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 a basic understanding of mineral resource types, utilisation and exploitation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
261818  Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral resource types, utilisation and exploitation 
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 4  NQF Level 04  5 
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 will be useful to people who work or intend to work within a mining and minerals context.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of resource types.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral utilisation.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral exploitation.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the South African economy.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the world economy. 
    		•

    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.
  • Knowledge of mineral and rock types. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral resource types. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal minerals which are of major economic importance in an industrialised country are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Copper.
  • Carbon.
  • Gold.
  • Iron.
  • Manganese.
  • Platinum.
  • Chromium.
  • Aluminium.
  • Silicon.
  • Calcium.
  • Zinc.
  • Lead.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The mineral(s) or rock types within which the principal elements of economic importance occur are identified in the mining context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Copper: Chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, cuprite, chalcocite, malachite, azurite, chryscocolla; occurring in a variety of deposits including - porphyry deposits, carbonatite complexes and massive sulphide deposits.
  • Carbon: Coal, diamond in kimberlite, oil and natural gas.
  • Gold occurs in native state, although frequently associated with other minerals in conglomerates (Witwatersrand) and quartz veins.
  • Iron: Haematite, magnetite in banded iron formations.
  • Manganese: Braunite, psilomelane, pyrolusite in carbonate or iron-formation dominated sequences.
  • Platinum: Platinum Group Minerals (braggite, cooperite, laurite, sperrylite) - Basic Igneous Complexes (Bushveld).
  • Chromium: Chromite - Basic Igneous Complexes (Bushveld).
  • Aluminium: Gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore in bauxite.
  • Silicon: Quartz found in sand, sandstones, quartzite, veins and silcrete.
  • Calcium: Calcite in limestone.
  • Zinc: Sphalerite in massive sulphide deposits.
  • Lead: Galena in massive sulphide deposits.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The principal mineral provinces in the world are identified and located on a standard world map in terms of geological classification. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Description must include:
  • Base mineral deposits.
  • Coal deposits.
  • Lead-zinc deposits.
  • Hydrocarbon deposits.
  • Gold deposits.
  • Diamond deposits.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The nature of the mineralization process(es) in the major metallogenic provinces is identified in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The principal metallogenic provinces in Southern Africa are identified and located on a standard geological map in terms of geological classification. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Witwatersrand Basin.
  • Karoo Basin.
  • Bushveld Complex.
  • Great Dyke.
  • Zambian Copperbelt.
  • Diamond Occurrences.
  • Transvaal Basin.
  • Namaqualand.
  • Barberton Mountain Land.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The nature of the mineralization process(es) in the major metallogenic provinces in South Africa is identified in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The principal economic commodities found within each of the major metallogenic provinces in South Africa are identified in the mining context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Witwatersrand Basin: Gold, uranium.
  • Karoo Basin: Coal.
  • Bushveld Complex: Platinum Group Metals, chromite.
  • Diamond Occurrences: Diamonds.
  • Transvaal Basin: Iron, manganese.
  • Namaqualand: Copper, zinc, lead.
  • Barberton Mountain Land: Gold, antinomy.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral utilisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal mineral consuming and utilising industries/activities in the world are identified in terms of geological classification. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Petrochemical industry.
  • Steel industry.
  • Automotive industry.
  • Jewellery industry.
  • Investment industry.
  • Construction industry.
  • Aluminium industry.
  • Engineering industry.
  • Power generation industry.
  • Aviation industry.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The principal economic mineral commodities used in the major mineral consuming and utilising industries/activities are identified in terms of geological classification. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Crude oil and natural gas in petrochemical industry.
  • Iron ore, manganese, chromium, silica, calcium (limestone) and coal in steel industry.
  • Steel, platinum group metals, lead and petroleum derived products (plastic) in automotive industry.
  • Gold, platinum and diamonds in jewellery industry.
  • Gold and platinum in investment industry.
  • Quartz (sand), calcium (limestone) and steel in construction industry.
  • Aluminium and silica in aluminium industry.
  • Steel, copper, platinum group metals, silica, zinc and petroleum derived products (plastic) in engineering industry.
  • Coal, crude oil, natural gas and uranium in power generation industry.
  • Steel, aluminium and petroleum derived products (plastic) in aviation industry.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The principal uses of the products of the major mineral utilising industries/activities are identified in the mining context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Petrochemical industry: Chemicals, plastics and petrol.
  • Steel industry: Steel, stainless steel.
  • Automotive industry: Cars.
  • Construction industry: Houses, roads.
  • Aluminium industry: Aluminium metal, abrasives.
  • Engineering industry: Roads, buildings, bridges, railways, electrical products, glass.
  • Power generation industry: Electricity.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The locations of the world's major mineral utilising industries/activities are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • United States of America.
  • Western Europe.
  • Japan.
  • China.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The principal mineral utilising industries/activities in South Africa are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Petrochemical industry.
  • Steel industry.
  • Automotive industry.
  • Jewellery industry.
  • Investment industry.
  • Construction industry.
  • Aluminium industry.
  • Engineering industry.
  • Power generation industry.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The principal economic mineral commodities used in the major mineral utilising industries/activities in South Africa are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Coal and crude oil in petrochemical industry.
  • Iron ore, manganese, chromium, silica, calcium (limestone) and coal in steel industry.
  • Steel, platinum group metals, lead and petroleum derived products (plastic) in automotive industry.
  • Gold, platinum and diamonds in jewellery industry.
  • Gold and platinum in investment industry.
  • Quartz (sand), calcium (limestone) and steel in construction industry.
  • Aluminium and silica in aluminium industry.
  • Steel, copper, platinum group metals, silica, zinc and petroleum derived products (plastic) in engineering industry.
  • Coal and uranium in power generation industry.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The principal uses of the products of the major mineral utilising industries/activities in South Africa are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Petrochemical industry: Chemicals, plastics and petrol.
  • Steel industry: Steel, stainless steel.
  • Automotive industry: Cars.
  • Construction industry: Houses, roads.
  • Aluminium industry: Aluminium metal, abrasives.
  • Engineering industry: Roads, buildings, bridges, railways, electrical products, glass.
  • Power generation industry: Electricity.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    The locations of the major mineral utilising industries/activities in South Africa are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Gauteng.
  • Durban-Pinetown.
  • Richards Bay.
  • Port Elizabeth.
  • Cape Town.
  • Mpumalanga.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of mineral exploitation and economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the South African economy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal types of mineral exploitation are identified and described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Open pit mining.
  • Strip/open cast mining.
  • Shallow underground mining.
  • Deep underground mining.
  • Dredge mining.
  • Dump reclamation.
  • Pumping.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The principal types of mineral exploitation within South Africa are identified, and examples of the economic mineral commodities derived provided. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Open pit mining: Diamonds, copper (Phalaborwa), iron ore.
  • Strip/open cast mining: Coal.
  • Shallow underground mining: Gold, coal.
  • Deep underground mining: Gold.
  • Dredge mining: Alluvial diamonds, heavy minerals.
  • Dump reclamation: Gold, diamonds.
  • Pumping: Oil.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The importance of the South African minerals industry to the local economy is explained through an analysis of its contribution to GDP, exports and employment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The importance of individual minerals within the South African minerals industry is explained through an analysis of their contribution to the economy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Description must include:
  • Gold.
  • Coal.
  • PGM's.
  • Chrome.
  • Diamonds.
  • Manganese.
  • Iron ore.
  • Base Metals.
  • Hydrocarbons.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The importance of the minerals beneficiation industry within the South African economy is explained through an analysis of their contribution to the economy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Coal washing.
  • Steel industry.
  • Petrochemical industry.
  • Aluminium industry.
  • Metal refining.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The importance of the industries which consume processed mineral products within the South African economy is explained through an analysis of their contribution to the economy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Automotive industry.
  • Chemical industry.
  • Jewellery industry.
  • Engineering industry.
  • Electricity generation.
  • Building industry.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The importance of the minerals industry to the infrastructural development of South Africa is explained through an analysis of their present and historical contribution to the economy and the development of the country. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • ESKOM.
  • Transnet.
  • Urbanisation/city development.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate basic understanding of the economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the world economy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance of the South African minerals industry to the world is explained through an analysis of the contribution of individual minerals to global production and their ranking in global production. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Gold.
  • Coal.
  • PGM's.
  • Chrome.
  • Diamonds.
  • Manganese.
  • Iron ore.
  • Base Metals.
  • Hydrocarbons.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of the South African minerals industry to the world is explained through an analysis of the contribution of individual minerals to the global reserve and their ranking in the global reserve. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Gold.
  • Coal.
  • PGM's.
  • Chrome.
  • Diamonds.
  • Manganese.
  • Iron ore.
  • Base Metals.
  • Hydrocarbons.
     
    		•


    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 addressed in an integrated manner in the unit standard:
  • The location and composition of South African mineral deposits.
  • The origin of South African mineral deposits.
  • Various resource types.
  • Economic mineral commodity exploitation.
  • Economic mineral commodity utilisation.
  • The world mineral industry.
  • The economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the South African economy.
  • The economic importance of South African mineral deposits to the world economy. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

    Note: The ability of the learner to identify characteristics of individual metallogenic/mineral provinces contributes to his/her problem solving ability. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage himself/herself and his/her activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability of the learner to integrate the economic mineral commodity data with world mineral industry data indicates that the learner can organise and manage activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: The ability of the learner to integrate economic mineral commodity data with world mineral industry data will enhance the learner's 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 learner to reconcile and present the data from various sources in a variety of formats will indicate the learner's proficiency in effective communication. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Note: The analysis of the data pertaining to the various metallogenic/mineral provinces and world mineral industries described will indicate the learners understanding of science and 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.

    Note: The ability of the learner to understand the relationship between the reserves of an individual economic commodity, its importance to South Africa and its contribution to the world reserve will contribute to their understanding of the whole world. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Reflect on, and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively and to contribute to the full development of each learner to enhance the social and economic development of the society at large.

    Note: The ability of the learner to integrate the economic mineral commodity data with world mineral industry data can be applied inside and outside the work environment to enhance the socio-economic development of family-life and the community at large. 

    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:
  • Training manuals.
  • Education manuals, including geological textbooks.
  • Geological illustrations.

    Legal:
  • None applicable. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  65549   National Certificate: Mining Technical Support  Level 3  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.
     
    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.