Bulletin of the National Speleological Society - ISSN 0146-9517
Number 17: 32-33 - December 1955

A publication of the National Speleological Society

A Proposed Classification of Physical Features Found in Caves
William R. Halliday

Abstract

Since speleology is a comparatively young science, it acquires a growing vocabulary of terms unique to it. Some of the terms carry over from the past, but are rendered inefficient for commuicating exact ideas when they imply multiple meanings. The word SPELEOTHEM for example, is now generally accepted as a classification noun for all secondary mineral deposits formed in caves. The author proposes adding two more classificaiton nouns (and adjective forms) for features observed in caves. Their acceptatnce or rejection by speleologists depends entirely on their usefulness over the course of time.

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