What natural substance is composed of layers of minerals, organic matter, and weathered rock?

Soils are composed of layers of minerals, organic matter, and weathered rock, making them essential for supporting plant growth and various ecosystems. Soils form through the weathering of rocks, the accumulation of organic matter from decaying plant and animal life, and processes like leaching and erosion. This unique combination of elements defines soil and distinguishes it from other materials like clay, sand, and loam, which are specific types of soil or components of soil with defined compositions and characteristics. While clay and sand represent specific particle sizes and textures, loam is a specific mixture of sand, silt, and clay ideally suited for agriculture, but it is not a separate entity from the broader category that soils encompass.