LOCATION RUMBLECREEK        MT
Established Series
Rev. GLS-JAL-RJS
10/2008

RUMBLECREEK SERIES


The Rumblecreek series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in till and drift. These soils are on moraines, till plains, hills, escarpments and mountains. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 30 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Haplic Glossudalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Rumblecreek gravelly loam, forested (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Oi--0 to 2 inches; undecomposed and slightly decomposed forest litter. (1 to 2 inches thick)

E1--2 to 10 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, many fine medium and coarse roots; many fine pores; 25 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)

E2--10 to 22 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) gravelly loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots; many fine pores; 30 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)

Bt/E--22 to 34 inches; B part (60 percent) is yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) very gravelly clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; E part (40 percent) light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist that tongues into the B part; texture mixed is very gravelly clay loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; common fine pores; 35 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; common faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)

Bt--34 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; common fine pores; 40 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and surfaces of gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Missoula County, Montana; 2,150 feet south and 1,700 feet west of the NE corner of sec. 12, T. 21 N., R. 17 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 40 to 46 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to argillic horizon - 10 to 22 inches.
Some pedeons have an E/Bt horizon.

E horizons - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5, or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 10 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 15 to 30 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 7.3

Bt/E horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: B part 5 or 6, E part 6 or 7 dry; B part 4 or 5, E part 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: B part 3, 4, or 6; E part 2 or 3
Texture (mixed): loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam
Clay content, mixed: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles, 35 to 50 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.8

Bt horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3, 4, or 6
Texture: clay loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles, 35 to 50 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.8

COMPETING SERIES:

Norbeck (SD) - formed in colluvium and has a frost-free period greater than 90 days.
Northmound (WI) - has a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.
Ribhill (WI) - has a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform- moraines; till plains; hills; escarpments; mountains.
Elevation - 3,000 to 5,000 feet.
Slope - 2 to 60 percent.
Parent material - till and drift.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs.
Mean annual precipitation - 20 to 40 inches.
Mean annual air temperature - 38 to 44 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 90 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Rumblecreek soils are used mainly for timber production, recreation, watersheds, and for wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation is western larch, lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, grand fir, and ponderosa pine with an understory of common snowberry, common beargrass, dwarf huckleberry, and blue huckleberry.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Rumblecreek soils are of moderate extent in western Montana. MLRA 43A and 44A.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Missoula County, Montana, 1985.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 22 inches (Oi, E1, E2 horizons);
Albic horizon - 2 to 22 inches (E1, E2 horizons);
Glossic horizon - 22 to 34 inches (Bt/E horizon);
Argillic horizon - 22 to 60 inches (Bt/E, Bt horizons); and
Particle-size control section - the upper 20 inches of the argillic horizon from 22 to 42 inches (Bt/E, Bt horizons).

Rumblecreek soils have a frigid temperature regime and a udic moisture regime.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretations record MT0565.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.