LOCATION FLEAK ND+MT SDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, frigid, shallow Aridic Ustipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Fleak loamy fine sand--on a 6 percent convex northeast-facing slope in native grassland. When described the soil was moist to 18 inches. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; very weak fine granular structure; loose; many matted roots; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
C1--3 to 8 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; single grain; loose; many roots; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
C2--8 to 17 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loamy fine sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; single grain; common to few roots; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined C1 and C2 horizons 5 to 18 inches thick)
Cr--17 to 40 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3) soft layered sandstone, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; hard, brittle, dry, very friable moist; a few roots in upper 8 inches; slight effervescence.
TYPE LOCATION: Bowman County, North Dakota; 3 miles east and 1 1/2 miles north of the southwest corner of North Dakota; 1790 feet east and 1580 feet south of the northwest corner, sec. 30, T. 129 N., R. 106 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to paralithic contact of soft sandstone ranges from 7 to 20 inches. In some pedons fragments of hard sandstone are in the soft sandstone. Depth to carbonates is 0 to 6 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, 7.5YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, 3 to 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is loamy fine sand, sandy loam or fine sandy loam. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The C horizon above the sandstone is fine sand or loamy fine sand. It has a hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is neutral to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Fleak soils are on crests of hills and ridges, and on valley sides. Slope gradients range from 2 to 70 percent. The soils are formed in calcareous soft sandstone. The mean annual air temperature is 39 to 45 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 13 to 16 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cabbart, Rhame, Tusler, Yawdim and Zeona soils. Cabbart and Yawdim soils are on nearby loamy and clayey areas, respectively. Rhame soils and are on nearby gently sloping plains and have fine sandy loam series control sections. Tusler and Zeona soils are in the same positions as Fleak. They do not have a paralithic contact within 20 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained. Slow or medium runoff. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for range and pasture. Native vegetation is prairie sandreed, little bluestem, needleandthread, and other mid and short grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern North Dakota, northwestern South Dakota, and eastern Montana. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Bowman County, North Dakota, 1969.
REMARKS: Revised 5/94.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon
are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 3 inches (A horizon).