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Watauga soils and landscape, western North Carolina

Landscape: Watauga soils are on gently sloping to very steep ridges and side slopes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Slopes range from 2 to 50 percent. Elevation ranges from 1,400 to 4,000 feet. They formed in residuum that is affected by soil creep in the upper part, and are weathered from high-grade metamorphic rocks that are high in mica content such as mica gneiss and mica schist. (Photo from the Upper Mountain Research Station, NCSU)

 

In the summer of 2003, a team of soil scientists was assembled to study and evaluate how mica has historically been described in soil profile descriptions (official soil descriptions and field descriptions) and to determine if a need exists to refine quantification and description techniques as related to soil classification and making and interpreting soil maps. In addition to soil scientists, resource specialists (geologists, engineers, research specialists, and university staff) were asked to provide input, guidance, and historical perspective.

 

For more information about the Mica Research Project, visit:

[www.researchgate.net/publication/363254375_Report_of_the_...]

 

For more information about the Soil Survey Report of Ashe County, NC, visit:

archive.org/details/asheNC1985

 

The station is located in Ashe County: (cals.ncsu.edu/research/research-stations/upper-mountain-r...

 

For a detailed description, visit:

soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/W/WATAUGA.html

 

For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:

casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#watauga

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Uploaded on February 18, 2022
Taken on October 29, 2003