LOCATION LEEMORRIS OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic Pachic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Leemorris gravelly clay loam, on a 20 percent west-facing slope at an elevation of 7200 feet - rangeland. (When described on September 27, 1982 the soil was moist at the 0 to 18 inch depths and dry below. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 5 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate, medium granular structure; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; many irregular and tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary.
A2--5 to 16 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; many irregular and tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary.
A3--16 to 26 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; many irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent cobbles and 15 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 16 to 34 inches thick.)
2Bt--26 to 30 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) gravelly clay, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine, fine, and medium roots; many irregular and tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent cobbles, 15 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
2R--30 inches; basalt
TYPE LOCATION: Harney County, Oregon, about 1 mile west of Pueblo Mountain, about 2,100 feet north, 1,300 feet west of the southeast corner of section 13, T. 40 S., R. 34 E., on the Van Horn Basin, Oreg. 7.5' quad. (Latitude 42 degrees, 5 minutes, 56 seconds N, Longitude 118 degrees, 39 minutes, 54 seconds W. NAD 1927)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soils are moist in the winter and spring and dry in the summer and fall for 45 to 60 consecutive days. The mean annual soil temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F. The mean summer soil temperature is 56 to 59 degrees F. Depth to bedrock and thickness of solum is 20 to 40 inches. The linear extensibility of the solum is 2.0 to 4.0 centimeters. Rock fragments in the particle-size control section range from 15 to 35 percent and are dominantly gravel. The mollic epipedon is 16 to 34 inches thick and typically includes most of the 2Bt horizon.
The A horizon has value of 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is clay loam with 27 to 40 percent clay. It has 2 to 4 percent organic matter. There is an absolute clay increase of 10 to 20 percent between the A and 2Bt. The lower boundary is abrupt or clear. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The 2Bt horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry and moist. It is clay with 40 to 60 percent clay. It contains 15 to 35 percent rock fragments. It has 0.5 to 2.0 percent organic matter.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Burnette, Cochetopa, Faim, Friana, Fulcher, Grouseville, Guero (T) Luna, Mancos (T), Mayflower, Paulson, Perinos, Richens, Runlett (T), Skutum, Slights, Sudduth, Sudpeak, Teedown (T), and Toponce. All of these soils except for Luna, Mancos, Mayflower, and Runlett soils are over 40 inches deep to bedrock. Luna soils have an O horizon and have a 10 inch thick paralithic contact above the bedrock. Mancos and Runlett soils have a udic soil moisture regime. Mayflower soils have a paralithic contact.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Leemorris soils are on mountains and tablelands at elevations of 6,000 to 7,200 feet. Slopes are 3 to 35 percent. The soils formed in colluvium and residuum over basalt and andesite. The climate is characterized by cold, wet winters and cool, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches. The mean annual temperature is 40 to 43 degrees F. The frost-free period is 30 to 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Buckwilder, Duff, and Noname soils. Buckwilder soils have greater than 60 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Duff soils are on mountainsides, mountain footslopes, pediments, and glacial valleys. They have an argillic horizon and are greater than 40 inches deep. Noname soils are on ridges and shoulder mountain side slopes. Noname soils are shallow to bedrock and have an ochric epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation commonly is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Sandberg bluegrass, and mountain big sagebrush, and snowberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Oregon; MLRA 23. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harney County, Oregon; 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 30 inches (A1, A2, A3, 2Bt horizons)
Argillic horizon - 26 to 30 inches (2Bt horizon)
Xeric soil moisture regime