What is the layer of soil that is made up of small lumps of rocks with cracks and crevices called?

The correct answer is C - horizon.

Key Points

• The C - horizon is the layer of soil that consists of partially disintegrated and weathered rock fragments.
• This layer lies beneath the B - horizon and is closer to the bedrock, serving as the transition zone.
• The soil in the C - horizon is less developed compared to the A and B horizons, and it has minimal organic material.
• This layer is crucial in soil formation as it provides the parent material for upper soil layers.
• The C - horizon often contains large rock fragments and exhibits cracks, crevices, and varying degrees of weathering.

Additional Information

• Soil Horizons: Soil is divided into layers called horizons: A (topsoil), B (subsoil), C (parent material), and bedrock.
• A - Horizon: The topmost layer rich in organic matter and humus, essential for plant growth.
• B - Horizon: Also known as subsoil, this layer contains minerals leached from the A - horizon and has less organic material.
• Bedrock: The solid rock layer beneath the soil horizons, providing the foundation for soil formation.
• Weathering: The process that breaks down rocks into smaller fragments, contributing to the formation of the C - horizon and upper soil layers.