Named for exposures in upper Reliz Canyon, Reliz Canyon 7.5' quad, Monterey Co, CA, designated as its type locality. Extends from center of Reliz Canyon 7.5' quad to southwestern part of Thompson Canyon 7.5' quad. Divided into: lower member (180 ft thick) of fine- to coarse-grained arkosic sandstone, locally conglomeratic near base; middle member (350 ft thick) of mainly massive siltstone; and upper member (about 1400 ft thick) of massive medium- to coarse-grained arkosic sandstone interbedded with thin units of finer grained sandstone. Measured sections of members included in report. Unconformably overlies pre-Tertiary basement complex; underlies Vaqueros Formation. Considered to be Eocene in age on basis of foraminifers in middle member.

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

Junipero Sandstone, Lucia Shale, and The Rocks Sandstone, all of Thorup (1943) reduced in rank and adopted in ascending order as Junipero Sandstone, Lucia Mudstone, and The Rocks Sandstone Members, respectively, of Reliz Canyon Formation. Age of Reliz Canyon Formation in area of report [Ventana Wilderness and adjacent roadless areas] is late Paleocene to middle Eocene on basis of late Paleocene calcareous algae (Graham, 1979) and early to middle Eocene foraminifers.

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