LOCATION GOTHIC CO+UT

Established Series
Rev. AJC/CRP/JCK
03/2018

GOTHIC SERIES

The Gothic series consist of very deep, well drained soils formed in slope alluvium, colluvium or slide deposits. These soils are on mountain slopes, fan remnants, dip slopes and landslides. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 585 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 3.3 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic Ustic Argicryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Gothic loam, on a northeast-facing, concave, 38 percent mountain slope at an elevation of 2,853 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. When described on September 8, 1987, the soil was moist throughout.)

A1--0 to 20 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual smooth boundary.

A2--20 to 38 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of A horizons is 15 to 38 cm)

Bt1--38 to 46 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; many faint and distinct clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 22 cm thick)

Bt2--46 to 89 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, sticky and plastic; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary.

Bt3--89 to 127 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) gravelly clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and plastic; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt2 and Bt3 horizons is 50 to 102 cm)

Bt4--127 to 168 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) gravelly sandy clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 30 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Gunnison County, Colorado; about 10 miles north of Lake City, Colorado; located within an un-sectioned area of the Uncompahgre National Forest estimated to be in the southeast quarter of Section 4, T. 45 N, R. 4 W; USGS Alpine Plateau topographic quadrangle; latitude 38 degrees, 10 minutes, 32 seconds north and longitude 107 degrees, 19 minutes, 22 seconds west, NAD 1927.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 2.7 to 5.4
Mollic epipedon - 25 to 38 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content - 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 30 percent

A horizons
Hue: 10YR or 5Y
Value: 3, 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent - 0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.6

Bt1 horizon (upper part, where present)
Hue: 10YR or 5Y
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 27 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent - 0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.8 to 7.6

Bt2 and Bt3 horizons (middle part)
Hue: 10YR or 5Y
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent - 0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.8 to 7.6

Bt4 horizon (lower part)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam or clay
Clay content: 20 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent - 0 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.8 to 7.6

COMPETING SERIES:
Altman (CO) - have an ustic soil moisture regime
Jerry (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Judy (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Little Horn (MT) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Mayoworth (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Owen Creek (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Parlin (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Piltz (CO) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Sneffels (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Tobincreek (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes, fan remnants, dip slopes and landslides
Elevation - 2,200 to 3,200 meters
Slope - 2 to 60 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium, colluvium and slide deposits
Mean annual precipitation - 508 to 660 mm
Mean annual air temperature - 1.7 to 4.4 C
Frost-free period - 30 to 75 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Lizardhead and Tellura soils.

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

USE AND VEGETATION: Gothic soils are used for summer livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Thurber's fescue, slender wheatgrass, nodding brome, mountain snowberry and shrubby cinquefoil.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Gothic soils are of moderate extent in western Colorado and eastern Utah. MLRA 47, 48A and 48B.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sanpete Valley Area, Utah, Parts of Utah and Sanpete Counties, 1971.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon.
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 38 cm (A1 and A2 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 38 to 168 cm (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 and Bt4 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 38 to 88 cm (Bt1 and part of Bt2 horizon)

Gothic soils have a cryic temperature regime and a udic moisture regime bordering on ustic.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.