Part 7/9:
The clay found in these hills exhibited properties that obstructed plant root systems. Its tendency to compact and expand rendered it hostile to plant growth, depriving roots of the moisture they needed to thrive. Understanding the specifics of this clay, known as smectite clay, painted a clearer picture of why these hills were so barren.
Interestingly, the sandy compositions at the higher elevation, arising from previous beach environments, allowed for a limited yet observable growth of plant life. This juxtaposition of geology affecting the ecology was a phenomenal insight, bridging two sciences in a captivating manner.