LOCATION JIMEK WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy-skeletal, amorphic Typic Vitricryands
TYPICAL PEDON: Jimek gravelly ashy sandy loam -- under a sparse coniferous forest near timber line, on a 35 percent northwest-facing slope at an elevation of 6,200 feet. The soil was moist when described. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly ashy sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium roots; many very fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0) abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
A2--3 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly ashy sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.8; moderately acid (pH 5.8) abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
BA--6 to 10 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very cobbly ashy loam dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; common very fine, and fine roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel and 25 percent cobbles; NaF pH 11.8; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
Bw--10 to 25 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely cobbly ashy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel and 35 percent cobbles; NaF pH 12.0; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear wavy boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)
BC--25 to 38 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) extremely cobbly ashy sandy loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; few very fine roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 45 percent gravel and 45 percent cobbles; NaF pH 11.8; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
2R--38 inches; unweathered fractured rhyolite.
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 9 miles south of Easton; 2,200 feet north and l,500 feet east of the southwest corner section 25, T. l9 N., R. l3 E.; USGS Mount Clifty, WA quad; Latitude 47 degrees, 06 minutes, 14 seconds N., and Longitude 120 degrees, 10 minutes, 00 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 39 to 43 degrees F. The soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts in the moisture control section for 30 to 45 consecutive days. The particle-size control section has 30 to 70 percent volcanic glass, 0.7 to 2.0 percent acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron, 40 to 80 percent phosphate retention, and 5 to 12 percent 15-bar moisture. It has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.85 to 1.10 g/cc.
The A1 horizon has a value of 3 or 4 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2 moist.
The A2 horizon has a value of 3 or dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry.
The BA horizon has a chroma of 3 or 4 moist. It is very cobbly ashy loam, or very gravelly ashy loam. It averages 25 to 30 percent pebbles, and 10 to 25 percent cobbles.
The Bw horizon has a hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, chroma of 4 or 6 dry. It is moderately acid or strongly acid.
The BC horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 4 or 6 moist. It averages 35 to 45 percent gravel and 30 to 45 percent cobbles.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Domerie (T), Douthit, Esmeralda, Lemah (T), and Sunnotch soils.
Domerie soils - 40 to 60 inches to bedrock; pscs dominated by rock fragments of phyllite or schist channers and flagstones
Douthit soils - greater than 60 inches to bedrock; depth to glacial till is 10 to 20 inches
Esmeralda soils - greater than 60 inches to bedrock; pscs dominated by angular rock fragments of diabase, gabbro, and serpentinized Teanaway basalt
Lemah soils - greater than 60 inches to bedrock; pscs dominated by rock fragments of Swauk sandstone ; mean annual soil temperature is 44 to 46 degrees F.
Sunnotch soils - greater than 60 inches to bedrock; pscs has has 0 to 5 percent clay and 5 to 20 percent pumice paragravel
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Jimek soils are on exposed mountain sides and ridges. Slopes are 5 to 60 percent. They formed in colluvium from rhyolite and tuff and volcanic ash. Elevations are 3,000 to 6,300 feet. The soils are in a continental climate with cool moist summers and cold wet winters. The mean annual precipitation is 60 to 80 inches. The average January temperature is about 22 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 60 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 38 to 41 degrees F. and the frost-free season is 35 to 75 days. The growing season at 28 degrees F. is 80 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kaner, Stilgar, and Terence soils. Kaner and Stilgar soils are very deep to bedrock and have an umbric epipedon. Terrence soils are very deep to bedrock and have a xeric soil moisture regime. These soils are on similar landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is rapid. Permeability is moderately rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for woodland, wildlife habitat and watershed. Vegetation is subalpine fir, mountain hemlock, Pacific silver fir, and white bark pine with an understory of elksedge, huckleberry, rusty menziesia and common juniper.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in southwestern Kittitas County; MLRA 3. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, l98l. The name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 6 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)
Cambic horizon - from 6 to 25 inches (Bw horizons)
Andic soil properties - from 0 to 38 inches. (A1, A2, Bw, and BC horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 0 to 38 inches
All depths to diagnostic horizons and features found in the range of characteristics are measured from the top of the first mineral layer.