What color are your soils?

[michaelskis]

I am in the process of creating a soils map, and I can not find the standards for color distribution for mapping. Does anyone know if such standards are out there?

 

[biscuit]

There are literally dozens of colors and keys depending on what kind of soil map you're wanting to make (type, composition, etc..). I would suggest contacting your local US Geological Survey (USGS) office to get their standards if the great throbbing Brain can't give you the info you're wanting.

 

[kms]

And you can try NRCS (formerly Soil Conservation Service) to get their standards. Many districts are digitizing Soil Survey.

 

[Chet]

Oh, when I read the title I thought you meant the color of the dirt outside. BAD SUBJECT RIGHT NOW!

The dust storms in the southwest deposited a nice layer of red silt on all of our cars overnight. Not happy. Its been wet for two days, sothe crap is getting kicked up on roads, mess extraordinaire!

 

[Jeff]

Soils are classified by Hues and gradations of that hue.

Refer to the Munsell soil color charts.

 

[SW MI Planner]

Call your local MSU Extension. They usually have a soils person on staff.

 

[donk]

Oh, when I read the title I thought you meant the color of the dirt outside. BAD SUBJECT RIGHT NOW!

The dust storms in the southwest deposited a nice layer of red silt on all of our cars overnight. Not happy. Its been wet for two days, sothe crap is getting kicked up on roads, mess extraordinaire!

What is this soil you speak of? All I see is snow.

On topic, our soil maps are done with zip tones with better soils being denser patterns.