Parent Material

In soil science, parent material is the underlying geological material (generally bedrock or a superficial or drift deposit) in which soil horizons form. Soils typically inherit a great deal of structure and minerals from their parent material, and, as such, are often classified based upon their contents of consolidated or unconsolidated mineral material that has undergone some degree of physical or chemical weathering and the mode by which the materials were most recently transported.

Read more about Parent Material:  Consolidated, Unconsolidated, Climate and Weathering

Famous quotes containing the words parent and/or material:

    Preoccupied with her self, the adolescent sees enormous changes, whereas the parent sees the child she knew all along. For the parent, new developments are superficial and evanescent. For the adolescent, they are thrilling and profound.
    Terri Apter (20th century)

    If someone took the finest marble and knew how to shape it artfully: Prometheus’ material was lowly clay, but his statues walked.
    Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)