LOCATION CROSSCAN COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic, shallow Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Crosscan very bouldery sandy clay loam, on a northeast facing, convex, 35 percent slope in pinyon juniper woodland at an elevation of 6,235 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The surface is covered by 2 percent boulders.
A--0 to 2 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) very bouldery sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 25 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones, and 2 percent boulders; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear wavy boundary. (1 to 8 inches thick)
AC--2 to 9 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very gravelly clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; 25 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)
C--9 to 18 inches; variegated colors (5YR to 2.5Y) very gravelly clay loam, weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; 25 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; disseminated calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
Cr--18 inches; calcareous shale.
TYPE LOCATION: Montezuma County, Colorado; Cortez Area Soil Survey; located about 1,190 feet east and 1,950 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 30, T. 37 N., R. 17 W.; Woods Canyon, Co USGS quad; lat. 37 degrees 25 minutes 57 seconds N. and long. 108 degrees 46 minutes 03 seconds W., NAD
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: aridic bordering on ustic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 52 to 54 degrees F
Depth to paralithic contact: 6 to 20 inches
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline
Particle-size control section: 27 to 35 percent clay
A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6 (3 or 4 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent gravel cobble and stone
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 2.5Y
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent, gravel, cobble and stone
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 15 percent
EC (mmhos/cm): 0 to 2
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Espinos series. Espinos soils have secondary carbonates.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone and shale
Landform: canyons and hills
Slopes: 6 to 80 percent
Elevation: 5,400 to 6,800 feet
Mean annual temperature: 50 to 52 degrees F
Mean annual precipitation: 10 to 14 inches
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with July and August being slightly wetter and June being slightly dryer.
Frost-free period: 120 to 135 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Romberg series. Romberg soils are very deep and have argillic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: well drained, high or very high runoff, slow permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally for wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. Dominant vegetation in the potential plant community are pinyon, juniper, mountain mahogany, and Indian ricegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwest Colorado. LRR D, MLRA 36. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cortez Area, Colorado, Parts of Dolores and Montezuma Counties 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon: The zone from 0 to 2 inches. (A)
paralithic contact: The zone at 18 inches. (Cr)
particle size control section: The zone from 10 to 18 inches. (C)
Soil Taxonomy Second Edition, 1999