LOCATION LUCKYSTRIKE NV

Established Series
REV: JH/LJL/ET/TM
09/2015

LUCKYSTRIKE SERIES

The Luckystrike series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium from limestone. Luckystrike soils are on alluvial fans. Slopes range from 8 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 15 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 48 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Calcidic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Luckystrike gravelly loam, forestland and wildlife habitat. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is covered by approximately 15 percent pebbles and 2 percent cobbles. A patchy litter of pine needles, leaves and twigs covers about 70 percent of the soil surface.

A--0 to 3 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine through medium roots; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse tubular pores; 20 percent pebbles and 2 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)

Btk1--3 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) very gravelly loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine through medium, and few coarse and very coarse roots; many very fine, fine, common medium and coarse tubular pores; 3 percent, faint, clay films lining pores and bridging sand grains; 70 percent, continuous, distinct, light gray (10YR 7/2), calcium carbonate coats on rock fragments; 40 percent pebbles and 2 percent cobbles; very slightly effervescent; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

Btk2--8 to 19 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely gravelly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very through medium, and few coarse and very coarse roots; many very fine irregular and interstitial, and few fine through coarse tubular pores; 20 percent, faint, clay films on all faces of peds and rock fragments; 70 percent, continuous, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on top surfaces of rock fragments; 90 percent, fine and medium (1 to 3 mm), prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate pendants on bottom of rock fragments; 65 percent pebbles and 5 percent cobbles; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)

Bkq1--19 to 30 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine through coarse roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 70 percent, continuous, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on top surface of rock fragments; 90 percent, medium (2 to 5 mm), prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate nodules on bottom of rock fragments; 1 percent, prominent, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4), silica coats on bottom of rock fragments; 70 percent pebbles and 5 percent cobbles; strongly effervescent (25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 14 inches thick)

Bkq2--30 to 41 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely cobbly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine through coarse roots; common very fine and fine interstitial pores; 70 percent, continuous, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on top surfaces of rock fragments; 90 percent, 2 to 5 mm, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate nodules on bottoms of rock fragments; 2 percent, prominent, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4), silica coats on bottom of rock fragments; 30 percent pebbles, 35 percent cobbles and 5 percent stones; violently effervescent (20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 14 inches thick)

Bkq3--41 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely cobbly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine through medium roots; common very fine interstitial pores; 70 percent, continuous, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on top surfaces of rock fragments; 90 percent, 2 to 5 mm, prominent, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate nodules on bottoms of rock fragments; 2 percent, prominent, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4), silica coats on bottom of rock fragments; 40 percent pebbles, 30 percent cobbles and 3 percent stones; violently effervescent (25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Clark County, Nevada; about 8 miles north and 26 west of Las Vegas, Nevada; approximately 1.6 miles west and 1.8 mile south of Angel Peak located on the east side of the Spring Mountains; About 275 feet north and 250 feet west of the southeast corner of section 17, T. 19 S., R. 57 E.; USGS Angel Peak, NV 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; 36 degrees, 17 minutes, 35.7 seconds north latitude and 115 degrees, 36 minutes, 05.9 seconds west longitude; USGS Angel Peak, Nevada 7.5 minute quadrangle; UTM 11S, 0625566e 4017382n; NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture - usually dry, moist in late winter and early spring and intermittently moist in the upper part following summer thunderstorms. Aridic bordering ustic soil moisture regime.

Soil temperature: 47 to 52 degrees F.

Depth to base of mollic epipedon: 7 to 10 inches.

Depth to top of argillic horizon: 2 to 10 inches.

Depth to calcic horizon: 14 to 25 inches.

Control section - Rock fragments: Averages 60 to 75 percent, mainly gravel.
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent.

A Horizon - Organic matter: 1.0 to 2.5 percent.
Calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction: 0 to 5 percent.

Btk1 and Btk2 horizons--Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent, mainly gravel with 0 to 10 percent cobbles and/or stones.
Calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction: 0 to 5 percent.

Bkq1 horizons - Calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction: 20 to 40 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Espadon, Resolana and Traley series. Espadon soils have a lithic contact between 20 and 40 inches and an ustic soil moisture regime bordering on aridic. Resolana soils have less than 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the calcic horizon, formed in noncalcareous parent material and has an ustic soil moisture regime bordering on aridic. Traley soils have a lithic contact between 40 and 60 inches, and less than 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the calcic horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Luckystrike soils are on alluvial fans. Slope ranges from 8 to 30 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from limestone. Elevations are 6,200 to 8,600 feet. The climate is sub-humid continental, cool, with moist winters and common summer thundershowers. The mean annual precipitation is 14 to 16 inches; mean annual air temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F., and the frost-free season is 90 to 130 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Kylecanyon, Leecanyon and Mackscanyon soils. Kylecanyon soils do not have an argillic horizon and are moderately deep to a petrocalcic horizon. Leecanyon soils do not have an argillic horizon and are shallow to a petrocalcic horizon. Mackscanyon soils do not have an argillic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for forest and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly singleleaf pinyon, curlleaf mountainmahogany, Gambels oak, desert snowberry and mountain big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mojave Desert of southern Nevada; MLRA 30. These soils are not extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: PHOENIX, ARIZONA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Clark County Area, Nevada, 2006. Proposed in Clark County, Nevada, 2003. The name is coined from Lucky Strike Canyon located on the east side of the Spring Mountains.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:
Mollic epipedon -- 0 to 8 inches (A and Btk1 horizons).
Argillic horizon -- 3 to 19 inches (Btk1 and Btk2 horizons).
Calcic horizon -- 19 to 60 inches (Bkq1, Bkq2 and Bkq3 horizons).
Particle-size control section -- 3 to 19 inches (Btk1 and Btk2 horizons).

Responsibility for this series was transferred from Davis to Phoenix 9/2015. The last revision to the series was 8/2006. ET

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.