LOCATION AMESMONT WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Ustollic Haplocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Amesmont fine sandy loam on a north facing convex slope of 6 percent-rangeland, 30 percent gravel lag on surface. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) fine sandy loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; less than 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
Bt1--3 to 12 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sand clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; continuous thin and few moderately thick clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
Bt2--12 to 20 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak coarse and moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common moderately thick clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0) gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
C--20 to 33 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) very gravelly sandy clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; 40 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 18 inches thick)
Cr--33 inches; highly weathered granite (saprolith).
TYPE LOCATION: Albany County, Wyoming; about 14 miles southeast of Laramie; approximately 2,000 feet east and 90 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 72 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to bedrock is 20 to 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 35 to 45 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 50 to 59 degrees F. The depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 10 to 27 inches. The surface typically is covered by a lag of 5 to 35 percent fine pebbles. Reaction of the profile is neutral or mildly alkaline. These soils are noncalcareous throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist; and chroma of 2 through 4. Coarse fragments range from 5 to 20 percent pebbles. Clay content ranges from 14 to 20 percent.
The Bt horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR; value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist; and chroma of 2 through 6. Texture typically is sandy clay loam with more than 35 percent fine sands or coarser. Coarse fragments range from 10 to 35 percent pebbles. Clay content ranges from 20 to 30 percent.
The C horizon, if present, has hue of 5YR through 10YR; value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist; and chroma of 4 through 6. Textures are loamy sand, sandy loam, or sandy clay loam with 35 to 70 percent pebbles.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Beardall,
Bramard,
Dunlatop,
Hub,
Nisula,
Rimton,
Stringam,
Swapps,
Telcher,
Ula, and
Wix series. Beardall soils have silty clay loam or clay loam control sections with less than 35 percent fine or coarser sands. Bramard, Dunlatop, Hub, Nisula, Stringham, and Telcher soils are deep. Rimton soils have E and E/B horizons. Swapps soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Ula soils have cobbly or gravelly profiles with lithic fragments. Ula and Wix soils have a mean summer temperature of less than 47 degrees F. Wix soils also have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y in the Bt horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Amesmont soils are on nearly level to hilly uplands and mountainsides. Slopes are 3 to 25 percent. These soils formed in residuum and colluvium from granite. Elevation is 7,800 to 9,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 19 inches. The mean annual temperature is 38 to 40 degrees F. The frost-free season is approximately 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Agneston, Hapjack, Redfeather, and Rogert series. Agneston and Redfeather are timbered soils with E horizons. Hapjack, Redfeather, and Rogert soils are shallow to hard granite bedrock and usually occupy more convex slope positions. Rogert soils do not have argillic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for range and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is mostly bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, needleandthread, fescue, and threetip sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The mountains of southeastern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent, covering about 25,000 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Albany County (Albany County Area), Wyoming; 1991. The name is taken from a local landmark.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon--0 to 3 inches (A).
Argillic horizon--3 to 12 inches (Bt1, Bt2)
Paralithic contact--33 inches (Cr)