LOCATION KINDANINA               AK

Established Series
Rev: KMO/DKS/JPM
05/2022

KINDANINA SERIES

The Kindanina series consists of poorly drained soils formed in a thin loess mantle overlying sandy eolian deposits in depressions on stabilized sand dunes and outwash plains. Permafrost is within 10 to 25 inches of the mineral surface. Slopes range from 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 26 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 15 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, subgelic Typic Aquiturbels

TYPICAL PEDON: Kindanina mucky silt loam - on a 2 percent slope under black spruce at 700 feet elevation. (All colors are for moist soil)

Oi--0 to 4 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) slightly decomposed mat of moss and forest litter; many fine roots; abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)

A--4 to 6 inches; black (10YR 2/1) mucky silt loam; massive; very friable; strongly acid (pH 5.2); common fine roots; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)

Bw--6 to 10 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very fine sandy loam; massive; friable; moderately acid (pH 5.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 9 inches thick)

2C1--10 to 16 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) medium sand; single grain; loose; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

2C2--16 to 22 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) medium sand; single grain; loose; many medium prominent light olive gray (5Y 6/2) mottles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the 2C horizon is 5 to 15 inches)

2C2f--22 to 32 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) frozen medium sand; many medium prominent light olive gray (5Y 6/2) mottles.

TYPE LOCATION: Kantishna Area, Alaska; NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7, T. 3S., R. 15W., Fairbanks Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is less than 32 degrees F. The mat of organic material consists of partially decomposed moss and roots 3 to 7 inches thick. Thickness of the silty loess mantle over sand ranges from 8 to 18 but is dominantly less than 10 inches. Depth to the permafrost ranges from 10 to 25 inches below the soil surface. The weighted average particle size of the control section is fine or medium sand, or loamy sand. Reaction ranges from strongly acid in the organic mat to slightly acid in the lower horizons.

The A horizon has value moist from 2 to 4, and chroma moist from 1 to 4. Texture is silt loam, mucky silt loam, fine sandy loam, and very fine sandy loam.

The Bw horizon (where present) has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y; value is 4 or 5; and chroma ranges from 2 to 4. Texture is very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or silt loam.

The 2C and 2Cf horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y; and value moist from 3 to 6. Texture is sand, loamy sand, fine sand, or loamy fine sand.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Batza(T), Bradway, Dotlake and Tanana series in the same subgroup. These soils all have a weighted average particle size of loamy in the control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kindanina soils formed in a thin mantle of silty loess which overlies eolian sand. The soils are in depressions on stabilized dunes and adjacent large alluvial plains. Slopes range from 0 to 35 percent.

The climate is continental with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 17 inches, and includes the mean annual snowfall of about 60 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 24 to 28 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Beales, Nenana, Teklanika and Zitziana soils. These soils are all on stabilized sand dunes and are well drained with MAST greater than 32 degrees F.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Runoff is ponded to medium. Permeability is moderate in the loess mantle, rapid in the sand layers above the permafrost, and impermeable below. Altered drainage occurs where the insulating organic layer is destroyed by fire or mechanical clearing. Loss of the organic mat results in lowering of the permafrost level with possible subsequent lowering of the water table.

USE AND VEGETATION: Native vegetation consists of dominantly black spruce, low shrubs and mosses. Used for wildlife habitat and recreation.

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

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kantishna Area, Alaska. 1998.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this profile include: Permafrost at 22 inches with saturated conditions above; sandy particle size from 10 to 32 inches; pH greater than 5.5 (1:1,H20) below 2 inches.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.