LOCATION HAWKSTONE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Haplocambids
TYPICAL PEDON: Hawkstone loamy sand--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 5 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy sand, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 5 inches thick)
Bw1--5 to 14 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure; hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary.
Bw2--14 to 30 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few medium roots; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bw horizon is 20 to 35 inches)
C--30 to 60 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6); massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 7.0)
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; Benton Basin NE quadrangle; 2,000 feet west and 500 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 23, T. 32 N., R. 84 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the cambic horizon ranges from 20 to 40 inches. EC is less than 2 mmhos. The mean annual soil temperature is 45 to 47 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 61 to 64 degrees F. The moisture control section is dry in all parts for at least 60 consecutive days and 90 cumulative days from July 15 to November 15.
The A horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 5. It is sandy loam or coarse sandy loam. It is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist and chroma of 4 through 6. It is mainly sandy loam or coarse sandy loam. However, it is loamy sand below a depth of 40 inches in some pedons. It is neutral or mildly alkaline.
Some pedons have a calcareous 2C horizon below a depth of 40 inches. This horizon is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Busby, Edlin, Sobson, Spang, Toby, and Twlight series. Busby, Spang, and Twilight soils have free carbonates above a depth of 40 inches. Edlin soils have a calcic horizon above 30 inches. Sobson soils have a Bk horizon and are moderately deep. Toby soils are not dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 60 consecutive days and for 90 cumulative days between July 15 and November 15.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Hawkstone soils are on rolling uplands and alluvial fans. Elevation is 6,000 to 6,500 feet. Slopes range from 2 to 20 percent. They formed in moderately coarse textured alluvium and residuum. In some areas the parent material has been reworked by wind. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 40 to 42 degrees F. The frost-free season is 90 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Rock River, Ryan Park, and the competing Busby soils. Rock River and Ryan Park soils have an argillic horizon. Also, Rock River soils are fine-loamy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is slow or medium; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly needleandthread, rhizomatous wheatgrass, threadleaf sedge, and silver sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-Central Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.