Soil series profile

Conic soil series

Conic is a well drained soil with a stony loam surface, mapped on 329,081 acres in 5 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#1002 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Dystrudepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 4.9
Mapped area: 329k

Typical Conic profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Conic horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Stony loam	4.9	14%	45%	5%
3–9 in (Bw)	Stony loam	5.1	14%	45%	1%
9–18 in (BC)	Cobbly sandy loam	5.5	14%	67%	0.2%
18–29 in (Cd)	Very cobbly coarse sandy loam	5.9	8%	69%	0.1%
29–80 in (2R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Conic map unit (Eveleth, bouldery-Conic, bouldery-Aquepts, rubbly complex, 0 to 18 percent slopes, very rocky, survey area MN075). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Conic soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Conic soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.9. Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 98% of mapped Conic acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is stony loam (86% of mapped Conic acres).

100% of mapped Conic acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 88% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Conic soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Conic soil is found

Mapped acres

Conic is mapped in Minnesota and New York.

Counties with the most mapped Conic soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
St. Louis County, MN	132,845	3.3%
Cook County, MN	96,533	10.3%
Lake County, MN	90,312	6.7%
Clinton County, NY	6,880	1.0%
Koochiching County, MN	2,511	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Conic acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Conic acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Conic acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.8%
Not rated	0.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Conic acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 10–25% (median 12%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Conic acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Conic acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 12%

C: slow infiltration 2%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 86%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Not rated <1%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Conic acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Conic acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	11.6%
C: slow infiltration	1.9%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	86.3%
A/D: D as is, A if drained	0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained	0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.2%

Sources & data dates

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
Data date: SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
Scope: All map unit components named Conic (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 329,081 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Conic components. The profile comes from the single largest Conic component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Conic.