Hardpan (Noun)
Meaning
Crust or layer of hard subsoil encrusted with calcium-carbonate occurring in arid or semiarid regions.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The excavation team struggled to break through the hardpan that had formed over centuries of drought and erosion.
- In arid regions, hardpan can be a major obstacle to planting crops or digging wells.
- The geologist explained that the hardpan was a result of the high concentration of calcium carbonate in the soil.
- Farmers in the area had to use specialized equipment to penetrate the hardpan and reach the more fertile soil beneath.
- The hardpan that covered the desert floor made it difficult for the construction crew to lay the foundation for the new building.