Research on the formation of currently developing argillic horizons in western soils is limited due to most argillic horizons in western soils not being the product of current Holocene soil formation. The purpose of this study was to determine the genesis of argillic horizons found in soils of the Charkiln series, Spring Mountains, Clark County, Nevada, which contain argillic horizons that have formed in alluvium dominated by quartzite in a arid to semi-arid climate. While quartzite is an atypical parent material for these types of soils and the climate of arid regions typically does not have sufficient moisture to translocate clays, several soil forming factors together explain the current formation of the argillic horizon in these soils. Soil samples from three pedons on a slope transect were analyzed for physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties that could help explain the genesis of these soils. Results suggest that the Charkiln series formed from a combination of quartzite, limestone, and some eolian dust. While weathering in the soils is minimal, the Charkiln series contains actively forming channel argillans and a depleted A horizon with clay accumulation in the below B horizons. There is a lack of lithologic discontinuities based on consistent increasing mineral and particile size distribution with depth, which also suggests that the argillic horizon is not the product of a previous climatic soil forming period.