Freaky nanotech sand discussion in GD

[XemaSab]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6633538

[lapfog_1]

1. I don't see the importance of this technology.

We've been doing this with Bentonite clay (especially sodium bentonite) for years and years, it is used for lining the fields near where I live for generations, not to mention ponds and other things you want to retain surface waters (used for lining ponds that hold mining waste, nuclear waste, etc).

The clay expands when it absorbs water and causes the layer of clay to become a water seal, keeping the pond from leaking or the topsoil from losing water.

When I lived in Denver, Bentonite was real problem in that when it expands, it can cause the surface to distort, cracking the foundations and sidewalks, etc above it.

[XemaSab]

2. That was my first thought on the article

Why not pop a clay pan in there and plant a dryland prairie to try to increase the surface OM instead of putting in plastics? :shrug:

[lapfog_1]

3. Maybe they have no clay in Saudi Arabia?

If not, I wonder how much to ship them some...

Wish we could get $70 per barrel for it.

[XemaSab]

4. According to the NRCS soil map of the world

there are Entisols and Aridisols there.

The Entisols would probably be blowing sand, but the Aridisols might have high levels of clay. They probably also have high levels of salts and other gnarly things too though. :shrug: