LOCATION MANDALE            NC

MANDALE SERIES

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, siliceous, subactive, thermic Aeric Epiaquults

TYPICAL PEDON: Mandale silt loam (in an area of Mandale-Callistone-Secross complex, 2 to 6 percent slopes), on a concave 2 percent slope in mixed hardwoods. (Colors are for moist soil, unless otherwise indicated)

A--0 to 5 centimeters; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) silt loam; weak fine angular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine, medium, and coarse roots and common very coarse roots throughout; few fine and medium tubular pores; 2 percent fine subrounded 2- to 75-millimeter quartz fragments; 15 percent medium faint light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) BE material; very strongly acid, pH 4.5, Hellige-Truog; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 15 centimeters thick)

BE--5 to 18 centimeters; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) silt loam; weak medium angular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine and medium and common coarse and few very coarse roots throughout; few fine and common medium tubular pores; 10 percent medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; 2 percent fine subrounded 2- to 75-millimeter quartz fragments; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 18 centimeters thick)

Bt1--18 to 41 centimeters; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine, medium, and coarse and few very coarse roots throughout; few fine and common medium tubular pores; 15 percent medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; 5 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; 2 percent fine subrounded quartz gravel; positive reaction with alpha,alpha-dipyridyl; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.

Bt2--41 to 64 centimeters; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine and medium and few coarse and very coarse roots throughout; few medium tubular pores; 10 percent medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; 20 percent medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 5 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent fine subrounded quartz gravel; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.

Bt3--64 to 81 centimeters; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse roots throughout; few medium tubular pores; 20 percent medium and coarse distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; 30 percent medium and coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 20 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; 12 percent fine subrounded 2- to 75-millimeter quartz fragments; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.

Bt4--81 to 122 centimeters; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 20 percent medium and coarse distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; 30 percent medium and coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 20 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent fine subrounded quartz gravel; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bt horizon, 75 to 125 centimeters.)

BCtg--122 to 140 centimeters; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; few fine and medium roots between peds; and 30 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 30 percent coarse distinct pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 30 centimeters)

C--140 to 163 centimeters; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) sandy loam; massive; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few fine roots in old rock fractures; 15 percent medium prominent light gray (10YR 7/1) iron depletions; 30 percent coarse yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 30 percent coarse distinct pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) masses of oxidized iron; strongly acid, pH 5.5, Hellige-Truog; abrupt irregular boundary. (0 to 35 centimeters thick)

Cr--163 to 198 centimeters; soft argillite bedrock; fractured at intervals of 10 to less than 45 centimeters; weakly cemented; high excavation difficulty; abrupt smooth boundary. (Greater than 25 centimeters thick.)

R--198 to 203 centimeters; hard argillite bedrock; fractured at intervals of 10 to less than 45 centimeters; very strongly cemented; very high excavation difficulty.

TYPE LOCATION: Alamance County, North Carolina; about 13 miles southeast of Burlington, 1.1 miles southwest of the junction of Greenhill Road (SR-2345) and Russel Road (SR-2343) on Greenhill Road, 230 feet north of road in mixed hardwoods. USGS Silk Hope, NC topographic quadrangle; latitude 35 degrees 51 minutes and 6 seconds N. and longitude 79 degrees 19 minutes 15 seconds W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to top of argillic horizon: 12 to 35 centimeters
Depth to base of argillic horizon: 75 to 150 centimeters or more
Depth to bedrock: Greater that 150 centimeters
Depth to seasonal high water table: less than 50 centimeters (perched); November to March
Rock Fragment Content and Kind: 0 to 35 percent, by volume throughout; mostly quartz gravel and argillite channers or parachanners
Soil Reaction: Extremely acid (4.0) to moderately acid (6.0) throughout, unless limed
Effective Cation Exchange Capacity: 5 to 20 milliequivalents per 100 grams of soil in the A horizon; 3 to 10 in E and B horizons; and 5 to 15 in the C horizon

RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS:
O horizon (where present):
Composition--slightly to highly decomposed plant material, mostly decomposed leaf litter

A horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 2 to 6, chroma of 1 to 5
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
Clay content: 4 to 18 percent

E horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 or 4 (value of 8 and chroma of 1 or 2 if non-redoximorphic)
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
Clay content: 4 to 15 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

Eg horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
Clay content: 4 to 15 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

BE horizon, EB horizon, AB horizon, or BA horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 6
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam or loam
Clay content: 6 to 20 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

BEg horizon, EBg horizon, ABg horizon, or BAg horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam or loam
Clay content: 6 to 20 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

Bt horizon (upper part):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 14 to 35 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

Bt horizon (lower part):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, clay, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 18 to 50 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

Btg horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, clay, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 18 to 50 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

BCtg horizon, BCg horizon, or Btg/C horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 6 or 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 10 to 35 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

BC horizon, BCt horizon, Bt/C horizon, or B/C horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 8, chroma of 3 to 6
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 10 to 35 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

C horizon, CB horizon, C/B horizon, or C/Bt horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 8 chroma of 3 or 4
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 20 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

Cg horizon or CBg horizon (where present):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 6 or 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 20 percent
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of yellow, brown, or gray and masses of oxidized iron in shades of red or brown

COMPETING SERIES:
Callistone soils--are in the same family and have paralithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters
Secross soils--are in the same family and have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Elevation Range: 90 to 245 meters
Frost Free Period: 210 to 225 days
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C.
Mean Annual Precipitation: 1100 to 1300 millimeters

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Alamance soils--do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon
Badin soils--do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon
Callison soils--are moderately well drained and have paralithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters
Callistone soils--have paralithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters
Cid soils--are moderately well drained and have lithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters
Georgeville soils--have a fine particle-size control section and do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon
Goldston soils--do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less, have a paralithic contact at a depth of less than 50 centimeters, and have a loamy-skeletal particle-size control section
Gundy soils--have a fine particle-size control section, do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon, have a paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters, and have higher base saturation
Herndon soils--have a fine particle-size control section and do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon
Kirksey soils--are moderately well drained and have lithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters
Lignum soils--have a fine particle-size control section and have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters
Misenheimer soils--have a loamy particle-size control section, have iron depletions throughout the subsoil, and have paralithic contact at a depth of less than 50 centimeters
Montonia soils--have a fine-loamy particle-size control section, do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon and have paralithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters
Nanford soils--have a fine particle-size control section, do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon, and have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters
Pageland soils--are moderately well drained, have paralithic contact at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters, and have higher base saturation
Secrest soils--are moderately well drained and have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters
Secross soils--have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters
Tarrus soils--have a fine particle-size control section, do not have iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within 60 centimeters of the top of the Bt horizon, and have paralithic contact at a depth of 100 to 150 centimeters

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage class (Agricultural): Somewhat poorly drained
Internal Free Water Occurrence: Very shallow or shallow (less than 50 centimeters); common (3 to 5 months); seasonally, very thin to thick (10 to more than 100 centimeters)
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None or very rare for brief periods
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately high or moderately low (0.42 to 4.23 micrometers per second)
Permeability: Moderately slow or slow

USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Dominantly forested with cleared areas primarily in pasture and a very small acreage in cropland
Vegetation: Mixed hardwoods and pine

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: The slate belt of the Piedmont of North Carolina and possibly South Carolina
Extent: Moderate

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Raleigh, North Carolina

SERIES PROPOSED: Alamance County, North Carolina; 2002.

REMARKS: Mandale soils were previously mapped as Orange soils in the 1960 Alamance County Soil Survey Report and were formerly included with the Secrest and Lignum soils in more recent soil mapping of nearby counties. Mandale soils with hue of 10YR in the upper Bt horizon have a positive reaction with alpha, alpha-dipyridyl when saturated.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon--the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 18 centimeters (A and BE horizons)
Argillic horizon--the zone from 18 to 140 centimeters (Bt and BCtg horizons)
Aquic conditions--periodic saturation and reduction within 18 to 140 centimeters of the soil surface, and one or more unsaturated layers within 200 centimeters of the surface, occurring below the periodically saturated zone (episaturation)
Redox concentrations--the zone from 5 to 163 centimeters (BE, Bt, BCtg, and C horizons)
Redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less--the zone from 41 to 163 centimeters (Bt, BCtg, and C horizons)
Paralithic contact--soft bedrock contact at a depth of 163 centimeters (upper boundary of the Cr layer)
Paralithic materials--the zone from 163 to 196 centimeters (Cr horizon)
Presence of Hard bedrock--bedrock contact at 196 centimeters (R horizon)
Series control section--the zone from 0 to 150 centimeters

ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data are not available at his time. Sampling is planned in the near future.

Database Information:
Data Mapunit ID--To be completed
User Pedon ID--To be completed