ORIGINAL: bluebird2
Such as sedimentary rock compressed over eons.
Is that the problem with your thought process?
[quoteTake a ball of clay and weigh it. Put it in the oven to dry and then weigh it. Which one has more mass weight?
Which one has the most volume? Density is a measure of weight verses volume. You really don;'t have a clue!
The hydrated one has more volume as well. The ball of clay would shrink like your theories on wildlife management.