Natural looking setup/substrate?

Hi guys. I'm new here and wanted some expert leopard gecko advice

I'm thinking about setting up a more natural looking set up and was considering using excavator clay for the substrate as its harder, More like what they would live on in their natural habitat. (I know loose sand is a no no, and thats not what most desert environments are like.)

My main concerns are if this would be suitable for them, and how to heat their enclosure while using this for the substrate. I speculated that if I made the substrate thinner in the warm end, a heat mat would possibly heat up the substrate like it would with tile. I have used excavator clay before, in my tarantula enclosures for the more arid species, and know that it dries out in a pretty solid state. Also as it dries out this way, impaction shouldn't be an issue.

Could I possibly get peoples thoughts on this before/if I decide to give it a go?

Many thanks

Sam

Lol i just found a very similar thread. My apologies.