Alan Roy Drysdall (1934 – 11 January 2017)^[1] was an English geologist who worked in southern Africa. The mineral Drysdallite was named after him. Drysdall was a noted philatelist and a signatory to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists.

Early life

Alan Drysdall was born in Southampton in 1933. He received his doctorate in Geology from the University of Southampton in 1957.^[2]

Career

Drysdall was the director of the Zambian geological survey. The mineral Drysdallite was named after him.

Philately

Outside work, Drysdall was a noted philatelist who was a stalwart of the Rhodesia, Transvall and Natal Study Circles. He signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 2003. He also signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists of Southern Africa.^[2]

Selected publications

Geology

• Drysdall, A. R.  ????. The tin belt of the Southern Province, summary report, 2nd edition. Lusaka: Government Printer.
• Drysdall, A. R., and P. D. Denman, N. J. Money. 1967. Some aspects of the geology of the Siankondobo coalfield. Lusaka: Government Printer.
• Drysdall, A. R. et al. 19??a. Coal resources of the Zambezi Valley, II. Siankodobo – The Kanzinze basin, geology of the shafts. Lusaka: Government Printer.
  • 19??b. Coal resources of the Zambezi Valley III, Siankodobo- the Izuma Kanzinze basin. Lusaka: Government Printer.
  • 19??c. Coal resources of the Zambezi Valley IV: Sikankodobo- The Norfthern Part of the Kanzinze basin. Lusaka: Government Printer.

Philately

• Mashonaland: A Postal History, 1890-96
• Transvaal - Revenue and Telegraph Stamps 1995
• Rhodesia's Role in the Second Anglo-Boer War