Mottles, Mottling, Mottled or Non-Matrix Color

segregations within the soil matrix with different color or shades of color interspersed with the dominant (matrix) color. Discussion—The NCSS reserves the term mottles for color variations that cannot be associated with compositional properties of the soil, whereas color variations attributable to compositional variations are designated with distinct terms (redoximorphic features, concentrations, ped coatings, etc.). However, in a forensic examination mottling is often used to describe any color contrast within a soil aggregate, regardless of its origin.