1. Plural of hardpan; a layer of hard subsoil or clay that is difficult to penetrate or break up.
Usage: geology/soil science; often used in agriculture and construction contexts
2. Plural of hardpan; a firm or solid foundation; bedrock or fundamental basis.
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The farmer had to break through the hardpans before planting crops in the field.
• Hardpans in the soil prevented water from draining properly.
• The construction crew encountered hardpans at a depth of three feet.
• These hardpans are composed of iron oxide and silica cemented together.
• The company's hardpans of ethical practice have guided its decisions for decades.
• Geologists identified multiple hardpans in the core sample.