In geomorphology, what does desquamation affect?

Desquamation, derived from the Latin 'desquamare' meaning 'to remove scales', refers to a physical weathering process affecting rocks. This phenomenon is characterized by the peeling away of thin layers or scales from the rock surface, often resembling 'onion skins'. In English-speaking geology, 'desquamation' is used when these layers are about a centimeter thick. For thicker layers, the term 'exfoliation' is preferred.

On a smaller scale, desquamation can result from processes like haloclasty, thermoclasty, or even cryoclasty. On a larger scale, it occurs due to the decompression of rock masses. This weathering starts at the network of fractures and joints, attacking the rock surface and gradually penetrating deeper. The perpendicular fractures and horizontal decompression joints, which have a much larger curvature radius than the desquamation scales, break the rock into large, thick slabs. This can lead to the formation of chaotic rock landscapes and tors.