LOCATION MARJONMINE CA

Tentative Series
IRD:DWB/CES
07/2012

MARJONMINE SERIES

The Marjonmine series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium and residuum from schist. The Marjonmine soils are on mountain slopes and slopes range from 3 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1067 mm (42 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 9 degrees C (48 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, mesic Typic Haploxerults

TYPICAL PEDON: Marjonmine loam on a northeast-facing slope of 21 percent, under a cover of mixed conifers and shrubs at an elevation of 1009 meters. When described on August 6, 2008 the soil was dry from 14 to 67 cm and slightly moist below that depth. (Colors are for dry soil and pH is by 1:1 water method unless otherwise stated).

Oi--0 to 7 cm, (0 to 3 inches); fresh and slightly decomposed needles, leaves and twigs; abrupt smooth boundary.

Oe--7 to 14 cm, (3 to 6 inches); moderately decomposed plant material; pH 4.9; abrupt smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Oi and Oe horizons is .5 to 6 inches/1 to 14 centimeters thick)

A--14 to 24 cm, (6 to 9 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 23 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky parting to moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine, common medium, coarse, and very coarse, and many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 10 percent fine gravel; moderately acid, pH 5.6; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches/3 to 10 centimeters thick)

BA--24 to 44 cm, (9 to 17 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; 20 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common fine and very fine, few medium, coarse, and very coarse roots; few fine and medium, and common very fine tubular pores; 5 percent fine gravel; moderately acid, pH 5.8; clear smooth boundary. (1 to 8 inches/4 to 20 centimeters thick)

Bt1--44 to 67 cm, (17 to 26 inches); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; 25 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common fine and few medium, coarse and very coarse roots; few fine and medium and common very fine tubular pores; 7 percent faint clay films on surfaces along pores and 8 percent faint clay films on vertical faces of peds; 10 percent medium gravel; moderately acid, pH 5.9; clear smooth boundary. (3 to 9 inches/8 to 23 centimeters thick)

Bt2--67 to 82 cm, (26 to 32 inches); red (2.5YR 5/6) silty clay, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; 44 percent clay; strong fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, nonsticky, moderately plastic; few medium and few coarse roots; few very fine tubular pores; 20 percent prominent clay films on surfaces along pores and 20 percent prominent clay films on vertical faces of peds; 2 percent fine gravel; strongly acid, pH 5.5; clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--82 to 110 cm, (32 to 43 inches); red (2.5YR 5/6) silty clay, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; 45 percent clay; strong fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, nonsticky, moderately plastic; few medium and few coarse roots; few very fine tubular pores; 30 percent prominent clay films on surfaces along pores and 30 percent prominent clay films on vertical faces of peds; strongly acid, pH 5.5; gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Bt2 and Bt3 horizons is 17 to 44 inches/43 to 111 centimeters thick)

Bt4--110 to 150 cm, (43 to 59 inches); red (2.5YR 5/6) silty clay loam, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; 38 percent clay; strong fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few medium and few coarse roots; few very fine tubular pores; 30 percent prominent clay films on surfaces along pores and 30 percent prominent clay films on vertical faces of peds; moderately acid, pH 5.7; gradual smooth boundary.

Bt5--150 to 179 cm, (59 to 70 inches); yellowish red (5YR 5/8) silty clay loam, red (2.5YR 5/8) moist; 28 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, nonsticky, nonplastic; few medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 30 percent prominent clay films on vertical faces of peds and 60 percent prominent clay films on surfaces along pores; moderately acid, pH 5.6; clear smooth boundary.

Bt6--179 to 224 cm, (70 to 88 inches); reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) silty loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) moist; 18 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 30 percent prominent clay films on vertical faces of peds and 60 percent prominent clay films on surfaces along pores; strongly acid, pH 5.6; (combined thickness of the Bt4,Bt5 and Bt6 horizons is 7 to 45 inches/19 to 114 centimeters thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Calaveras County, California, about 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) southeast of Sheep Ranch, CA.; about 2000 feet west and 1300 feet north of the southeast corner of section 15, T. 04N., R. 14E.; lat. 38 degrees 11 minutes 49 seconds N. and long. 120 degrees 25 minutes 3 seconds W., UTM Zone 10 0726147mE, 4230820mN, NAD83; USGS Quadrangle Murphys, CA.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Mean annual soil temperature: 11 to 12 degrees C (52 to 54 degrees F)

Soil moisture control section: Dry in all parts from June to October (about 120 days). The soils have a xeric moisture regime

Base saturation: (by sum of cations) 25 to 35 percent in any subhorizon greater than 125 cm below the upper boundary of the argillic horizon

Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent

A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR
Value: 4, 5 dry; 3, 4 moist
Chroma: 3, 4 dry; 2, 3, 4 moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: loam, fine sandy loam, very fine
sandy loam, sandy loam
Clay content: 12 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent strongly cemented to indurated gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly acid

Upper Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR, 2.5YR
Value: 5, 6 dry; 3, 4 moist
Chroma: 4, 6 dry; 3, 4, 6 moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam,
very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent strongly cemented to indurated gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly acid

Middle Bt horizon:
Hue: 5YR, 2.5YR
Value: 4, 5 dry; 3, 4 moist
Chroma: 4, 6 dry; 4, 6, 8 moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: silty clay, clay
Clay content: 40 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent
0 to 25 percent strongly cemented to indurated gravel
0 to 5 percent strongly cemented to indurated cobbles
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly acid

Lower Bt horizon:
Hue: 5YR, 2.5YR
Value: 4, 5, 6 dry; 4, 5 moist
Chroma: 6, 8 dry; 4, 6, 8 moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: silty clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent strongly cemented to indurated gravel
Reaction: moderately acid

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dumont and Pollard soils. Dumont soils are dry for 45 to 60 days in the particle size control section. Pollard soils are dry for 60 to 90 consecutive days in the particle size control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Marjonmine soils are on mountainflanks of mountain slopes. Slopes are 0 to 60 percent. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum weathered from schist. Elevation is 853 to 1036 meters (2800 to 3400 feet). Mean annual precipitation is 914 to 1143 mm (36 to 45 inches). Mean annual temperature is 8 to 9 degrees C (47 to 49 degrees F). Frost-free season ranges from 150 to 160 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Andihasset, Lickinfork, and Schaad soils. Andihasset soils have andic properties and are on side slopes of broad tabular ridges and volcanic erosion remnants. Lickinfork soils are loamy-skeletal and are on mountainflanks of mountain slopes. Schaad soils are fine-loamy and are on mountainflanks of mountain slopes.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately low.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for forest management, wildlife habitat and watershed. Vegetation is ponderosa pine, incense cedar, sugar pine, Douglas-fir, California black oak, canyon liveoak, bearclover, whiteleaf manzanita, toyon, deerbrush, curleaf mt mahogany, Sierra iris, and Pacific poison oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Mountains, MLRA 22A. The series is not extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Calaveras County, California, 2009. Source of the name is Marjon Mine, located in Calaveras County.

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 14 to 44 cm (0 to 9 inches) (Oi, Oe, A, and BA horizons).
Argillic horizon - the zone from 44 to 179 cm (17 to 70 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4, and Bt5 horizons).
Particle-size control section - the zone from 44 to 94 cm (17 to 37 inches).

ADDITIONAL DATA:
National Soil Survey Center Pedon No.: 08N0692; NASIS User Pedon ID: 08DWB025

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.