Clay appears to be a mixture of poor minerals and minerals, but it may be the origin of the earth's life. In ancient seawater, clay can form hydrogels, which consist of tiny spaces of large amounts of absorbable liquids (like sponges). Over billions of years, the chemicals trapped in these spaces may have complex reactions. Thus forming various systems of protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, and ultimately the production of living cells. The hydrogel formed by clay may play a role in imprisoned and protected these chemical processes until the cell membrane enveloped by living cells is developed.
intended to illustrate that:
Protective effect of hydrogel on biochemical reaction