LOCATION CYCLOPIC                AZ

Established Series
WJ/RKS/HCD
04/2015

CYCLOPIC SERIES


The Cyclopic series consists of moderately deep to a hardpan, well drained soils formed in alluvium from granite and basalt on fan terraces. Slopes range from 3 to 12 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 10 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 62 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, thermic Typic Argidurids

TYPICAL PEDON: Cyclopic very gravelly sandy loam - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A--0 to 2 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 40 percent gravel; 10 percent cobble; slightly effervescent, 3 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)

Bt1--2 to 5 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) extremely gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; few distinct clay films on ped faces and in pores; 50 percent gravel, 10 percent cobble, 10 percent stone; slightly effervescent, 3 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)

Bt2--5 to 16 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) extremely gravelly clay, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; strong fine prismatic parting to strong fine and medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; many very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on ped faces and in pores; 50 percent gravel, 10 percent cobble, 10 percent stone; slightly effervescent, 4 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)

Btk--16 to 26 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) very stony clay, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common prominent clay films on ped faces and in pores; 30 percent gravel, 10 percent cobble, 10 percent stone; slightly effervescent, 5 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; few rounded calcium carbonate masses; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)

2Bkqm--26 to 60 inches; silica-lime cemented hardpan.

TYPE LOCATION: Mohave County, Arizona; about 9 miles south-southeast of Meadview; 1,600 feet west, 2,200 feet south of the northeast corner section 19, T. 29 N., R. 16 W. Gila and Salt River Base Meridian. Located at a latitude of 35 degrees, 53 minutes, 14 seconds North and longitude of 114 degrees, 02 minutes, 16 seconds West.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture - Intermittently moist in some part of the soil moisture control section during December through February and for less than 20 cumulative days during July - September. Driest during May and June. Typic aridic soil moisture regime.

Depth to silica cemented hardpan: 20 to 40 inches

Thickness of hardpan: 40 to greater than 60 inches

Depth to unconsolidated alluvium: greater than 60 inches

Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent gravel, cobble and stone

Organic matter content: less than 1 percent

Clay content in the combined Bt horizons: 35 to 55 percent

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 percent or less


A horizon

Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR

Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist

Chroma: 3 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist


Bt1 horizon

Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR

Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist

Chroma: 3 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist


Bt2 horizon

Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR

Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist

Chroma: 3 through 6, dry or moist


Btk horizon

Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR

Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist

Chroma: 3 through 6, dry or moist

Calcium carbonate segregations: none to few soft masses

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Lealandic (NV) series. Lealandic soils have 10YR hue throughout and are dry in the soil moisture control section for longer periods due to a lower rainfall component.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Cyclopic soils are on fan terraces at elevations of 3,200 to 4,200 feet. Slopes range from 3 to 12 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from granite and basalt. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 12 inches. The mean annual air temperature is 59 to 64 degrees F. The frost-free period is 200 to 280 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Detrital, Meadview, Skelon and Yurm soils. Detrital and Meadview soils are very deep. Greyeagle and Yurm soils have a hardpan above 20 inches. Skelon soils are loamy.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Vegetation includes blackbrush, Nevada Mormon tea, Banana Yucca, flattop buckwheat, creosotebush and big galleta.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Arizona. Cyclopic soils are of small extent. MLRA is 30.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: PHOENIX, ARIZONA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mohave County, Arizona; Soil survey of Mohave County, Arizona, Central Part; 2005.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon - The zone from 0 to 2 inches (A horizon)

Argillic horizon - The zone from 2 to 26 inches (Bt1, Bt2 and Btk horizons)

Duripan - The zone from 26 to 60 inches (2Bkqm horizon)

Classified according to Keys to Soil Taxonomy Ninth Edition, 2003.

Responsibility for this series was transferred from Davis to Phoenix 4/2015. The last revision to the series was 1/2005. ET


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.