Procedure in which the sample is abraded by a sphere in order to expose compositional changes in layers below the original surface, with the intent that the depth of those layers can be related to the lateral position in the crater created by the abrasion.
See also: radial sectioning
Source:
PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. 'Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)' on page 1799 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0404)