LOCATION GOLDCORD                AK

Established Series
Rev:MHC/JPM
05/2022

GOLDCORD SERIES

The Goldcord series consists of shallow, well drained soils formed in an admixture of loess and gravelly glacial till overlying metamorphic and igneous bedrock. Goldcord soils are on crests and steep backslopes of mountains. Slopes range from 0 to 70 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 33 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 35 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS:

TYPICAL PEDON: Goldcord very cobbly sandy loam - on a north facing slope of 12 percent under lichen vegetation. (All colors are for moist soil)

Oe--1 inch to 0; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) mucky peat; mat of decomposing organic matter; clear smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)

A--0 to 8 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very cobbly sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 15 percent cobble and 20 percent gravel; common very fine and fine roots; strongly acid (pH 5.2); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)

AC--8 to 16 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) very cobbly sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 15 percent cobble and 20 percent gravel; few very fine and fine roots; strongly acid (pH 5.4); gradual smooth boundary. (3 to 14 inches thick)

C--16 to 19 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) very cobbly sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 20 percent cobble and 20 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 10 inches thick)

R--19 inches; consolidated granite.

TYPE LOCATION: Matanuska-Susitna Valley Area, Alaska; NE 1/4, NW 1/4, Section 22, T.27 N., R. 2 E., Seward Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 32 to 36 degrees F. Depth to bedrock ranges from 8 to 20 inches. The umbric epipedon ranges from 8 to 16 inches thick. Texture is dominantly sandy loam and loam. Reaction in the mineral horizons ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid. Base saturation of the surface horizon is assumed to be less than 50 percent.

The A horizon has hue from 7.5YR through 2.5Y; value moist of 2 or 3; chroma moist of 2 or 3. Coarse fragment content ranges from 10 to 40 percent with 5 to 40 percent gravel and 5 to 25 percent cobble.

The AC horizon has hue from 7.5YR through 2.5Y; value moist of 2 or 3; chroma moist of 2 through 4. Coarse fragment content ranges from 35 to 55 percent with 30 to 55 percent gravel and 0 to 25 percent cobble.

The C horizon has hue from 10YR through 5Y; value moist of 3 through 5; chroma moist of 2 through 4. Coarse fragment content ranges from 35 to 55 percent with 30 to 55 percent gravel and 5 to 25 percent cobble.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Teewinot series. Teewinot soils do not have C horizon substratums.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Goldcord soils are on crests and steep backslopes of mountains. They formed in an admixture of loess and glacial till over consolidated igneous or metamorphic bedrock. The climate is transitional between maritime and continental. The average annual precipitation is about 35 inches. Mean annual temperature is about 33 degrees F. Slopes range from 0 to 70 percent.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Moderate permeability above the bedrock. Medium to rapid runoff.

USE AND VEGETATION: The Goldcord soils are used for wildlife habitat. The native vegetation includes lichen, crowberry and bog blueberry.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southcentral Alaska. The series is of minor extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Matanuska-Susitna Valley Area, Alaska. 1996.

REMARKS: Diagnostic features and horizons recognized in this profile include: umbric epipedon from 0 to 16 inches; cryic temperature regime; lithic contact at 19 inches; sandy loam texture throughout with greater than 35 percent coarse fragments.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.