LOCATION DUSTIN ORTentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Calcidic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Dustin very cobbly coarse sandy loam, on a 52 percent north slope at an elevation of 2160 feet. (When described on September 20, 2000, the soil was dry throughout. Colors are moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 10 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very cobbly coarse sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) dry; moderate very fine and fine granular structure; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine and many very fine roots; few fine and common very fine irregular pores; 15 percent stones, 30 percent cobbles, and 10 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Bw--10 to 39 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very cobbly coarse sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 10 percent stones, 25 percent cobbles, and 10 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 24 inches thick)
Bk--39 to 60 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very cobbly coarse sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent, carbonates coating the underside of rock fragments; 10 percent stones, 20 percent cobbles, and 15 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Grant County, Oregon; located about 2/3 of a mile NE of the community of Kimberly on the east side of the John Day River (North Fork); 2,300 feet south and 1,100 feet east of the NW corner of section 29, T. 9 S., R. 26 E.(Latitude 44 degrees, 45 minutes, and 44 seconds North and Longitude 119 degrees, 37 minutes, and 38 seconds West.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soils are usually dry in all parts of the soil moisture control section for more than half of the time when the temperature is above 41 degrees F. TThe mean annual soil temperature is 50 to 54 degrees F. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. Dark lithochromatic colors continue below 20 inches, but the organic matter is less than one percent. The particle-size control section averages 5 to 18 percent clay, 45 to 75 percent sand, and 35 to 70 percent rock fragments. Lenses of coarser material may occur anywhere in the profile. Soil reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline throughout the profile. Depth to secondary carbonate accumulation is 30 to 44 inches. Hue is 10YR or 7.5YR throughout the profile.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is coarse sandy loam with 5 to 15 percent clay. It has 5 to 15 percent stones, 20 to 30 percent cobbles, and 10 to 20 percent gravel.
The Bw horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is coarse sandy loam or loam with 5 to 18 percent clay. It has 10 to 20 percent stones, 15 to 25 percent cobbles, and 10 to 25 percent gravel.
The Bk horizon has value of 3 to 5 moist, 4 to 7 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is coarse sandy loam or loam with 5 to 18 percent clay. It has 0 to 10 percent stones, 20 to 30 percent cobbles, and 15 to 25 percent gravel. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 2 to 5 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Haystack, Heytou, Nighthawk, Olex, Peshastin, Redcanyon, and Strat series. Haystack soils are on alluvial fans and average 15 to 25 percent clay in the control section. Heytou soils are moderately deep to dense glacial till. Nighthawk soils have greater than 15 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the control section. Olex soils have 12 to 25 inch thick silt loam mantle over a skeletal discontinuity. Peshastin soils have carbonates at a depth of 15 to 27 inches. Redcanyon soils are moderately deep to bedrock. Strat soils have sandy textures in the lower part of the particle size control section expressed as a Bkq horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Dustin soils are on footslopes. These soils formed in colluvium weathered from exfoliated Picture Gorge Basalt and in angular blocky basalt. The climate is characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Slopes are 2 to 90 percent. Elevation is 1,500 to 2,400 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 12 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F. The frost free period is 120 to 140 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Drybed, Dryck, Courtrock, Exfo, Kimberly, McCoin, and Weirman soils. Drybed soils are on gently sloping terraces and are fine-loamy. Dryck soils are on floodplains and are coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal. Courtrock soils are alluvial fans and side slopes and are coarse-loamy. Exfo soils are on adjacent side slopes, are very shallow, and are sandy-skeletal. Kimberly soils are on floodplains and are coarse-loamy. McCoin soils are on undulating to rolling hills, shallow to a paralithic contact, and are loamy. Weirman soils are on floodplains and are sandy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, big sagebrush, and bitterbrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East-central Oregon; MLRA 10. This series is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Grant County Area, Oregon; 2003. The name is derived from Dustin Point, a prominent hilltop located 2 miles south of the town of Monument.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - from the surface to 10 inches (A horizon)
Cambic horizon - from 10 to 39 inches (Bw horizon)
Secondary carbonates - from 39 to 60 inches (Bk horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 40 inches (Bw and part of the Bk horizons)
Aridic moisture regime