because the sand is very softer than a clay
Hard-pan clay soil percolates (drains) water the slowest.
Clay tablets were made out of clay that was easily found by the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates.
Water is what makes clay slippery. Too much water and it is a goo called "slip" , too little water and it is a dry powder. Clay is formed from particles that are flat hexagonal sheets less than 2 microns in size. The microscopic clay particles slide past each other easily when wet and make the slippery feel.
Yes, that is why they are called clay cliffs. When it dries, clay is firm, and forms a soft rock, however it is easily eroded, so clay cliffs are often unstable.
Clay is made of small molecules that are easily molded into different shapes. When in a plastic form the clay can be shaped, carved, pressed and turned. When the clay is allowed to dry, it becomes hard, but it is still formed of the small molecules, and is easily dissolved. When the clay molecules are heated they literally fuse into neighboring molecules. The firing of clay pots prevent water from dissolving the clay. Clay can have more or less strength, based on the impurities and how hot the clay was fired.
Groundwater is formed when water from precipitation or surface water infiltrates the ground and percolates through the soil and rocks to collect in underground aquifers. The water moves downward due to gravity until it reaches a layer of impermeable rock or clay, which allows it to accumulate and create a groundwater reservoir.
Hard-pan clay soil percolates (drains) water the slowest.
Water passes through pebbles because they have larger gaps between them, allowing water to flow through. Clay, on the other hand, has smaller gaps between its particles, making it less permeable to water. This results in water being unable to pass through the clay surface easily.
Water does not easily pass through clay because of its fine particle size and molecular structure, which create a dense, compact barrier that restricts the flow of water molecules. This results in clay having low permeability and high water retention properties.
Gravel doesn't fit close together like clay soil particles do, slowing down water flow through mud. If you visualize gravel as a screen of 1/8th inch mesh and clay soil as a screen of 1/128th mesh ( 16 times smaller holes ) you can then easily understand that water flows very swiftly through the gravel screen compared to the fine particles of clay soils.
Impermeable material does not allow water to pass through easily. This can include substances like clay, solid rock, or plastic sheeting, which have very low rates of water permeability.
Water moves more easily through gravel than clay because gravel has larger spaces between particles, allowing water to flow more freely. Clay has smaller particles with closer spaces, creating a more compact structure that restricts the movement of water. This difference in pore size and structure affects the permeability of the material.
Sand. The sand has space between all of the little grains, clay is stuck together with less space.
Water would typically drain away faster through sandy soil compared to clay soil. This is because clay soil has smaller pore spaces that restrict water movement, whereas sandy soil has larger pore spaces that allow water to drain more easily.
Sand is more permeable than clay and pebbles because it has larger pore spaces between particles, allowing water to flow more easily through it. Clay has smaller pore spaces, making it less permeable. Pebbles have even larger spaces between them than sand, but water can still flow more easily through sand due to its finer texture.
Adding gravel to clay soil can improve drainage by creating channels for water to flow through the soil more easily. The gravel helps to break up the compacted clay, allowing water to drain away more effectively.
Sandy soil absorbs water more easily compared to clay soil. This is because sandy soil has larger particles with more space between them, allowing water to flow through quickly. Clay soil has smaller particles that are closely packed, making it more difficult for water to penetrate.