Parent material can be:
* Rock: This is the most common source, weathered and broken down over time by various processes like freeze-thaw cycles, chemical reactions, and biological activity.
* Glacial deposits: Glaciers grind up rock and transport it to new locations, where it can form soil.
* Wind-blown deposits: Wind carries fine particles of sand, silt, and clay, depositing them in layers that can become soil.
* Organic matter: In some cases, soil can form directly from decaying plant and animal matter.
The type of parent material greatly influences the characteristics of the resulting soil, such as its texture, mineral content, and fertility.
