LOCATION MINLUM             CA
Established Series
WRR/KP
11/2009

MINLUM SERIES


The Minlum series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium from terrace deposits. Minlum soils are on hills. Slopes range from 15 to 65 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 22 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 58 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Pachic Argixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Minlum sandy loam, in an area of Airship-Minlum-Literr complex, 40 to 65 percent slopes, on a north facing 60 percent slope under a cover of live oak at an elevation of 150 meters. When described the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

A1--0 to 4 inches, (0 to 11 cm); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) broken face moist; 18 percent clay; strong fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine roots and few medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 10 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; neutral, pH 6.9 by pH meter 1:1 water; abrupt smooth boundary. (9 to 18 centimeters thick)

A2--4 to 12 inches, (11 to 30 cm); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) broken face moist; 21 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 28 centimeters thick)

Bt1--12 to 20 inches, (30 to 50 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) broken face gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face moist; 25 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, slightly plastic; few medium roots; common fine tubular and many very fine interstitial pores; 70 percent clay films on all faces of peds; 15 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.6 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (23 to 40 centimeters thick)

Bt2--20 to 35 inches, (50 to 90 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 26 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few medium roots; common fine tubular and many very fine interstitial pores; 40 percent clay films on all faces of peds; 20 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.4 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 40 centimeters thick)

Bt3--35 to 47 inches, (90 to 120 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 24 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky, slightly plastic; common fine interstitial pores; 10 percent clay films between sand grains; 10 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.5 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 35 centimeters thick)

BC--47 to 61 inches, (120 to 155 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 18 percent clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine interstitial pores; 10 percent sub rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter coarse fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.5 by pH meter 1:1 water.

TYPE LOCATION: Santa Clara County, California, Stevens Creek County Park, Cupertino, on PG&E road to Coyote Ridge, across first creek near bottom of ridge about 200 feet, east side of road and up slope above on toe slopes., of
Section 27, Township 7S, Range 2W, UTM Zone 10, 4128499 Northing, 582143 Easting, NAD83. - U.S.G.S Quad: Cupertino, California.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 62 degrees F. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about June 15 to October 15 (about 120 days). The particle size control section averages 20 to 30 percent clay, and 10 to 40 percent rock fragments, mostly gravel in size. The soil is non-calcareous. Organic matter ranges from 1 to 3 percent to a depth of 15 centimeters. Rock fragments on the surface range from 0 to 10 percent are gravel in size.

The A and ABt horizons have dry color of 10YR 5/4, 5/3, 4/3 or 4/2. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 3/4 3/3 or 2/2. Texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from 16 to 24 percent. Rock fragments range from 10 to 25 percent and are mostly gravel size. Reaction ranges from 6.1 to 7.8.

The Bt horizon dry color is 10YR 6/6, 6/4, 5/6, 5/4 or 4/4. Moist color is 10YR 5/6, 5/4, 4/4 or 3/4. Texture is sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from 20 to
30 percent. Rock fragments range from 10 to 40 percent and are mostly gravel size. Reaction ranges from 6.1 to 7.3.

The BCt horizon dry color is 10YR 6/6, 5/4 or 4/3. Moist color is 10YR 5/6, 4/4 or 3/3. Texture is sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from 20 to 27 percent. Rock fragments range from 20 to 50 percent and are mostly gravel size. Reaction ranges from 6.1 to 7.3.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alumrock, Arujo, Botella, Chico, Elkhorn, Havala, Kawenga, Lockwood, Mccoy, Saltcanyon, Sapwi, and Tongva soils. Alumrock, Arujo, Kawenga, Mccoy, Sapwi and Tongva have paralithic or lithic contacts within 1.5 meters. Chico, Havala and Saltcanyon have greater than 30 degrees F. difference between mean summer and mean winter. Botella soils have chromas of 1 or 2 in the A and Bt horizons. Elkhorn soils are on old stabilized dune deposits on marine terraces. Lockwood soils have chromas of 1 in the A horizon and have 15 to 35 percent shale gravel fragments in the textural control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Minlum soils are on colluvial areas on hills of remnant terraces. Slopes are 15 to 65 percent. These soils formed in colluvium weathered from terrace deposits. Elevation is 600 to 1000 feet. Mean annual precipitation is 20 to 26 inches. The mean annual temperature is 60 to 62 degrees F. Frost free season is 275 to 325 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Airship, Literr and Calabazos soils. The Airship soils are loamy skeletal. Calabazos and Literr soils have fine textured control sections.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: well drained; moderate permeability. The soils are not flooded and do not have water tables.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, watershed and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is oaks, brush and annual grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The soils are non extensive and are mapped in Santa Clara County. Major Land Resource Area: 15 -- Central California Coast Range

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Santa Clara County, California. Source of name from local features.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon: 0 to 20 in. (0 to 50 cm.)
Argillic Horizon: 13 to 57 in. (34 to 145 cm)

The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about May 1 to November 1 (about 180 days).

NASIS Pedon: 07ca085641464

ADDITIONAL DATA:


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.