LOCATION SAGAMORE CA

Tentative Series
IRD: GMW/LJL/CAH/ET
12/2015

SAGAMORE SERIES

The Sagamore series consists of very shallow and shallow, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from limestone. The Sagamore soils are on ballenas and fan remnants. Slopes range from 2 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 200 millimeters (8 inches) and the mean annual air temperature is about 15 degrees C (59 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, carbonatic, thermic, shallow Calcic Petrocalcids

TYPICAL PEDON: Sagamore gravelly sandy loam, on a linear south facing (200 degrees), 28 percent slope at an elevation of 1,476 meters (4,842 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is covered by approximately 6 percent fine gravel, 35 percent medium and coarse gravel, 20 percent cobbles, 4 percent stones, and 1 percent boulders.

A -- 0 to 3 centimeters (0 to 1 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate thick platy structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine and fine vesicular pores; 7 percent fine gravel and 18 percent medium and coarse gravel; violently effervescent (15 percent calcium carbonate equivalent of the fine earth fraction); moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 5 centimeters, 1 to 2 inches thick)

ABk -- 3 to 16 centimeters (1 to 6 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; common fine irregular pores; 75 percent distinct, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments; 5 percent fine gravel and 15 percent medium and coarse gravel; violently effervescent (17 percent calcium carbonate equivalent of the fine earth fraction); strongly alkaline (pH 8.5); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 13 centimeters, 0 to 5 inches thick)

Bk -- 16 to 35 centimeters (6 to 14 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine irregular pores; 95 percent distinct, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, 1 percent medium, distinct, white (10YR 8/1), platy, very strongly cemented calcium carbonate pendants on bottom of rock fragments with clear boundaries, 5 percent medium, distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate nodules in the matrix with clear boundaries and 7 percent coarse, distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate nodules in matrix with clear boundaries; 10 percent fine gravel, 20 percent medium and coarse gravel, and 1 percent cobbles; violently effervescent (17 percent calcium carbonate equivalent of the fine earth fraction); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (15 to 23 centimeters, 6 to 9 inches thick)

Bkqm1 -- 35 to 45 centimeters (14 to 17 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) moderately cemented sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; petrocalcic with 90 percent continuous cementation; strong very thick platy structure; very hard, extremely firm, brittle; very few very fine roots in cracks; few very fine and fine irregular pores; 10 percent distinct, very pale brown (10YR 8/4), silica on rock fragments; 70 percent distinct, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on rock fragments; 2 percent fine distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate pendants on bottom of rock fragments with clear boundaries and 10 percent fine distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate nodules in matrix with clear boundaries and 5 percent medium distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate nodules in matrix with clear boundaries; 8 percent fine gravel and 2 percent medium and coarse gravel; violently effervescent (40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent of the fine earth fraction); strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 15 centimeters, 4 to 6 inches thick)

Bkqm2 -- 45 to 60 centimeters (17 to 24 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) moderately cemented very gravelly loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; petrocalcic with 95 percent continuous cementation; massive; very hard, extremely firm, brittle; 10 percent prominent, very pale brown (10YR 8/4), silica coats on rock fragments; 70 percent distinct, white (10YR 8/1), calcium carbonate coats on rock fragments, 2 percent fine distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate pendants on bottom of rock fragments with clear boundaries and 5 percent medium distinct, white (10YR 8/1), irregular, weakly cemented calcium carbonate nodules in matrix with clear boundaries; 15 percent fine gravel and 20 percent medium and coarse gravel; violently effervescent (20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction); strongly alkaline (pH 8.8);

TYPE LOCATION: San Bernardino County, California, approximately 2 kilometers (1 mile) south of the intersection of Hart Mine Road and Ivanpah Road; about 140 meters (460 feet) east and 125 meters (410 feet) north of the southwest corner of section 23, T. 14 N., R. 16 E. San Bernardino Base and Meridian; USGS Castle Peaks, CA 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; 35 degrees, 16 minutes, 27 seconds north latitude and 115 degrees, 14 minutes, 13 seconds west longitude; UTM 11S 660350e 3904863n (DTM: NAD83).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture control section: usually dry, moist in some part from December to March and intermittently moist for 10 to 20 days during July to September following summer convection storms; aridic bordering on ustic soil moisture regime.

Soil temperature: 15 to 19 degrees C. (59 to 66 degrees F.)
Surface rock fragments: 65 to 70 percent with 41 to 65 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, 0 to 4 percent stones and 0 to 2 percent boulder.
Depth to calcic horizon: 3 to 17 centimeters (1 to 7 inches).
Depth to petrocalcic horizon: 25 to 36 centimeters (10 to 14 inches).

Control Section
Clay content: 7 to 12 percent.
Rock fragments: ranges from 15 to 35 percent, averages 20 to 35 percent.
Calcium carbonate equivalence of the less than 20 millimeter fraction: 40 to 60 percent.

A horizon
Value: 5 or 6 dry.
Texture of the fine earth: sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
Clay content: 7 to 10 percent.
Rock fragments: 15 to 30 percent gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalence of the fine earth fraction: 15 to 35 percent.
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

ABk horizon (when present)
Value: 5 or 6 dry.
Texture of the fine earth: sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
Clay content: 8 to 10 percent.
Rock fragments: 15 to 30 percent gravel and cobbles.
Calcium carbonate equivalence of the fine earth fraction: 15 to 35 percent.
Reaction: moderately to strongly alkaline.
Visible secondary carbonates: 0 to 3 percent, fine to coarse, weakly to very strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and 25 to 95 percent calcium carbonate coats on the bottom of rock fragments.

Bk/Bkq horizon(s)
Value: 5 or 6 dry.
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist.
Texture: sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
Clay content: 8 to 12 percent.
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent gravel and cobbles.
Calcium carbonate equivalence of the fine earth fraction: 15 to 35 percent.
Visible secondary carbonates: 5 to 15 percent, fine to coarse, weakly to very strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and 90 to 100 percent calcium carbonate coats on rock fragments.

Bkqm/Bkkqm horizon(s)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y, dry or moist.
Value: 7 or 8 dry, 5 to 7 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Texture of the fine earth: sand, fine sand, loamy sand or fine sandy loam.
Clay content: 4 to 5 percent. Rock fragments: 10 to 60 percent gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalence of the fine earth fraction: 20 to 55 percent.
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
Cementation class: weakly to strongly cemented, 90 to 95 percent continuity.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bard (NV), Crossen (TX), Mormon Mesa (NV), Upton (TX), and Woda (NV) series. Bard, Mormon Mesa, and Woda soils have typic aridic soil moisture regimes. Bard soils are redder in the calcic horizon with 5YR or 7.5YR hues and have a petrocalcic horizon at a depth greater than 36 centimeters and Crossen and Upton soils have an indurated petrocalcic horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sagamore soils are on ballenas and fan remnants. Slopes are 2 to 30 percent. These soils formed in alluvium derived from limestone. Elevation is 1,265 to 1,530 meters (4,150 to 5,020 feet). The climate is arid with cool, moist winters and warm, moist summers. Mean annual precipitation is 175 to 225 millimeters (7 to 9 inches). The mean annual air temperature is 13 to 17 degrees C (55 to 63 degrees F). Frost free season is 210 to 270 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is Stonekey (T) soils. The Stonekey soil is moderately deep to a petrocalcic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat excessively drained; high saturated hydraulic conductivity above the petrocalcic horizon and low within the petrocalcic horizon.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is black grama, galleta, Joshua tree, banana yucca, and Nevada jointfir.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mojave Desert of southeastern California, U.S.A.; MLRA 30. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: PHOENIX, ARIZONA

SERIES PROPOSED: San Bernardino County, California; Soil Survey of Mojave National Preserve Area, California, 2011. The name is coined from Sagamore Canyon within the survey area.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon include:

Ochric epipedon - from a depth of 0 to 16 centimeters (0 to 6 inches) (A and ABk horizons).
Calcic horizon - from a depth of 16 to 35 centimeters (6 to 14 inches) (Bk horizon).
Petrocalcic horizon - the zone beginning at 35 centimeters (14 inches) (Bkqm1 horizon).
Particle size control section - 0 to 35 cm (0 to 14 inches) (A, ABk and Bk horizons).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID is 11CA795251.

Responsibility for this series was transferred from Davis to Phoenix 12/2015. The last revision to the series was 10/2012. ET

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.