LOCATION BUFFCREEK WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplocalcids
TYPICAL PEDON: Buffcreek gravelly loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 3 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) gravelly loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; slightly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; 20 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Bk1--3 to 10 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very gravelly loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic, common fine roots; violently effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated and as many prominent coatings on faces of peds, 37 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 35 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary.
Bk2--10 to 22 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) very gravelly loam, yellowish red (5YR 5/6) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; violently effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated and as few prominent medium soft masses and pendants on rock fragments, 26 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 40 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined Bk1 and Bk2 horizons 15 to 30 inches thick)
Bk3--22 to 60 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) very cobbly loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated and as few distinct filaments and pendants on rock fragments, 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 25 percent gravel, 25 percent cobbles, and 5 percent stones; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; about 2.6 miles NNW of Buffalo Creek Ranch headquarters, 1,500 feet south and 1,900 feet west of the NE corner of sec. 18, T. 40 N., R. 84 W. 43 degrees 26 minutes 20 seconds north latitude and 106 degrees 58 minutes 08 seconds north longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to calcareous material ranges from 0 to 2 inches. Depth to secondary calcium carbonate accumulation ranges from 3 to 9 inches. The matrix of the particle size control section is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam or loam with 12 to 18 percent noncarbonate clay, 4 to 10 percent carbonate clay, 25 to 45 percent silt and 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser. Rock fragments range from 35 to 60 percent with 20 to 50 percent gravel, 5 to 50 percent cobbles, and 0 to 10 percent stones. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 to 6 dry and 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 to 8 dry and 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 3 to 6. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 40 percent. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Clapper, Claprych, Ildefonso, Placitas, Seis and Strych series. Clapper soils have 18 to 27 percent non-carbonate clay in the particle-size control section. Claprych soils do not have hues redder than 10YR. Ildefonso and Strych soils are 9 inches or deeper to secondary calcium carbonate accumulations. Placitas and Seis soils have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Buffcreek soils are on pediments, fan remnants and terraces. Matrix material is derived dominantly from red sandstone and siltstone. Rock fragments are from mixed sources. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is 42 to 49 degrees F. Elevation ranges from 5,400 to 6,600 feet. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Redarrow and Roughlock soils. Redarrow soils are shallow. Roughlock soils are in the coarse-silty family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is slow or medium; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Buffcreek soils are used mainly for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, threadleaf sedge, and black sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 3 inches (A)
Calcic horizon - 3 to 60 inches (Bk1, Bk2, Bk3)
MLRR- G
SIR- WY0594