They formed in residuum that weathered from acid red shale, fine- grained sandstone, and siltstone. They are on uplands in the northern Piedmont and northern Appalachian Mountains. Slopes range from 2 to 65 percent. The solum and the depth to bedrock range from 20 to 40 inches. Shale, siltstone, and fine-grained sandstone fragments in individual horizons range from 10 to 60 percent in the solum and from 50 to 90 percent in the substratum.
Reaction ranges from very strongly acid through moderately acid.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 through 5, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is loam or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. The E horizon, where present, has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, with value and chroma of 3 through 6. It is loam, silt loam, or sandy loam in the fine-earth fraction. The BA or BE horizon, where present, has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, with value and chroma of 3 through 6.