Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The C horizon is the layer of soil that consists of weathered parent material. It is located below the B horizon and above the unweathered bedrock.
Related terms
B horizon: The B horizon is the layer of soil that accumulates minerals and nutrients leached from above. It is located below the A horizon and above the C horizon.
Soil profile: A vertical section through all soil horizons, from surface to bedrock, showing their arrangement.
Parent material: The underlying geological material (such as rock or sediment) from which soils develop.