LOCATION GOLIME COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, frigid Pachic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Golime cobbly loam - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) cobbly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 10 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 5 percent stones; neutral, (pH 6.9); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
AB--4 to 10 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) cobbly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak, medium parting to moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 10 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 5 percent stones; slightly alkaline, (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Bt1--10 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very stony clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate coarse parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; very hard, firm sticky and plastic; common prominent clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones; common very fine and few fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline, (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bt2--15 to 22 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very cobbly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate coarse parting to strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common prominent clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones; common very fine and few fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline, (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Btk--22 to 34 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very stony clay loam, with few distinct white (10YR 8/2) specks and filaments of lime, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few distinct clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones; common very fine and few fine tubular pores; noncalcareous in matrix, 5 percent calcium carbonate in segregations, strongly effervescent in segregates, moderately alkaline, (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
Bk1--34 to 45 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely cobbly sandy clay loam, with common fine to large faint white (10YR 8/2) specks and filaments, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; structureless (massive); slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 15 percent pebbles, 35 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones; 8 percent calcium carbonates, strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline, (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)
Bk2--45 to 60 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) extremely stony sandy loam, with many medium and large distinct white (10YR 8/2) spots of segregated lime, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; structureless (massive); hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 15 percent pebbles, 30 percent cobbles, 20 percent stones; very few roots; 15 percent calcium carbonates, violently effervescent, moderately alkaline, (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Mesa County, Colorado; about 1,110 feet east and 1,900 feet north of the southwest corner of Sec 5, T. 11 S., R. 96 W. U.S.G.S. Lands End quad.; Lat. 39 degrees, 07 minutes, 04 seconds N., and Long. 108 degrees, 09 minutes, 06 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F. Golime soils have horizons of secondary calcium carbonate above a depth of 40 inches. Rock fragments range from 35 to 50 percent with about one-third of the rock fragments being stones and boulders. Visible lime is at a depth of 24 to 40 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, with values of 3 through 5, 2 or 3 moist, with chroma of 1 through 3. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, with values of 4 or 5 dry, 2 through 4 moist, with chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline. It is noneffervescent in the upper part, but the Btk is strongly effervescent in segregates. Textures are clay loam and clay. Clay content ranges from 35 to 45 percent.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 25 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are Dalcan, (UT), Des Moines (NM), Godding (CO), and Gordonpoint (UT). Dalcan soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Des Moines and Godding soils lack horizons of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation above a depth of 40 inches. Gordonpoint soils lack carbonates and are neutral or slightly acid throughout.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Golime soils are on till plains. Slopes are 5 to 15 percent. The soil formed in outwash material derived from basalt, sandstone, and shale. Elevation ranges from 6,200 to 7,000 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 18 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 43 to 45 degrees F. Frost-free period ranges from 85 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Borpark, Godding, and Peninsula series. Borpark soils have mollic surface layers less than 16 inches thick. Godding soils are noncalcareous throughout. Peninsula soils have mollic surface layers less than 16 inches thick and are not skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used as rangeland and wildlife habitat. The principal native vegetation is mountain big sagebrush, Saskatoon serviceberry, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, and muttongrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountainous areas of west central Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mesa County (Douglas-Plateau Soil Survey Area), Colorado, 1988.
REMARKS: The soil name is coined. Golime replaces the variant of Godding. Diagnostic features recognized in this pedon are: Mollic epipedon: greater than 16 inches thick; more than 35 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section; Clayey-skeletal argillic horizon: the zone from 10 to 34 inches. Calcic horizon: the zone from 45 to 60 inches. The soil has an ustic moisture regime and a frigid temperature regime. Last updated by the state 6/95.