Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Clay ball in jar test

I have question on clay, I made a ball out clay compacting in my hand and dropped in a mason jar full of water it stayed as a ball for 2 days but it is now showing signs of breaking apart. Is there a time limit that determines good or bad. Thanks for any advise.

I am not sure about this test but I do know soil. The main thing with clay sealing is the vibration and sheeps foot packing. This vibration onto a small area lines up the layers of the clay into flat pans. It forces out the water and alines the elements in the clay with the flat pans. This bond then makes the clay seal. The higher the colloidal structure of the clay the tighter is will seal.

In WW2 they used anhydrous ammonia heavy on the top soil as they leveled the ground out and it packed into a wonderful air strip in any grass field flat enough. The chemical reaction pulled the water from the soil and vibrations packed the clay/soil tight.

Cheers Don.