LOCATION REDSPEAR WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Lithic Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Redspear loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and medium roots; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
Bw--2 to 9 inches; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Bk--9 to 15 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; 15 percent angular siltstone pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4). (6 to 12 inches thick)
R--15 inches; hard, calcareous, red siltstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; Willow Creek School Quadrangle; 1,650 feet west and 1,800 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 13, T. 40 N., R. 84 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the lithic contact ranges from 10 to 20 inches. Depth to continuous carbonate accumulation ranges from 4 to 10 inches. The particle-size control section is loam or silt loam with 10 to 18 percent noncarbonate clay, 2 to 9 percent carbonate clay, and less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser, excluding rock fragments. Rock fragments range from 5 to 15 percent and are mainly angular siltstone or limestone pebbles. Hue is 2.5YR or 5YR. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F. These soils are moist in the moisture control section in March, April, May, and early June.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4.
The Bw horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 4 through 6.
The Bk horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 4 through 6. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 3 to 14 percent. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline. EC is less than 4 mmhos.
The R is hard, calcareous, red siltstone or limestone which is commonly several feet thick and underlain by soft, red, sedimentary beds.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Gladel, Lazear, Rizno, Rizozo, Skyvillage, Travessilla, and Travson soils. Gladel soils have more than 35 percent fine sand or coarser. Lazear, Travessilla, and Travson soils have hue of 7.5YR or yellower. Rizno soils are dry in the moisture control section in April, May, and June. Rizozo soils have mean annual soil temperatures of 52 to 58 degrees F. Skyvillage soils have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Redspear soils are on dipslopes. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. They formed in residuum and slopewash alluvium derived dominantly from red siltstone. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches with peak periods of precipitation occurring in April, May, and June. The mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 48 degrees F. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 6,800 feet. The frost-free season is 110 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Redarrow, Redbow, Redsun, and Roughlock soils. Redarrow soils have a paralithic contact. Redbow soils are moderately deep and have a calcic horizon. Redsun soils are loamy-skeletal. Roughlock soils are deep and have a calcic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Redspear soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, blue grama, needleandthread, and black sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.
REMARKS:
The superactive cation exchange activity class was added in 03/2003 to the taxonomic classification by the National Soil Survey Center on request of the Reno MLRA office, without review of the soil series property data. The remainder of this document has not been updated.