LOCATION SCALES VA
Established Series
MHC-DHK/Rev. JRT
07/2013
SCALES SERIES
The Scales series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils formed in colluvium derived mainly from rhyolite or granite. They are nearly level or gently sloping soils in upland depressions and drainageways, and on benches. These soils have dark surfaces and gray substrata. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 45 degrees F and mean annual precipitation is about 52 inches near the type location.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, acid, frigid, shallow Histic Humaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Scales mucky peat - on a 1 percent slope in rangeland/pasture. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oi--0 to 2 inches; black (10YR 2/1) peat. (0 to 3 inches thick)
Oe--2 to 11 inches; black (10YR 2/1) mucky peat. (6 to 15 inches thick)
C--11 to 13 inches; clean gravel; single grain; loose; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
2Cg--13 to 21 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly sandy clay loam; massive; friable; few fine roots; few fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) masses of iron accumulation; 20 percent gravel; strongly acid clear smooth boundary. (5 to 17 inches thick)
3Cd1--21 to 33 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) clay loam; massive; firm, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; 10 percent gravel; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
3Cd2--33 to 43 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gravelly clay loam; massive; firm; slightly sticky, nonplastic; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; 20 percent gravel; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
3Cd3--43 to 62 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) gravelly clay loam; massive; firm, sticky, plastic; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; 20 percent gravel; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Grayson County, Virginia (Jefferson National Forest, Mr. Rogers National Recreation Area); 3.3 miles southwest (223 degrees) of the intersection of VA16 and VA603 (Troutdale), 500 feet southeast (145 degrees) of the gate at the "Scales" on Pine Mountain. USGS Troutdale Quad; lat. 36 degrees 40 minutes 8.7 seconds N. and long. 81 degrees 29 minutes 12.9 seconds W. NAD83
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The interface between the A and C horizon has a thin layer of clean gravel in many pedons. The O horizon, and A and B horizons, when present, have 0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobblestones, and 0 to 25 percent stones by volume. The C horizon has 5 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent stones and 0 to 5 percent cobblestones. The soil reaction ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The O horizons have hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fibric, hemic, or sapric material.
The A horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2 or is neutral with value of 2 or 3. It is loamy sandy, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. Mucky analogues are common.
The C horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 3 through 8. If sufficient fine-earth is present, texture is loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam.
The Cg horizon is neutral or has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. Fine-earth texture is loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam.
The Cd horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 3 through 8. Fine-earth texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no known series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Scales soils are on nearly level and gently sloping landscapes in drainageways, but may also be in upland depressions and on benches. Slopes are typically 0 to 2 percent but range from 0 to 7 percent where wetness is due to seepage. The soils formed in loamy colluvium and the organic horizons developed above. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 45 to 60 inches and mean annual temperature ranges from 40 (4.5 degrees C) to 46 (8 degrees C) degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Balsam,
Bearpen (T),
Snowsnake (T), Mt Rogers (T) and
Nopan (T) soils. Balsam and Bearpen soils average more that 35 percent rock fragments. Balsam soils are in cove positions. Snowsnake soils are moderately well drained. Mt Rogers soils are well drained. Nopan soils do not have a histic epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Permeability is slow. Index surface runoff class is high or very high. The water table or excess seepage water is at or near the surface for about 9 months of the year.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all areas are in rangeland/pasture. A few areas are in forest land. Alder, blueberry, gray birch, hemlock, spruce, fir and sedges are the principal vegetation.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Virginia and possibly North Carolina and Tennessee. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Grayson County, Virginia, 2006. Name is from nearby area referred to as the "Scales" from past history. This location is where timber was brought from surrounding areas to be weighted and shipped out by rail.
REMARKS: The Scales series was proposed in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area for a special project. It appears on the legend for that area. It was also used on the legend for the Grayson County Soil Survey Area.
The 6/2006 revision updates this soil to the 9th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy (2003). The CEC activity class placement is based on similar soils and not on laboratory data. Class placement may be revised in the future when laboratory data are reviewed or become available. Reaction class was also assigned. Mineralogy class is assumed. The 7/2013 revision updates the series status and Series Established section.
Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon are:
a. Histic epipedon-the zone from 0 to 11 inches (O horizons).
b. Aquic conditions in a layer between 16 and 20 inches from the mineral soil surface or in a layer above a densic contact (Cg horizon).
c. Densic contact (21 inches-top of the Cd1 horizon).
ADDITIONAL DATA: There are no known data available. Transect data are available from the Grayson County SS Area.
MLRA=130
Revised: 6/9/95-MHC; 8/2000-DHK; 6/2006-DHK ; 7/2013-JRT
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.