LOCATION MUNDELEIN          IL+IN WI
Established Series
Rev. GOW-JEP-JWS-DEC
05/2008

MUNDELEIN SERIES


The Mundelein series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in loess or silty material and the underlying calcareous stratified loamy Wisconsinan outwash on outwash plains and lake plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 890 mm (35 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 9 degrees C (49 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Mundelein silt loam - on a northeast-facing slope of 1 percent at an elevation of 237 meters (778 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 18 cm (0 to 7 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silt loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; common very fine roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

A--18 to 33 cm (7 to 13 inches); black (N 2.5/0) silt loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; common very fine roots; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 46 cm (10 to 18 inches).]

AB--33 to 43 cm (13 to 17 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silt loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct black (10YR 2/1) organic coatings on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 inches) thick]

Bt1--43 to 53 cm (17 to 21 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few distinct black (10YR 2/1) organic coatings on faces of peds; few distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organo-clay films and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--53 to 66 cm (21 to 26 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) and brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; 2 percent gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--66 to 79 cm (26 to 31 inches); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; 4 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 25 to 71 cm (10 to 28 inches).]

2BC--79 to 107 cm (31 to 42 inches); 65 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 and 10YR 5/6) and 35 percent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) stratified silt loam and loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; friable; common fine black (10YR 2/1) very weakly cemented iron-manganese concretions throughout; 8 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. [8 to 38 cm (3 to 15 inches) thick]

2C--107 to 152 cm (42 to 60 inches); 35 percent light brown (7.5YR 6/3), 35 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), and 30 percent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) stratified loam and silt loam; massive; friable; common fine black (10YR 2/1) very weakly cemented iron-manganese concretions throughout; 6 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Lake County, Illinois; about 1.6 kilometers (1mile) north of Grayslake; 658 meters (2,158 feet) north and 739 meters (2,425 feet) west of the southeast corner of sec. 14, T. 45 N., R. 10 E.; USGS Antioch, Illinois, topographic quadrangle; lat. 42 degrees 22 minutes 38 seconds N. and long. 88 degrees 01 minutes 59 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 414949 easting and 4692180 northing, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to the base of soil development is 61 to 132 cm (24 to 52 inches) and commonly extends beyond the depth to carbonates. The depth to carbonates and horizons with greater than 15 percent sand ranges from 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches). The mollic epipedon is 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 inches) thick. The reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral in the upper part of the series control section and from slightly acid to moderately alkaline in the lower part.

The Ap or A horizon has hue of 10YR, or neutral, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of 0 to 2. It is silt loam.

The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4 and commonly contains redoximorphic features that have chroma of 2 through 8. It is silty clay loam or silt loam.

The 2Bt or 2BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y; value of 4 to 6; and chroma of 1 through 8. It commonly is stratified. Textures include silt loam, loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam.

The 2C horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, or 5GY; value of 4 to 6; and chroma of 1 to 8. It is stratified. Textures include silt, silt loam, loam, fine sandy loam, and thin strata of fine sand, very fine sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy very fine sand. Average clay content is less than 27 percent. Average sand content is less than 70 percent. Rock fragment content is less than 15 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arrowsmith, Bearpen, Brenton, Edwardsville, Elburn, Grundelein, Hacreek, Harco, Higginsville, Keller, Lafayette, Lawndale, Lisbon, Lismod, Loran, Muscatune, Raub, Rooks, Rowley, and Shannondale soils. Arrowsmith, Harco, Higginsville, and Muscatune soils contain less than 10 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Bearpen, Brenton, Edwardsville, Elburn, Hacreek, Rowley, and Shannondale soils do not contain carbonates within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Grundelein and Lafayette soils contain greater than 15 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Keller, Raub, and Rooks soils average greater than 27 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section. Lawndale soils contain greater than 70 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Lisbon and Lismod soils are not stratified and, therefore, have a well graded sand fraction throughout the lower part of the series control section. Loran soils have a paralithic contact within the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Mundelein soils are on nearly level or gently sloping parts of relatively undissected outwash plains and lake plains of Wisconsinan Age. The topography is rather smooth and uniform, and slope gradients range from 0 to 5 percent. The soils formed in loess or silty material and the underlying calcareous stratified loamy outwash. Mean annual air temperature ranges between 7 and 11 degrees C (45 and 52 degrees F), mean annual precipitation ranges between 740 to 1020 mm (29 and 40 inches), frost free days range between 140 and 180, and elevation ranges between 183 to 311 meters (600 and 1,020 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Barrington, Wauconda, and Pella soils. The moderately well drained Barrington soils are on higher ridges and more rolling slopes and are in a drainage sequence with Mundelein soils. Wauconda soils are on similar nearby landscapes and do not have a mollic epipedon. The poorly drained Pella soils are also in a drainage sequence with Mundelein soils.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. An intermittent high water table is at a depth of 30 to 61 cm (1 foot to 2 feet) below the surface between January and May in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is low to medium. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high (4,23 to 14.11 micrometers per second). Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Commonly cropped to corn, soybeans, and small grain. Natural vegetation is probably prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Illinois, southeastern Wisconsin, and northern Indiana. Extent is moderate in MLRAs 95A, 95B, and 110.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kendall County, Illinois, 1973.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 43 cm (17 inches) (Ap, A, and AB horizons); argillic horizon - the zone from 43 to 79 cm (17 to 31 inches) (Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3 horizons); lithologic discontinuity at 79 cm (31 inches) (the contact between the Bt3 and 2BC horizons).


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.