Re: What is Saprolite?

I will say in theory yes, but using a "geomechanical approach" can be sometimes in contradiction with the genesis. As an example, some sandstones can be weakly cemented at the basis. So in this case, your sandstone is geneticaly a Bedrock but will be recognize as a Saprolite. Indeed, we should keep in mind that a lot of sedimentary rocks were previously reworked soils or saprolite.

In granite saprolite (perfect example of real saprolite) , as weathering occurs preferntially in cracks you will have a mix of real saprolithic material and pararock or rock fragments (called corestone by geologists).

I recommend you to read the special session of the SSSA "Whole regolith Pedology", where Buol et al (1994) for the first time proposed a Soil Taxonomy like approach in his Saprolite-Regolith Taxonomy".

Best regards

Buol, S.W., 1994. Saprolite-Regolith taxonomy: an approximation. In: Cremeens, D.L., Brown, R.B., Huddleston, J.H. (Eds.), Whole Regolith Pedology: Soil Science Society of America Special Publication Number 34, Madison, pp. 119–132.