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Gilbralter soil series

Note: The left side of the photo exhibits natural soil structure. The right side has been smoothed.

 

Original photo and comment by : Matthew C. Ricker, NC State University

 

The Gibraltar soil series (Mollic Udifluvents) is mapped in eastern Pennsylvania, USA. The above photograph is from the Schuylkill River floodplain 100 km downstream from the coal mines of the region. These soils form from coal fines that were washed directly into streams prior to the U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

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The Gibraltar series consists of very deep, well-drained soils formed in recent alluvium derived from coal washings deposited over alluvium from reddish sandstone, siltstone and shale. They are nearly level soils on floodplains. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Mean annual precipitation is 43 inches. Mean annual temperature is 53 degrees F.

 

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, nonacid, mesic Mollic Udifluvents

 

Thickness of the solum ranges from 3 to 10 inches. Depth to the buried A horizon ranges from 20 to 70 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent in the control section and 0 to 10 percent in the substratum. They are usually coal fragments or rounded gravels. Soil reaction: unlimed reaction is moderately acid to slightly acid throughout.

 

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are in woodland and are used for timber production. Some areas are in cropland or hayland. Woodland vegetation is mixed hardwoods.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and southeastern Pennsylvania. The series is of small extent.

 

For a detailed description, visit:

soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GIBRALTAR.html

 

For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:

casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#gibraltar

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Uploaded on February 5, 2011
Taken in January 2010