LOCATION MANTLEMINE CO+UTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcidic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Mantlemine loam , on a 1 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of 6,390 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) When described on June 14, 1994 the soil was dry throughout.
The surface is covered by 5 percent sandstone gravel.
A1--0 to 2 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; moderate thin and medium platy structure parting to weak very fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
A2--2 to 5 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure parting to weak thick platy; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bt--5 to 20 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; few distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Btk--20 to 25 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; very few faint clay films on faces of peds; calcium carbonate disseminated; strongly effervescent; 9 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Bk1--25 to 45 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 5/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; common fine irregular soft masses of calcium carbonate throughout; violently effervescent; 19 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bk horizon is 25 to 40 inches)
Bk2--45 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; calcium carbonate disseminated; strongly effervescent; 11 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; 2,000 feet west and 3,900 feet north of the southeast corner of section 13, T. 6 N., R. 106 W.; USGS Stuntz Reservoir quadrangle; lat. 40 degrees 20 minutes 30 seconds N. and long. 108 degrees 1 minute 49 seconds W., NAD 1927
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: Ustic moisture regime bordering on Aridic.
Soil temperature regime: frigid
Mean annual soil temperature: 42 to 46 degrees F.
Mean annual summer soil temperature: 63 to 68 degrees F.
Surface rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent sandstone gravel
Particle-size control section: 18 to 35 percent clay
Depth to the base of the argillic: 10 to 30 inches
Depth to calcic horizon: 15 to 30 inches
Depth to visible secondary calcium carbonate: 8 to 25 inches
Hue: 7.5YR
A horizon:
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline.
Bt horizon:
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, silt loam, or loam.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 20 percent
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline.
Btk horizon:
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, silt loam, or loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Bk horizon:
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6, dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, silt loam, or loam.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Mantlemine soils.
Parent material: alluvium and residuum derived from limestone and sandstone.
Landform: structural benches, alluvial fans, and fan remnants.
Slopes: 1 to 25 percent
Elevation: 5,800 to 7,800 feet
Mean annual air temperature: 42 to 46 degrees F.
Mean annual precipitation: 12 to 15 inches.
Wettest months: Precipitation is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year.
Frost-free period: 75 to 95 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Emlin,
Lakebench,
Marthaspeak,
Strell, and
Yampa series.
Emlin: has a mollic epipedon.
Lakebench, Marthaspeak, Strell, and Yampa: Lack an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: well drained, low to high runoff, moderate to moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is needleandthread, bottlebrush squirreltail, Sandberg bluegrass, Indian ricegrass, and winterfat.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Colorado. LRR D, MLRA 34. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat county (Dinosaur National Monument), Colorado. 1997. The name is taken from a geographic location in the Dinosaur National Monument.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: The zone from 0 to 5 inches. (A horizons)
Argillic horizon: The zone from 5 to 25 inches. (Bt and Btk horizons)
Calcic horizon: The zone from 25 to 45 inches. (Bk1 horizon)
ADDITIONAL DATA: Percent calcium carbonate determined by calcimeter. Activity class is estimated.
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Seventh Edition, 1996.