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Spalling on a failed bearing is a clear indication of fatigue failure. This phenomenon occurs when the material of the bearing undergoes repeated stress over time, leading to microscopic cracks that ultimately cause pieces of the material to flake off or "spall." The process typically begins with the initiation of fatigue cracks that propagate with continuous loading and unloading cycles until the structure can no longer withstand the stress, resulting in the detachment of material.

The other options, while they can lead to bearing failure, do not specifically correlate with the spalling characteristic. Corrosion generally manifests as a degradation of the materials due to chemical reactions, resulting in rust or pitting rather than flaking. Overheating can lead to changes in material properties or even warping but does not typically result in the spalling pattern associated with fatigue. Contamination might introduce particles that can cause wear or impede performance, but it usually does not cause the fatigue-like spalling that is distinctly observed in this type of failure.