Limestone is particularly susceptible to weathering from acid rain, according to the University College of London's Department of Earth Sciences. Limestone is made up of at least 80 percent calcium carbonate, and calcium carbonate wears down in acid rain very easily. Weathering will often cause small cracks to form in limestone, and the roots of various plants, as well as vines, can then force their way through these cracks, widening them and hastening the weathering process. This is known as mechanical weathering. When acid rain and plant roots are both present in the environment around limestone, weathering will increase exponentially.
Marble is also susceptible to weathering. Marble holds up better than limestone in both acid and unpolluted rainwater, but it will show signs of weathering in time. According to the University of London, after about 10 or 21 years a marble structure, such as a headstone, will show serious signs of wearing. When this occurs you can rub a finger along the edifice and take away bits of grit. Water enters small holes in the marble at this point, worsening the weathering. This phenomenon is known as surface flaking.
Granite is composed of many minerals, including quartz, biotite, potassic feldspar and sodic plagioclase feldspar. When granite begins to weather, most of these minerals go through various changes. The exception is quartz, which has a high resistance to weathering. The two different types of feldspar undergo hydrolysis and form kaolinite (commonly known as clay). Biotite also undergoes hydrolysis to form clay. Granite is one of the stronger rock types, and for this reason is a popular building material.