LOCATION QUARTZBURG ID+CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Dystric Xerorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Quartzburg very gravelly loamy coarse sand, forested -- on a west-facing slope of 30 percent. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oe--0 to 1 inch; slightly and moderately decomposed forest litter. (0 to 3 inches thick)
A--1 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly loamy coarse sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), very dark brown (10YR 2/2) crushed, moist; weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; 35 percent angular fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 9 inches thick)
AC--7 to 17 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) very gravelly loamy coarse sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; 35 percent angular fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
C--17 to 24 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) and very pale brown (10YR 7/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; hard, firm, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 75 percent angular gravel and 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 21 inches thick)
Cr--24 to 31 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) weathered quartz monzonite (grus); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) and (10YR 7/4) stains; slightly acid (pH 6.5). (3 to 15 inches thick)
R--31 inches; slightly weathered quartz monzonite.
TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; Little Anderson Creek Road about 4 miles east of Garden Valley; southeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of section 21, T.9 N., R.5 E.; USGS Grimes Pass Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to paralithic contact - 20 to 40 inches
Base saturation - 35 to 60 percent
Reaction - moderately acid through neutral
Particle-size control section - 35 to 80 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - dry 45 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Average annual soil temperature - 42 to 47 degrees F.
A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 1 through 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent stones, 0 to 5 percent cobbles, 15 to 35 percent gravel and 15 to 45 percent total
AC and C horizons
Value - 6 through 8 dry, 3 through 6 moist
Chroma - 2 through 4 dry or moist
Texture - LCOS or LS
Clay content - 2 to 10 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 10 percent stones, 0 to 5 percent cobbles, 35 to 75 percent gravel and 35 to 80 percent total
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Sirretta series. The Sirretta soils are moderately deep to hard bedrock and have base saturation of 20 to 35 percent.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Quartzburg soils are on mountain slopes and canyon walls at elevations of 3,280 to 6,800 feet. These soils formed in residuum and colluvium weathered from granite, quartz monzonite, granodiorite or related granitic rock. Slopes range from 20 to 90 percent. The average annual precipitation is 22 to 32 inches. The average annual temperature is 39 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 30 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bryan, Coski, Koppes (I) and Toiyabe soils. These soils are on similar geomorphic positions. Coski soils are coarse-loamy. Bryan and Koppes soils are sandy. Toiyabe soils are shallow to soft bedrock.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; rapid to very rapid runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Quartzburg soils are used mainly for timber production, woodland grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, white spirea and mallow ninebark.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho and northeastern California. MLRA 43b. Quartzburg soils are moderately extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Middle Fork Payette River Area, Idaho, 1969.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon - zone from 1 to 7 inches (A horizon)
Particle-size control section - zone from 11 to 24 inches
Paralithic contact - at 24 inches (Cr horizon)
Lithic contact - at 31 inches (R)
Soil moisture regime - xeric
All depths to diagnostic horizons and features within the range of characteristics are measured from the top of the first mineral horizon.