LOCATION MARKAGUNT               UT

Tentative Series
Rev. KWC
07/2022

MARKAGUNT SERIES

The Markagunt series consists of shallow, well drained soils that formed in eolian deposits and residuum derived from limestone, sandstone, mudstone. Markagunt soils are on plateaus. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 457 millimeters (18 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid lithic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Markagunt clay loam - rangeland

Oi--0 to 1 inch (0 to 3 cm) slightly decomposed plant material.

A--1 to 4.5 inches (3 to 11 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very gravelly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), moist; 29 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common medium roots and common very fine roots and common fine roots; 55 percent gravel; noneffervescent; neutral, pH 7.0.

Bt1--4.5 to 12 inches (11 to 30 cm); dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) very gravelly clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3), moist; 37 percent clay; strong fine angular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky, very plastic; common medium roots and common very fine roots and common fine roots; few clay films; 35 percent gravel and 20 percent cobble; noneffervescent; neutral, pH 7.0.

Bt2--12 to 19.5 inches (30 to 49 cm); dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) extremely cobbly clay, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3), moist; 41 percent clay; massive; hard, firm, moderately sticky, very plastic; common fine roots; few clay films; 75 percent cobble; slightly effervescent; neutral, pH 7.2.

R--19.5 to 29 inches (49 to 74 cm); bedrock, lithic, indurated.

TYPE LOCATION: Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah; lat.37 degrees 22 minutes 0.85 seconds and long. 133 degrees 0 minutes 50.98 seconds W., WGS84

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture: Typic Ustic moisture regime.
Depth to lithic contact: 15 to 60 centimeters (6 to 24 inches)
Depth to argillic horizon: 10 to 25 centimeters (4 to 10 inches)

Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 39 to 48 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 80 percent

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Texture: clay loam, loam, sandy clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 25 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 2 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent
Reaction: neutral (6.6 to 7.3)

Bt1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 3 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry, 3 moist
Texture: clay, clay loam
Clay content: 39 to 48 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 2 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 40 to 60 percent
Reaction: neutral (6.6 to 7.3)

Bt2 horizon
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 3 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry, 3 moist
Texture: clay, clay loam
Clay content: 39 to 48 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 2 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 60 to 80 percent
Reaction: neutral (6.6 to 7.3)

R horizon

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ratonwest(NM) and Sinnigam(MT) series. Ratonwest soils overlie basalt bedrock and are in MLRA 35. Sinnigam soils overlie sandstone and are in MLRAs 54, 58A, 43B, and 46.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Markagunt soils are mapped on summit and interfluve positions of plateaus and mountains
Parent material: eolian derived from limestone, sandstone, mudstone and residuum derived from limestone.
Landform: plateaus, mountains, mesas
Slopes: 0 to 15 percent
Elevation: 1950 to 2700 meters (6435 to 8910 feet)
Mean annual temperature: 5.6 to 7.2 degrees C (42 to 45 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 432 to 508 millimeters (17 to 20 inches)
Precipitation pattern: May and June driest months, August to October wettest months, light rain and snowfall January to March.
Frost-free period: 94 to 110 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Paunsaugunt, Detra, Kolob, Dalcan series. The Paunsaugunt soils are loamy-skeletal and are on plateau summit and shoulders. The Detra soils are fine-loamy, moderately deep to deep and are on plateau side slopes. The Kolob soils are moderately deep to deep and are on plateaus. The Dalcan soils are moderately deep to deep and are on lava flows on plateaus.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: well drained, low runoff, slow permeability

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for wildlife habitat and recreation areas. Vegetation is Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon Pine, Manzanita, Utah Serviceberry, Gambel Oak, Poa species.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Utah; LRR D, MLRA 47; This series is of limited extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona

SERIES PROPOSED: Washington County, Utah, Zion National Park soil survey area, USA. The name Markagunt is derived from the Markagunt Plateau.

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: The zone from 1 to 19 inches (3 to 49cm). (A, Bt1, Bt2)
Argillic horizon: The zone from 4 to 19 inches (11 to 49cm). (Bt1,Bt2) Lithic contact: The contact is at 19 inches (49cm) with limestone.

The assignment of the cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.

Classified according the Soil Taxonomy, Second Edition, 1999; Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014

---

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.