Type J

Type J is the highest member of the catena (slope sequence of hill soils). It is a minor soil found on the crests and steeper parts of the Ordovician hills. It is shallow and stony with a profile that shows little texture or color change. Textures are no heavier than silty clay loam and the parent rock is usually less that 40 cm from the surface. It occurs over a wide range of rocks, varying from fine grained sandstone to shale, and in a few instances, schist.

Typical Profile

The surface horizon is a dark to dark grey-brown (10YR3/2) loam or sandy loam, with a moderately well developed fine sub-angular blocky structure, and a loose consistence; it contains light to moderate amounts of sandstone fragments and quartz floaters. At an average depth to 7 cm, this horizon rests on a dull brown to dull reddish brown (5YR4/6) sandy gritty loam or clay loam with numerous sandstone or shale fragments. The stone increases in amount, until at a depth between 23 and 46 cm it merges into weathered parent rock.

Variations

Where the soil has developed over shale or schist like rocks, the profile is somewhat deeper and it may assume a distinct silty texture. In this case, red and yellow colors just above the rock are common.