Speleology

Speleology

The study of caves, the way they are formed, physical properties and type.

Industry: Natural environment

Add a new term

Contributors in Speleology

Become a Contributors

Speleology

dripstone

Natural environment; Speleology

Calcium carbonate deposited from water dripping from the ceiling or wall of a cave or from the overhanging edge of a rock shelter; commonly refers to the rock in stalactites, stalagmites, and other ...

flowstone

Natural environment; Speleology

Deposits of calcium carbonate, gypsum, and other mineral matter which have accumulated on the walls or floors of caves at places where water trickles or flows over the rock. Layered deposits of ...

fluorescein

Natural environment; Speleology

A reddish-yellow crystalline compound that imparts a brilliant green fluorescent color to water in very dilute solutions; used to label underground water for identification of an emergence.

knot

Natural environment; Speleology

Method of securing or tying ropes or webbing material together by cavers.

prusik knot

Natural environment; Speleology

A knot tied by looping a smaller diameter rope around a larger standing line (rope) that has the property of sliding with no load on the knot, but will hold when it is loaded (e.g. when the weight of ...

ascender

Natural environment; Speleology

A mechanical device used by cavers who are either ascending or are descending through a vertical opening in a cave (e.g. vadose shaft) that uses a cam to grip a rope while downward pressure is being ...

karstification

Natural environment; Speleology

Features formed by the dissolutional removal of all or part of a buried rock unit. Interstratal-karst features are common within highly soluble evaporite rocks such as gypsum and halite, and may be ...