LOCATION PAMISON                 NV

Established Series
Rev. ARW-DWW-GJS-JBF
10/2019

PAMISON SERIES

The Pamison series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, soils that formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. The Pamison soils are on summits and side slopes of fan piedmont remnants. Slopes are 4 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 300 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 7 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Aridic Calcixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Pamison gravelly loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is partially covered with 60 percent gravel.

A1--0 to 3 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common fine and medium, few coarse roots; many very fine and fine vesicular, few very fine and fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 cm thick)

A2--3 to 18 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; few fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redox concentrations; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 36 cm thick)

Bk--18 to 25 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) moist; redox concentrations; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 10 cm thick)

Bkq--25 to 33 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) redox concentrations; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; 40 percent hard and firm weak discontinuous carbonate-silica cementation; 30 percent gravel; common thin carbonate pendants on the undersides of gravel; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 15 cm thick)

2Bkq--33 to 61 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) continuously carbonate cemented extremely gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; hard, firm, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine, fine and medium tubular pores; 50 percent very hard and very firm discontinuous strong carbonate and silica cementation; few fine soft masses, seams and filaments of carbonate; 10 percent brittle when wet; 60 percent gravel; many thin to very thick carbonate pendants on the undersides of gravel; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (15 to 38 cm thick)

3Ckq--61 to 152 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very gravelly loamy sand, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; 25 percent hard and firm discontinuous weak carbonate and silica cementation; few fine soft masses, seams and filaments of carbonate; 50 percent gravel; common thin carbonate pendants on the undersides of gravel; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Elko County, Nevada; approximately 30 miles north of Pequop in a unsectionalized area, about 1 mile and 1,220 feet north and 2,875 feet east of the northwest corner, sec. 3, T. 43 N., R. 65 E.; USGS Texas Spring 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 41 degrees 34 minutes 40 seconds N and longitude 114 degrees 35 minutes 39 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 41.5777778 latitude, -114.5941667 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually moist in winter and spring, dry from late June through October; aridic soil moisture regime bordering on xeric.
Mean annual soil temperature: 6 to 8 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 18 to 40 cm.
Depth to the calcic horizon: 46 to 50 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content - Averages 8 to 15 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 35 to 60 percent, mainly gravel.

A horizon
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist; the upper 18 cm when mixed is darker than 5.5 dry, and 3.5 when moist.
Chroma: 2 or 3.
Structure: Weak or moderate platy or subangular blocky.
Effervescence: Noneffervescent or slightly effervescent.
Redox concentrations: None to few, faint or distinct.

Bk and Bkq1 horizons
Value: 5 through 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4.
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: 20 to 35 percent.
Structure: Weak or moderate subangular blocky or is massive. Consistence: Slightly hard to very hard, dry, friable to very firm moist.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 15 percent.
Effervescence: Strongly effervescent or violently effervescent.
Cementation: Weak discontinuous and is comprised dominantly of carbonate with some accessory silica present.
Redox concentrations: Few or common.

2Bkq2 horizon -
Value: 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4.
Texture: Very gravelly sandy loam or extremely gravelly sandy loam. Clay content: 10 to 20 percent.
Rock fragments: 45 to 70 percent, mostly gravel.
Structure: Weak or moderate subangular blocky or is massive. Consistence: Slightly hard to very hard dry, friable to very firm moist.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent.
Secondary carbonates: Occur as seams, soft masses; filaments or as pendants on the undersides of gravel.
Reaction: Moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
Effervescence: Strongly effervescent or violently effervescent.
Cementation: Weak discontinuous and is comprised dominantly of carbonate with some accessory silica present.

3Ckq horizons
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4.
Texture: Very gravelly loamy sand or extremely gravelly loamy sand. Clay content: 5 to 10 percent.
Rock fragments: 45 to 70 percent, mostly gravel.
Reaction: Moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Becreek, Deecree, Denay, Eenreed, Nirac, Rudeen, Wereld and Xine series.

Becreek, Deecree, Denay, Eenreed, Nirac, Rudeen, Wereld and Xine soils lack accessory silica cementation, lack redox concentrations and are well drained.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pamison soils are on summits and side slopes of fan piedmont remnants. These soils formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks. Slopes are 4 to 30 percent. Elevations are 1,710 to 2,045 meters. The climate is cool, semiarid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 250 to 360 mm; mean annual temperature is 4 to 7 degrees C; and the frost-free season is 70 to 100 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Dewar, Jericho, Kleckner and Peeko series. Dewar, Jericho and Peeko soils have a ochric epipedon, and lack a calcic horizon. Kleckner soils average more than 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section and lack calcic horizons.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained; medium or rapid runoff; moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly black sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, Thurber needlegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and cheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Nevada. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 25.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Elko County, Nevada, northeast part, 1986.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 18 cm (A1, A2 horizons).
Calcic horizon - The zone from 33 to 61 cm (2Bkq2 horizon).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 100 cm (Bkq1, 2Bkq2, 3Ckq horizons).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.