The formation consisting of a lower unit of calcareous sandstones and an upper sequence of shales dates to the Early Cretaceous period; Late Aptian epoch and in Quipile has a measured thickness of 255 metres (837 ft) with large regional variations.

The formation was defined as a thicker sequence and named in 1969 by Cáceres and Etayo after Socotá, a vereda of Apulo, Cundinamarca.

[1] The name Socotá in Muysccubun, the language of the native Muisca, means either "Land of the Sun and farmfields" or "Good harvest".

[2] The Socotá Formation has a maximum thickness of 600 metres (2,000 ft), and is characterised by a lower sequence of calcareous sandstones and an upper part of shales.

[7] The Socotá Formation is apart from its type locality, found from Viotá in the south to Útica in the north.