant genera.

The main source area for the clay could have been the palaeosoils developed on the Carbonate Latium-Abruzzo Platform, although more recent studies prove a continental origin.

There is a curious reduction of the Cheirolepidiaceae genus Classopollis, abundant on coeval associations from northern Europe, Portugal, northeast Italy and Israel, as a possible effect of paleoclimatic changes.