In some pedons the chroma ranges to 4. It has weak or moderate, fine or medium, granular or subangular blocky structure or it is massive. Some pedons have a mineral surface layer of sand or coarse sand that is 4 to 10 inches thick. The subsurface and bottom tiers, above the 2C horizon, have hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of 0 to 3. Chroma or value or both may change from 0.5 to 2 units upon rubbing.
Broken faces become darker upon brief exposure to air.
The subsurface tier is dominated by sapric material with a rubbed fiber content of less than 16 percent of the organic volume. The subsurface and bottom tiers have platy structure or are massive. They are very friable or friable. Unrubbed organic material resembles herbaceous and woody plant tissues. The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4.