Book 24, Question 4
What is bedrock?
Bedrock is the solid rock that lies beneath all the soil and loose stones. It may be only a few inches below the surface, or hundreds of feet down. Soil forms slowly as wind, water, ice, and roots break the top of the rock into smaller pieces. In some places, like along cliffs and mountains, you can see the bedrock itself.
More fun facts
- Bedrock is the hard, solid rock under loose stuff like soil, sand and gravel.
- It is found under the sand and mud of the ocean floor too.
- Bedrock can reach hundreds of meters down, toward the bottom of Earth's crust.
- The top surface of the bedrock is called the rockhead.
- You can see bare bedrock on some mountaintops, rocky coasts and in stone quarries.
- Builders sometimes drill down to the rockhead to anchor a building's foundation.
Sources: National Geographic Education
Questions kids ask
Can water be stored in bedrock?
Yes. Underground pockets of water can sit in bedrock that has tiny holes, like sandstone.