The formation has a maximum thickness of about 600 metres (2,000 ft) and comprises sandstones, shales, siltstones and conglomerates, was deposited in a fluvial environment, alternating between a meandering and braided river setting.

The formation is a lithological unit with an approximate maximum thickness of 600 metres (2,000 ft), deposited in the Waterberg Basin where it overlies the Damara basement,[1] and is unconformably overlain by the Early Jurassic Etjo Sandstone.

[3] The Omingonde Formation splits naturally into four units, each comprising several upward-fining cycles reflecting distinct architectural characteristics.

Thicknesses and architectural style of the units vary laterally and are influenced by syn-sedimentary tectonic activity of the Waterberg-Omaruru Lineament.

North of the Ameib Line, which is part of the Waterberg-Omaruru Fault zone, no rocks of Karoo age are preserved until the Otjongundu Basin, which hosts a 350 metres (1,150 ft) thick conglomeratic red-bed sequence that probably correlates with the Omingonde Formation.

In the lower units, the channel bodies are 80 to 150 metres (260 to 490 ft) wide and the degree of lateral amalgamation is similar to the Middle Omingonde Formation, but vertical stacking is less pronounced and decreases systematically upwards.

Up-section, the maturity of channel fills successively increases until well rounded medium to coarse grained sandstones dominate.

The architecture remains cyclic with the channel facies alternating with laminated fine grained sandstones and bioturbated mudstones.

[8] The Middle Omingonde Formation has been interpreted as a mobile braided stream system due to the well developed trough cross-bedding and upward-fining character of poorly confined channel bodies, together with their sheet-like appearance and ubiquitous vertical and lateral amalgamation.

The proximal deposits of the Erongo area show textural and grain size characteristics of debris flows that amalgamated to form fault-bounded alluvial fan aprons.

[8] The syn-sedimentary tectonic control on Omingonde deposition is recorded by both thickening of strata towards the Waterberg-Omaruru Fault and by the pronounced shift of the adjacent depocenter, the latter suggesting left-lateral oblique slip movement.