| GALLERY | A cave chamber that is rather large and nearly horizontal. May be adorned with natural decorations. Cave - Parts of. Ref WM |
| GARDENING | Clearing stones or other material from a route either to (1) moderate potential danger of falling stones (2) increase accessibility. Speleology term. Ref JJ |
| GASTROPOD | 'stomach footed', a class of molluscs eg snail, having a shell of a single valve, usually spirally coiled. Fauna. Ref MM |
| GENUS | A group of species thought to have a fairly recent ancestor, but which do not interbreed, or if they do, they form sterile hybrids. Biology - Flora & Fauna. Ref MM |
| GENUS | 6th rank in Taxonomic system. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. Genus + Species constitute a unique name for all known species of living or extinct organisms. Biology - Flora & Fauna. Ref MM |
| GEOCONSERVATION | The conservation of geodiversity protecting natural values that encompass its ecological and geoheritage values. Conservation. Ref MM |
| GEODIVERSITY | The range or diversity of geologic (bedrock), geomorphic (landform) and soil features, assemblages, systems and processes. Geology. Ref MM |
| GEOLOGY | The study of the earth, its rocks, and how it changes, or has changed. Includes earth sciences, such as geology, geophysics, earth history, stratigraphy, paleontology, mineralogy. Geology. Ref MM |
| GIBBS | An ascender with its cam operated by the weight of the climber. Climbing and SRT. Ref JJ |
| GLACIER CAVE | A cave formed within or beneath a glacier. Having walls, floor & roof mainly of ice. May have have a floor at least partly of bedrock. Cave - Kinds of. Ref JJ |
| GLACIOKARST | Karst landscape which has been glaciated during or since the Ice Ages. Karst - Kinds of. Ref TW |
| GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM | GPS. Hand held device that computes position in latitude/longitude or in map grid reference. Uses Satellite technology. Survey & Mapping term. Ref MM |
| GLOSSARY | This Glossary (compiled by M Meth Feb 98) is the copyright property of the Australian Speleological Federation inc (ASF). Miscellaneous terms. Ref MM |
| GOUR | Syn. Rimstone dam. Cave - Depositional Features. Ref JJ |
| GPS | See Global Positioning System. Survey & Mapping term. Ref MM |
| GRADE | The class of a cave survey on the basis of the precision of the instruments and the accuracy of the methods. Survey & Mapping term. Ref JJ |
| GRID | A system of squares on a map formed by straight lines that denote distance east and north of a fixed point of origin. Survey & Mapping term. Ref JJ |
| GRID NORTH | The direction of a north-south grid line on a map. Only at the point of origin is this equal to True north. Survey & Mapping term. Ref JJ |
| GRIKE | A solutional trench that may be deep, narrow, vertical (or nearly so) rectilinear slot in a rock outcrop due to solution along a joint. Syn Kluftkarren. Speleology term. Ref JJ |
| GROT HOLE | A small and insignificant cave with no leads, often tight and difficult to maneuver in. Speleology term. Ref MM |
| GROTTO | A room of moderate dimensions in a cave, but richly decorated. Cave - Parts of. Ref JJ |
| GROUND TROG | A search on the surface for cave entrances. Or merely the walk from car or camp to a (known) cave, particularly if the terrain is difficult. Speleology term. Ref MM |
| GROUNDWATER | Water below the level at which all voids in the rock are completely filled saturated. Syn. phreatic water in saturated zone below water table. Speleology term. Ref JJ |
| GUANO | The accumulation of dung from bats or birds. Often partly mineralised, and includes rock fragments, animal remains eg bones. Guano also may contain products of reactions between the excretions and the rock. Speleology term. Ref JJ |
| GUANOBIA | An animal association feeding on guano. Not considered true cavernicoles? as guano is not confined to caves. Cave - Biota. Ref JJ |
| GYPSUM | The mineral hydrated calcium sulphate CaSO4.2(H2O) Speleology term. Ref JJ |
| GYPSUM FLOWER | An elongated and curving deposit of gypsum on a cave surface. Cave - Depositional Features. Ref JJ |