bedrock

Bedrock is the solid rock that lies beneath soil, sediment, or other unconsolidated surface materials. It forms the base layer of the Earth's crust and can be composed of any rock type—igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary. The depth to bedrock varies from place to place and over time, influenced by erosion, deposition, and tectonic activity. When bedrock is near the surface it may appear as outcrops, cliffs, or ridges, and it marks the boundary above which weathering forms regolith.

Bedrock behavior influences groundwater flow, slope stability, and civil engineering decisions. Underlying rock properties such as hardness, porosity, and fracturing determine how easily it can be excavated, how it bears loads, and how groundwater is transmitted. Mapping bedrock depth and structure is a routine task in mining, hydraulic engineering, and environmental assessment.

The term bedrock is also used in popular culture in reference to Minecraft Bedrock Edition, a cross-platform version of the video game that runs on multiple devices using a common engine. The name also serves as a general metaphor for a foundational or stable base in discourse beyond geology.