LOCATION PAMSDEL                 NV

Established Series
Rev. TM/BKP/JBF
02/2012

PAMSDEL SERIES

The Pamsdel series consists of shallow to a duripan, well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from limestone with a minor component of shale. Pamsdel soils are on fan remnants. Slopes range from 2 to 8 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 330 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 9 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, carbonatic, mesic, shallow Haploduridic Durixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Pamsdel gravelly loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The surface is covered with about 5 percent lichen, 5 percent mosses, 30 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles. Lithology of the rock fragments is limestone and shale.

A1--0 to 10 cm, brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; strong medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; common very fine and few fine interstitial and tubular pores; 15 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; neutral (pH 7.3); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 13 cm thick)

A2--10 to 25 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, many medium, and few coarse roots; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; calcium carbonate equivalent is 12 percent (less than 2mm fraction); 25 percent gravel and 20 percent gravel-size very strongly cemented weathered duripan fragments, and 5 percent cobbles; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 cm thick)

Bk--25 to 48 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; secondary calcium carbonate is disseminated throughout and common (10 percent) coats around rock fragments; calcium carbonate equivalent is 33 percent (less than 2mm fraction); 25 percent gravel and 20 percent gravel-size weathered indurated duripan fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); very abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 38 cm thick)

Bqkm1--48 to 79 cm; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) cemented material, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; strong thick platy structure; very rigid, extremely hard; indurated by secondary silica and calcium carbonate in the upper 1.2 to 2.5 cm, and weakly to moderately cemented below; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary.

Bqkm2--79 to 135 cm; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) cemented material, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; massive; extremely hard and slightly rigid; few very fine roots; few very fine and fine interstitial pores; strongly cemented by secondary silica and calcium carbonate; few reddish brown (5YR 5/4) relict iron concentrations; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.7); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Bqkm horizons is 76 to 140 cm thick)

Bqk--135 to 157 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) gravel, very pale brown (10YR 8/2) moist; few very fine and fine roots; 85 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; many brown (7.5YR 4/4) irregular iron concentrations; secondary silica cementing sand grains to rock fragments; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8).

TYPE LOCATION: Lincoln County, Nevada; approximately 5 miles northwest of Pioche, 100 feet east of the Castleton Road, 200 feet south of the power line crossing; about 2,300 feet south and 2,100 feet east of the northwest corner of section 18, T. 1 N., R. 67 E.; USGS Highland Peak 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 37 degrees 56 minutes 51.9 seconds N and longitude 114 degrees 30 minutes 45 seconds W; UTM zone 11s, 718567e, 4202935n; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually dry, moist in some part for short periods during winter and early spring months and for 10 to 20 days cumulative between July and September due to summer convection storms. Aridic bordering on xeric soil moisture regime.
Mean annual soil temperature: 8 to 11 degrees C.
Thickness of Mollic epipedon: 18 to 36 cm.
Thickness of calcic horizon: 13 to 38 cm.
Depth to duripan: 36 to 50 cm.
Duripan thickness: 76 to 140 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content: 18 to 27 percent.
Rock fragments: 35 to 50 percent mainly gravel.

A horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5, dry, 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist.
Clay Content: 18 to 27 percent.
Rock fragments: 15 to 55 percent, mainly gravel or pebble-sized very strongly cemented or indurated duripan fragments. Some pedons contain sub-horizons that average 35 to 55 percent gravel and duripan fragments.

Bk horizon
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR.
Value: 6 through 8 dry, 5 through 7 moist.
Chroma: 2 through 4, dry or moist.
Texture: Loam or sandy loam.
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent.
Rock fragments: 35 to 50 percent, mainly gravel or pebble-sized very strongly cemented or indurated duripan fragments.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 25 to 35 percent of the less than 2 mm soil fraction, and 45 to 60 percent including the less than 20 mm soil fraction.
Reaction: Moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.

Bqkm horizon
Value: 7 or 8 dry, 6 through 8 dry.
Chroma: 2 through 4, dry or moist.
Cementation: Indurated in the upper 3 to 15 cm, with weakly to strongly cemented material below.
Other features: Some pedons have iron concretions.

Bqk horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR.
Rock fragments: 60 to 95 percent, mainly limestone and shale gravel.
Secondary calcium carbonate: Many concretions cementing sand grains to rock fragments and on the bottoms of rock fragments.
Secondary silica: Many concretions cementing sand grains to rock fragments and on the bottoms of rock fragments.
Other features: Some pedons have iron concretions.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pamsdel soils are on fan remnants. Slopes range from 2 to 8 percent. These soils formed in alluvium derived from limestone with a minor component of shale. The elevation ranges from 1,750 to 2,350 meters. The climate is semiarid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 300 to 350 mm, the mean annual air temperature ranges from 7 to 11 degrees C, and the frost-free period ranges from 90 to 120 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Jarab and Ursine series. Jarab soils have a duripan that is strongly cemented or less. Ursine soils do not have a mollic epipedon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; low runoff; moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: Pamsdel soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation includes mountain big sagebrush, Stansbury cliffrose, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Indian ricegrass. This pedon is correlated to R028AY127NV, Loamy Fan Piedmont 12-14 P.Z.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Nevada. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 28A.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lincoln County, Nevada, Meadow Valley Area, Nevada-Utah; 1971.

REMARKS: In 2005, the type location was moved a short distance and the series concept was updated to current standards for soil taxonomy and soil interpretation.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the surface to 25 cm (A1 and A2 horizons).
Calcic horizon - The zone from 25 to 48 cm (Bk horizon).
Duripan - The zone from 48 to 135 cm (Bqkm1 and Bqkm2 horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 48 cm (Bk horizon).

ADDITIONAL DATA: Previous authors and editors include: CWL/HJB/LNL/ELS.

---

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.