LOCATION STYERS COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Leptic Udic Haplusterts
TYPICAL PEDON: Styers clay, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 1 inch; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) clay, dark brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium platy structure parting to moderate very fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); abrupt smooth boundary (1 to 2 inches thick)
Bw1--1 to 6 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; strong medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine subangular blocky; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Bw2--6 to 18 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) clay, reddish brown (5YR 5/3) moist; strong coarse angular blocky structure parting to strong medium angular blocky; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common slickensides; strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)
Bk--18 to 26 inches; variegated 90 percent weak red (10R 4/3) and 10 percent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay, dusky red (10R 3/3) and strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; strong coarse angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common slickensides; strongly effervescent, common fine filaments of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
BCk--26 to 35 inches; variegated 70 percent weak red (10R 4/3) and 30 percent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay, dusky red (10R 3/3) and strong brown (7.5YR 4/6 moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; 30 percent soft shale fragments; strongly effervescent, common fine filaments of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
Cr--35 to 40 inches; variegated weak red and strong brown, weakly consolidated shale bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; approximately 20 miles northwest of Craig, about 300 feet east and 800 feet north of the southwest corner of Sec. 18, T. 9 N., R. 92 W. Longitude: 107 degrees, 46 minutes, 15 seconds west. Latitude: 40 degrees, 44 minutes, 3 seconds north.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 42 to 45 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 62 to 64 degrees F. Depth to the paralithic contact ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The soil is noncalcareous to a depth of 5 to 20 inches. The particle- size control section averages 50 to 60 percent clay, 30 to 45 percent silt, and 5 to 15 percent sand. When the soil dries, cracks develop to a depth of 20 to 30 inches are 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide, and remain open for 90 to 150 days cumulative. Slickensides commonly intersect.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. Reaction is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The Bk horizon has variegated hues of 2.5Y, 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR, 2.5YR, and 10R and with hues 7.5YR or redder dominating. Values are 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma is 3 or 4.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Aaberg (CO), Abor (MT), Barkof (MT), Bascovy (MT), Bickerdyke (T)(MT), Binco (CO), Bulkley (CO), Dutton (MT), Gerber (MT), Linnet (MT), Marias (MT), and Marvan (MT) series. Aaberg, Abor, Barkof, Bascovy, and Dutton soils have hues yellower than 7.5YR. Bickerdyke, Binco, Bulkley, Dutton, Gerber, Linnet, Marias, and Marvan lack a paralithic contact above a depth of 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Styers soils are on hillslopes. Slopes range from 10 to 25 percent. The soil formed in residuum derived from shale. Elevation ranges from 6,200 to 7,300 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 11 to 15 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 43 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 70 to 95 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Berlake, Gretdivid, Ironsprings, Maysprings, Pinelli, and Taffom soils. Berlake, Maysprings, and Taffom soils are in a fine-loamy family. The Gretdivid soils are in a sandy family. Ironsprings soils are in a coarse-loamy family. Pinelli soils are deep and have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; very slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of alkali sagebrush, prairie junegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and western wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Styers soils occur in northwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent. Total area is about 8,500 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat County (Moffat County Area), Colorado, 1991.
REMARKS: The diagnostic horizon recognized in the pedon is the cambic horizon - the zone from 1 to 18 inches. Last updated by the state 12/90.