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  • Parent Material & Bedrock: Understanding Soil Formation
    The layer of soil that contains weathered rocks is called the parent material or bedrock.

    Here's why:

    * Parent material is the foundation of soil, the source from which the soil develops. It's the underlying rock that gets broken down over time.

    * Bedrock is the solid, unweathered rock that lies beneath the soil.

    While weathered rocks are found in the parent material, they also contribute to the formation of other soil layers:

    * Topsoil: This layer contains weathered rock fragments mixed with organic matter, giving it its rich color and texture.

    * Subsoil: This layer contains more weathered rock fragments, along with minerals that have leached down from the topsoil.

    So, while the parent material is the primary location of weathered rocks, they contribute to the composition of all soil layers.

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