LOCATION ZELA MIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Histic Humaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Zela muck - in a forested area of northern white cedar. (Colors are for moist conditions unless otherwise stated.)
Oa--0 to 9 inches; black (N 2/0) muck; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine to coarse roots; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 9 inches thick)
A--9 to 12 inches; black (10YR 2/1) extremely gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; single grain; loose; many fine to roots; about 85 percent gravel; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Cg--12 to 35 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly sand; single grain; loose; single grain; loose; few fine roots; common coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) iron accumulations in the lower part of the horizon; about 55 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
C--35 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly sand; single grain; loose; about 60 percent gravel; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Mackinac County, Michigan; about 3 miles east of Pointe Aux Pins on Bois Blanc Island; 3,270 feet south and 2,000 feet west of the most easterly northeast corner of sec. 28, T. 39 N., R. 1 W. Bois Blanc Island.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Gravel content ranges from 35 to 95 percent and is derived primarily from limestone.
The Oa horizon has hue of 10YR or is neutral; value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 0 to 3. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or is neutral, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 0 to 3. It is the very gravelly or extremely gravelly analogues of loam or sandy loam. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
The C horizons have value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. They are very gravelly or extremely gravelly analogues of sand or coarse sand. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Zela soils are on low beach ridges and swales. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 31 inches; and the mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 43 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Alpena, Esau and Shelter soils. Alpena soils are excessively drained and are on higher landscape positions. Esau soils are somewhat poorly drained and are on slightly higher landscape positions. Shelter soils are somewhat poorly drained and are finer textured throughout. They are on slightly higher landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. These soils have an apparent seasonal high water table that ranges from one foot above the surface to one foot below the surface at some times during the period from October to June. Runoff is very slow or ponded. Permeability is very rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used as woodland. Northern white cedar, balsam fir, quaking aspen, and paper birch are the principal tree species.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, within a few miles of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mackinac County, Michigan. 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: histic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 9 inches; (Oa horizon); aquic soil moisture regime -based on the histic epipedon (Oa horizon).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil Interpretation Record No.: MI0026