LOCATION MARBLE WA+ID

Established Series
Rev. JJR-TJR-EMM
02/2011

MARBLE SERIES

The Marble series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in sandy glaciofluvial deposits or eolian sand. Marble soils are on hummocky or dune-like terraces and have slopes of 0 to 55 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 48 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Lamellic Xeropsamments

TYPICAL PEDON: Marble loamy sand, woodland; on a 10 percent southeast facing slope at an elevation of 1,900 feet. When described on September 2, 1999 the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Oi--0 to 1 inch; litter of partially decomposed needles, leaves and twigs; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--1 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, common fine and few medium roots; common fine interstitial pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)

E--4 to 8 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loamy sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and few medium and coarse roots; common fine interstitial pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)

E&Bt1--8 to 27 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand (E part), brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few faint irregular wavy continuous 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) bands of loamy coarse sand (lamellae, Bt part), dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and few fine, medium, and coarse roots; common fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual wavy boundary.

E&Bt2--27 to 53 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand (E part), brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common prominent irregular wavy continuous 1/8 to 1/2 inch thick yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) bands of loamy coarse sand (lamellae, Bt part), dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and coarse roots; common fine interstitial pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5); gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the E&Bt is 30 to 50 inches)

C--53 to 60 inches; variegated sand; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 7.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Spokane County, Washington; 1 mile east of intersection of Hwy 2 and Day Mount Spokane Road, About 420 feet south and 400 feet west of the northeast corner of section 35, T. 27 N., R. 43 E.; USGS Mead, WA. topographic quadrangle; (Latitude 47 degrees, 48 minutes, 1.50 seconds N. and Longitude 117 degrees, 19 minutes, 34.50 seconds W.) NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depths to diagnostic horizons or features are measured from the top of the first mineral layer. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 54 degrees F. The average summer soil temperature is about 65 to 68 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry between the depths of 12 and 35 inches for 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The soil is neutral or slightly acid.

The A horizon has weak structure and is massive or single grain. It has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 to 4 moist and chroma of 2 or 3.

The E horizon has value of 6 or 7 dry and a chroma of 3 or 4, dry or moist. Texture is loamy sand, sand, loamy coarse sand or coarse sand.

In the E&Bt horizon, the E part comprises 90 to 95 percent of the horizon. It has value of 6 or 7 dry and a chroma of 2 to 4, dry or moist. Texture is loamy sand, sand, loamy coarse sand, or coarse sand and has 0 to 5 percent fine gravel. The Bt part comprises 5 to 10 percent of the horizon and it has a chroma of 4 or 6, dry or moist. Total thickness of the lamellae is less than 6 inches. Texture is loamy sand, sand, loamy coarse sand or coarse sand.

The C horizon is variegated or has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is loamy sand, sand, loamy coarse sand or coarse sand and has 0 to 5 percent fine gravel. Lamellae may be present in the C horizon in some pedons.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Dick series. Dick soils have more than 15 percent gravel in the lower subsoil and are dry for 60 to 75 days consecutive days following the summer solstice and have an average summer soil temperature of 58 to 62 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Marble soils are on hummocky or dune-like terraces and terrace escarpments at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 feet. They formed in wind and water worked sandy outwash material. Slopes are 0 to 55 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 22 inches most of which falls from mid-autumn through late spring. The average January temperature is 27 degrees F. and the average July temperature is 68 degrees F., The mean annual temperature is 46 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free period is 100 to 150 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hardesty, Koerling, Phoebe, Spens and Springdale soils. Hardesty soils are formed in alluvium with more than 60 percent volcanic ash and are on low terraces and alluvial fans. Koerling and Phoebe soils are coarse-loamy and are on terraces. Spens and Springdale soils do not have E and Bt horizons and are on outwash terraces.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; High Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: The soil is used for production of timber, for urban development, dryland crops and for rangeland. Potential natural vegetation is ponderosa pine, prairie junegrass, elksedge, Idaho fescue, hawthorne, bitterbrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Washington and northern Idaho; MLRA's 43A and 44A. The series is of moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Spokane County, Washington, 1964.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 1 to 8 inches (A and E horizons)
Lamellic subgroup feature - the zone from 8 to 53 inches (E&Bt1 and E&Bt2 horizons)

Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the E&Bt1 and E&Bt2 horizons)

The classification of this series has been revised as of 5/00 from mixed, mesic Alfic Xeropsamments to mixed, mesic Lamellic Xeropsamments based on revisions to Soil Taxonomy.

The description for the type location has been revised based on a revisitof the pedon location and development of a more complete pedon description. The drainage class has been revised from excessively drained to well drained based on the presence of lamellae and their effect on water movement.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory data - S01-WA063-008, pedon number: 02N0119 and S68WA-063-002, Spokane County, WA; NSSL, Lincoln, NE.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.