Abrasive articles and a method for the manufacture of such articles are described. The articles comprise a lofty nonwoven web of fibers, the fibers defining a first major web surface, a second major web surface and a middle web portion extending between the first and second major web surfaces; and a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to the surfaces of the fibers of at least one of the first or second major web surfaces and distributed along the lengths of the fibers in a substantially uniform manner, the particles comprising a distribution of particle sizes having a median particle diameter of about 60 microns or less.