LOCATION CURECANTI CO+NM WY

Established Series
Rev. AEA/CRP/JCK
04/2018

CURECANTI SERIES

The Curecanti series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium, colluvium or slide deposits. These soils are on fan remnants, eroded fan-remnant sideslopes, landslides and stream terraces. Slopes are from 0 to 65 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 457 mm, and mean annual air temperature is 6 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Curecanti very stony sandy loam, on a 36 percent concave south-facing slope. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A--0 to 15 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very stony sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky; 25 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 23 cm thick)

Bt1--15 to 28 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 35 percent gravel and cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 18 cm thick)

Bt2--28 to 58 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) very cobbly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 40 percent gravel and cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary.

Bt3--58 to 84 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) very cobbly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 40 percent gravel and cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt2 and Bt3 horizons is 30 to 85)

BC--84 to 152 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) very cobbly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky; 35 percent gravel and cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8).

TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Colorado; approximately 3.2 kilometers east of the community of Kittredge; 107 meters west and 122 meters north of the southeast corner of Sec. 30, T. 4 S., R. 70 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 5 to 8 degrees C
Mollic epipedon thickness - 18 to 40 cm
Rock fragments - 35 to 70 percent gravel, cobbles and stones

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3, 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam or loam
Clay content: 10 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent; 15 to 25 percent gravel, 10 to 20 percent cobbles, 0 to 15 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.4

Bt horizons
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 70 percent; 15 to 25 percent gravel, 20 to 30 percent cobbles, 0 to 25 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.4

BC or C horizon
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 15 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 70 percent; 15 to 25 percent gravel, 20 to 30 percent cobbles, 0 to 25 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.4

COMPETING SERIES:
Averett (UT) - have a calcic horizon
Bendire (CO) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Blaincreek (MT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Borpark (CO) - have a calcic horizon
Crackerville (MT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Crampton (MT) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm; have a lithic contact at depths of 100 to 150 cm
Ess (AZ) - have igneous extrusive rock fragments; formed in basalt, rhyolite, volcanic breccia, tuff, ash and cinders; have moderately acid and slightly acid reaction
Hilger (MT) - have a calcic horizon
Holter (MT) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Quincreek (MT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Sawbuck (MT) - do not have Hue redder than 10YR; have moderately acid reaction
Sawicki (MT) - do not have Hue redder than 10YR
Shawmut (MT) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Wickes (MT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm; have a calcic horizon

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - fan remnants, eroded fan-remnant sideslopes, landslides and stream terraces
Elevation - 1,980 to 2,590 meters
Slopes - 0 to 65 percent
Parent Material - alluvium, colluvium or slide deposits
Mean annual air temperature - 4.4 to 7.2 degrees C
Mean annual precipitation - 381 to 508 mm
Frost-free period - 80 to 110 days
Precipitation pattern - peak periods during spring and summer

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cathedral, Lininger, and Ratake soils.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate to moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Curecanti soils are used for native pasture, rangeland and recreation. Native vegetation is mainly mountain mahogany, Gambel oak, serviceberry, mountain big sagebrush, western wheatgrass, prairie Junegrass and muttongrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Curecanti soils are of moderate extent in western and central Colorado, central Wyoming, and north-central New Mexico. MLRA 48A and 49.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gunnison Area, Colorado, Parts of Gunnison, Hinsdale, and Saguache Counties, 1974.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 28 cm (A and Bt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 15 to 84 cm (Bt1, Bt2, and Bt3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 15 to 65 cm (Bt1, Bt2 and part of Bt3 horizons)

Curecanti soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.