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 QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

National Higher Diploma: Economic Geology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
1467	National Higher Diploma: Economic Geology
ORIGINATOR
Committee of Technikon Principals
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Higher Diploma	Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction		Civil Engineering Construction
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		SAQA 9900/00	2003-07-01	2006-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2007-06-30		2010-06-30

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare the qualified learner to function as a Geologist within a broad range of earth science/minerals industry environments and to apply intergrated theoretical and practical knowledge to the solving of geological and related problems in the minerals industry. The qualified learner will be expected to carry out his/her duties alone, under supervision or part of a team.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

ND/ First degree Economic Geology or equivalent qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

The qualification will be awarded to a learner who has provided evidence to the satisfaction of the assessors that the stated competence of the qualification, as detailed in the specified outcomes, has been achieved, either through education and training in a single providers learning programme, or through experience that complies with the stated specified outcomes

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. To apply integrated theoretical and practical knowledge to the solving of geological and related problems in the minerals industry knowledge

2. To independently collect, compile and evaluate geological data.

3. To take responsibility for the management of designated geological functions in either Exploration or Mining Geology.

Specified outcomes:

1. Apply geological knowledge gained, to a range of tasks in support of the functioning of an Exploration or Mining Department

2. Apply geological, managerial and communication skills in the management of designated Geological functions

3. Apply management principles to decision-making processes.

4. Conduct all tasks within the prescribed safety regulations applicable

5. Apply the principles of sustainable development to the design and implementation of projects

6. Work effectively on teams, and practice professional ethics

7. Possess the required level of knowledge of the Geology of the mine employed on, in order to contribute effectively to the work process.

8. Possess the required level of knowledge of the Geology of an exploration area under investigation, in order to contribute effectively to the work process (F15).

Critical outcomes:

1. Application of theoretical geological concepts in support of job function.

2. Understanding of how the Geology (lithology, stratigraphy, structure etc.) of a mine relates to the mining and beneficiation of the ore.

3. Understanding of how the Geology of a prospecting area effects and determines the exploration method and programme.

4. Possess a good understanding of the origin, size and limits of the ore body mined.

5. Understanding of how the Geology of a mine and/or prospecting area affects the environment.

6. Competency in the use of all equipment used to gather Geological data and the transfer of that data into a form which may be analysed.

7. Ability to work independently or in a team and to communicate effectively.

8. Apply drilling techniques, and handle, log and store drill cores.

9. Carry out geochemical sampling procedures and interpret results

10. Provide geological support in mining environments

11. Use relevant geophysical instrumentation in support of an exploration programme.

12. Map, plot, interpret and evaluate geological features

13. Apply management principles to decision-making processes

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. The learner should provide evidence of the application of the following:

Sufficient

2. All relevant geological and managerial concepts needed to manage tasks required to fulfil job function.

3. Knowledge of the relevant legal, economic, safety and environmental factors.

4. Ability to competently use all instruments and equipment required and to oversee their use by subordinates

5. Ability to competently interpret geological data.

6. Ability to competently communicate the relevance, meaning and importance of geological data to management.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT:

A range of formative and summative assessment methods and techniques in the form of written and practical examinations with projects where applicable.

Period, accumulated and continuous examinations.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification leads vertically up to admittance to the Masters inTechnology:

Minerals Engineering and to a B.Sc Degree in Geology.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Moderation of this programme is done by SERTEC.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Comply with SERTEC regulations. Examiners qualifications to be at least level 7.

NOTES

While South Africa still had Technikons, all of their qualifications were registered under the Committee of Technikon Principals. After the Technikons became Universities of Technology or merged with Universities, the qualifications were registered under each of these institutions, and the CTP qualifications fell away (hence the end date of 2006, above). Where relevant, replacement information is
shown in the table above.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

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