Geological Society of South Africa
The Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) is a learned society for geological science that was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest such societies in Africa. The society was founded by the South African geologist, Dr David Draper. The society annually awards the Draper Memorial Medal in Draper's honour to recognise achievement in geology.
Geological Society of South Africa
- Headquarters
- South Africa
- Activity
- higher education
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) is a learned society for geological science that was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest such societies in Africa. The society was founded by the South African geologist, Dr David Draper. The society annually awards the Draper Memorial Medal in Draper's honour to recognise achievement in geology.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Geological Society of South Africa. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q5535313 · wikipedia · Geological Society of South Africa
In this article
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- South Africa
Draper Memorial Medal
The senior medal of the society is the Draper Memorial Medal, awarded annually since 1932 in honour of David Draper. The medal is presented for 'a significant contribution to the discipline of geology and to the furtherance of South African geology'. Selected recipients of the Draper Memorial Medal include:
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5535313: Geological Society of South Africa
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Geological Society of South Africa”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Presidents of the Geological Society of South Africa
They also award the Des Pretorius Memorial Award (in honour of Desmond Pretorius) to recognise exceptional work on economic geology in Africa. The GSSA publishes the peer-reviewed scientific journal, the South African Journal of Geology, The GSSA collaborates internationally with other professional organizations such as the European Federation of Geologists (EFG).
The first president of the geological society was elected in 1895, and served a seven year term. Thereafter, the role was filled annually through the twentieth century.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Harger, H.S. Obituaries. Dr. David Draper. Nature. 125. 714. 1930. 10.1038/125714a0.
- 2.Global Network.
- 3.Past Presidents. Proceedings of the Geological Society of South Africa. xv. 1937.
- 4.Noleen Pauls appointed President of Geological Society of South Africa. 30 July 2025.
- 5.Chetty, Suryakanthie. David Draper: The making of a South African geologist. Historia. 63. 2. 17–39. 2018. 10.17159/2309-8392/2018/v63n2a2.
- 6.Arthur Lewis Hall, 1872–1955. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 2. 139–148. 27 November 1956. 10.1098/rsbm.1956.0010.
- 7.Fey, Peter. H.B. Maufe, First Director of the Geological Survey. Heritage of Zimbabwe. 34. 33–40. 2015.
- 8.C. Plug. Shand, Prof Samuel James (geology). S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science.
- 9.C. Plug. Harger, Mr Harold Scott (geology, archaeology). S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science.
- 10.C. Plug. Nel, Dr Louis Taylor (geology). S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science.
- 11.Dunham, Kingsley Charles. Frank Dixey, 7 April 1892 – 1 November 1982. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 29. 158–176. November 26, 1983. 10.1098/rsbm.1983.0006.
- 12.Plug, C. Merensky, Mr Johannes (Hans) (geology). S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science.
- 13.Geological Society of South Africa - Draper Medal.
- 14.Dunham, K. Sidney Henry Haughton. 7 May 1888-24 May 1982. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 29. 245–267. 1983. 10.1098/rsbm.1983.0011.
- 15.Anheusser, C.R. Obituary. Desmond Aubrey Pretorius 1925 - 1998. South African Journal of Geology. 102. 171–173. 1999.
- 16.Anhaeusser, Carl R. Morris James Viljoen (1940–2021). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 76. 3. 311–312. 2 September 2021. 10.1080/0035919X.2021.1983325.
- 17.Diamonds: a scientist's best friend. www.news.uct.ac.za.
- 18.Professor Lewis Ashwal.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Publishers and printers
5,459 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Geographical Institute of WeimarOrganisation
- Geological Society of AmericaOrganisation
- Geological Society of LondonOrganisation
- Geological Society of NorwayOrganisation
- Geological Survey of SloveniaOrganisation
- Geological Survey of SwedenOrganisation
- Georg Olms VerlagOrganisation
- George A. Smathers LibrariesOrganisation
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Geological Society of South Africa?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.