LOCATION WHITTEMORE         MI

WHITTEMORE SERIES

The Whittemore series consists of shallow to ortstein, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy glaciofluvial material 20 to 40 inches thick and in the underlying clayey lacustrine material on lake plains and outwash plains. Permeability is rapid in the upper sandy material, moderate or moderately rapid in the ortstein material and very slow in the underlying clayey material. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 29 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 44 degrees
F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, frigid, shallow, ortstein Typic Duraquods

TYPICAL PEDON: Whittemore sand, from an area of Whittemore-Springport complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 9 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sand, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)

E--9 to 12 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) sand, white (10YR 8/1) and light gray (10YR 7/1) dry; single grain; loose; pockets of very dark gray (10YR 3/1) Ap material and black (N 2/0) burned roots; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 11 inches thick)

Bhsm--12 to 17 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2 and 5YR 3/3) sand; strong medium and coarse platy structure; firm; ortstein occupies 90 percent of the horizon and is strongly cemented; ortstein occurs as a nearly continuous layer; few fine prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)

Bw1--17 to 23 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; loose; many coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) and common medium distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron accumulations; few fine prominent grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) iron depletions; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (5 to 12 inches thick)

Bw2--23 to 29 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of iron accumulation; slightly alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.

Bw3--29 to 35 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; single grain; loose; thin strata (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of brown (10YR 5/3) silt; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron accumulations; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw2 and Bw3 horizons is 0 to 11 inches)

2Bt--35 to 44 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) silty clay; strong coarse angular blocky structure parting to strong medium and fine angular blocky; firm; common discontinuous distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay films; many medium strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron accumulations; many fine and medium prominent greenish gray (5GY 6/1) iron depletions; about 1 percent coarse fragments; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)

2C--44 to 80 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) silty clay; massive with widely spaced vertical fractures; firm; few fine white (10YR 8/1) carbonate coats; common coarse prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) iron accumulations; many medium prominent gray (N 6/0) iron depletions; about 1 percent coarse fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Iosco County, Michigan, about 10 miles west of Tawas City, 900 feet east and 550 feet south of the northwest corner of section 36, T. 22 N., R. 6 E., USGS topographic quadrangle Floyd Lake, Michigan; lat. 44 degrees, 15 minutes, 41 seconds N., long. 83 degrees, 39 minutes, 38 seconds W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the soil above the ortstein layer ranges from 6 to 20 inches. The thickness of the sandy material and depth to carbonates ranges from 18 to 39 inches. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 5 percent throughout.

The Ap or A horizon has a hue of 10YR or is neutral, value of 3, and chroma of 0 to 1. The E horizon has a hue of 10YR, value of 6 to 7, and chroma of 2. Reaction is moderately acid.

The Bhsm horizon has a hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of 2 or 3. Greater than 90 percent of the horizon is cemented. Cementation ranges from weak to strong. Reaction is moderately acid.

Some pedons have Bsm horizons with a hue of 10YR, 7.5YR, or 5YR value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 6.

The Bw1 horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 4 to 6. It is sand. Reaction is moderately acid.

The Bw2 and Bw3 horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 3 or 4. Textures are loamy sand or sand. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to slightly alkaline.

The 2Bt horizon has a hue of 5YR, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is silty clay or clay. Reaction is moderately alkaline.

The 2C horizon has a hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 and chroma of 3. It is silty clay. Reaction is moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Whittemore soils are on lake plains and outwash plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in sandy glaciofluvial material 20 to 40 inches thick and in the underlying clayey lacustrine material. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 30 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 43 to 45 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Whittemore soils are associated with the poorly drained Springport and Wakeley soils and the somewhat poorly drained McIvor(P) and Manary(P) soils. McIvor soils have a sandy cap thicker than 40 inches. Manary soils do not have spodic horizons.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. These soils have a perched seasonal high water table that ranges from 1 to 3 feet below the surface at some time during the period from October to May. Runoff is slow. Permeability is rapid in the upper sandy material, moderate or moderately rapid in the ortstein material and very slow in the underlying clayey material.

USE AND VEGETATION: Only a small portion of this soil has been cleared. It is used mainly for woodland. Woodlands consist of mixed northern hardwoods, pines, and eastern hemlock.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern lower Michigan. The series is of small extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Iosco County, Michigan, 1994. Source of name is a town in Iosco County.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 12 inches (A and E horizons)
albic horizon - the zone from 9 to 12 inches (E horizon)
spodic horizon - the zone from 12 to 17 inches (Bhsm horizon)
argillic horizon - the zone from 35 to 44 inches (2Bt horizon)
aquic subgroup - iron depletions within 30 inches of the surface and in a spodic horizon.
Particle-size control section - - the zone from 0 to 12 inches (Ap and E horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: For laboratory data see NSSL S93MI-069-001. Soil Interpretation Record No.: MI0725