The Luberon ocher shaping process began around 110 million years ago. Sedimentary formations of sands and organic debris enriched in iron were deposited at the bottom of the shallow sea that then covered Luberon. Once these formations emerged, the iron oxidized and crystallized under the effect of the tropical climate of the time to form goethite and later limonite and hematite over successive alterations and oxidations that created the distinctive range of colors of the ochers.