Faint mottles commonly have the same hue as the color to which they are compared and differ by no more than 1 unit of chroma or 2 units of value. Contrast strongly with the color to which they are compared. Prominent mottles are commonly the most obvious color feature of the section described. Contrast is often not a simple comparison of one color with another but is a visual impression of the prominence of one color against a background commonly involving several colors. Shape, location, and character of boundaries of mottles are indicated as needed.
Shape is described by common words such as streaks, bands, tongues, tubes, and spots.
Location of mottles as related to structure of the soil may be significant. Moisture state and physical state of the dominant color are presumed to apply to the mottles unless the description states otherwise. Alternatively, the colors in the standard moisture state may be given together, followed by the colors at other moisture states. The color of mottles commonly is given only for the standard state unless special significance can be attached to colors at another state. If the mottles are fine and faint so that they cannot be compared easily with the color standards, the Munsell notation should be omitted.