Named for Italian Flat. Type section designated at roadcut exposures extending discontinuously for 1 km along Salmon Creek, 2 km southeast of Italian Flat in sec. 15 and 22, T24S R7E, Burnett Peak 7.5' quad, Monterey Co., CA. Reference section is exposed in bend of Nacimiento River west of Beasley Flat in sec. 11, T25S R8E, Bryson 7.5'quad, San Luis Obispo Co., CA. Units extends southeast across the Burnett Peak 7.5' quad and into southwest corner of the Bryson 7.5' quad and may extend 6 km to northwest of the Burnett Peak quad. Is composed of thick-bedded marine sandstone. Near type contains thin-bedded sandstone and silty to sandy, interbedded mudstone. 400 m is exposed at type; is as much as 975 m thick. Conformably underlies Shut-in Formation (new) in the Bryson 7.5' quad. Uppermost part is cut out by faults in the Burnett Peak 7.5' quad. Overlies Steve Creek Formation (new). Age is Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian age) based on fossils [pollen and dinoflagellates] (Butler, 1984).

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).

Unit geographically extended into report area. Described as thick-bedded marine sandstone with thin-bedded limestone and mudstone. Age is Late Cretaceous.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).