These soils formed in residuum, affected by soil creep in the upper part, that has weathered from felsic to mafic, high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks such as granite, gneiss, hornblende gneiss, mica gneiss, schist, and amphibolite. Near the type location, the mean annual air temperature is about 52 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is about 52 inches. Slope ranges from 6 to 95 percent. Solum thickness ranges from 20 to 50 inches. Depth to hard bedrock is 40 to 60 inches.
Reaction is very strongly to slightly acid.
Content of rock fragments commonly ranges from 0 to 15 percent by may range up to 35 percent. Fragments are of gravel, cobble, and stone size. Flakes of mica range from few to common in the A and B horizons, and from few to many in the C horizon. The A or Ap horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 4. Thin A2 or AB horizons are present in some pedons.