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Soil and Geomorphic Description of Mojave Desert

Explore soil profiles, landforms, and vegetation of Jawbone Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert region of California. Discover geological features and soil classifications in this unique desert landscape.

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Soil and Geomorphic Description of Mojave Desert

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  1. SOS 5705C Field Assignment Jake Sneider April 3rd 2008

  2. Pit Locations in Mojave Desert 1 2

  3. The Mojave or Mohave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Named after the Mohave Native Americans it occupies over 22,000 square miles in a typical Basin and Range topography.

  4. Soil One Location & Geomorphic Description Location: Jawbone Canyon OHV Area • Horse Canyon, California • Mojave Desert Area, Northwest Part, California • Map Unit: 5205 -- SCODIE-GRANDORA ASSOCIATION, 15 TO 60 PERCENT SLOPES Geomorphic Description • Parent Material: colluvium and residuum derived from granite • Bedrock Kind: granite; Bedrock Depth: 88.0 cm • Geomorphic Setting: on backslope of mountain flank • Upslope Shape: linear; Cross Slope Shape: concave • Slope: 63.0 %; Aspect: 345 (deg) • Elevation: 4829 feet, 1,472.0 m • Mean Annual Precip: 18 cm • Drainage Class: somewhat excessively drained

  5. Soil One Landform:Backslope of Mountainside

  6. Landscape and Vegetation Photos

  7. Interesting Stuff in Jawbone

  8. A: 0 – 14 cm C1: 14 – 41 cm C2: 41 – 88 cm R: 88 cm Soil 1

  9. A: 0 – 14 cm A Horizon A--0 to 6 inches, (0 to 14 cm); gravelly coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure, soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine, medium, and coarse roots and many very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; 2 percent medium and coarse gravel and 13 percent fine gravel; neutral, pH 7.0 by Phenol red; abrupt wavy boundary.

  10. C1: 14 – 41 cm C1 Horizon C1--6 to 16 inches, (14 to 41 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to massive, soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine, medium, and very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; 5 percent cobbles, 10 percent medium and coarse gravel and 20 percent fine gravel; neutral, pH 7.2 by Phenol red; clear smooth boundary.

  11. C2: 41 – 88 cm C2 Horizon C2--16 to 35 inches, (41 to 88 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very gravelly loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; massive, soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine roots and few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; 5 percent medium and coarse gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 15 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4 by Phenol red; abrupt smooth boundary.

  12. R: 88 cm R Horizon R – 35 inches, (88cm); indurated, slightly fractured granite bedrock

  13. Soil One Scorecard

  14. Interpretations and Classification Full Classification: Sandy, mixed superactive, mesic Xeric Torriorthents Series Info: Very close to Grandora series (mixed, mesic Xeric Torripsamments

  15. Soil TwoLocation & Geomorphic Description Location: Joshua Tree National Park Geomorphic Description • Parent Material: alluvium derived from granite • Geomorphic Setting: backslope of fan remnant on fan piedmont • Upslope Shape: convex; Cross Slope Shape: linear • Slope: 6.0 %; Aspect: 243 (deg) • Elevation: 1,450.0 m • Mean Annual Precipitation: 12.5 cm • Drainage Class: well drained

  16. Soil 2 Landform: Backslope of Fan Remnant

  17. Landscape and Vegetation Photos

  18. Interesting Stuff in Joshua Tree

  19. Soil 2 A: 0 – 7 cm Bw: 7 – 18 cm Bt: 18 – 110 cm Btk: 110 – 150 cm

  20. A Horizon: 0 – 7 cm A--0 to 3 inches, (0 to 7 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly loamy sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure, soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent medium and coarse gravel and 10 percent fine gravel; neutral, pH 7.2 by Phenol red ; abrupt smooth boundary.

  21. Bw: 7 – 18 cm Bw Horizon • 3 to 7 inches, (7 to 18 cm); brown (10YR 5/3) loamy sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure, soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial pores; 2 percent medium and coarse gravel and 8 percent fine gravel; neutral, pH 7.0 by Phenol red ; clear smooth boundary.

  22. Bt Horizon 7 to 43 inches, (18 to 110 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure, slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; few fine and medium roots throughout; common fine and medium tubular pores; 10 percent continuous faint clay films between sand grains; 2 percent medium and coarse gravel and 8 percent fine gravel; neutral, pH 7.2 by Phenol red ; clear smooth boundary. Bt: 18 – 110 cm

  23. Btk Horizon • 43 to 59 inches, (110 to 150 cm); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure, slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 10 percent continuous distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6), dry, clay films on surfaces along root channels and 10 percent continuous distinct clay films on rock fragments and between sand grains; 5 percent fine carbonate masses in matrix; 2 percent medium and coarse gravel and 8 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline, pH 7.6 by Phenol red. Btk: 110 – 150 cm

  24. Soil 2 Scorecard

  25. Interpretations and Classification Classification: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haplargids Series Info: Tentatively classified as Goldpeak

  26. Which of the five Soil Forming Factors led to the genetic differences of these two soils? • Climate? • Organic Matter • Relief? • Parent Material? • Time?

  27. The climate in each location is very similar. • There is very little organic matter in the desert. • The rock source for each soil’s parent material is granite.

  28. The Main Factors for Genetic Difference Are: 1.Relief Landform, landscape and slope are the main differences that led to development of the two soils. 2. Time Due the landform and slope of each site, soil 2 was in a much more stable position and thus had more time to develop an argillic horizon.

  29. Questions?

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