LOCATION MIRABAL NM+AZEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Typic Ustorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Mirabal stony loam, forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
0e--0 to 1 inches; loose mat of pine needles and grass in various stages of decomposition.
A1--1 to 6 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) stony loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak and moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable; many fine roots; 25 to 30 percent cobblestones; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
AC--6 to 13 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure, parting to fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; many fine and medium roots; 45 to 55 percent rock fragments, mostly cobblestones and stones; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
C--13 to 24 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common medium roots; about 10 percent more gravel and cobblestones than in the AC horizon; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)
R--24 inches; slightly fractured granite with some soil material in fractures.
TYPE LOCATION: Cibola County, New Mexico; Mt. Sedgewick Quadrangle; about 1.1 miles southwest of Mt. Sedgewick, Zuni Mountains; SW 1/4 section 21, T. 11 N., R. 12 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: The SMCS is usually moist, in some part, for more than 90 cumulative days from May through October. It is usually dry, in all parts, for less than 90 cumulative days during the same period. It is continuously moist in some part November through April. The period of maximum precipitation is July through October. The soil is driest during May and June. Typic ustic moisture regime.
Soil Temperature: 42 to 47 degrees F.
Particle size control section: 12 to 18 percent clay with 35 to 80 percent rock fragments.
Depth to lithic contact: 20 to 40 inches
Reaction: medium acid to neutral
A and AC horizons:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Textures: sandy loam, loam, or loamy sand
Rock fragments: 80 percent total
40 to 60 percent gravel
5 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
C horizons:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Textures: sandy loam, loamy sand or loam
Rock fragments: 80 percent total
40 to 60 percent gravel
5 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Mirabal soils are on igneous domes in mountainous landscapes at elevations of 7,500 to 9,500 feet. Slopes range from 5 to 70 percent. The soil formed in colluvium over residuum weathered from granite and other igneous rocks. The annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 24 inches and the annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost free period is about 70 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cundiyo, Supervisor, Tampico, and Zuni series. Cundiyo soils have argillic horizons. Supervisor and Tampico soils have mollic epipedons. Zuni soils are fine textured and on igneous domes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Lumber production, recreation, wildlife and some grazing. Ponderosa pine, limber pine, Douglas fir, white fir, Gambel oak, mountain brome, Arizona fescue and Carex.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountains of New Mexico and Arizona. MLRAs 35, 38, 39, LRR-D and MLRA 48A LRR-E. This soil is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Zuni Mountain Area, New Mexico, 1964.
REMARKS: Mirabal soils were formerly classified as Lithosols. The series originally was conceived to include pedons that are now in a Lithic subgroup; the present concept excludes these pedons.
Classified according to Soil Taxonomy Second Edition, 1999.