In most pedons, at least some part of the B horizon is strongly acid. The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. The E horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 through 6, and chroma of 2 through 6. Mottles and colors with chroma of 2 or less are in the lower part of the B horizon in some pedons.
Texture is silty clay loam, silt loam, loam, or their channery analogues.
The content of sand, coarser than very fine, averages less than 10 percent. Volume of shale fragments, which are less than 3 inches in diameter, ranges from 10 to 25 percent. The combined fine sand or coarser sand and the shale fragments are 15 percent or more by weight in the control section. The Cr horizon is weathered, soft, acid, micaceous shale. In some pedons the upper part is loam or silt loam with rock-like structure and shale fragments.