The nature of the parent material influences soils in two ways. First, the type of parent material affects the rate of weathering and thus the rate of soil formation. (Consider the weathcring rates of granite versus limestone.) Also, because unconsolidated deposits are already partly weathered and provide more surface area for chemical weathering, soil development on such material usually progresses more rapidly. Second, the chemical makeup of the parent material affects the soil's fertility. This influences the character of the natural vegetation the soil can support.