LOCATION GROVECREEK WY
Tentative Series
Rev. TAG-DMM-RJS
05/2011
GROVECREEK SERIES
The Grovecreek series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium and/or slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock. These soils are on eroded fan remnants, landslides and mountain slopes. Slopes are 4 to 25 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 510 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 1 degree C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Calcic Pachic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Grovecreek loam, in forest land (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 7 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/3) loam, very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, and common medium and coarse roots; many fine interstitial pores; 2 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.9); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 25 cm thick)
Bt1--7 to 43 cm; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) clay loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine, common medium, and few coarse roots; many fine tubular pores; 15 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds; 2 percent gravel and 2 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (25 to 45 cm thick)
Bt2--43 to 90 cm; red (2.5YR 5/6) clay, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium and coarse roots; many fine tubular pores; 35 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); gradual wavy boundary. (30 to 50 cm thick)
Btk--90 to 110 cm; red (2.5YR 5/6) clay, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; 2 percent prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) mottles; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; many fine tubular pores; 15 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; 2 percent threadlike calcium carbonate masses in matrix, and finely disseminated calcium carbonate in matrix; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 30 cm thick)
Bk--110 to 200 cm; red (2.5YR 5/6) clay, red (2.5YR 5/6) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; many fine tubular pores; 25 percent calcium carbonate masses in matrix and 15 percent threadlike carbonate masses in matrix; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Sublette County, Wyoming; Located approximately 520 feet south and 2,145 feet west of the NE corner of the section 9, T. 28N, R. 114W; USGS Pine Grove Ridge, Wyoming topographic quadrangle; 42 degrees 26 minutes 0.00 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 23 minutes 36.00 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 1.5 to 3.5 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 40 to 55 cm
Depth to argillic horizon - 7 to 25 cm
Depth to calcic horizon - 80 to 100 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average) - 27 to 35 percent clay
A horizon
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3; dry or moist
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3
Bt1 horizon
Hue: 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent
cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 6.5
Bt2 horizon
Hue: 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5; dry or moist
Chroma: 4 or 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, clay
Clay content: 30 to 45 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.2 to 7.8
Btk horizon
Hue: 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay, clay loam
Clay content: 30 to 45 percent
Carbonate clay content: 4 to 7 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk horizon
Hue: 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay, clay loam
Clay content: 35 to 45 percent
Carbonate clay content: 6 to 10 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 25 to 40 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Aagard (UT) - have depths greater than 30 cm to top of argillic horizon
Decross (WY) - have an ustic soil moisture regime
Pontuge (ID) - have a xeric soil moisture regime
Wineglass (MT) - have an ustic soil moisture regime
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - eroded fan remnants, landslides, mountain slopes
Elevation - 2345 to 2565 meters
Slope - 4 to 25 percent
Parent Material - colluvium and/or slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 500 to 600 mm with peak periods of precipitation occurring during the spring
Mean annual air temperature - 0.5 to 1.5 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 25 to 45 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Grovecreek soils are primarily used for forest land. The potential native vegetation is mainly aspen, mountain sagebrush, lupine, herbaceous cinquefoil, geranium, snowberry, and mountain brome
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Grovecreek soils are of small extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA - 43B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES PROPOSED: Sublette County, Wyoming, 2011. The series name is derived from a local landmark.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 43 cm (A, Bt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 7 to 110 cm (Bt1, Bt2, Btk horizons)
Calcic horizon - from 90 to 200 cm (Btk, Bk horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 7 to 57 cm (Bt1, part of Bt2 horizons)
Grovecreek soils have a cryic temperature regime, an udic moisture regime and an ustic soil moisture subclass.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.