134 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
during minerals partly disintegrate; the small constituent of iron 
becomes oxidized and stains the formation red. Another early 
effect of decay is the obliteration of the stratification lines giving 
the formation the massive appearance seen in all shallow cuts. 
The iron-clay pebbles so abundant in some localities on and near 
the surface are also formed in the decay of this formation. Three 
well marked stages of decay may often be seen in a single exposure. 
Nearest the bottom of the deepest cuts the material appears mot¬ 
tled and blotched, being iron-stained in streaks and patches where 
surface waters have permeated. This stratum of least decay is 
variable in thickness, often amounting to eight or ten feet. Above 
this, nearer the surface, is a more completely decayed stratum. 
This is uniformly colored red, and is usually more or less loamy 
in character. Above this red loam is found a surface stratum of 
loose sand. The sand may be ochre yellow or light yellow. The 
amount of clay remaining in the sand and in this top stratum is 
determined by drainage conditions, but usually sufficient clay re¬ 
mains to give a loamy character to the sand. 
The loose top sands and the red clay loams form the soils. 
However, the character of the soils is further affected by the con 
ditions under which it has accumulated, and several soil types are 
evident. 
In the more or less hilly or rolling sections the loose top sand 
does not accumulate to any considerable thickness, being removed 
by surface wash as rapidly as formed. In such areas the soil is 
red in color and loamy in character, and has as a sub-soil the red 
clay loam described above. Soils of this type cover large areas in 
Leon county. In the government soil surveys they are classed 
as the Orangeburg series of soils. 
While this type of soil is found on the slopes and on the roll 
ing lands, generally, on the level upland plateaus a different type 
of soil accumulates. On the level plateaus there is practically no 
surface wash and the sand resulting from the decay of the clayey 
sands accumulates to a considerable depth. These sands, moreover, 
are subject to the continued leaching effect of the rains. The re¬ 
sult is that most of the loose clay particles are removed from the 
sand and carried to a greater depth. Under these conditions the 
sands lose their bright red color and become ochre colored or pale 
yellow. These pale and more or less loamy sands occupy the level 
plateaus in Leon county. They are classed in the government re¬ 
ports as Norfolk series of soils. Several types of Norfolk soils are 
distinguished depending upon the texture of the soil and the char¬ 
acter of the sub-soil. 
