LOCATION BILLYCANYON WY
Tentative Series
Rev. DMM-RJS
02/2014
BILLYCANYON SERIES
The Billycanyon series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock. These soils are on ridges. Slopes are 2 to 20 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 430 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 1.0 degree C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Calcic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Billycanyon gravelly loam, in rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 13 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2), moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; friable, soft, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; 10 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; finely disseminated calcium carbonate; slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 20 cm thick)
Btk1--13 to 27 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable, soft, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 30 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; 30 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; slightly effervescent; finely disseminated calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 25 cm thick)
Btk2--27 to 48 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) very gravelly clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4), moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly hard, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 40 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments; 30 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; 10 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, and finely disseminated calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 30 cm thick)
Btk3--48 to 66 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly hard, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 20 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; 50 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, and 5 percent carbonate masses in matrix; 30 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; 50 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, and 5 percent carbonate masses in matrix; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 25 cm thick)
Bk1--66 to 81 cm; light brown (7.5YR 6/3) very gravelly loam, brown (7.5YR 5/3), moist; massive; friable, soft, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine tubular pores; 40 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; 60 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, and 10 percent carbonate masses in matrix; violent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.3); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 50 cm thick)
Bk2--81 to 150 cm; pink (7.5YR 7/3) very gravelly loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/3), moist; massive; friable, soft, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine tubular pores; 40 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; 65 percent distinct carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, and 15 percent carbonate masses in matrix; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Sublette County, Wyoming; USGS Pine Grove Ridge, Wyoming topographic quadrangle; 42 degrees 29 minutes 52.00 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 25 minutes 59.00 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 3.0 to 5.0 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 25 to 40 cm
Depth to argillic horizon - 8 to 20 cm
Depth to calcic horizon - 40 to 70 cm
A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Clay content: 16 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 7.8
Btk1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent--25 to 45 percent gravel, 5 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Btk2 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5; dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent--25 to 45 percent gravel, 5 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 3 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Btk3 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6; dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, loam
Clay content: 25 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent--25 to 55 percent gravel, 5 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 20 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk1, Bk2 horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 6 or 7; dry or moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 60 percent--35 to 45 percent gravel, 5 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Brodie (WY) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Cavemountain (NV) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Cowcoulee (NV) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Daisypeak (MT) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Grassyhollow (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Hodden (CO) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Hoodling (CO) - have part of the argillic horizon that is noncalcareous
Latigo (ID) - have a xeric moisture regime
Maciver (MT) - have part of the argillic horizon that is noncalcareous
Nurkey (ID) - have a xeric moisture regime
Teeler (WY) - have part of the argillic horizon that is noncalcareous
Wilhelm (WY) - have part of the argillic horizon that is noncalcareous
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - ridges
Elevation - 2,650 to 2,875 meters
Slope - 2 to 20 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 380 to 480 mm with peak periods of precipitation occurring during the spring
Mean annual air temperature - 0.5 to 2.5 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 25 to 50 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Billycanyon soils are primarily used for rangeland. The potential native vegetation is antelope bitterbrush, slender wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and spike fescue.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Billycanyon soils are of small extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA - 43B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES PROPOSED: Sublette County, Wyoming, 2014. The series name is derived from a local landmark.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 27 cm (A, Btk1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - 13 to 66 cm (Btk1, Btk2, and Btk3 horizons)
Calcic horizon - 48 to 150 cm (Btk3, Bk1, and Bk2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - 13 to 63 cm (Btk1, Btk2, and part of Btk3 horizons)
Billycanyon soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.