spall
/spɔːl
/verb [with object]
1Break (ore, rock, or stone) into smaller pieces, especially in preparation for sorting: the ore was spalled by young women seated at anvils
1.1 [no object] (Of ore, rock, or stone) break off in fragments: cracks below the surface cause slabs of material to spall off...
- The elongation of the well bore is the result of compressive shear failure on intersecting conjugate planes, which causes pieces of the borehole wall to spall off.
- You are also to check on incidence of spalling or cracking concrete on the external faces of the buildings and similarly report with recommendations and estimate of cost.
- Though ornamented with beautiful huge rock-gripping bristlecones, the cliffs tend to spall off in big chunks and the ore body rock where the mine adits go clearly tends to cave in unless aggressively shored up.
noun
A splinter or chip, especially of rock.Any cracks, chips, holes, dips or spalls should be repaired in order to achieve a flat surface....
- A slick finish won't get dusty, but be careful not to get air-entrained concrete where air can get entrapped below the troweled surface, leading to spalls.
- He struggled up a steep grade, slipping on the loose spall.
Origin
Late Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin. The verb dates from the mid 18th century.