LOCATION FILION MIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Epiaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Filion loam, stony - on a level area once cleared but now reverting to hardwood forest. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 5 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; friable; many roots; about 15 percent cobbles and gravel, and 20 percent stones; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
Bg--5 to 14 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) loam; common medium distinct olive (5Y 5/3) and few fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) mottles; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few roots; about 10 percent cobbles and gravel; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 18 inches thick)
Cdg1--14 to 32 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) loam; many coarse faint gray (5Y 5/1) mottles; strong very thick platy structure; very firm; about 5 percent cobbles and gravel; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Cdg2--32 to 54 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) clay loam; common medium distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) mottles; massive; very firm; about 5 percent cobbles and gravel; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
Cdg3--54 to 60 inches; gray (N 5/0) loam; massive; very firm; about 5 percent cobbles and gravel; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Huron County, Michigan; about one mile north of Harbor Beach; 1,100 feet east and 660 feet south of the northwest corner, sec. 1, T. 16 N., R. 15 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum typically is about 16 inches and ranges from 12 to 24 inches. Depth to free carbonates is 10 inches or less. Depth to very firm dense till is 24 inches or less. Stones on the surface range from 20 to 35 percent. Cobble content ranges from 0 to 10 percent in the A and from 0 to 8 percent in the rest of the pedon. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 10 percent in the A horizon and from 0 to 15 percent in the rest of the pedon.
The A horizon has color value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. It is loam or sandy loam. It ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.
The B horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 1 or 2. It is dominantly loam but some pedons have thin subhorizons of silt loam.
The Cd horizons have hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, or are neutral; value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 0 to 3. They are loam or clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Baldock series. Baldock soils are in areas of low rainfall and have Bk horizons.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Filion soils are on till plains and glacial lake terraces. Slope gradients are less than 2 percent. The soils formed in loam or clay loam, calcareous till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 29 to 37 inches, and the mean annual temperature from 45 to 52 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Aubarque, Badaxe, Covert, Kilmanagh and Shebeon soils. Aubarque and Badaxe soils are coarse-loamy, are somewhat poorly drained, and are on more sloping areas above the Filion soils. In addition, the Badaxe soils have very firm, dense till at depths of more than 24 inches. Covert soils are sandy, are moderately well drained, and are on narrow ridges above the Filion soils. Kilmanagh soils are noncalcareous and have very firm dense till at depths of more than 24 inches. Kilmanagh soils are in topographic positions similar to those of the Filion soils. Shebeon soils are somewhat poorly drained, have very firm dense till at depths of more than 24 inches and are on more sloping areas above the Filion soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Runoff is very slow or ponded. Permeability is moderately slow or moderate in the solum and very slow in the Cd horizon.
USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all of the Filion soils are forested or are reverting to forest. Principle species are green and black ash, black willow, red and silver maple, eastern cottonwood, quaking aspen, and northern white cedar.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Thumb area of lower Michigan and possibly Ohio. The series is inextensive with a total of approximately 4,000 acres.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Huron County, Michigan, 1978.
REMARKS: Classification was adjusted to agree with ST Issue #17 on 6 Sept 94 by CLG. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 5 inches (A horizon); cambic horizon - the zone from 5 to 14 inches (Bg horizon); aquic soil moisture regime.