LOCATION BESSEMER WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, mesic Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Bessemer gravelly clay loam-on north facing slope of 2 percent. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) gravelly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, sticky and plastic; many fine roots; 15 percent pebbles, 5 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 6 inches thick)
Bt--2 to 9 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly clay, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; strong medium prismatic structure parting to strong coarse angular blocky; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; many distinct clay skins on faces of peds; 15 percent pebbles, 5 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 11 inches thick)
Btk--9 to 14 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; common distinct clay skins on faces of peds; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated; 20 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bk--14 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very cobbly loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as irregular coarse soft masses and coatings on undersides of rock fragments; 25 percent cobbles, 25 percent pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4)
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; just south of the City of Casper; 1,750 feet east and 900 feet south of the NW corner of sec. 35, T. 33 N., R. 79 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the loamy-skeletal substratum and depth to the base of the argillic horizon is 11 to 20 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F.
The A horizon has value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Rock fragments range from 0 to 25 percent. It is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bt horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is clay or clay loam with 35 to 45 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 0 to 25 percent and are mainly pebbles. It is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The Btk horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is clay or clay loam with 35 to 45 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 5 to 25 percent and are mainly pebbles.
The Bk horizon has value of 6 through 8 dry, 5 through 7 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam with 20 to 35 percent clay modified by 35 to 55 percent rock fragments. Rock fragments are mainly pebbles and cobbles. Calcium carbonate equivalent commonly ranges from 6 to 14 percent; however, discontinuous pockets of mainly authigenic carbonates may exceed 14 percent. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Carlito, Hano, Keeseha, Lonti, Poley, Servilleta, Silva, Silver, and Tobish series. Carlito, Keeseha, and Poley soils have hue of 5YR or redder in the Bt horizon. Keeseha and Poley soils also have a calcic horizon. Hano soils have the top of a calcic horizon within a depth of 10 inches. Lonti soils have a slightly acid or neutral Bt horizon. Servilleta and Tobish soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Silva and Silver soils are 0 to 15 percent rock fragments to a depth of 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Bessemer soils are on relict fan pediments. They formed in high energy alluvium from mixed sources. Slope ranges from 1 to 10 percent. Elevation is 5,000 to 6,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 42 to 51 degrees F. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Copeman, Hiland, Samday, and Savageton soils. Copeman soils are fine-loamy and do not have an argillic horizon. Hiland soils are fine-loamy and do not have skeletal substrata. Samday soils are shallow and do not have an argillic horizon. Savageton soils are moderately deep and do not have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff on lesser slopes and rapid runoff on steeper slopes; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Bessemer soils are used mainly for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, needleandthread, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana