LOCATION PINEGAP IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calcixerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Pinegap very gravelly loam, rangeland-47 percent slope on a west/northwest aspect at an elevation of 6,220 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. When described in November 1984, the profile was moist throughout.)
A--0 to 2 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) very gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium platy structure parting to moderate fine granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine vesicular pores; 50 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 5 inches thick)
Bw--2 to 6 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly effervescent (24 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)
Bk1--6 to 15 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common fine carbonate threads; 40 percent gravels; strongly effervescent (33 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
Bk2--15 to 25 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) gravelly clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; many fine carbonate threads; 30 percent gravel; violently effervescent (40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (7 to 13 inches thick)
2Btk--25 to 50 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) gravelly loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; many fine pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2) carbonate threads and masses, pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) moist; 15 percent gravel and 5 percent stone; violently effervescent (19 percent calcium carbonate equivalent) moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 30 inches thick)
2Bk--50 to 55 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very cobbly fine sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine interstitial pores; common fine pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2) carbonate thread and masses, pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) moist; 20 percent gravel and 20 percent cobbles; violently effervescent (19 percent calcium carbonate equivalent) moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 23 inches thick)
2R--55 inches; limestone bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Bear Lake County, Idaho; about 1.5 miles southwest of Pegram; about 1,250 feet south and 350 feet east of the northwest corner of section 13, T. 15S., R. 45E. (Latitude 42 degrees, 07 minutes, 18 seconds N., Longitude 111 degrees, 08 minutes, 53 seconds W.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture control section - usually moist, dry for 45 consecutive days or more in the four months following the summer solstice. Xeric soil moisture regime.
Average annual soil temperature: 43 to 47 degrees F. Frigid soil temperature regime
Depth to calcic horizon: 4 to 10 inches
Depth to bedrock: 40 to 60 inches
Particle-size control section
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent gravels
A horizon
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Clay content: 13 to 17 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent gravels
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Bw horizon
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Texture: gravelly loam, gravelly sandy loam
Clay content: 14 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 30 percent gravels
Reaction: slightly to moderately alkaline
Bk horizons
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: very gravelly loam, gravelly clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 25 to 40 percent gravels
Effervescence: strongly effervescent or violently effervescent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 25 to 40 percent
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline
2Btk and 2Bk horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: gravelly loam, very cobbly fine sandy loam, and cobbly loam
Clay content: 15 to 26 percent
Rock fragments: 25 to 50 percent; 15 to 40 percent gravels, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, and 0 to 5 percent stones.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Richsum, Richville, and Sackett series. The Richsum soils have a paralithic contact at 40 to 60 inches. The Richville soils have a paralithic contact at 28 to 40 inches. The Sackett soils are very deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform: mountains and hillsides
Elevation: 5,900 to 7,100 feet
Slope: 35 to 65 percent
Parent material: alluvium or residuum
Climate: long, cold winters; moist springs, warm, dry summers
Average annual precipitation: 12 to 16 inches
Average annual temperature: 37 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period: 70 to 90 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chausse (T) and Sprollow soils. Chausse soils are less than 40 inches deep to limestone bedrock, and are located on convex upper hillsides. Sprollow soils have greater than 40 percent calcium carbonate in the control section, and are located on linear hillsides.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; very rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The important native vegetation is black sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, phlox, and arrowleaf balsamroot.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Idaho. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 43B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Bear Lake County, Idaho, 2008. The name is taken from a local canyon.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 6 inches (Aand Bw horizons)
Calcic horizon - the zone from 6 to 50 inches (Bk1, Bk2, and 2Btk)
Lithic contact - 55 inches (2R horizon)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the Bk1,Bk2, and part of the 2Btk horizons)
The 2Btk horizon does not meet the requirements for an argillic horizon.