Granular disintegration

Granular disintegration is a pattern of stone deterioration that occurs in granular sedimentary (e.g. sandstone) and granular crystalline (e.g. granite) stones where the composite grains become loosened and detach. Granular disintegration produces debris referred to as a rock meal and can often be seen accumulating at the foot of wall actively deteriorating. If the stone surface forms a cavity (coving), the detached material may accumulate through gravity on the lower part of the cavity. The grain size of the stone determines the size of the resulting detached material. The following specific terms, all related to granular disintegration, refer either to the size, or to the aspect of corresponding grains:
 * Powdering, chalking: terms sometimes employed for describing granular disintegration of finely grained stones.
 * Sugaring: employed mainly for white cristallyne marble
 * Sanding: used to describe granular disintegration of sandstones and granites.