Spall basically refers to a chip or a flake which comes out of a piece of a stone or ore. The fragment is broken off from the edge of the stone or ore. The spall or the fragmented part usually has at least one thin edge. The material from which a spall is broken off is usually a stone, metal, glass, concrete, ceramic or a glass product.
Spalling is known to occur in these materials due to a speedy change in temperature. For example, frost can cause the mortar to spall from the joints. Dampness and freezing inside cracks due to cold in rocks can cause spalling from the outer surfaces. Spalls also refer to thin pieces of sharp rock left as a by-product of exfoliation. Pieces of ore left in the process of mining are also known as spalls.
Spalling is known to occur in these materials due to a speedy change in temperature. For example, frost can cause the mortar to spall from the joints. Dampness and freezing inside cracks due to cold in rocks can cause spalling from the outer surfaces. Spalls also refer to thin pieces of sharp rock left as a by-product of exfoliation. Pieces of ore left in the process of mining are also known as spalls.