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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the Earth's Internal Structure and Age 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254497  Demonstrate an understanding of the Earth's Internal Structure and Age 
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 2  NQF Level 02  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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 is for persons who work or intend to work within a mining and minerals context.

Persons credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the physical properties of the Earth.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the internal structure of the Earth.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the units of time used in geology.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the time required for geological processes.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the time relationships of geological events in South Africa.

    The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this unit standard are essential for the 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 demonstrating an understanding of the Earth's Internal Structure and Age relative to the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 1. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the physical properties of the Earth. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The fundamental physical properties of the Earth are defined and quantified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Polar diameter.
  • Equatorial diameter.
  • Volume.
  • Average specific gravity.
  • Age.
  • Mass.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the internal structure of the Earth. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principle components of the Earth's internal structure are identified and explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Crust.
  • Mantle.
  • Core.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The physical characteristics of the individual components of the Earth's internal structure are defined and quantified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Core diameter.
  • Thickness.
  • Composition.
  • Temperature.
  • Specific Gravity.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the units of time used in geology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The standard units of time are identified and defined in terms of specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Second.
  • Minute.
  • Hour.
  • Day.
  • Week.
  • Month.
  • Year.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The standard units of time used in geology are identified and defined in terms of specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Thousand years.
  • Million years.
  • Billion years.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The estimated age of the Earth is defined in terms of specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The principal geological subdivisions of Earth history are identified and defined in terms of specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Archaean.
  • Proterozoic.
  • Phanerozoic.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The general characteristics of the principle geological subdivisions of Earth history are identified and defined in terms of specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Archaean.
  • Proterozoic.
  • Phanerozoic.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the time required for geological processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The time scale for sudden, short, medium and long-term geological processes is defined in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Typical sudden geological processes/events are identified and defined in terms of the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Typical short-term geological processes are identified and defined in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Typical medium term geological processes are identified and defined in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Typical long-term geological processes are identified and defined in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The relationship between sudden, short, medium and long term geological processes is discussed in the mining context. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the time relationships of geological events in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal geological events/processes found within South Africa are identified and their ages defined in the mining context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Kaapvaal Craton and supercrustal successions.
  • Bushveld Complex.
  • Namaqa-Natal mobile belt.
  • Cape orogeny.
  • Karoo Sequence.
  • Kimberlites.
  • Hominoid evolution.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The principle mineralization events found within South Africa are identified and their ages defined in the mining context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Witwatersrand Basin.
  • Bushveld Complex.
  • Greenstone belts.
  • Karoo Sequence.
  • Kimberlites.
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The following accreditation and/or moderation options are available to an individual wishing to be assessed:
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against the qualification 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 qualification 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. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described in the associated unit standards.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • The physical properties and internal structure of the Earth.
  • The units of time used in geology.
  • The time required for geological processes.
  • The time relationships of geological events in South Africa. 
    		•

    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.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to integrate geological data will enhance the learners proficiency to collect, analyse, organise and evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to reconcile the data from various sources will indicate the candidate's proficiency in effective communication. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to understand the physical and internal properties of the Earth, and the time relationship between geological events will contribute to their understanding of the whole world. 

    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 no 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act no 50/1991).
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice.
  • SANS and other relevant Standards.
  • Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives and instructions.
  • Guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines.

    Site Specific:
  • Training manuals.
  • Education manuals, including geological text books.
  • Geological illustrations. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  60349   National Certificate: Mining Technical Support  Level 2  NQF Level 02  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. CADDIS TRADING CC 
    2. MATHOME TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (PTY) LTD 
    3. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 


    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.