Eluvium

Eluvium is like a big, fluffy blanket of dirt and rocks that forms on the ground at the foot of a hill or a mountain. When it rains, the water can carry little bits of the dirt and rocks down the hill, and they settle at the bottom to form the eluvium. Think of it like sprinkling baking ingredients on a cake and watching them settle in place. Eluvium is important because it helps to protect the soil underneath from being washed away by rain or wind. It also provides nutrients for plants to grow on top of it. So next time you're outside and see a patch of dirt and rocks at the bottom of a hill, you can say, "Hey, that's eluvium!"