LOCATION GLACIERCREEK MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Andic Eutrudepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Glaciercreek gravelly ashy silt loam, in coniferous forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly ashy silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots and few medium roots; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bw--2 to 14 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) gravelly ashy silt loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 14 inches thick)
2C1--14 to 44 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; 60 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 30 inches thick)
2C2--44 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) extremely gravelly coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; 75 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5).
TYPE LOCATION: Missoula County, Montana; 2,640 feet north and 1,200 feet west of the SE corner of Sec. 12, T. 20 N., R. 17 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: 42 to 47 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 12 and 35 inches.
Depth to 2C horizon - 10 to 18 inches.
Base saturation - 60 to 85 percent.
Some pedons have a 2E horizon.
A horizon - Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist
Texture: ashy silt loam, ashy loam, or ashy sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles and stones; 15 to 25 percent gravel
Moist bulk density: less than 1.0 g/cc
Acid oxalate Al + 1/2 Fe: 1 to 2 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 6.5
Bw horizon - Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: ashy silt loam, ashy sandy loam, or ashy loam
Clay content: 5 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles and stones; 10 to 25 percent gravel
Moist bulk density: less than 1.0 g/cc
Acid oxalate Al + 1/2 Fe: 1 to 2 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
2C horizon - Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 3, 4, 5, or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4 dry or moist
Texture: loamy sand, loamy coarse sand, coarse sand, or sand
Clay content: 0 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 60 to 90 percent--5 to 45 percent cobbles and stones; 40 to 75 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform- stream terraces, outwash terraces, kame terraces and moraines.
Elevation - 2,000 to 4,200 feet.
Slope - 0 to 45 percent.
Parent material - outwash, alluvium or till.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs.
Mean annual precipitation - 20 to 30 inches.
Mean annual temperature - 40 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; moderate permeability to a depth of 14 inches and very rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Glaciercreek soils are used for timber production, recreation, watersheds, and as wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation is coniferous forest consisting of Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine with an understory of dwarf huckleberry, common snowberry, and pinegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Glaciercreek soils are of moderate extent in western Montana. MLRA 43A and 44A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Missoula County, Montana, 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from the soil surface to 7 inches (A, and Bw horizons);
Cambic horizon - from 2 to 14 inches (Bw horizon);
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 40 inches (Bw, and 2C horizons).
Glaciercreek soils have a frigid temperature regime and a udic moisture regime.
Soil Interpretation Record: MT0412.