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SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD: 

Demonstrate knowledge of the geological nature of surface extraction sites 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
230010  Demonstrate knowledge of the geological nature of surface extraction sites 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful for persons who intend following a career in the mining and minerals sector, particularly in the domain of cement, lime, aggregates and sand.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of rocks and minerals.
  • Display knowledge of geological unconformities at surface extraction sites.

    The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this unit standard are essential for social and economic transformation and contribute to the upliftment and economic growth of the mining and minerals sector.

    This unit standard is intended to promote general skills, knowledge and understanding of the geological nature of quarry sites in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the nature of rocks and minerals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The formation and occurrence of rocks and minerals is explained in the context of understanding the geological nature of them. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Formation and occurrence must include:
  • Igneous.
  • Metamorphic.
  • Sedimentary.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The physical properties of industrial rocks and minerals are explained in relation to their extraction characteristics. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Physical properties must include:
  • Hardness.
  • Solubility.
  • Specific gravity.
  • Abrasiveness.
  • Texture.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The structure characteristic of rock deposits is explained in relation to their fragmentation nature. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Structure characteristics must include:
  • Jointing.
  • Bedding.
  • Density.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Explain the geological unconformities at surface extraction sites. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Faulting is explained in relation to the movement of the mineral and the host rock. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Faulting must include:
  • Natural faults.
  • Reverse faults.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Sills and dykes formation is explained in relation to their effect on the mineral and the host rock. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The hazards arising from geological unconformities are explained in relation to extraction processes. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following embedded knowledge will be assessed in an integrated way in the context of the unit standard.
  • Knowledge of rocks and minerals:

    > Formation and occurrence.
    > Physical properties.
    > Structural characteristics of rock deposits.
  • Knowledge of geological unconformities at surface extraction sites:

    > Faulting.
    > Sills and dykes.
    > Hazards arising from geological unconformities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • Information on the type, characteristic and nature of rocks and minerals is collated and analysed and their impact on the extraction process is evaluated. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology:
  • Specified requirements:

    > Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:
  • Legal:

    > Relevant Acts: e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act and Regulations, 1996 (Act 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act 50/1991).
    > Mandatory Codes of Practice.
    > SANS and other relevant Standards.
    > Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives/Instructions.
    > Guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines.
  • Site specific:

    > Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA).
    > Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme.
    > Managerial Instructions.
    > Mine Standard Procedures.
    > List of Recorded OH&S Risks.
    > Working Guides.
    > Equipment and Materials Specifications. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  62869   National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Surface Excavations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 
    Elective  64909   National Certificate: Small Scale Mining  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 
    Elective  57121   National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Quarrying  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-09-17  Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  90655   National Certificate: Small Scale Mining  Not Applicable  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Anglo American Platinum Limited - Mogalakwena Mining Training Centre 
    2. AVENG (AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 
    3. BANA BA THARI MINING TRANING AND DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 
    4. BAS COACHING,TRAINING,MARKETING 
    5. DEI GRATIA TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION 
    6. Elite Operator and Skills Training 
    7. EXXARO COAL (PTY) LTD 
    8. FOSKOR (PTY) LTD 
    9. GEOSTRAT TRAINING 
    10. GLENCORE OPERATIONS SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD 
    11. HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD 
    12. JUAB GENERAL DEALER 
    13. KOLOMELA MINE 
    14. KUDUMANE MANGANESE RESOURCES (PTY) LTD 
    15. KUMBA IRON ORE (SISHEN) 
    16. Kumba Sishen HRD Centre 
    17. MEDIRO TRAINING ACADEMY (PTY) LTD 
    18. MMTI Holdings 
    19. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    20. PMC TRAINING CONSULTANTS AND ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD 
    21. POWERGATE TRAINING PTY LTD 
    22. PPC Ltd 
    23. PRISMA TRAINING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 
    24. PROGRESSIVE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS (PTY) LTD 
    25. SARCHA TRAINING SOLUTIONS(PTY)LTD 
    26. SENZEKO EXECUTIVE RISK CC 
    27. SPECTRA MINING SERVICES (PTY) LTD 
    28. Test Organisation 
    29. XTRACT TRAINING SERVICES (SA)(PTY)LTD 
    30. ZULEK TRAINING SPECIALISTS 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.