LOCATION COLDSPRING COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Ustic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Coldspring fine sandy loam - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) fine sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary (2 to 6 inches thick)
A2--3 to 14 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Bt1--14 to 18 inches; reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) clay loam, reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; 10 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
Bt2--18 to 26 inches; reddish brown (2.5YR 5/4) clay loam, dark reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; 10 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)
BCt--26 to 34 inches; red (2.5YR 5/6) clay loam, reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; 40 percent weakly consolidated sandstone fragments; 10 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
C--34 to 47 inches; red (2.5YR 5/6) gravelly sandy clay loam, reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; 20 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
R--47 inches; hard sandstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; approximately 35 miles west of Powderwash, about 1,050 feet south and 350 feet east of the northwest corner of Sec. 15, T. 11 N., R. 103 W. Latitude 40 degrees, 55 minutes, 3 seconds north; longitude 108 degrees, 58 minutes, 15 seconds west.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 39 to 41 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 48 to 56 degrees F. Lithic contact is at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. The particle-size control section contains 0 to 15 percent rock fragments. The soil is noncalcareous. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 15 inches thick.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 3 through 5 dry, 2 through 4 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The Bt horizons have hue of 5YR or 2.5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. It is clay loam, sandy clay loam, or loam. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The C horizons have hue of 5YR or 2.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 6. It is loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam with gravelly or cobbly modifiers. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Amsden, Buffork, Cific, Croftshaw, Croydon, Dra, Gebson(T), Gelkie, Hourglass, Inchau, Kezar, Kittredge, Leavitt, Lucky, Lymanson, Lyonman, Michelson, Miracle, Monad, Morset, Mult, Newlands, Oro Fino, Passcreek, Philipsburg, Primeaux, Rainbolt(T), Rammel, Shotgun, Slacks(T), Sponsor(T), Swede, Tingey, Tripit, Troutdale, Wellsville, Woosley, and Youga series. Amsden, Gebson, Michelson, and Oro Fino soils are calcareous above 40 inches. Buffork, Cific, Dra, Inchau, Kezar, Lucky, Lymanson, Miracle, Mult, Newlands, Passcreek, Primeaux, Rammel, Rainbolt, Shotgun, Slacks, Tripit, Troutdale, and Woosley series have bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Croftshaw soils are slightly to moderately acid. Croydon, Gelkie, Kittredge, Leavitt, Lyonman, Michelson, Monad, Morset, Philipsburg, Swede, Tingey, Wellsville, and Youga soils have hues yellower than 5YR. Hourglass soils have hue of 7.5YR and yellower in the Bt and C horizons. Sponsor soils have more precipitation and have moisture control sections that usually are moist.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Coldspring soils are on mountain plateaus. These soils formed in residuum derived from sandstone. Slopes range from 3 to 12 percent. Elevation ranges from 7,500 to 8,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 37 to 40 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 50 to 75 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chittum and Miracle soils. Chittum has bedrock above 20 inches and Miracle has bedrock above 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of Letterman needlegrass, slender wheatgrass, mountain brome, and mountain big sagebrush. Some areas are aspen woodland.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coldspring soils occur in northwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent. Total area is about 4,200 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat County (Moffat County Area), Colorado, 1991.
REMARKS: The diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are the mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 14 inches, and the argillic horizon - the zone from 14 to 34 inches. There is a lithic contact at 47 inches. Last updated by the state 12/90.