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: 

Implement and monitor grade and quality control for surface excavations 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
336920  Implement and monitor grade and quality control for surface excavations 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Fabrication and Extraction 
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 4  NQF Level 04  4 
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 
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for grade and quality control in surface excavations.
  • Coordinate grade control activities.
  • Monitor and report on grade control activities. 
    		•

    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 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of grade and quality control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of grade and quality control in surface excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Grade and quality control standards and measures are ensured to be in existence in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Grade and quality control standards are communicated to all relevant role players in accordance with legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Adherence to the grade and quality control system is monitored on a continuous basis in terms of legal and site-specific requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Outputs from the grade and quality control system are monitored on a continuous basis in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Non-conformances are identified in terms of the requirements of the quality management system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Anomalies and non-conformances are recorded and reported in accordance with the provisions of the quality management system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Actions to prevent recurrence of anomalies and non-conformances are taken in accordance with specified requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for grade and quality control in surface excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Grade control and cut-off grades are explained in terms of site specific requirements for surface excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The variety of minerals extracted are discussed in terms of surface excavation operations in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The variation in the grade of minerals is explained in the context of the specific operation in which the learner is working. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The purpose, principles and techniques related to the blending of minerals are explained in the context of the specific strand in which the learner is working. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The purpose, principles and techniques relating to grade control of minerals are explained in the context of the specific strand in which the learner is working. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Coordinate grade control activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Drill chips are monitored in accordance with operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The sampling schedule is compiled and compliance monitored in accordance with operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Sampling schedule includes but not limited to:
  • Chip sampling.
  • Channel sampling.
  • Core drilling.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Fragmentation analysis of broken mineral is conducted in accordance with operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Waste dump sampling is conducted in accordance with legal and site-specific requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Moisture content analysis is conducted in accordance with operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Recovery and dilution of mineral is explained and corrective measures applied in the context of surface excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Contamination of minerals is monitored and prevented in terms of operational requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Monitor and report on grading control activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The grade control monitoring programme is implemented and maintained in accordance with operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Anomalies and non-conformances are recorded and reported in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Corrective and preventative action is implemented in accordance with legal and site-specific requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information regarding grade control activities is communicated to all role players in accordance with operational requirements. 


    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 with 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:
  • Principles of grade and quality control.
  • Grade and quality control standards and measures.
  • Grade and quality control requirements.
  • Variety of minerals.
  • Variation of minerals.
  • Purpose, principles and techniques related to the blending of minerals.
  • Blending.
  • Fragmentation analysis.
  • Waste dump sampling.
  • Moisture content analysis.
  • Recovery and dilution of mineral.
  • Contamination of minerals.
  • Grade control monitoring programme. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community:
  • The ability and willingness of the learner to be part of a team and to participate constructively in achieving team goals and objectives in the processes of grade and quality control in surface excavations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others:
  • The learner appreciates the role of modern technology in grade and quality control and shows a positive orientation towards such technology. 
    		•

    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:
  • The learner understands that the interaction of numerous role players involved in upstream, downstream and parallel processes are required to deliver quality products in a surface excavation environment. 
    		•

    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:
  • Understanding of relevant Acts and Regulations:
    > Mine Health and Safety Act-1996 and Labour Relations Act-1995.
    > Basic Conditions of Employment Act-1998.

    Site Specific:
  • Company policies and procedures regarding relevant:
    > Mine policies and procedures.
    > Codes of Practice.
    > Human Resource specific labour functions. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  74490   Further Education and Training Certificate: Mining Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  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.
     
    NONE 


    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.