Dark gray shales and thin sandstones. A variety of fossils have been reported from the Rochester farther north, but in the Field Camp area the shales are not particularly fossiliferous. These hematite layers may be up to 8 inches thick and are typically bright red. Sometimes the hematite is oolitic. The red beds are marine as ostracods and brachiopods can be found in them as well as the olive-green shales.
Quartz pebbles are often common, particularly at the base.
Two zones of interbedded shales are present in the Tuscarora. Trace fossils are abundant, particularly large horizontal traces. Upper and lower contacts are gradational and are placed at the lowest and highest red beds, respectively. Generally interpreted as a nearshore and shoreline deposit. The red color is very bright, like the Hampshire Formation, and unlike the darker reds of the Rose Hill Formation.