Sedimentary rocks in the Mecca Hills record a 3-4 Myr history of basin evolution and deformation within the southern San Andreas fault (SAF) zone. Detailed geologic mapping, measured sections, lithofacies analysis, and preliminary paleomagnetic data indicate that sedimentation and deformation in the Mecca Hills resulted from evolution of local fault zone complexities superimposed on regional subsidence and uplift. Sediment was derived from sources northeast of the SAF and transported southeast along the fault zone in large rivers, alluvial fans, and a smaller fault-bounded lake. Inversion of the Painted Canyon fault from oblique SW-side down to SW-side up slip was the main control on local deposition and deformation. Regional controls are suggested by an angular unconformity observed in the Mecca and Indio Hills along ~50 km of the SAF and synchronous post-740 ka uplift northeast of the SAF along ~80 km of the fault zone.

The late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) Entrada Sandstone has been divided into two general facies associations consisting primarily of eolian sandstones in eastern Utah and "muddy" redbeds in central Utah. Sedimentary structures within the redbed portion are explained by the interfingering of inland sabkha, alluvial, and eolian depositional systems. A complete succession from the most basinward facies to the most terrestrial facies in the Entrada Sandstone consists of inland sabkha facies overlain by either alluvial or eolian facies. Where both alluvial and eolian facies interfinger, alluvial facies overlain by eolian facies is considered a normal succession. Sequence boundaries, often identified by more basinward facies overlying more landward facies, are observed in the Entrada Sandstone and are extrapolated for the first time across much of Utah, including both the eolian-dominated and redbed-dominated areas. Using these sequence boundaries as well as recent tephrochronologic studies, three time correlative surfaces have been identified in the Entrada. Based on the facies interpretations at each surface, five paleogeographic reconstructions and five isopach maps have been created, illustrating two major intervals of erg expansion and the location of the Jurassic retroarc foreland basin's potential forebulge. Eolian (erg-margin) sandstones pinch-out into muddy redbeds creating combination traps, as evidenced by dead oil (tar) and bleached eolian sandstone bodies within the Entrada. The Entrada Sandstone is a world-class analog for similar systems, such as the Gulf of Mexico's Norphlet Sandstone, where eolian facies grade into muddy redbed facies.