How do soils differ from sediments?

Question

Santiago Arce · Accepted Answer

Soils are the result of subaerial exposure and the weathering of rock, while sediments are the result of erosional transport of material away from a weathering site and deposition in a new location.

Soils are quite complex and form when rock is weathered in the presences of oxygen. The rock is slowly broken down by oxidation, freeze-thaw cycles, biological activity, and chemicals leaching through the rock. See pic.

Sediments are when weathering of rock occurs and erosion and transportation remove the rock particles and transport them to somewhere else. Once they are deposited "somewhere else" we call this a "sediment". Sediments are found in lakes, rivers, sand dunes, beaches, and the ocean. pic. If sediments get buried deep enough and undergo compaction and cementation, they turn into "sedimentary rocks".

Nova Anderson · Answer

undefined Soils are formed from weathered rocks and organic matter, while sediments are loose particles of sand, silt, and clay deposited by wind, water, or ice. Soils have distinct layers and are influenced by biological activity, whereas sediments may or may not have layers and are primarily formed through physical processes.