When dry, the soil has cracks extending to the Cr horizon. The organic matter content ranges from 1 to 3 percent in the upper 10 inches. Coarse fragments throughout the profile consist of rounded metamorphic rock, quartz and quartzite. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 10 percent and cobbles content ranges from 0 to 25 percent. The gravel and cobbles are often remnants of a mantle from an overlying landscape.
Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.
An abrupt change from soil to substratum is characteristic. The degree of hardness is variable but is usually weakly or moderately consolidated. There are no other soils in this family. Pentz and Zaca series are similar soils in other families. Zaca soils are calcareous throughout.