LOCATION SACHETT CO+MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, shallow Typic Humicryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Sachett cobbly sandy loam. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise indicated.)
A--0 to 8 inches; brown to dark brown (10YR 4/3) cobbly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; 20 percent pebbles; 15 percent cobbles; many fine and common medium roots; many fine interstitial pores; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bw--8 to 13 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very cobbly loamy sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky; 25 percent pebbles; 25 percent cobbles; many fine and common medium roots; many fine interstitial pores; strongly acid (pH 5.3); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--13 inches; deeply weathered coarse-grained granite (grus).
TYPE LOCATION: El Paso County, Colorado, along cog railway on Pikes Peak, 0.9 miles north of Reservoir #4, and 400 feet west of Sachett mountain in Sec. 19, T. 14 S., R. 68 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the paralithic contact is 10 to 20 inches. Reaction is strongly acid or very strongly acid. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature is about 38 to 42 degrees F. Base saturation on a weighted average basis in the A horizon ranges from 30 to 50 percent.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR value of 3 through 5, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. The surface layer is gravelly or cobbly loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand. Rock fragments range from 25 to 40 percent.
The Bw horizon has hues of 10YR, or 7.5YR, values of 4 through 6 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. The Bw horizon ranges from very gravelly or cobbly sandy loam or loamy sand. Rock fragments in the B horizon ranges from 40 to 80 percent.
The Cr horizon is weathered granite (grus). When excavated this grus becomes strong brown extremely gravelly sand or strong brown extremely gravelly loamy sand. The gravel size fractions range from 1/8 inch to 1 1/2 inches in diameter and is 80 to 90 percent of this horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series in this family. Series in other families are the Bross, Mirror, and Penitente series. Bross soils have albic horizons. Mirror soils have a lithic contact at depths between 20 inches to 40 inches and the Penitente soils are deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Sachett soils are on mountain side slopes and ridges, and have slopes ranging from 5 to 50 percent. These soils formed in weathered granitic rock of the Pikes Peak formation. At the type location the average annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 26 inches. The mean annual temperature is 25 to 30 degrees F., and the frost free season is less than 50 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Catamount soils. Catamount soils have an AC horizon. Rock Outcrop and Rubble land occur at higher elevations and include the area of Pikes Peak, Colorado.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; rapid runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally for recreation and watershed. Dominant vegetation is alpine sedge, sedge, and alpine timothy. In some places there are alpine willows which occupy about 20 percent of the surface.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountainous areas of the Front Range of Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: El Paso County, Pike National Forest, East Part, Colorado, August, 1984.
REMARKS: This soil was sampled for characterization in 1982 (Sample No. S82CO-119-1). Sampled pedon is weathered in excess of 50 cm. and is more appropriately classed as sandy-skeletal. Class is changed from loamy-skeletal to sandy-skeletal, based on the lab data. Last updated by the state 7/91.