SOIL SURVEY OF SOLOMONSVILLE AREA, ARIZONA. 



Mechanical analyses of Maricopa sandy loam. 



17 



MARICOPA SILT LOAM. 



The Maricopa silt loam is a heavy brownish silt loam, usually 6 feet 

 or more in depth. It has an exceedingly line texture, crumbling- to 

 an impalpable powder when dry, but becoming very sticky when wet. 

 It is easity puddled, bakes upon exposure to the sun, and resembles 

 in physical characteristics an adobe soil. It covers extensive areas, is 

 of uniform texture, and erodes into vertically walled washes and bluffs. 

 It often extends to great depths, but is sometimes interstratified at less 

 than 6 feet with layers of coarse and line sands and gravels. Near the 

 valley trough it is often less than 6 feet in depth and is underlain by 

 materials of the Gila fine sandy loam and the Pecos sand. Except as 

 very fine particles the presence of gravel on the surface is rare. North 

 and west from Solomonsville the soil assumes a very dense, heavy 

 nature, resembling the eastern clay soils. 



The most extensive and typical areas of this type occur along San 

 Simon Creek, extending from Solomonsville to Satford, and in the 

 vicinity of Matthews. Other bodies occur in long, narrow strips 

 throughout the valley. The soil is easily distinguished from the 

 soils of coarser texture. It grades gradually into the Gila tine sandy 

 loam. 



The surface of this type is usualhy smooth and level, except where 

 cut b} T washes. The banks of these washes are from 5 to 20 feet high, 

 nearly vertical, stand for long periods of time, and are distinctive of 

 this soil type. Native vegetation is sparse and upon wind-swept areas 

 is almost wanting. On the lower lying parts of the areas there is a 

 rank growth of willow. 



The Maricopa silt loam is very compact and impervious, percolation 

 takes place slowly, and except where underlain at 6 feet or less by 



