LOCATION ANCHUTZ WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Anchutz sandy loam-rangeland (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 1 inch; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak thick platy structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; common fine continuous vertical and horizontal pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
Bt--1 to 5 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and medium roots; common medium continuous vertical pores; thin, continuous clay films on vertical faces of peds; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
Btk--5 to 18 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common medium roots; few medium and coarse constricted vertical pores; thin, discontinuous clay films on vertical faces of peds; strongly effervescent, lime as common fine soft masses and filaments; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear irregular boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
Bk1--18 to 35 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) sandy clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; violently effervescent, lime as many soft masses, threads, and filaments; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); clear irregular boundary. (6 to 30 inches thick)
Bk2--35 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; violently effervescent, lime as many soft masses, threads, and filaments; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Carbon County, Wyoming; approximately 1,120 feet east and 90 feet south of the NW corner of sec. 6, T. 21 N., R. 78 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 42 to 47 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 59 to 63 degrees F. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 11 to 20 inches. Depth to horizons of carbonate accumulation ranges from 4 to 15 inches. EC is less than 1 mmho in the A and Bt horizons and ranges from 0 to 4 mmhos in the Bk horizons.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is slightly or moderately alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 through 6 dry and 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent gravel. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam with more than 35 percent fine or coarser sand. Clay ranges from 20 to 35 percent clay. It is slightly or moderately alkaline.
The Btk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry and 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent gravel. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam with 20 to 35 percent clay and more than 35 percent fine or coarser sands. It is moderately or strongly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 through 8 dry and 4 through 7 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is loam, sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam. Carbonate clay ranges from 5 to 10 percent. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent gravel. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 25 percent when averaged. Some pedons have pockets of carbonate ranging up to 40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent. Reaction is strongly alkaline or very strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alogia, Antonito, Cushool, Cutback, Fonce, Grubrob, Hickey, Stunner, and Wycolo series. Alogia and Hickey soils have horizons with hue of 5YR or redder. Antonito, Cushool, Cutback, Grubrob, and Wycolo soils are moderately deep. Fonce soils are sandy or sandy-skeletal in the lower part of the series control section. Stunner soils have less than 35 percent fine or coarser sand.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Anchutz soils are on relict fan aprons, fan terraces, pediments, and toeslopes. These soils formed in mixed, calcareous alluvium. Slopes are 0 to 20 percent. Elevations are 6,500 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 14 inches of which about half falls as snow and less commonly as rain in April, May, and early June. The mean annual temperature is about 39 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free season is estimated to range from 75 to 110 days depending on elevation, aspect, and air drainage.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Rawlins, Brownsto, Luhon, and Dahlquist series. Rawlins soils are similar but the base of the argillic horizon is at less than 10 inches. Brownsto and Dahlquist soils are skeletal with greater than 35 percent rock fragments throughout. Luhon soils are similar but do not have a diagnostic argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of western wheatgrass, needleleaf sedge, sandberg bluegrass, hoods phlox, birdfoot sagebrush, gardners saltbush, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Albany County, Wyoming; 1991.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Ochric epipedon - 0 to 1 inch (A)
Argillic horizon - 1 to 18 inches (Bt,Btk)
Calcic horizon - 18 to 60 inches (Bk1,Bk2)