Which term describes the unweathered rock located beneath soil?

Bedrock refers to the solid rock layer that can be found beneath soil and other loose materials on the Earth's surface. It is the unweathered portion of the Earth's crust and serves as the foundation for overlying soil and sediment layers. Understanding bedrock is crucial in mining engineering because it plays a significant role in determining the stability of the surface and the feasibility of various mining operations.

Loam is a type of soil that is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, which indicates it is a surface material rather than a solid rock. Soil is a broader term that encompasses organic material as well as layers of weathered rock, which again does not describe the unweathered rock itself. Weathered rock, on the other hand, refers to rock that has undergone alteration and breakdown due to natural processes, which differentiates it from the intact and solid nature of bedrock.