LOCATION HENEFER            UT+ID
Established Series
Rev. RLT/VLP/MJD
07/1999

HENEFER SERIES


The Henefer series consists of very deep, well drained, slowly permeable soils. These soils formed in alluvium and colluvium from quartzite and sandstone on fan remnants, mountain toeslopes and mountain slopes. Slopes range from 1 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 20 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Pachic Argixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Henefer silt loam--rangeland. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Oi--0 to 1 inch; decomposing organic litter.

A1--1 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (1 to 7 inches thick)

A2--4 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to fine subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; common fine and medium pores; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 12 inches thick)

Bt1--13 to 21 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) cobbly silty clay loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; very hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; common fine and few medium roots; few fine pores; faint continuous clay films; thin to moderately thick gray coatings on most peds; 10 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)

Bt2--21 to 37 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) cobbly clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic and moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine and medium angular blocky; extremely hard, very firm, sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; distinct continuous clay films; 10 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear irregular boundary. (9 to 16 inches thick)

Bt3--37 to 49 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) cobbly clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to strong medium and fine angular blocky; extremely hard, extremely firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; prominent continuous clay films; 10 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.7); clear wavy boundary. (12 to 16 inches thick)

BC--49 to 61 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) very cobbly clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; 25 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Wasatch County, Utah; about 2 miles southwest of Wallsburg; east from Wallsburg Junction and U.S. Highway 189, towards Wallsburg for 3.1 miles, then south 2 miles on side road; 1,740 feet north and 520 feet east of southwest corner, sec. 24, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: (Depths given are measured from the mineral soil surface). The A and Bt horizons are more than 40 inches thick. The mollic epipedon is 20 inches or more thick. The particle-size control section averages 15 to 35 percent rock fragments and 35 to 50 percent clay. The soil is dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days in the four months following the summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature is 44 to 47 degrees F, and the mean summer temperature is more than 60 degrees F.

The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 5YR, value of 3 to 5 dry and 2 or 3 moist, chroma of 2 or 3.

The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 3 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist, and chroma of 2 to 6. It ranges from gravelly or cobbly clay loam, silty clay loam or silty clay to gravelly or cobbly clay or to very gravelly or very cobbly clay, clay loam, or sandy clay loam in the lower part. This horizon is neutral to moderately acid.

The BC horizon has hue of 10YR, 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 to 7 dry, 3 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It ranges from silty clay, silty clay loam, clay loam, loam and sandy clay loam and contains 50 to 70 percent rock fragments. This horizon ranges from moderately acid to neutral.

A C horizon occurs below a depth of 50 inches in some pedons and typically contains about 50 to 80 percent rock fragments.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arcia (NV), Arva (NV), Broadhead, Cristo, Rugar (NV), and Sweitberg (WA) series. Arcia, Cristo and Sweitberg soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to bedrock. Arva soils have a paralithic contact at 40 to 60 inches and do not include hues of 2.5YR or 5YR. Broadhead soils contain less than 15 percent coarse fragments in the Bt horizon. Rugar soils are mottled in the Bt horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Henefer soils are on fan remnants, toe slopes and mountain slopes at elevations of 5,200 to 8,400 feet. Slopes are from 1 to 60 percent. The soils formed in materials derived from mixed sedimentary rocks, mainly sandstone, shale, and argillite. The climate is moist subhumid with mean annual air temperature of 40 to 45 degrees F, average summer temperature of 56 to 64 degrees F, and an average annual precipitation of 16 to 25 inches. The freeze free period is 60 to 90 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bradshaw, Durfee, Gappmayer, Horrocks, Moweba, Poleline, Rake, St. Mary's, Wallsburg and Yeates Hollow soils. Bradshaw, Durfee, Gappmayer, Horrocks, Poleline, Rake, St. Mary's and Yeates Hollow soils have more than 35 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Moweba, Poleline and St. Mary's soils all lack argillic horizons. Rake soils are 12 to 20 inches deep over an indurated lime hardpan. Wallsburg soils are less than 20 inches deep over sandstone.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to slow runoff; slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are principally used for rangeland and watershed. Small acreages are cultivated on lower slopes. Native vegetation is bearded wheatgrass, mountain bromegrass, slender wheatgrass, and bluegrass. Forbs and browse plants are balsamroot, lupine, geranium, big sagebrush, oakbrush, snowberry, and birchleaf mountainmahogany.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils are moderately extensive in the Wasatch Mountains of north-central Utah; MLRA 47.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Heber Valley Area, Utah, 1972.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon (Pachic feature) - from 1 to 21 inches. (A1, A2, and Bt1 horizons)

Argillic horizon -the zone from approximately 13 to 49 inches. (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons)

Particle size control section - the zone from 13 to 33 inches.

Classification: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eighth Edition, 1998.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.