FRACTURE

Fracture is a random, non-directional break that can be caused by impact, stress, pressure, or a rapid change in temperature. Fracture is not related to planes of weakness in the crystal structure and can therefore occur in both crystalline and amorphous (non-crystalline) materials.

The fracture surface may be described for example as uneven, irregular, conchoidal (shell-like), or hackly (uneven and jagged).