Which outcome would predictably occur if an ancient Mesopotamian canal's clay lining became saturated with saline groundwater?

💡 Explanation

When saline groundwater saturates clay lining, salt crystallization occurs because water evaporates, leaving behind salt crystals that grow and exert pressure, leading to granular disintegration and weakening the structure. Therefore, structural collapse results, rather than expansion, reduced rates due to algae, or reduced silt deposition, which require different mechanisms.

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