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. A lagoonal facies with clams is present on Peters Mountain. Marine sediments consisting of interbedded sandstones and shales near the top, ranging down to calcareous siltstones and shales near the base.