LOCATION ELOCIN                  NV

Established Series
Rev. JVC/JBF
01/2019

ELOCIN SERIES

The Elocin series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks with a component of loess and volcanic ash. Elocin soils are on fan remnants. Slopes are 2 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 280 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 7 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, frigid Duric Palexerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Elocin gravelly silt loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is partially covered with 30 percent gravel.

A1--0 to 8 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; strong thick platy structure parting to moderate thin platy; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 10 cm thick)

A2--8 to 15 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; strong thin platy structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine through medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 15 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 13 cm thick)

A3--15 to 25 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate thin platy structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine, few medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (8 to 20 cm thick)

2Bty1---25 to 36 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly clay, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong fine angular blocky; hard, friable, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine and fine exped roots; common very fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds and clay bridges between mineral grains; few fine irregular gypsum masses; 45 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 25 cm thick)

2Bty2--36 to 64 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine and fine exped roots; few very fine tubular pores; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) moist masses of iron accumulation; continuous stress surfaces; few fine irregular gypsum masses; 50 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (13 to 36 cm thick)

3Btk--64 to 91 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong moderate prismatic structure; extremely hard, extremely firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine exped roots; common very fine tubular pores; continuous stress surfaces; 15 percent gravel; secondary carbonates segregated in common medium seams; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (13 to 38 cm thick)

3Cqk--91 to 152 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; strong medium platy structure; very hard, firm and brittle, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine interstitial pores; few fine prominent reddish brown (5YR 5/4) moist masses of iron accumulation and common fine prominent very dark gray (5YR 3/1) moist masses of manganese accumulation; 10 percent gravel; secondary carbonates segregated in many fine horizontal seams; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Elko County, Nevada; about 12 miles northeast of Wells; about 800 feet east and 500 feet north of the southwest corner of section 23, T. 39 N., R. 63 E.; USGS Wells Peak 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 41 degrees 14 minutes 40 seconds N and longitude 114 degrees 49 minutes 39 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 41.2444444 latitude, -114.8275000 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually moist in winter and spring, dry from late June through October; aridic moisture regime that borders on xeric.
Mean annual soil temperature: 7 to 8 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 25 to 38 cm; includes the 2Bty1 horizon in some pedons.
Depth to base of argillic horizon and horizons with firm, brittle matrix: 64 to 99 cm.
Depth to identifiable secondary carbonates: 50 to 76 cm.
Other features: An abrupt horizon boundary is normally present between the A3 and the Bty1 horizon accompanied by an abrupt increase in clay content of at least 15 percent.

Particle-size control section - Clay content: Averages 50 to 60 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 35 to 60 percent, mainly gravel with up to 10 percent cobbles. Lithology of fragments are mixed rocks.

A1 and A2 horizons
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist.
Organic matter content: 1 to 3 percent.

A3 horizon
Organic matter content: 1 or 2 percent.
Clay content: 25 to 35 percent.

2Bty horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 3 through 6, dry or moist.
Texture: Very gravelly clay or very cobbly clay.
Clay content: 50 to 60 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 35 to 60 percent, mainly gravel with up to 30 percent cobbles common in some subhorizons.
Structure: Moderate or strong, prismatic or angular blocky.
Consistence: Hard to extremely hard dry.
Reaction: Neutral or slightly alkaline.
Gypsum content: 1 to 3 percent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur in some pedons as masses of iron or manganese accumulation.

3Btk horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 3 through 6, dry or moist.
Texture: Gravelly clay or very gravelly clay.
Clay content: 50 to 60 percent.
Rock fragments: 15 to 60 percent.
Structure: Moderate or strong, prismatic or angular blocky.
Consistence: Hard to extremely hard dry.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 3 percent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur in some pedons as masses of iron or manganese accumulation.

3Cqk horizon
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 2 through 4, dry or moist.
Texture: Loam, gravelly loam, or gravelly sandy loam.
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 30 percent, mainly gravel.
Structure: Moderate or strong platy or it is massive.
Consistence: Very hard or extremely hard, dry; firm and brittle, moist.
Reaction: Moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 5 percent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur in some pedons as masses of iron or manganese accumulation.

COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elocin soils are on fan remnants. These soils formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks with a component of loess and volcanic ash. Slopes are 2 to 15 percent. Elevations range from 1,800 to 2,015 meters. The climate is semiarid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 250 to 300 mm, mean annual temperature is 6 to 7 degrees C, and the frost-free period is 75 to 95 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Donna and Stampede soils. These soils have less than 15 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control sections and are moderately deep to indurated duripans.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained; very high surface runoff; low saturated hydraulic conductivity. These soils are susceptible to occasional flooding for brief periods between March and June.

USE AND VEGETATION: Elocin soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly low sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg's bluegrass, and rabbitbrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Nevada. These soils are not extensive with about 3,400 acres of the series mapped to date. MLRA 25.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Elko County (Northeast Part), Nevada, 1986.

REMARKS: This revision of February 2003 updates the taxonomic class from Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, frigid Aridic Palexerolls.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 25 cm (A1, A2, and A3 horizons).
Palexerolls great group feature - The abrupt clay increase of more than 15 percent at 25 cm (between the A3 and 2Bty1 horizons).
Argillic horizon - The zone from 25 to 91 cm (2Bty1, 2Bty2, and 3Btk horizons).
Identifiable secondary carbonates - The zone from 64 to 152 cm (3Btk and 3Cqk horizons).
Redoximorphic features: The zone from 91 to 152 cm (3Cqk horizon).
Duric feature - The zone from 91 to 152 cm (3Cqk horizon).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 76 cm (2Bty1, 2Bty2 and part of the 3Btk horizon).

ADDITIONAL DATA: Previous authors and editors include: STD-DWW-RLB.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.