LOCATION CAVEMOUNTAIN            NV

Established Series
Rev. CWL/PWB/TM/JBF
11/2016

CAVEMOUNTAIN SERIES

The Cavemountain series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from limestone and dolomite. The Cavemountain soils are on mountains. Slopes are 8 to 50 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 750 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 3 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Calcic Argicryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Cavemountain gravelly loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is partially covered with approximately 60 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles.

A--0 to 8 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine, and few medium interstitial and tubular pores; 4 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 30 percent gravel; very slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary.

ABk--8 to 20 cm; brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; strong coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common fine, and few medium roots; common very fine and fine, and few medium interstitial and tubular pores; common (5 percent) secondary calcium carbonate concretions on bottom of rock fragments; 7 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 35 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A and ABk horizons is 18 to 40 cm)

Btk1--20 to 43 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; common very fine and fine and few medium interstitial and tubular pores; common faint clay films on faces of peds; common (15 percent) secondary calcium carbonate concretions on bottom of rock fragments; 27 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly effervescent; 35 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary.

Btk2--43 to 68 cm; light brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) very gravelly clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; strong medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, fine, and medium roots; common very fine and fine, and few medium interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; many (20 percent) secondary calcium carbonate concretions on bottom of rock fragments; 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly effervescent; 40 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Btk1 and Btk2 horizons 30 to 60 cm)

R--68 cm; indurated limestone bedrock.

TYPE LOCATION: White Pine County, Nevada; on Cave Mountain, about 5 miles east of Cave Lake and 0.25 miles north of the towers on top of Cave Mountain, and 100 feet south of a jeep trail; USGS Cave Mountain 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 39 degrees 09 minutes 50.1 seconds N and longitude 114 degrees 36 minutes 50.7 seconds W; NAD 83; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 39.1639167 latitude, -114.6140833 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually moist in winter, spring, and early summer, dry in all parts at least 45 consecutive days following the summer solstice (July and August); xeric soil moisture regime.
Mean annual soil temperature: 3 to 5 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 18 to 40 cm.
Argillic horizon thickness: 30 to 60 cm.
Depth to lithic contact: 50 to 100 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content; Averages 27 to 35 percent.
Rock fragment content: Averages 35 to 60 percent. Lithology of the fragments is limestone and dolomite.

A horizons
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist.
Organic matter content: 1 to 3 percent.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 10 percent.
Effervescence: Very slightly effervescent through slightly effervescent.
Reaction: Slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

Btk horizons
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 4 or 6, dry or moist.
Clay content: 24 to 35 percent.
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent.
Texture: Loam or clay loam.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 20 to 30 percent in < 2mm fraction; 25 to 40 in < 20 mm fraction.
Effervescence: Strongly effervescent to violently effervescent.
Reaction: Moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Hoodling, Latigo, Maciver, Nurkey and Teeler series. Hoodling, Latigo, Maciver, Nurkey and Teeler soils are very deep.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Cavemountain soils are on mountains. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from limestone and dolomite. Slopes are 8 to 50 percent. Elevations are 2,800 to 3,250 meters. The climate is humid with cold wet winters and cool dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 600 to 950 mm. The mean annual temperature is 1.5 to 4 degrees C, and the frost-free period is 30 to 50 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bricone, Kolcheck, and Piar series.

Bricone soils are shallow to bedrock. Kolcheck soils are somewhat poorly drained and have 2 to 20 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Piar soils are deep to bedrock.

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

USE AND VEGETATION: Cavemountain soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. : Cavemountain soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Present native vegetation is big bluegrass, Letterman's needlegrass, whitestem goldenbush, and mountain big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East central Nevada. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 28B.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: White Pine County, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, South Part, Nevada, 2013. The name is coined from a local mountain.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 20 cm (A and ABk horizons).
Argillic horizon - The zone from 20 to 68 cm (Btk1 and Btk2 horizons).
Calcic horizon - The zone from 20 to 68 cm (Btk1 and Btk2 horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 20 to 68 cm (Btk1 and Btk2 horizons).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.