LOCATION REDTHAYNE CO+WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Torriorthentic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Redthayne channery loam, in native range. (Colors are dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) channery loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium granular; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; 25 percent fine channers; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)
Bw--8 to 18 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very channery loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak and moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; 50 percent channers and angular cobbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)
Bk--18 to 60 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very channery loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; 50 percent channers and angular cobbles; few fine soft masses and seams of calcium carbonate visible; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Rio Blanco County, Colorado; 850 feet north and 400 feet east of the center of Sec. 30, T. 2 N., R. 92 W. U.S.G.S. Rattlesnake Mesa quad.; Lat. 40 degrees, 06 minutes, 57 seconds N., and Long. 107 degrees, 45 minutes, 08 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 38 to 44 degrees F. Mean summer soil temperature ranges from 60 to 64 F. The solum ranges from 12 to 24 inches thick. Clay content of the texture control section ranges from 18 to 35 percent. Depth to a continuous horizon of visible calcareous material ranges from 12 to 22 inches. Rock fragments range from 40 to 60 percent by volume in the particle-size control section and are dominately channers and angular cobbles. The soil is dry in some part of the moisture control section for 90 to 120 cumulative days that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is more than 41 degrees F., and the soil is dry for 15 to 20 consecutive days during May and June.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is typically loam modified with channers but also includes sandy loam. This horizon is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or light clay loam and is modified with channery coarse fragments. This horizon is neutral through moderately alkaline. In some pedons the lower portion of the Bw horizon is only slightly calcareous.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is slightly alkaline or strongly alkaline. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from approximately 3 to 12 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arle (CO), Bigsheep (MT), Dolus (MT), Frenchcreek (MT), Sixbeacon (MT), and Towave (UT) series. Arle soils have a paralithic contact above a depth of 40 inches. Bigsheep soils have a calcic horizon and have hue of 10YR or yellower. Dolus soils have a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Frenchcreek soils do not have a Bk horizon and lack carbonates throughout. Sixbeacon soils have a calic horizon from 12 to 60 inches. Towave soils have hue of 10YR or yellower throughout the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Redthayne soils are on mountain side slopes, toe slopes and alluvial fans. Slope ranges from 3 to 65 percent. The soils formed in alluvium and colluvium derived from interbedded sandstone and shale, and from crystalline rocks. Elevation ranges from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. Mean annual temperature ranges from 36 to 42 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 16 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Mergel and Dollard soils. Mergel soils lack a cambic horizon. Dollard soils have a fine-textured particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is serviceberry, snowberry, big sagebrush, low rabbitbrush, scattered Gambel oak, mountain mahogany, bluebunch wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, junegrass and elk sedge.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Redthayne soils are of small extent in northwestern Colorado and adjacent areas of Wyoming.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Rio Blanco County, Colorado, 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: a mollic epipedon from 0 to 8 inches; a cambic horizon from 8 to 18 inches; visible calcium carbonate from 18 to 60 inches; an aridic ustic moisture regime; and a frigid temperature regime. Last updated by the state 4/95.