GLOSSARY OF CAVING TERMS

By Garry K. Smith (August 1998) Pres.nted by Angus Macoun This list of words and their definitions co-..ers many of the common and colloquial terms used by the Australian speleological fraternity. Many words ha-..e been introduced into the English language o-..er the last hundred years. Some because there was a need to describe a new item or process which was disco-..ered. Some examples are Karabiner, Piton and Wetsuit. On other occasions a new word or group of words may be used to describe an action or new sport. Examples which spring to mind are Chimneying, Ca-..e Diving, Prusiking and Abseiling. There are the words which are spelt differently, depending on which school you went to. A classic example would be Karabiner or Carabiner. 1ne need to formalise the spelling and exact definition was recognised many years ago when J. Jennings first compiled a list of "Ca-..e Terminology· in 1960. This limited list of definitions was later published in the 1968 Speleo Handbook, edited by P. Matthews. A greatly increased glossary of terms by J. Jennings with the assistance of others, was published in the 1985 Australian Karst Index. lnese authors must be commended on such a comprehensi-..e list of definitions for words in use up to that period. 1ne on-going ewlution of words in common usage among the speleological fraternity has continued since that time. There are presently a number of slang and colloquial caving terms which ha-..e been used widely for many years. The exact definition of these words remain open for interpretation, as there appears to be no recent listing of their correct meaning!. I would hope that the list of terms I present for publication in the conference proceedings will be thought prowking and set the wheels in motion toward having some additional words officially recognised in the Speleological fraternity. No doubt the selection of words and some meanings will be contro-..ersial, but I make no apology for this as I am prepared to wear the flack, if any is due. Getting back to the glossary of terms and meanings which I ha-..e listed, and how they were deri-..ed. A large number of publications and articles were used to cross reference the meanings of words because it was found that many definitions wried bet\Neen publications. In general the publications listed (at the end of the glossary) were used as the main references because it was felt that they contained the most acceptable meanings. In all there were probably 30 publications and articles used to a much lesser extent. These ha-..e not been acknowledged as their contribution to the o-..erall listing was -..ery minor. Many words used among speleologists wried in meaning to that in the common English language dictionary. lney included quite a few colloquial terms not listed at all in dictionaries, therefore I wrote a new meaning which hopefully best described it. In general, few definitions ha-..e been duplicated word for word from any source as it was often found that a combination of descriptions best suited the meaning of a word. As an interest point, the origin (history) has been included after some word definitions. Much deliberation o-..er definitions of closely related words such as; shaft, pit, chimney, grike, fissure and cleft, made the compiling of this list fairly diffia..ilt. For instance I quote a few meanings from the World Book Dictionary which is typical of many descriptions gi-..en, bearing in mind that each of these words ha-..e many meanings which also don't relate to caving.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 1. Chimneyed. - having a chimney or chimneys. 2. Chimney. - A crack or opening in the rock, mountain, volcano, or other natural fissure, Synonym - Cleft. 3. Cleft. - A space or opening made by splitting; a deep cleft in the rock. Synonym - fiSstre. 4. FiSSlre. - A long, narrow opening, split or crack in rock. Synonym - Cleft. 5. Pit. - A natural hole in the ground. An open hole or excawtion made in digging for some mineral deposit; such as coal; a shaft. 6. Shaft. - A passage that is like a well; long narrow space, a deep passage sunk in the earth. 7. Grike. - A crevice or chink; A ravine on the side of a hill. 8. Crevice. - A fiSSlre or crack on or through the surface of something; cleft; chink. After looking through many dictionaries, I was certainly very confused as they all seemed to be cross referencing to each other. But this did not solve the problems when relating these terms to caving. I started looking back through the history of terms and determined that a PIT was used to catch animals. In other words there was no way out for the captured animal. This led me to come up with a definition which described a PIT as a vertical or near vertical shaft, without passages or chambers leading from it. The definition of a SHAFT was handled in a similar manner. A shaft was typically dug by miners to ventilate a mine. This meant that it connected with other passages. Therefore I wrote a definition which included a vertical cavity or passage which has at least one passage or chamber leading from it. A number of dictionaries referred to a CHIMNEY as a hole or crack open to the surface, however covers referred to it as being a near vertical passage, which a cover can climb by applying pressure with their body to opposite rock faces. Therefore a CHIMNEY could fit into the description of a SHAFT or a PIT, except that it is smaller in width and able to be climbed by the act of chimneying. In the definition I have deliberately omitted any mention of open to the surface as a person can chimney in a chimney not open to the surface. This leads me to another point. If a person can CHIMNEY in a CHIMNEY, then I needed to start including the uses of these words in a similar manner to that in a dictionary. Therefore I have included the different ways in which a word could be used. ie. As a noun, wrb or adjectiw. I hod to draw the line somewhere so a further break-up of verbs into transitive and intransitive has not been included for simplicity sake. This document is not the sort of article that a person will sit down and read from front to back, but it will hopefully act as a reference document. There is the added adwntage that bold text words which are closely related or are used in a definition may be cross references to compare meanings. In conclusion, the publication of this glossary of caving terms, marks the culmination of 11 years research into the definition of words used by speleological people in Australia. This glossary of terms was first published in the "NEWCAVES CHRONIQES". Volume No. 11, July 1998, the official publication of the "Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society", then revised and additional words included during August 1998 for publication in the proceedings of "the Australian Speleological Federation's 22"'2 Biennial Conference January 1999. It should be noted that only a limited selection of biological and geological - law cave term have been included in this glossary. For a comprehensive list of these terms refer to previously published articles by Arthur Clarke, Stefan Eberhart, and Ken Grimes.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 GLOSSARY OF CAVING TERMS Common te"'1inology and colloquial terms used throughout the speleological fraterrity. Authors note - A large number of publications and articles were used to cross reference the meanings of words because it was found that many definitions wried between publications. In general the reference publications listed (at the end of this glossary) v..iere used as the main references because it was felt that they contained the most acceptable meanings. There are also quite a few words used among speleologists which wry in meaning to that in the common English language dictionary. They included many colloquial terms not listed at all, therefore a new meaning was written by the author. In general, very few definitions ha-....e been duplicated word for word from any source as it was often found that a combination of descriptions best suited the meaning of a word. As an interest point, the origin (history) has been included after some word definitions. The publication of this glossary of terms, marks the culmination of 11 years of research on the definition of words used by speleological people in Australia. First published in "NEWCAVES CHRONia.es·. Volume No. 11, July 1998, the official publication of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society, then revised and additional words include during August 1998 for publication in the proceedings of the Australian Speleological Federation's 22nd Biennial Conference January 1999. Note: that only a limited selection of biological terms and geological - law ca-....e term ha-....e been included in this glossary. For a comprehensi-.e list of these terms refer to articles by Arthur Clarke, Stefan Eberhart, and Ken Grimes. Abbreviations Uses:- adj. Adjecti-....e Biol Biology. cf. confer (compare) with the following term which is similar but not identical. Geol Geology n. noun Syn. synonym - a word having the same or almost the same meaning as another. v. verb. AA. n. A surface type of solidified law, According to W. Hutton •History of Derby" characterised by broken lumps of material or (1801), Abseiling was de-.eloped in the Middle -....ery sharp prickly fragments. The rough Ages by jugglers in Germany who use to texture is caused by mo-....ement of a partly descend from church steeples for money. One solidified surface layer, prior to complete such demonstration by a man called Chapman solidification, thus causing the surface to occurred in Oct. 1732. The rope was fixed at break into sharp fragments. Surface texture the top of All Saints Steeple and the other grades from 'pahoehoe' to 'oa' law. See law end at the base of Saint Michaels. This CQYe. formed a very steep incline o-....er a horizontal distance of 80 yards (73 metres). Chapman ABSEIL v. The act of lowering oneself down a cliff, pitch or steep slope on a fixed rope. The then slid down balanced o-....er a wooden breast controlled descent is obtained by friction of plate with a groo-.e to fit ·the rope. To rope on the body or passing the rope though a execute this balancing feat, he lay on his belly karabiner or other descending device. Deri-....ed with arms and legs extended. During this 6 to from the German word 'abseilen'. 7 second act he fired a pistol and blew a trumpet. Although successful on this occasion he lost his life shortly after at Shewsbury. Page 61

Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 ABSEIL CLEAR. n. A call for the person who ANTHODITE. n. A speleothem co"1>osed of has just abseiled, indicating to others above, gypsum or aragonite and forming needle-like that the rope is clear for the next person to crystal clusters eg. gypsum flower. descend. cf. off-rope. ARAGONITE. n. The second most common ABSEIL ROPE. n. A rope on which a person is polymorph of calcium carbonate CaC03. Usually abseiling or a rope set up for abseilers to use. recrystallised to a needle-like shape. See static rope. ARCH. n. A carved structure supported on both ABSEILER. n. The person undertaking an sides. In speleological terms, a rock structure abseil. over a large passage or cavity with two or more ABSEILING. n. A call from an abseiler to a entrances in which a person is always within belayer. Indicating that the abseiler is sight of daylight. (during daylight hours) Syn. beginning to descend. na'h.ral arch. ACTIVE CAVE. n. A cave with a streams ARCHAEOLOGY. n. Scientific study of history flowing in it. cf. liw caw. Antonym. of dormant from the remains of early human cultures. caw or dead caYe. Especially prehistoric man, mostly by systematic excawtion and description of ACETYLENE LAMP. n. See carbide lamp. remains and artefacts. ACETYLENE. n. Is a colourless flammable ARMCHAIR CAVER. n. Colloquial term for an hydrocarbon gas C H • It is produced when 2 2 experienced caver who is now incapable of water reacts with calcium carbide.. Acetylene caving or a person still able to, but ho.s lost the burnt in an oxygen deficient atmosphere has a urge to actually go caving. On the other hand smoky, but bright yellow flame. When burnt in they may spend much of their time writing or a good air supply the flame is white. The by­ reading caving books and hours may be spent products of combustion are carbon dioxide and reminiscing over photographs from past trips. water. See carbide Lamp. ASCENDER. n. A mechanical device which grips AEOLIAN. (1) adj. Pertaining to or caused by the rope (usually with a cam operation) and the wind; wind-borne. (1) n. Landforms allows a person to ascend a rope. cf. prusik. generated by the wind, or sediments transported by the wind. Derived from lfolus, ASF. Acronym for the Australian Speleological the Latin God of the wind. Federation's. AEOLIANITE. n. A rock formed from AVEN. n. A shaft which rises from a passage, calcareous dune sand, a dune calcarerite. sometimes leading to a passage above, but not open to the surface. AEOLIAN CALCARENITE. n. Calcareous fine sand size particles which have become air­ BAT. n. A mammal able to fly. Classified as borne due to wind and are deposited as dunes, Chiroptera, meaning 'hand winged'. This order later to undergo consolidation and diagenesis to is further divided into two Suborders of form dune limestone. Also see calcarenite and Microchiroptera (meaning 'small hand wings') Syngenetic Karst. and Megachiroptera. (meaning 'large hand wings'). MD.ny Microchiropteras are cave ANCHOR. n. A secure object used to attach a dwelling bats and have good eye sight which person while operating a safety line or for allows them to see in low light conditions, as attaching equipment such as ropes or ladders. well as sonar which allows them to navigate in Syn. anchor point total darkness. They can fly at great speed ANCHOR 80LT. n. A bolt used as an anchor through tight twisted cave passages with point. See bolt. astonishing accuracy. Most species roost in ANCHOR POINT. n. Same as anchor. large colonies deep in caves during the day. ANGLES WING. n. Colloquial term for artain or shawl.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 BLIND VAUEY. n. A \alley which is closed abruptly at its lower end by a cliff or slope At dusk a mass exodus occurs as they lea-..e the facing up the \alley. There is usually a perennial safety of the ca-..e to feed on airborne insects or intermittent stream sink at its lower end, during the night. The small ca-..e dwelling bats howe-..er it may be dry. cf. half blind valley. should not be confused with their larger BLOCK. n. A solid piece of stone larger than 3 cousins, Megachiroptera, the fruit eating bats, metres across. cf. boulder. otherwise known as flying foxes. BOOB TUBE. n. Colloquial term for a clear BED. n. A layer in a belt of sedimentary rock or flexible tube about one metre long. Used like a unconsolidated sediment. straw to drink water from small crevices or BEDDING-PLANE. n. The surface separating inaccessible pools. two beds of rock, often contains a layer of clay The original name was the Super Syphon or shale between. Sucker, belie-..ed to be first utilised around BEDDING-PLANE CAVE n. A ca-..e de-..eloped 1973-74 by Jeffory Smith a Venturer Scout in along a bedding-plane, usually elongated in the Kotara Unit (N.S.W). Jeffory used it cross section. extensi-..ely on bushwalking, caving and cross­ country skiing trips and the use of such a tube BEDROCK. n. The solid mass of parent rock ~read widely among outdoor enthusiasts from originally laid down - from which a ca-..e or there. Se-..eral name changes occurred o-..er the feature has been eroded by mechanical or next few years, howe-..er during the last 10 to chemical action. This term includes bedrock 15 years the name Boob Tube has been most which has been transformed in crystalline widely used. Some sources suggest that long structure due to heat (eg. marble) but does not drinking tubes were in use by some bushwalkers include redeposited minerals (eg. speleothems). prior to 1973, howe-..er these reports are still BELAY. (1) v. To operate a safety line. (2) v. To to be confirmed. secure (a person) at the end of a rope. (3) v. To BOLT. n. A high tensile steel bolt used as an secure (a rope) to a person or object. (4) v. To anchor point to attach rigging for descending be made fast. (5) n. The set-up of a safety line or ascending or safety line. The bolt locks into through a belay device, secured to an anchor a drilled hole by one of the following methods; point. (6) n. The securing of a person or a expansion of a threaded holder, chemical safety rope to an anchor point. bonding, or by hammering into a slightly smaller BELAY BOLT. n. A bolt from which a belay is hole. The latter being the least reliable anchor operated. cf. bolt and belay. method. BELAYED. (1) n. The person being belayed. (2) BOL TIJ\IG. v. The act of placing anchor bolts v. Past tense of belay. to assist in a climb. BELAYER. n. A person who is belaying. BOULDER. n. - A piece of rock larger than a BELAY-ROPE. n. The rope or safety line used cobble. cf. block. to belay. BOULDER CHOKE. n. A collapse of rock from BELAYIJ\IG. v. The act of one who or that floor to roof which makes further progress which belays. difficult or dangerous. BELOW. n. A emergency call, warning of danger BREAK BAR. n. A piton hinged on a karabiner from falling object/s. Usually yelled by a or a round bar on a rappel rack used to apply person at top of the pitch to warn people below friction to a rope for abseiling. that an object has been dislodged and is falling BREAKDOWN. (1) v. A fall of bedrock from toward them. ca-..e roof or wall under its own weight. (2) n. A pi le of broken bedrock.

Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 BREATHING, (relating to caw) v. Mo-.ement of CaCOJ. A primary mineral. Also see of air in and out of a ca-.e due to changes in limestone, marble, chalk, calcite, aragonite, atinospheric pressure and/or temperature vaterite. cf. dolomite. changes on the surface. CAU. n. A ~cific -.erbal signal (usually BRECCIA. n. Angular fragments of rock and/or yelled) by a ca-.er to another, to indicate an· fossils, often, but not necessarily cemented action, intended action or possible danger. eg. together or with a matrix of finer sediment. below, abseiling, falling, on-belay, climbing, BRECCIA - BONE. n. Breccia containing many that's me, up-rope, slack, safe, off-rope, bone fragments. abseil clear. CALCARENITE. n. Soils and sedimentary rock CANYON. (1) n. A deep wlley with steep to with a sandy texture, which has become vertical sides. Frequently formed in karst by a hardened or cemented together and is ri-.er rising on impervious rocks outside the composed largely of calcium carbonate karst area. fragments which ha-.e formed by the (2) n. In caves - a deep, elongated cavity in the mechanical breakage or abrasion of the parent floor or roof of a ca-.e formed by running rock. ie dune limestone. See aeolian water. caJcarenite. CARABINER. n. American ~lling for CALCAREOUS. adj. Containing calcium karabiner. carbonate. From the latin word 'calc:arius' meaning 'of lime'. CARBIDE. n. Calcium carbide, (CaC2) is a grey substance prepared by heating lime. It was CALCAREOUS SEDIMENTS. n. Fragmented used extensi-.ely in early caving lamps. Water material, mainly composed of calcium dripped onto the carbide pellets, reacts to carbonate, which has been deposited by water produce acetylene gas which is burnt. The or air. resulting naked flame emits a bright light. CALCIFY. v. To harden by the deposit of CARBIDE LAMP. n. A type of cavers lamp, with calcium salt. eg calcified animal remains or a bright naked flame produced by burning tree roots. cf. calcification. acetylene gas. Also called acetylene lamp. See CALCIFICATION. n. Process of becoming hard acetylene and carbide. or calcified by being impregnated with calcium CARBONATE. (1) n. A salt of carbonic acid eg. salts. calch..,, carbonate (CaC03). (2). v. To charge CALCITE. n. The most common polymorph of or impregnate with carbon dioxide. calcil. .,, carbonate ( CaC03). The most common CARBON DIOXIDE. n. (C02) A colourless, constituent of stalactites, stalagmites, odourless and non-combustible gas which is 1.57 flowstone etc. Limestone, marble and chalk times denser (heavier) than air. A by-product consist largely of calcite. of respiration and metabolism of living CALCITE RAFT. n. A thin layer speleothem of organisms. Normal air (abo-.e ground) contains calcite crystalline material which forms and approximately 0.03% C02, howe-.er 'foul air' in floats on the surface of still caw-pools. ca-.es has occasionally been known to contain Disturbance of the pool surface often sinks the lethal concentrations of up to 13.5'Yo by volume. rafts. This ~leothem forms on the pool CARBONIC ACID. n. (H2C03) A weak acid surface due to degassing of C02 from solution produced when carbon dioxide, (C02) is which causes saturation of solution and dissol-.ed in water. Usually present in ground deposition of calcite at the surface. cf. floe water and is responsible for forming c:a-.es by calcite. dissolution of calcium carbonate rocks. CALCIUM CARBONATE. n. The scientific name for a crystalline compound containing, calcium, carbon and oxygen in the proportions

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 (2) A deep place in an underground stream, CAVE. n. A natural cavity in rock, large enough often formed by a rimstone dam. cf. rimstone for a human to enter. The extent of a cave pool, stmp and lake. system which may have more than one entrance CAVE SYSTEM. n. The whole known extent of and consist of many chambers and passages. interconnected caves and cavities underground, The term still applies if the cavity is totally including those too small to enter, which have fi Iled with water. been proven to be atmospherically or If the cavity is filled with sediment or ice, hydrologically connected. (making it impenetrable), then qualification of the term is required. CA VER. n. A person who goes caving. (American, '~lunker').(British, 'Potholer') cf. actiw caw, dead caw, dormant caw, Syn. speleologist. fault caw, fiSS\re caw, glacial caw, grot­ CA VERN. n. A very large chamber in a cave. hole, ice caw, lava caw, limestone caw and liw caw. CAVERNOUS acf.J'. (1) Full of caverns. (2) characteristic of a cavern. CAVE CORAL n. Also called "coralloids". This type of ~leothem has branching stems and CAVERNICOLE. n. An animal which normally nodular tips; often resembling marine coral. lives in a cave for the whole or part of it's life When cut in section, concentric growth rings cycle. con be seen. Location of the developing CAVERNICOLOUS. v. See cawrnicole. coralloids can considerably vary shape and size. They can form submersed in a pool CAVES. n. Plural of caw. Usually implies two or (subaqueous) or high up on the cave wall or more cave systems which don't have any known ceiling (subaerial). physical underground connection large enough for human passage. CAVE ENTRANCE. n. The start of a cave, defined by the dripline or at a horizontal line CAVING. (1) v. The physical act of entering across an entrance at the base of a doline. and exploring a cave or caves. (2) n. The sport The starting point of a cave SW"Wy. of exploring caws and other a~cts included in the term speleology. Syn. spelunking. CAVE PEARL n. A concentrically-banded concretion that usually form in shallow cave­ CHALK. n. A soft white limestone consisting of pools. Cave pearls can be spherical, cylindrical, fossilised remains of very small water irregular, or even cubical. They can range in organisms. size from as small as a sand grain up to 15 cm in CHAMBER. n. Any large cavity inside a cave diameter or as big as a basket ball. A single system. pearl may sit in it's own "cup" or a group of CHIMNEY. (1) n. The cavity between two II -n.._ pearls congregate in a ne st'' . 1 ne nuc Ie1 . may relatively vertical and parallel faces of rock around which the concentric rings of calcite which can be climbed by a person applying crystals grow is generally foreign material such pressure to the opposing rock surfaces. (2) v. as a grain of sand. A cave pearl is sometimes To chimney - the act of climbing a chimney. - incorrectly called an oolite or oolith (British). Syn. chimneying. Refer to splash ~- CHIMNEYING. v. The act of climbing two CAVE-PLSOUTE. See pisolite. cf. caw n. relatively vertical and parallel rock faces, by a pearl. person applying pressure with parts of their CAVE-POOL. n. (1) Any isolated body of water body to the opposing rock surfaces. in a cave, although generally accepted as having CHOCK-STONE. n. A stone which has become a small surface area. firmly wedged between two solid rock faces.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 CHOKE. n. A blockage or constriction in a passage, usually of fallen boulders, clay, sand or n. A speleothem resembling a surface -..egetation 1NOshed into the ca1Je. CONULITE. hollow tube or cone formed in mud, sand or CLAUSTR.OPHOSIA. n. A fear of being in other soft material as the result of water enclosed or confined ~ces. dripping in the one spot. The drill-hole is CLEFT. n. A ~ce, opening or passage made by gradually lined by the deposition of. calcite the crocking or splitting of rock. Syn. fiSSU"C. from solution. Erosion of the surrounding soft material may leave the crystalline cone free CLAY. n. See sediments. standing. CUMB. (1) v. the act of climbing, to raise CORAL. n. See cave coral. oneself - ascend. eg. ladder climb. (2) v. physically climbing on rock to ascend or CORALLOIDS. n. See caw coral. descend. (3) n. a place where climbing is COW'S TAIL. n. A short but strong length of necessary to progress. rope used as a safety line when crossing a CUMBER. n A person who is descending or rebelay. ascending a pitch either on a ladder or climbing CRAWL n. A low passage negotiated by a very steep incline or near verticaJ face. For stooping or crawling on hands and knees. safety reasons a safety line is generally used. CRUST. n. A thin layer/s of crystalline Sometimes the term climber is used to describe a person prusiking up a rope. speleothem covering a bedrock or soft material (eg. clay or sand) which can be easily removed CUMBING. (1) n. A call yelled by a dimber to from its underlying material with little a belayer that they are starting to ascend. (2) mechanical effort. Similar to a coating but v. the act of climbing, to raise oneself - ascend. more granular and porous. Can also include descending a steep rock face CRYSTAL POOL n. A pool, usually with little or by means of physical contact of a persons limbs. no overflow and containing calcium deposits of well formed crystals. CLINOMETER n. A surveying instrument used CURRENT MARKING. n. Shallow hollows in caves to measure inclination angle of a leg in relation to the horizontal. Also used to measure formed by solution involving turbulent flowing the dip of a bedding-plain. water and typically covering walls of stream passages in karst caves. CUNT. n. Surface erosion forms of limestone with irregularly fretted shape. Characterised CURTAIN. n. A speleothem in the form of a by cris-cross grooves. The French word lapiez wavy or folded sheet hanging from the wall or is sometimes used for dints roof of a cave, often translucent with wrious shades and colours of growth bands. See shawl CLOSED TRAVERSE. n. A trawrse in which a and trawrtine. series of survey legs are joined to form a loop traverse, thus reducing cumulative error in a DARK ZONE. n. The part of the cave system cave survey. which daylight does not reach, no matter how faint. cf. twilight zone. COATING. n. A thin finely crystalline DAYLIGHT HOLE. n. An opening in the roof of speleothem which covers another solid body or object. a cave which allows light to enter from the surface. COBBLE n. - A piece of rock ranging in size DEAD CAVE. n. A cave without streams, pools from ~nis ball to football. cf. pebble, boulder or drips of water. A more correct term to use COLLAPSE DOl.D--E n. See doline - collapse. would be dormant caw. COLUMN. n. A speleothem which joins from DECORATION. n. A general term encompassing floor to ceiling, formed by the junction of a all types of Speleothem. stalactite with it's counterpart stalagmite. cf. travertine.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 (2) n. A rock consisting largely of dolomite. cf. C>ESCENt>ER. n. A mechanical device used for magnesite. controlled descent of a pitch or steep slope. It DOME. n. A large hemispherical hollow in the works on the principle of applying friction on a roof of a cave formed by breakdown, often in fixed rope to obtaine controlled descent for mechanically weak rocks where bedding and/or the abseiler. joints play little, or no part in dominating the DIG. n. The site of past, present or future form. excawtion, where cavers are hopeful of DORMANT CAVE. n. A cave without streams, significantly increasing the known extent of a pools or drips of water. Antonym of actiw caw cave. Also a site of excawtion to uncover or liw caw. archaeological artefacts or animal bones. See archaeology. DRAPERY. n. A wavy or folded speleothem which hangs down from an inclined wall or DIAGENESIS. n. Changes in the mineralogy, ceiling and resembles a artain. geochemistry, texture and fabric of a sediment after deposition. DRIPHOLE. n. A hole in the cave floor, formed by dripping water. DIKE. n. A mass of igneous rock intruded into a fissure in another rock. In some instances, DRIPLINE. n. A line on the ground at the caw igneous rock has entered pre-existing cave entrance formed by water dripping from the passages. rock above. A dripline defines the beginning of a cave survey. ie. start of cave. DIP. n. The angle of inclination of a bed of rock from the horizontal, measured in degrees. The DRIPSTONE. n. A general term for true dip is the maximum angle of the bedding­ speleothems formed by falling drops. eg. plane at right angles to the strike. Lesser stalagmites. angles in other directions are apparent dips. DUCK-UNDER. (1) n. A constriction in a DIP, APPARENT. n. See dip. passage where water is at or close to the cave roof for a short distance, which requires a DOG-TOOTH CRYSTAL or DOG-TOOTH caver to become (more or less) fully submersed SPAR.. n. A wriety of calcite crystals with acute shaped points. for a brief period before continuing. (2) v. The act of going through a duck-under. Also see DOLINE. n. A closed depression on the surface trap. of a karst area, which drains run-off rain water DUNE LIMESTONE. n. A limestone made from to a single low point. A doline may or may not aeolianite. contain the entrance to a cave or pothole. The shape of the depression may wry considerably DYNAMIC ROPE. n. A kernmantle rope from one to another, however they often manufactured with twisted core strands and resemble the shape of a bowl, cone, cylinder or has the ability to stretch sufficiently to break elongated shape, ranging in size from a few to the fall of a rockclimber. Rarely used in caving. many hundreds of metres. EFFLUX. n. Point of outward drainage of water DOLINE - COLLAPSE. n. A natural surface from a cave system or karst area. MD.y or may depression formed by the collapse of a cavity not be large enough to allow passage of a cawr. below. cf. outflow caw and restrgence. DOLINE - SOLUTION. n. A natural surface ENTRANCE n. See caw entrance. depression formed by solution. ENTRANCE ZONE. n. The interface between DOLOMITE. (1) n. A double carbonate mineral the surface and subterranean (underground) consisting of calcium and magnesium. environments leading into the twilight zone. CaMg( C03)z. Occurring in an entrance chamber.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 ENTRANCE CHAMBER. n. A chcimber which Mostly formed by solution however sometimes begins at the oave entrance or a chamber due to tension. Also see cleft. connected to the entrance by a short passage, but still within the twilight zone. FIXED LIGHTING. n. Electric lighting with permanent wiring, usually installed in show EOLIAN. n. Same as aeolian .. caves. EPIPHREATIC. n. Referring to fast moving FLATTENER. n. A passage which is wide but water in the top of the phreatic zone or in the very low, requiring a person to lay on their zone liable to be subject to flood part of the stomach to facilitate movement. time. cf. nothephreatic. FLOE CALCITE. n. Thin flakes of calcite EROSION. n. The wearing away of bedrock or having originally formed on the surface of a sediments, by mechanioal and/or chemioal pool. May either be floating as a calcite raft action, usually facilitated by wind, running or have sunk to the bottom of pool, or laying water or other moving agent. across the base of a dry pool. cf. pool deposit ESCARPMENT. n. A long, cliff-like ridge of FLOWSTONE. n. A deposit of oalcite formed rock, commonly formed by faulting or by a thin film or trickle of calcilmt bearing fracturing of the earth's crust or down-cutting water, flowing over walls or floors. cf. of streams. A steep slope or drop of a travertine and speleothem. precipitous line of cliff. thus terminating high land abruptly. FLOWSTONE BENCH. n. See false floor. FALUNG. n. An emergency call yelled by a FLUORESCEIN. n. A powerful but harmless organic dye used for water tracing. A reddish­ climber who has fallen, thus warning belayer to yellow in colour which turns to a green expect the safety rope to become taught with full weight of climber. fluorescence when added to water. It is detectable in very dilute solutions. FALSE FLOOR. n. Sometimes oalled a •flowstone benche·. Flowstone once deposited FLUOROMETER. n. The instrument used to on sediments, but now eroded away, leaving a measure the fluorescence in water when water tracing. cf. fluorescein. false floor which may span between passage walls or project to form ledges along a wall. FLUORESCENCE. n. The emission of visible Thickness may range from a centimetre or two, light when exposed to radiation of different up to several metres. wave length. Often a fluorescent substance FAULT. n. A fracture in a continuous body of converts invisible, ultraviolet (UV) light into rock where one side has displaced relative to light of a visible colour. Fluorescence stops as the other. Movement has occurred along the soon as the incoming radiation causing it, is fault plane. removed. In simplified terms the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the atoms of the FAULT CA VE. n. A oave developed along a fluorescent material and the electrons take on fault, by preferential dissolution and may a higher energy level. The electrons then begin include abrasion by solid particles oarried by a spontaneous release of portion of this energy water. in the form of heat as the atoms collide with FAULT PLANE. n. A plane along which neighbouring atoms. The heat generated is not movement of a fault has occurred. perceptible, however sufficient to reduce the level of energy which oan be re-emitted as FISSURE. n. An open crack in rock or light. Since the emitted light has less energy it ocoasionally soil. Not formed by solution is transmitted at a longer wavelength than the weathering. cf. grike. Syn. cleft. original incoming ultraviolet. FISSURE CAVE. n. A narrow vertioal squeeze, Consequently the light produced may well be in formed by the splitting of rock often the visible portion of the light spectrum. cf. developed along a joint but not always so. hninescence.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 FRIEND. n. A specific type of mechanical FLUTE or FLUTING. n. See solution flute. climbing device, used as an anchor point by FORMATIONS. n. A colloquial term, wedging it into a crack or hole. incorrectly used to encompass all types of FROSTWORK. n. A speleothem consisting of speleothem. fine needle like crystals in radiating clusters FOSSIL n. The remains or traces of animals or similar to a thistle plant or in its composite plants preser-.ed in rocks or sediments. stalagmite form possessing spiny limbs like a fir tree. The term was first used by ca-.e FOUL AIR. n. 'Foul Air', sometimes called 'Bad guides in Wind Ca-.e, South Dakota USA, during Air', is any atmosphere which has a noticeable the 1890's to describe speleothems which abnormal physiological effect on humans. In looked like ice (H 0) frostwork. limestone ca-.es, 'foul air' can generally be 2 described as containing greater tiian 0.5'Yo GARDENING. Colloquial term. (1) v. The act of carbon dioxide (C02) and/or lower tiian 18% clearing loose rock or debris away from an oxygen (02) by volume. As a comparison, normal abseil face or ladder climb for safety and in air (abo-.e ground) contains approximately doing so reduce the risk of objects falling on 0.03% C02 and 21% 0 2 by volume. Howe-.er other people. (2) v. Moving of loose material there are some isolated ca-.es which contain from a tight or awkward passage to increase atmospheres influenced by other gases such accessibility. as:- metiiane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide or GASTEROPOD. n. Same as gastropod. carbon monoxide, but these gases are not GASTROPOD. n. One of a large class of aquatic common in limestone ca-.es. and terrestrial molluscs including the snails, An elewted C02 concentration is usually the slugs, limpets and whelks etc., usually having a most life threatening foul air scenario found single piece spirally coiled shell (uniwl-.e) and a within limestone ca-.es. This colourless, flattened muscular creeping organ which acts odourless and non-combustible gas is the as a foot on which they mo-.e about. Sometimes body's regulator of the breathing function. spelt gasteropod. Physiological signs of foul air include:­ GEOCHEMISTRY. n. The science dealing with increased heart and breathing rate, headaches, the chemical composition and changes in clumsiness, dizziness, loss of energy, feeling composition of the earth, particularly the hot and sweaty. (Note, tnat at high altitudes crust. there is an increased physiological effect.) GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE. n. An arbitrary Elevated concentration of C02 in limestone chronological arrangement or sequence of ca-.es can be due to the mechanism by which geologic e-.ents. It is usually presented in the carbonate deposition occurs and/or a by­ form of a chart showing the names of various product of micro-organism metabolism and/or time-stratigraphic, rock-stratigraphic or respiration by fauna such as bats or humans. geological-time units, as currently understood. FREE-CUMB. n. (1) A -.ery steep incline or near eg. The geologic time scales published by -.ertical rockface which a person is able to Holmes (1959), Kulp (1961) and Harland (1964). climb with relati-.e ease without the need for GEOMORPHOLOGY. n. The scientific study of climbing aids. (2) v. The act of climbing a near landforms and landscapes. The term usually 'v'ertical face without the use of a safety line. applies to the origins and dynamic morphology This is a dangerous activity if the climber is (changing structure and form) of the earth's high abo-.e the ground. land surfaces, but it can also include the FREE-CUMBING. aclj. see free-climb. morphology of the seafloor The science has FREE PITCH. n. A -.erti col pitch where the de-.eloped in two distincti-.e ways tiiat must be rope or ladder hangs away (free) from the wall integrated in order for the whole picture of for almost all of the pitch length. cf. landscapes to emerge. Owrhang.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 'Historical geomorphology' relies on wrious chronological analy~. notably those provided GROUND-WATER. n. Water below a by stratigraphic studies of the last 2 million watertable such as a waterlogged zone in years. 'Process geomorphology' analyses permeable rocks or soil. " contemporary dynamic processes at work in landscapes. The mechanisms invol~ GUANO. n. A large accumulation of bat weathering and erosion excrement which may also consist partly of decomposing animal skeletal material and small GIBBS. n. A type of ascender which grips the fragments of rock particles. To a lesser extent rope with a cam operated by the weight of the in caves it may consist of bird droppings. caver. GYPSUM. n. CaS04.2HzO; Hydrated calcium GLAaAL CAVE. n. A cave formed within or sulphate, the third most common cave mineral beneath a glacier. cf. ice caw. and the most common sulphate mineral in caves. GOUR. n. Synonymous with rimstone dam. Gypsum is a primary mineral. Deri-..ed from the French, the term 'gour' is now GYPSUM FLOWER. n. A radiating cluster of widely used in Europe. It should not be gypsum crystals, simulating outward-curving confused with the same word used for surface flower petals. cf. anthodite. erosion features in deserts. cf. microgot.r. HALF BLIND VALLEY. n. A blind valley which GRADE. n. The level of accuracy of a cave overflows to a surface stream when the flow of su-Yey and resulting map, based on the water entering the blind wlley, exceeds the precision of instruments used in the survey. maximum capaciiy which stream sink can Survey standards range from Grade 1 (a sketch the accept. cf. blind valley. from memory) to the most accurate Grade 9 (precision theodolite survey). HALL. n. A large chamber which is considerably longer than it is wider. GRAVEL. n. See sediments. HANDUNE. n. A short strong rope used to GRID NORTH. n. The direction in which each grid line points toward the top of a grided map. assist cavers on an awkward or exposed climb or trawrse (2). In a sense it is an artificial north adopted by map makers, but for practical purposes may be HARNESS. n. An arrangement of webbing tape regarded as true north. Each grid line, in used to attach the lower body (seat harness) or effect points to a north of its own, whereas all upper body (chest harness) to ascender or true north lines (meridians) if produced would descender. meet at the north pole. HEAD LAMP. n. The main lighting source, GRIKE. n. A deep, narrow, near vertical slot mounted on a cavers helmet. In Australia this with almost parallel sides, in a rock outcrop usually refers to an electric light source, with caused by solution along a joint. cf. solution the location of the battery/s being irrelewnt. 'h.be and fissw-e. In many other countries this term refers to a GROT-HOLE. n. Colloquial term for a small carbide lamp. cf. Head lamp - auxiliary. insignificant caw with no possible leads, often HEAD LAMP - AUXIUARY. n. A secondary tight and difficult to manoeu'il"e oneself in. light source (usually a small torch) attached to GROTTO. (1) n. A small to moderate size cave a cavers helmet and used as a backup in the chamber which is richly decorated with event of an emergency. speleothems. (2) n. A term used by U.S. cavers HELICTITE. n. A speleothem which often to describe a local caving club. resembles the form of a twisted or worm-like GROUND-TROG. v. The systematic searching shape and having appeared to defy graviiy during its growth process. of surface ground for cave entrances. Also ground-trogging. cf. trog. HELIGMITE. n. A helictite that grows upward from the cave floor is sometimes called a "heligmite".

P~70 Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 from perspiration or in contact with wet or cold surfaces o'Yer a period of time. Death will ocwr HELMET. n. A non metallic hat designed to at or around 300C core te~rature. protect the wearers head from bumps or ICE CAVE. n. A ca\le containing permanent ice "impact from small objects dislodged from and/or seasonal ice. cf. glacial caw. abo\le. Miners helmets with chin strap and head IGNEOUS ROCK. n. Aggregate of interlocking lamp clip are often used, howe\ler other silicate minerals formed by cooling and varieties with four point attachment are solidification of magma. preferable. INFLOW CAVE. n. A caw into which a stream HISTO. n. Abbreviation for Histoplasmosis. enters or has been known to enter, but can't be HISTOPLASMOSIS. n. A fungal disease which followed downstream to the surface. initially affects human lungs and may spread to INORGANIC. n.(1) Not having the organised other organs if untreated. The fungus - structure of animal or 'Vegetable life; not living. Histoplasma capulatum, is an organism which (2) The chemistry of compounds lacking carbon grows in soil having a high nitrogen content, or containing it only in the form of carbonates, generally associated with guano of birds and carbides, and most cyanides. bats. Spore is breathed in with airborne dust stirTed up by the mo'Yement of ca'Yel's. The INVERTEBRATE. n. An animal without a disease usually appears as a mild cold before backbone or spinal column. complete reco\lery. Occasionally se'Yere JOINT. n. A natural division or gently curving infections occur and if left untreated can lead crack, which bisects a bedding-plane. to death. Separating two parts of a once continuous rock Other names for this disease include:- "Histo", without relati'Ye mo\lement along the bedding­ "ca'Ye disease", "ca'Ye fe'Yer", "Darling's plane. disease", "Ohio Valley disease, "Tingo /IAaria JOINT PLAIN CAVE. n. A ca\le de'Yeloped fe'Yel'", "reticuloendotheliosisu and along a joint. Typically high in relation to width. "reticuloendothelial cytomycosis". JUG-HANDLE. n. A small loop of rock shaped HORIZONTAL ANGLE. n. The difference in like a handle, used as an anchor point or hand direction between two strWY lines measured hold to aid climbing. clockwise in a horizontal plane. JUMAR. n. A single rope ascending device with HUMIDITY. See relative humidity. a simple finger - operated safety catch. cf. HYDROLOGY. n. The study of water and ascender. stream mo'Yements abo'Ye and below ground. KARABINER. n. A metallic link which HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE. n. Pressure due to incorporates a spring loaded gate allowing a a column (or head) of water. quick and secure coupling. Often used in conjunction with other equipment when rock­ HYPERTHERMIA. n. An extremely high body climbing and abseiling. Also see krab and core temperature of 41°C (106°F) or abo'Ye. Can carabiner. Origin:- Shortened from the German result from a ca\ler exposed to prolonged word 'Karabinerhaken' which means carbine periods of o\ler-exertion, combined with hook, that is, one used to attach a carbine rifle insufficient loss of generated body heat. In to a belt. extreme cases may result in death. KARREN. n. The minor forms of karst due to HYPOTHERMIA. n. A dangerously low body solution of rock on the surface or underground. core temperature - below 37°C. Commonly eg. rillenkarren, rundkarren and spitzkarren. caused by prolonged immersion in cold water. May also be caused by cold air circulation past a ca\ler wearing insufficient or damp clothing

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 KARST. n. An area of terrain containing LAVA. (1) n. Molten rock that issues from an features which are formed by natural waters active volcano or through a fissure in the dissolving rock. In most cases these areas earth's crust. (2) n. Rock formed by the contain caves. Deri-..ed from the geographical solidification of this substance. Lava surface name of a part of Slo'4enia. See solution. types include 'pahoehoe' and 'aa'. KARST FEATURE. n. Any feature formed by LAVA CAVE. n. A cave formed in lava, usually natural waters dissolving rock above or below as a result of a flow of liquid lava through a ground. eg caw and karren. solidification mass, or by roofing over of an KARST HYl)R()lOGY. n. All scientific study of open channel. Small lava caves may form as gas water chemistry and distribution, whether blisters. stationary or moving in a karst system, as well LAY. n. The way in which strands of rope or as the effects in relation to human activity. cable are twisted. eg. left hand lay (also called KERNMANTLE ROPE. n. A generic term 'S' twist) and right hand lay CZ' twist). In caving describing a type of synthetic rope with a this term is rarely used due to the plaited sheath surrounding a core. Approx. 70'ro overwhelming support of synthetic Kernmantle of the ropes strength comes from the inner ropes. core, 30% comes from the outer protective LEAD. n. A cave passage noticed but not yet sheath. Ropes have two classifications:- 'static' explored. which have parallel strands in the core and 'dynamic' with twisted core strands. The word LEADER. n. In caving, the person directing 'Kernmantle' is derived from the German word activities of a coving party and held responsible 'Kern' for a core and Old English word 'Mantle' for the group's safety. for a sheath. The word 'Kernmantle' should not LEG. n. Part of a survey traverse between two be confused with any particular brand of rope. consecuti\.e stations. Sometimes spelt 'Kernmantel' which may be LIGHT-WATER n. Water aerated with bubbles linked to the Latin word 'mantel/um or Old making it less dense, thus providing less French word 'mantel meaning - loose sleeveless buoyancy to a person and their equipment. garment or cloak. Light-water usually occurs at the bottom of KEYHOLE. n.(1) A small passage or opening in a waterfalls, rapids or cascades. Swimming in a cove having a keyhole shaped cross section, light-water pool directly beneath a waterfall round above and narrow below. (2) A short can be very dangerous, as reduced buoyancy squeeze of generally owl shape, which is the and downward force of water can hold or snag a only access to a large cave extension. Key-hole, person underwater. implying unlocking of access to the rest of the LIMESTONE. n. A sedimentary rock composed cave. mainly of calciiin carbonate (CaC03). KRAB. n. Colloquial term for karabiner. A steel (Containing more than 50% CaC03). It usually or aluminium alloy snap-link used in rope work. originates from the accumulation of calcareous LABYRINTH. n. Syn. maze caw. remains of marine life. LIMESTONE CAVE. n. A caw formed in LADDER. n. The type used for caving is portable and flexible. They are usually consist limestone. of aluminium alloy rungs attached to galwnised LIMESTONE-OOLITIC. n. Composed of small steel or stainless steel wires. spherical grains bonded together by a cement composed of calcite. LAKE. n. (1) A sizeable body of water above ground. (2) In caving terms, a deep body of LITHIFICATION. n. Process by which relatively still water with a surface area unconsolidated rock-forming materials are upwards of several square metres. There may converted into a consolidated or coherent or may-not be underwater passages leading state. from the lake. cf. caw-pool and sunp. Page 72

Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 MEANDER NICHE. n. A hemispherical recess or depression in a cave roof, formed by a stream meander. A stream meander in the cave roof. LIVE CAVE. n A cave containing a stream and/or active speleothems. cf. actiYe caw. METAMORPHIC. adj. Of or pertaining to Antonym of dormant caw and dead caw. metamorphism. LONGITUDINAL (or LONG) SECTION. n A METAMORPHISM. n The process whereby scale drawing of a cave ele'A'.ltion, sectioned rocks undergo physical or chemical change or along the length of a cave passage or chamber, both to achieve equilibrium with conditions or combination of these, or along a survey other than those under which they were traverse. originally formed. Factors which may cause metamorphism are heat, pressure and LUMINESCENT. adj Pertaining to chemically active fluids. Weathering is usually h.ninescence. excluded from the meaning. eg. When limestone LUMINESCENCE. n An emission of light. The comes into contact with molten la"° it glowing of an object due to an increased energy undergoes metamorphism to form marble upon level of it's atoms and without perceptible cooling. heat. The atoms can be excited by radiation, MICROBOD. n. A colloquial term used to such as light or by electricity and is re-emitted describe a child or an adult caver of small build at any wavelength, but is most familiar as - able to fit through narrow passages and visible light. Two forms of luminescence are seemingly able to dislocate their joints to "fluorescence" and "phosphorescence". negotiate tight corners. MAGNESITE. n. MgC03. The mineral MICROCUMATE. n The climate {ie. magnesium carbonate. Magnesite karst areas temperature, humidity, air movement, etc.) of a are rare, however several sites exist in restricted area or space. eg. of a cave or on a Tasmania, one being at Keith River. Magnesite lesser scale of the space beneath stones in a can also occur as crusts and as moonmilk in cave. caves in dolomite rock. MICROGO\JR. n. A miniature rimstone dam with MAGNETIC NORTH. n. The direction in which associated tiny pool, approximately 10mm wide the needle of a compass points, differing in and deep. They commonly occur in flowstone. most places from True North. cf. MN. and grid north. MINERAL n.- PRIMARY. A natural occurring homogeneous solid, of definite chemical MARBLE. n. Limestone which has been composition and crystal structure. (eg. calcium recrystallised after being subjected to high carbonate., quartz, gypsum). Rocks may be temperatures as may occur in nature from comprised of several minerals (eg. granite or surrounding volcanic action. The resulting basalt), others composed of a single mineral marble is much harder than limestone and is (eg. limestone or dolomite). able to be polished, making it much sought after for sculptures and architecture. Also see - SECONDARY. A mineral originating from metamorphism. another mineral as a result of chemical change caused by atmospheric oxidation, carbonic acid MAZE CAVE. n. A complex network of and water. ie. Speleothems consisting of connecting cave passages, often on two or more calcite, aragonite or gypsum. levels, forming a three dimensional maze. MN. n. Abbreviation on maps for Magnetic MEANDER. n. A bend or semi-circular curve in North. an underground stream bed whi eh has the same origins and looks similar to a meander in a MOONMILK. n. A term used to describe, finely surface stream. crystalline substances of wrying compositions. Texture, not composition is implied by the term "moonmilk".

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 Most commonly composed of calcite which OVERHANG. n. (1) A ledge or shelf of rock forms a soft white powder when dry and feels which projects past the rest of the rock face like cream cheese or cotton candy when moist. below. Includes a rock shelter or simple ca-.e in MORPHOLOGY .n. The study of form and which no part is in the dark zone. (2) n. part of structure. (1) Geological - The study of the an abseil (either abo-.e or below ground), where physical form of land or region. cf. the abseiler is hanging free of the rock face. geomorphology (2) Biological - The study of the Specifically, once an abseiler has passed a form and structure of animals and plants, projection of rock which makes it impossible without regard to function. for the abseiler's feet to touch the rock face without swinging on the rope. For a ladder climb NAPPY. n. A colloquial term for an abseiling the o-.erhang is considered to be that section harness worn around the hips and thighs. of a pitch where the ladder free hangs, clear NATURAL ARCH. n. An arch of rock formed of the rockface and for some distance. by weathering alone, without human PAHOEHOE. n. A type of lava in which the inter-.ention. Syn. arch. surface was relati-.ely fluid just prior to NA TUR.AL BRIDGE. n. A bridge of rock which complete solidifying and so formed smooth or ~ns a ravine or wlley and is formed by porridge-like surfaces. Variants include erosion. wrinkled or 'ropy' surfaces, like thick flowing NOTHEPHREATIC. Referring to water moving tar or pitch, and surfaces with small rounded slowly through cavities in the phreatic zone. cf. knobs. Surface texture grades from 'pahoehoe' epiptv-eatic. to 'aa' lava. OFF-ROPE. n. A call from an abseiler or PALAEONTOLOGY. n. The study of bones and belayed climber to indicate that they ha-.e fossils. disconnected from the rope. cf. abseil clear. PASS.AGE. n. A cavity which is much longer ON-BELAY. n. A call made by the belayer (to than it is wide or high and may join larger a climber) that the set-up has been checked cavities. and they are ready to operate the manual belay PEARL, CAVE. n. See caw pearl. system. PEBBLE. n. - A rock between the approximate OOLITE. n A morphological term meaning a size of a golf ball and tennis ball. cf. sediments small spherical or subspherical, accretionary and cobble. body consisting of two or more concentric PENDANT. n. A smooth sculptured projection rings. The o-.erall size being smaller than 2 mm of bedrock suspended from the roof or wall of in diameter. Anything larger is called a Pisolite. a ca-.e. Formed by erosion, - not redeposited The body can be made of any material and not as a secondary mineral deposit. Not a necessarily calcite. A rock may be said to speleothem. possess an oolitic texture if it consists largely PENC>ULITE. n. A kind of stalactite which is or of oolites. In general the term oolite should has been partly submerged in ca-.e water for not be used to describe a caw pearl. some time and now has a growth of dog-tooth British publications refer to a ca-.e pearl as an crystal o-.er that part which was submerged, to "oolith" or if unpolished, included in the general gi-.e the appearance of a drumstick. term of "ca-.e-pisolite" which co-.ers all types PERCOLATION WATER. n. Water which is of concretions formed of concentric layers. moving downward through pores, cracks and See caw pearl. cf. pisolite. tight fissures in the vadose zone. Syn. seepage OUTFLOW CAVE. n. A ca-.e from which a water. stream discharge flows or formerly did so, and PERMEABLE. aclj having pores or openings which cannot be followed upstream to the that permit liquids or gases to pass through. surface. cf. efflux and resu-gence.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 PIT. n. A term used by cavers to describe a vertical or near vertical shaft and without PERMEABILITY - PRIMARY. n. The property passage or chamber leading from it. A pit often of rock or soil to allow passage of water or gas has a flat bottom of earth or rock fill. The through the interconnecting pores in its grain entrance may be open to the surface or below structure. ground in a cave. A pit is wider than a chimney. cf. shaft, chimney and pothole. PERMEABILITY - SECONDARY. n. The state of rock allowing water or gas to pass through PITCH. n. A vertical or near vertical section of joints and I or bedding-planes. a cave where ladders or ropes are normally used for descent or ascent. pH value. n. A scale of values, ranging from 0- 14, indicating the acidity or alkalinity of a PITON. n. A metal peg hammered into cracks Solution; 7 is neutral, lower values from 7 to 0, for an anchor. Although this was the original show increasing acidity, and alkalinity increases used, with environmental awareness of damage from 7 to 14. caused to the rock face, it's use as an anchor point has diminished considerably. These days it is used more as an abseiling device. PHOSPHORESCENCE. n. Similar to PLAN. n. A cave sketch or scaled map, showing fluorescence, however the emission of visible details projected vertically onto a horizontal light continues after the removal of the plane. original radiation light source. Also see luninescence. PLUNGE POOL n. A pool, usually of large size and often containing light-water, occurring at PHREATIC DEVELOPMENT. n. Enlargement of the bottom of a waterfall or rapid. lhly be on existing joints and bedding planes by movement the surface or underground. cf swirlhole. of water under pressure (ie with no free airspace). POLYMORPHS. n. A substance (such as calcite) which has the ability to assume several PHREA TIC WATER. n. Water in the pf'V'eatic crystalline forms. zone. POOL. n. Any small isolated body of water or a PHREATIC ZONE. n. The level in the strata deep place in a stream. cf. caw-pool. which is below the watertable and all cavities in the rock are filled with water. POOL DEPOSIT. n. (1) Any sediment which accumulates in a caw-pool. (2) Any speleothem PILLAR. n. A column of bedrock reaching from precipitated in a cave-pool although usually of floor to roof, remaining after surrounding rock crystalline shape as well as structure. cf. has been eroded away. calcite raft, dog-tooth crystal and rimstone. PINNACLE KARST. n. A tropical karst of near POROSITY. n. (1) The property of rock or soil vertical sided ~ires. cfSpitzkCUTen. with small voids which may or may not be PIPE. n. A tubular cavity in karst rock permeable. (2) porosity due to fractures and extending from its surface to a depth of a joints in rock. (3) porosity of a karst system metre or more and often filled with sediments due to conduits. cf. permeability and and/or breccia for some of its depth cf. percolation water. solution tl.t>e, fiSStre and grike POTHOLE. n. An English ~leological term. (1) PISOLITE. n. A morphological term meaning A vertical or almost vertical shaft or chimney, ~herical or sub~herical, accretionary body open to the surface and requires rigging to consisting of two or more concentric rings. The enter. (2) a cave system containing multiple overall size being larger than 2 mm in diameter. pitches requires the use of ropes or ladders to The body can be made of any material and not enter. cf. pit. necessarily calcite. cf. caw pearl and oolite. PRIMARY MINERAL. n. see mineral primary

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 PRUSIK KNOT. n. A friction knot which grips REDIRECTION. n. A rebelay used to redirect on the fixed ascending rope when weight is a rope so that ca-...ers, either abseiling, applied and runs free along the rope when prusiking or climbing, avoid a dangerous hazard weight is remo'Jed. Used to ascend ropes, such as a waterfall. howe-...er it's possible to descent but rarely used RELATIVE HUMIDITY. n. Is the amount of this way because the method is -...ery slow. The water wpour that air actually contains at a knot was first described by Dr. Karl Prusik in certain temperature compared with the an Austrian Mountaineering Journal of 1931. maximum amount it could contain at that Possibly first introduced to caving in 1952 by temperature. in relati-...e humidity of a Bill Cuddington of Virginia, when he Changes ca-...e air, correlate to variations in atmospheric successfully rappelled and prusiked a 40 foot pit in Haynes Saltpeter Ca-...e, West Virginia pressure, ingression of grou'ld-water and U.S.A. variation in ca-...e temperature. Expressed as a percentage, the relati-...e humidity of saturated PRUSIK SUNG. n. A loop of rope tied to air, such as fog or cloud is 100%. Most ca-...es another rope with a prusi k knot. ha-...e a high humidity. PRUSIKING. v. The modern day term refers to RESURGENCE. n. The point at which a stream either ascending on a rope using prusik knots resurfaces like a large spring. This occurs when or ascenders. water of a surface stream disappearing into a QUATERNARY. adv. Of or pertaining to the stream sink, where upon it flows underground youngest geological period co-...ering for some distance. The resurfacing point of approximately 1.8 million years to the present. - this stream is the reS1.rgence. The n. The quaternary period. underground water stream may also originate from a combination of many small surface RADON. n. The heaviest known gas which is streams and seepage in a ca-...e system, before colourless, odourless and radioacti-...e, (atomic resurfacing at the reSlrgence. cf. spring. no. 86, atomic weight 222 -most stable isotope). Formed by the radioacti-...e decay of RHIZOMORPH. n. A speleothem originally radium-226, formerly called 'niton'. symbol (Rn). formed around tree or plant roots, which may Radon-222 was disco-...ered in 1900 by the ha-...e long since decayed, but the calcareous German chemist Friedrich Ernst Dorn (1848- deposit has preser-...ed their shape and form. cf. 1916). rootside. Radon has a half-life of 3.8 days, decaying by RIFT. n. A long, narrow, high and straight ca-...e the emission of alpha particles into an isotope passage with de-...elopment controlled by a of the element polonium. Small quantities of relati-...ely straight weakness in the rock. (eg. radon, formed by decay of uranium minerals, formed along a fault or bedding plane). are found in rock and soi I. Concentration of the RIGGING. (1) v. The setting up of descending gas, can collect in some ca-...es and is belie'Jed to or ascending equipment. The term also includes be a potential health hazard. a belay if required. (2) n. The equipment in RAPPEL v. Syn abseil. total, required for an ascent or descent. RAPPEL RACK. n. A mechanical abseil device, RILL n. A small solution groo-...e on the surface able to be set with variable degrees of friction of exposed karst rock. cf. rillenkarren, to suit the weight of the abseiler. rundkarren, spitzkarren, solution flute. RAFT. See calcite raft. RILLENKARREN. n. Well de-...eloped solution flutes. Small linear hollows separated by REBEL<\ Y. n. Any additional attachment points narrow, sharp ribs, which run down the (after the initial anchor point) on a rope down a steepest line of slope on steeply inclined to · pitch. Rebelays are placed to avoid rub or wear -...ertical faces. Usually formed on the surface points on a rope or to split a long pitch. Also of karst bedrock exposed to the atmosphere. used as a redirection. cf. belay.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 formed under soil, heavy litter or moss. cf. spitzkcuTen and rillef'lkcn-en. cf. rundkarrcn, spi1'%kam!n. Syn. solution SAFE. n. A call made by a person who has flute. finished climbing (ascending or descending) to a RIMSTONE. n. A deposit precipitated from another person who has been belaying, - to water flowing o-..er the rim of a pool. cf. indicate that they are safe and that the belay speleothem. rope is no longer required. RIMSTONE DAM. n. A barrier of calcium SAFETY LINE. n. A safety rope attached to a carbonate or other precipitated deposit which ca-..er climbing a ladder or undertaking a obstructs a stream or pool. The ridge or dam diffirult manoeuvre, and belayed by another formed is often rur-..ed con'JleXly downstream. person either abo-..e or below. Syn. belay rope. $yn. gc>U"'. cf. travertine. SAND. n. See sediments. RIMSTONE POOL n. A caw-pool lined with a rimstone dam. SATURATED. (1) adj water logged (hydrology). RISING. n. A natural flow of water from (2) adj: The state of a solution which will hold below ground, issuing from rock or soil, to the no more solute (physical chemistry). land surface or into a body of water. Syn. SCALING POLE. n. A lightweight pole, often spring. constructed from short sections and assembled ROCK. n. A consolidated mass of mineral in situ to raise a ladder to a point inaccessible matter. by climbing without the aid of anchor bolting. ROCK PENDANT. n. See pendant. SCALLOPS. n. See solution scallops. ROCK SHELTER. n. A rock overhang or simple SCROGGIN. n. An edible random mixture of ca-..e which has been, or could be, used by nuts, dried fruit, rice crisps, unwrapped lollies, humans for habitation or shelter from the chocolate and edible seeds. The mixture is elements. consumed by ca-..ers, bushwalkers and other ROCKl-fOLE. n. A hole in karst or non-karst outdoor enthusiasts as a source of high energy surface rock, usually round in form and holding food. It is made up to suit an individuals taste water after rain. Generally shallow if formed and requirements. by weathering or chemical erosion, and can be SEA CAVE. n. A caw in present-day or deep if formed with the aid of running water. emerged sea cliffs, formed by wa-..e action, or ROCKPILE. n. A heap of rocks in a ca-..e, usually solution to sea water. conical or part-conical in shape and formed by SECONDARY MINERAL. n. See mineral - local collapse or breakdown. secondary. ROOF CRUST. n. A crust formed on the roof SECTION. n. A sketch or scale drawing of a of a ca-..e. caw in -..ertical plane, which shows floor, walls ROOF-SNIFFING. (1) v. Colloquial term for and roof, to represent the shape of ca-..e the act of edging oneself along a small water­ passage or chamber at the section. fi lled passage, on your back with only sufficient SEDIMENTS. n. Fragmentary material airspace for eyes and nose. Also roof-sniff. (2) deposited by water or air. n. A place where a ca-..er must roof-sniff. Clay - The individual particles are too small to ROOTSICLE. n. roots of trees or plants which be seen with the naked eye. It becomes -..ery grow into a ca-..e cavity and become calcified. sticky when wet. cf. terra rossa. The roots and speleothem comprising the rootsicle. cf. rhizomorph. Silt - Very fine grit but the particles can be seen with the naked eye. RUNDKARREN. n. Surface karst solution feature consisting of rounded groo-..es, normally Sand - About beach size sand. (Approx. 1 - 2mm diameter).

Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 Grawl - Rocks generally the size of small blue upstream side of the trap rises aboye that of metal chips (smaller than a pebble), howeyer the siphon passage. may contain a mixture of smaller sediments. For descriptions of larger rock material which SLACK. n. A call made by a person being the may fall into the category of sediments see:­ belayed, to person belaying. A request for the pebble, cobble, boulder and block. extra slack in belay line. SLING. n. A loop of rope or tape. SEDIMENT ARY ROCK. n. Rock formed from accumulation of sediment, which may consist of SOLUTION. n. A homogeneous mixture formed rock fragments of wrious sizes, remains or by dissolving one or more substances, whether products of animal or plants, production of solid, liquid or gaseous, in another substance. chemical action or of ewporation, or mixture In karst areas, water containing carbon of these. Stratification is the single most dioxide or other dilute acid in solution causes characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks. the chemical erosion of carbonate rock. The SEEPAGE WATER. n. Syn. percolation water. acidic water, erodes the bedrock (eg. limestone) when its ions go directly into SELENITE. n. A coarsely-crystalline, transparent wriety of gypswn; colourless when solution without transformation and are carried away. pure, but sometimes tinted brown or grey by impurities. SOLUTION DOLINE. n. A doline formed by solution in karst rock and not modified by SELF-GUIDED CAVE. n. A show caw which is set up in a manner which allows visitors to guide collapse. themselyes around marked tracks. Usually with SOLUTION FLVTE. n. A solution hollow • explanatory literature and/or recorded running down the maximum slope of the rock, of messages and fixed lighting. uniform fingertip width and depth, with sharp SHAFT. n. A yertical cavity or passage with ribs between each groove. Usually found on approximately equal horizontal dimensions and surface limestone due to weathering. Syn. much larger \lertical dimension. A shaft has at rillenk~n. least one passage or chamber leading from it. SOLUTION PAN. n. A dish-shaped depression The entrance may be open to the surface or on flattish rock. Its sides may overhang and below ground in a caye. A shaft is wider than a carry solution flutes. The bottom of the pan chimney. cf. pit and pothole. may have a cover of organic remains, silt, clay SHAWL n. A triangular shaped artain. Type or rock fragments. of speleothem. SOLUTION PIPE. n. See pipe. SHOW CAVE. n. A ca\'e open to the public for SOLUTION RUNNEL n. A solution hollow guided or self-guided tours. Often with larger than a solution flute, running down the formed tracks and fixed lighting. maximum slope of the rock and increasing in depth width over its length. Thick ribs SINK. n. A place where a stream sinks. See and stroeam sink. between neighbouring runnels may be sharp and carry solution flutes. SINKHOLE. n. A natural drainage hole or cavity in rock, worn by the action of water usually SOLUTION lUBE. n. A hole or small tunnel, along a joint or fault. Often formed in a doline. formed in calcit.m carbonate or other material (A word of American origin.) which has been created by the chemical action of water. Orientation is irrelewnt. Larger in SILT. n. See sediments. size and more round than a grike. SIPHON. n. A waterfilled passage of in'Jerted SOLUTION SCALLOPS. n. Current markings ·u· profile. Water flows out of the siphon that intersect to form points and are due to whene'Jer the head of water feeding into the the action of swirling water.

Page 78 Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 SQUEEZE. (1) n. A small opening in a cave These shallow depressions in the rockface are which is passable with effort. Also see:- crawl most commonly found in solid bedrock. and flattener. (2) v. To wriggle or push SPELEOGEN. n. A karst ca-.e feature formed in through a small passage. rock by solution or erosion. eg. pendant and SRT. Acronym for 'Single Rope Technique' - a.rrent markings. includes abseiling and prusiking. SPELEOLOGIST. n. A person who studies ca-.es STALACTITE. n. A secondary mineral deposit in any of the scientific aspects. cf. speleology. (speleothem), hanging from the roof of a ca-.e SPELEOLOGY. n. The exploration, mapping, and often shaped like an icicle. Most commonly photography, description and scientific study consisting of calcium carbonate which forms of ca-.es, subterranean environments and by seeping or dripping water depositing calcium phenomena relating to karst terrains. carbonate out of solution. Travertine is the Includes:- hydrology, geology, mineralogy, form of limestone which makes up this type of palaeontology etc. The term is often extended speleothem. Howe-.er the term "stalactite" also to include ground-trogging. adj. speleological. includes formations of ice, lava and other deposited ca-.e minerals. SPELEOTHEM. n. A secondary mineral deposit formed within a ca-.e, most commonly calcite. STALACTITE STRAW. n. See straw. Howe-.er may be aragorite or vaterite or other STALAGMITE. n. A secondary mineral deposit secondary mineral. The formal definition of the (speleothem), which grows upward from the word Nspeleothem" as introduced by Moore floor of a ca-.e. Most commonly consisting of (1954) and widely accepted (Greek speleon, a calciwn carbonate which fortns by dripping ca-.e; them, deposit), does not exclude water depositing calcium carbonate out of stalactites and stalagmites of ice and lava. solution. Travertine is the form of limestone SPELUNKER. n. American name for a caver. which makes up this type of speleothem. Howe-.er the term "stalagmite• also includes SPELUNKING. v., n. Syn. caving. cf. speltitker. formations of ice, lava and other deposited SPITZKARREN. n. Solution spikes. A karst ca-.e minerals. feature which has de-.eloped in conjunction STATIC ROPE. n. A kernmantle rope with bedding grikes, and due to erosion, sharp manufactured with parallel core strands and fluted spikes ha-.e formed on the upper faces,. has little stretch with the weight of a person This feature usually de-.elops in steep to abseiling or prusiking. This type of rope is not -.ertically dipping beds. Height may vary from suitable for rockclimbing as the small amount 0.5 to 3 metres depending on limestone of stretch would induce high shock loading on a composition and climate. cf Pinnacle karst, person, when arresting a fall. Static ropes are rillenkarren and rundkarren. mainly used by cavers. cf. dyno.mic ropes. SPLASH CUP. (1) n. A shallow cavity in the top STATION. n. A main sur-.ey reference point, of a stalagmite caused by dripping water. (2) n. usually in a chain of such points used to sur-.ey Any shallow depression caused by dripping a ca-.e or surface feature. water. Syn. conutite. cf. driphole. STRAW. n. A hollow thin-walled stalactite, SPONGEWORK. n. A complex of irregular, uniform in diameter o-.er its whole length. inter-connecting cavities intricately Usually less than 7mm in diameter. Also see perforating the rock. Cavities may range in size speleothem from a few centimetres to more than a metre across. STREAMBED. n. The ground o-.er which a stream or flow of water is running or once did. SPRING. n. The natural source of ground water The lowest path of a valley or ca-.e passage flowing upwards from rock or soi I onto the land formed or altered by water. surface to form a small pool and/or stream. cf r£Strgence.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 STREAM SINK n. A point at which a surface stream disappears into an underground drainage system, usually into an obvious karst SUPERSATURATED. n. Referring to water that has more calcium carbonate or other karst feature. Often a depression containing a hole rock mineral in solution than the maximum or number of holes into which the stream flows. corresponding to normal conditions. M.ay also percolate down through streambed sediments. See sink and re5'.rgence. SURVEY (caw). n. The measurement of distances and direction (compass bearing) STRIKE. n. The direction of a horizontal line between sur-.ey points (station) and noting of through a bedding-plane in rocks inclined to the horizontal. On le-.el ground it is along the prominent ca-.e features. Usually for the direction in which inclined beds of rock purpose of producing scaled drawings of ca-.e outcrop. At right angles to the dip. plans and sections (ca-.e map) from the measurements. STROMATOUTE. n. A mound like structure of SURVEYING.{1) n. a branch of applied calcareous sediments, formed by fine layers of inorganic debris (eg sand grains) deposited on mathematics that teaches the art of successi-.e gum like mats produced by accurately determining distances, direction and Cyanobacteria {formally known as Blue-Green area of any portion (eg. ca-.e) and delineating Algae). Stromatolite fossils date back to the the whole on paper. (2). v. The act of doing a Archaean and Proterozoic eras, and their sur-.ey. presence suggest the process of SWIRLHOLE. n. A more or less circular hole in photosynthesis began at an early age in the rock of a present or past streambed, eroded de-.elopment of life on earth. Excellent by eddying water with or without the examples can be found in the limestone mechanical action of sediments up to the size deposits of Brachina Gorge - Flinders Ranges of a cobble. South Australia. Also see stromatolitic SYNGENETIC KARST. n. Karst de-.eloped in stalagmite. aeolian calcarenite when the de-.elopment of STROMATOUTIC STALAGMITES. n. A type karst featires has taken place at the same of stalagmite found only near the entrance and time as the lithification of calcareous dune twiJight zones of some ca-.es. This type of sand. speleothem may ha-.e a lobster or crayback TAG. n. A small marker with a ca-.e number appearance which can be contributed to the marked on it. Usually made of corrosion growth of algae (often Cyanobacteria more resistant sheet metal {25mm square), with the commonly known as Blue-Green Algae) which number stamped on the face. has preferentially enhanced deposition of calcite on the light facing side of the TAGGING. v. The act of fixing a tag {bearing stalagmite. In some locations such as through the ca-.e number) to the solid rock, tree or arches, the deposition of calcite on the structure, near the entrance of a ca-.e. stalagmites may be influenced by a constant air TAPE. (1) n. A flat or tubular webbing tape, flow as well as algae. Thus the stalagmite is usually made of nylon. Used to make harnesses elongated in section and oriented toward the and slings. ca-.e entrance. This type of stalagmite can be (2) n. A graduated tape measure, used in classed as both speleothem and stromatolite. sur-.eying. Tape materials presently awilable Also see stromatolite. include; steel, plastic, wire-reinforced cloth, SUBTERRANEAN. n. Pertaining to fiberglass and carbon fibre {kevlar). underground environments (in karst). TERRA ROSSA. n. Reddish clay soil de-.eloped SUMP. (1) n. A pool of water completely filling a on or around limestone. submerged passage as in a water trap. (2) n. TERRACE. n. A gently sloping series of The lowest point in part of a caw system, rimstone dams. where water collects in a pool before draining or seeping away slowly. cf. caY2-pool and lake.

Page 80 Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 (2). n. A way along ledges above the floor of a THATS ME. n. A call from a climber to a cave. belayer who is taking up the slack in the rope - (3). v. To move along such a route. indicating that the belayer is feeling the weight of the climber with no slack in the rope. TRAVERTINE. n. A form of dense, closely compacted limestone consisting mainly of THEODOLITE. n. An accurate instrument used banded layers. It is often coloured white or to measure horizontal and vertical angles by cream and consists mostly of CaC03 which is means of a small telescope. Used in cave deposited from spring, river or lake water. cf. surveying for Grades 7 to 9. Tufo. THROUGH CAVE. n. A cave which may be Specifically in caves, any flowstone or followed from entrance to exit along a stream dripstone deposit consisting mostly of CaCOJ. course or passage which formerly carried a ie. Stalactite and stalagmite. stream. The word travertine comes from an old Roman TOURI. n. A colloquial term used to describe a name Tiburtinus of Trbur (now Trvoli), a town in group of tourists at a commercially developed Italy where large deposits of travertine oca.ir. caving area. In other words those people who go on guided or self-guided caw tours where TROG. (1) n. Colloquial term for caver. fixed lighting is provided to view the caves. Abbreviation for troglodyte. (2) v. Systematically searching the surface ground "Stay out of sight of the tourists (touri)", is for cave entrances. - Same as ground-trog. usually one of the conditions attached to a caving permit, where the permit cave is in the TROG-UP. v. Colloquial term. To get changed vicinity of a commercial tour cave. into suitable clothing and necessary equipment in readiness to go underground. TOWERKARST. n. Residual limestone outcrops with very steep to overhanging lower slopes. TROGGED-UP n. Past tense of trog-up. Between the towers there may be alluvial plains Attired in caving gear in readiness to go or flat-floored depressions. underground. TRACE. n. A short length of woven wire fitted TROGLOBITE. n. An animal (cawrnicole) living with interlocking rings fitted at each end and permanently in the dark zone of a caw and used to attach a flexible ladder or rope to an unable to live outside the cave environment. anchor point. TROGLODYTE. n. A human cave dweller. TRACER. (1). n. A substance introduced into TRUE NORTH. n. The direction to the surface or underground water. It is used to geographical north pole. from the position of determine drainage connections and travel the observer. cf grid north and magnetic time. north. (2). n. A material introduced into cave air to TUBE. n. A smooth cave passage of nearly determine interconnecting chambers and circular or elliptical section. tunnels. TUFA. n. A porous, light yellow crystalline TRAP. n. A place where a cave passage becomes limestone often with a spongy like appearance, completely full of water to the roof (usually for deposited in solution from spring or surface some distance) before rising above water to a water. Calcium carbonate which is deposited siphon. cf duck-under and sump. over twigs, dead leaves, moss and earth, builds TRAVERSE. (1). n. The commonest form of cave up mounds or terraces in the above ground surwy in which distance, direction and vertical streams. Over time the vegetation decays, angle between successive points are measured. leaving the calcium carbonate with a spongy A series of legs between stations. appearance. cf trawrtine.

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 TUNNEL(l) n. A nearly horizontal cave open to WATER TRACING. n. Determining the water the surface at both ends, fairly straight and connection point of a steam sink and its uniform in cross-section. Not necessarily in reappearance at the efflux or rest.rgence. See sight of daylight cf. arch. (2) n. A spacious cave Tracer. passage, fairly straight and uniform in cross­ section. (Not open to the surface.) WATER TRAP. n. See TRAP. TWILIGHT ZONE. n. The outer part of a cave WEATHERING. n. The processes of physical where daylight penetrates and gradually disintegration and/or chemical decomposition of solid rock materials at or near the earth's diminishes to zero light, Between the entrance zone and dark zone. surface. Physical weathering breaks up rock without altering its composition, and chemical VADOSE DEVELOPMENT. n. The down-cutting weathering decomposes rock by slowly altering action of a cave stream having a free airspace. its constituent minerals. Cave development due to water (wdose water) which descends freely and is not under hydrostatic pressure. The fast moving water Weathering may alter the colour, texture, carries rocks and grit which also cause composition, or physical shape of rocks. mechanical erosion of the bedrock. A tell-tail WET CAVE. n. A cave containing a lake/s sign of 'wdose development' is scallop markings and/or active stream with deep pool/s, which in the bedrock, caused by running water. require wading or swimming to progress VADOSE FLOW. n. Water flowing in a free through the cave. The caver can expect to surface stream, thus having no hydrostatic become very wet and possibly cold. The wearing pressure. of wetsuits may be advisable. This term also VADOSE SEEPAGE. n. Syn. percolation water. includes caves where inflatable rafts are used to cross a deep section of water. VADOSE WATER. n. Water in the vadose zone. WHALET AIL n. A mechanical descender made from an aluminium block, designed to apply VADOSE ZONE. n. The zone where rock wrying degrees of friction depending on the cavities are partly filled with air and through number of slots the abseil rope is passed which water descends under gravity. through. VATERITE. n. The least common form of WINDOW. n. An irregular shaped hole through calch.111 carbonate found in caves. a thin rock wall, between cave passages or WALK-THROUGH. n. A passage with plenty of chambers. headroom where a caver can walk through ZONE, DARK. n. See dark zone. without stooping or crawling. ZONE ENTRANCE. n. See entrance zone. WATER Sil\IK. n. Either above or below ZONE, PHREATIC. n. See phreatic zone. ground. A place where flowing water sinks into an impassable passage. ZONE, TWILIGHT. n. See twilight zone. WATERTABLE. n. The upper limit of the ZONE, VADOSE. n. See vadose zone phreatic zone, or the level of saturation of the strata, (usually very localised in limestone terrain).

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999 Main References Hill, C.A. and Forti, P. (1986, 1997) Glossary in 'Cave Minerals of the World', 1~ & 2nd editions. Pages. 355-365. Published by National Speleological Society Inc. 2813 Cave Ave, Huntsville, Alabama, 35810, USA. Jennings. J. N., (1979), Cave & Karst Terminology, published in ASF Newsletter No 83 P.3-21 and revised list in the ASF 'Australian Karst Index' (1985), edited by Matthews. P. Smith. G.K., (1995), Definitions and Colloquial Terms, published in the 'Australian Caver'. No. 138, P. 17. The official newsletter of the Australian Speleological Federation. Smith. G. K., (1998), Glossary of Caving Terms, published in 'Newca....es Chronicles', No. 11, July 1998, P. 68-75. The official publication of the 'Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society'. ISSN 1325- 0930 Glossary in 'British Caving' (2nd edition 1962) An introduction to speleology. Edited by Cullingford. C., Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane, London. Glossary in 'Minerals of the World' (1986). Re-published (1990), with revised text by Dud'a, R., and Rejl, L., Pages 509-511. Publisher - Spring Books, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, London SW3 6RB. ISBN 0-517-68030-0. Glossary in "Physical Geology" (1990), eighth edition, Judson, S. and Kauffman M. E., Pages 497-512. Publisher - Prentic-Hall, Inc. a division of Simon & Schuster, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632. ISBN 0-13-666405-9.

Shawls - Mitchell-Palmer Unknown Ca....e

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Proceedings of the 22nd Conference of the ASF 1999