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Spallation
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<p>Spallation is a process in which fragments of material (<a href="/facts/Spall/4QwuMsPx">spall</a>) are ejected from a body due to impact or stress. In the context of <a href="/facts/Impact_(mechanics)/dw4Eedzk">impact mechanics</a> it describes ejection of material from a target during impact by a <a href="/facts/Projectile/kaDpG3N7">projectile</a>. In <a href="/facts/Planetary_science/ocX6rp0d">planetary physics</a>, spallation describes <a href="/facts/Meteor/gcoGYw6o">meteoritic</a> impacts on a planetary surface and the effects of <a href="/facts/Stellar_wind/bn5J6vpx">stellar winds</a> and <a href="/facts/Cosmic_rays/uxCVdTKd">cosmic rays</a> on <a href="/facts/Atmosphere/oUpLaGRF">planetary atmospheres</a> and <a href="/facts/Planetary_surface/c3QVcQpV">surfaces</a>. In the context of <a href="/facts/Mining/g6uDIFab">mining</a> or <a href="/facts/Geology/WGvVRIYF">geology</a>, spallation can refer to pieces of rock breaking off a <a href="/facts/Rock_face/P7tXINep">rock face</a> due to the internal stresses in the rock; it commonly occurs on <a href="/facts/Shaft_mining/Lfh67JTB">mine shaft</a> walls. In the context of metal oxidation, spallation refers to the breaking off of the oxide layer from a metal. For example, the flaking off of <a href="/facts/Rust/sajUmaz8">rust</a> from iron. In the context of <a href="/facts/Anthropology/W6WK1C3a">anthropology</a>, spallation is a process used to make stone tools such as <a href="/facts/Arrowhead/M3BUXh59">arrowheads</a> by <a href="/facts/Knapping/FPPEFBvs">knapping</a>. In <a href="/facts/Nuclear_physics/fzQbt1aF">nuclear physics</a>, spallation is the process in which a heavy nucleus emits numerous <a href="/facts/Nucleon/6fguU9Xk">nucleons</a> as a result of being hit by a high-energy <a href="/facts/Subatomic_particle/tMEzcTWQ">particle</a>, thus greatly reducing its <a href="/facts/Atomic_weight/A3vbuz2n">atomic weight</a>. In <a href="/facts/Industrial_processes/etguaagU">industrial processes</a> and <a href="/facts/Bioprocess/tocdR0cT">bioprocessing</a> the loss of tubing material due to the repeated flexing of the tubing within a <a href="/facts/Peristaltic_pump/1PglJYUt">peristaltic pump</a> is termed spallation. </p>