LOCATION QUINCREEK MT
Established Series
Rev. DES-JAL-EMM
04/2014
QUINCREEK SERIES
The Quincreek series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium, colluvium, and residuum derived from fractured red shale bedrock. These soils are on alluvial fans, knolls and sideslopes of hills. Slopes are 2 to 45 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches, and mean annual air temperature is about 40 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Quincreek channery loam, in rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 3 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) channery loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine and very fine interstitial pores; 20 percent channers; neutral (pH 7.3); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Bt--3 to 9 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/2) channery clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; strong medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; common fine and very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct brown (7.5YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent channers; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bk1--9 to 19 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) very channery loam, brown (7.5YR 5/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 40 percent channers; disseminated lime, common fine masses and threads of lime; common distinct lime coatings on fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches)
Bk2--19 to 27 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) very channery loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 55 percent channers; disseminated lime, common fine masses of lime, common faint lime coatings on fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick))
R--27 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) hard fractured shale.
TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Montana; 400 feet south and 2,200 feet east of the NW corner of sec. 12, T. 4 N., R. 2 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 38 to 44 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 6 to 10 inches.
Depth to the argillic horizon - 3 to 6 inches.
Depth to Bk horizon - 7 to 9 inches.
Depth to bedrock - 20 to 40 inches.
A horizon
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 20 percent channers
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Bt horizon
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 25 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent channers
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Bk1 horizon
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4, 5, or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 22 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 50 percent channers
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk2 horizon
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4, 5, or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4 dry or moist
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent channers
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 20 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Averett () - does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Bendire (CO) - does not have a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation; is neutral or slightly alkaline below the argillic horizon.
Blaincreek (MT) - does not have a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation; has more than 35 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the argillic horizon.
Borpark (CO) - has calcareous argillic horizons; does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Crackerville (MT) - has a paralithic contact of grus above the lithic contact; does not have a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation.
Crampton (MT) - does not have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches; does not have horizons of secondary carbonate accumulation.
Curecanti (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Ess (AZ) - does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Hilger (MT) - has more than 35 percent rock fragments in the argillic horizon; does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Holter (MT) - has a horizon of secondary lime accumulation; does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Sawicki (MT) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches; does not have horizons of secondary carbonate accumulation.
Shawmut (MT) - does not have a lithic contact above a depth of 60 inches.
Wickes (MT) - has hues of 10YR or yellower in the argillic horizon and below.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - alluvial fans, knolls and sideslopes of hills.
Elevation - 4,400 to 6,000 feet.
Slope - 2 to 8 percent.
Parent material - alluvium, colluvium, and residuum derived from fractured red shale bedrock.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual air temperature - 36 to 42 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 105 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Quincreek soils are primarily used for rangeland. The potential native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Western wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, lupine, big sagebrush, fringed sagewort, and rubber rabbitbrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Quincreek soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana. MLRA 43B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Montana, 1998.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from the surface to 9 inches (A, Bt horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 3 to 9 inches (Bt horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 3 to 27 inches (Bt, Bk1, Bk2 horizons)
Calcic horizon - from 9 to 19 inches (Bk1 horizon)
Lithic contact - fractured hard red shale bedrock at 27 inches (R horizon).
Soil interpretation record: MT1580.
Quincreek soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.