Value is 5 or 6 and chroma is 3 or 4. Texture typically is sandy loam or fine sandy loam or gravelly analogs but some pedons have subhorizons of loam or loamy sand or their gravelly analogs. Sand content averages 55 percent or more in the 2C horizon but some pedons have subhorizons in the 2C with less than 55 percent sand. The 2C horizon contains carbonates. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 10 to 40 percent.
Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
Baraboo, Dubuque, and Knowles soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Bertrand, Fayette, Martinsburg, Menfro, Navlys, Palermo, Rozetta, Ruma, Seaton, St. Charles, Stookey, Sylvan, and Yellowriver soils have loess or other silty deposits more than 40 inches thick. Blackhammer soils are stratified in the lower part of the series control section. Camden, Flagg, Greenridge, Hackers, Jemerson, Lambeau, and Ridgway soils do not have free carbonates within the series control section. La Farge and Marseilles soils have a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.