Imperial Formation


The Imperial Formation is the name of two distinct and unrelated geologic formations in North America, of different geologic Eras.

Separate formations

Canadian Paleozoic Era formation

The older Imperial Formation occurs in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It preserves fossils dating back to the Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era.

Californian Cenozoic Era formation

The younger Imperial Formation occurs in the Colorado Desert, in Imperial County of Southern California. It dates to the Zanclean−Lower Pliocene stage of the Pliocene Epoch, during the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era.
It underlies the Palm Spring Formation, and overlies the Ocotillo Formation.