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 South African stratigraphy and associated major economic deposits 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
262303  Demonstrate a basic understanding of South African stratigraphy and associated major economic deposits 
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
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 the fundamental principles of stratigraphy.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental crustal components of South Africa.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the major economic deposits associated with the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between global geological evolution, South Africa and surrounding African countries. 
    		•

    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.
  • Knowledge of rock types.
  • Understanding of geological time.
  • Understanding of global tectonic systems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard covers the demonstration of a basic understanding of South African stratigraphy and associated major economic deposits. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of stratigraphy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The theory of uniformatarianism is discussed in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The theory of superposition is discussed in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The concept and importance of way-up structures is discussed and individual examples described in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The concept of correlation is discussed, and the means to correlate individual stratigraphic units are identified in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The principal periods of earth history are identified and defined in terms of their age in geological terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Archaean.
  • Proterozoic.
  • Phanerozoic.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental crustal components of South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The fundamental crustal components of South Africa are identified and described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Kaapvaal Craton.
  • Namaqwa-Natal Mobile Belt.
  • Cape Fold Belt.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The age of the individual crustal components within South Africa is defined in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The relationship between the individual crustal components within South Africa is discussed in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The origin of the individual crustal components within South Africa is discussed in geological terms. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are identified and their geographic distribution delineated on a topographical map. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Igneous and metamorphic groups of the Kaapvaal Craton.
  • Barberton Supergroup.
  • Witwatersrand Supergroup.
  • Ventersdorp Supergroup.
  • Transvaal Supergroup.
  • Bushveld Complex.
  • Waterberg Group.
  • Igneous and metamorphic groups of the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Event.
  • Cape Supergroup.
  • Karoo Supergroup.
  • Kalahari Group.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The fundamental stratigraphic sequence within the principal lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are identified and described in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The fundamental lithologies of the principal lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are identified in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The relationships between the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are described in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The ages of the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are identified in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The origins of the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa are identified in geological terms. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of the major economic deposits associated with the principle lithostratigraphic series within South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The major economic commodities found within South Africa are identified and their geographical location delineated in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The stratigraphic units associated with the individual economic commodities recognised are identified in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The lithologies associated with the individual economic commodities recognised are identified in the mining context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The possible origins of the economic mineralisation within individual lithostratigraphic series identified are discussed in the mining context. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between global geological evolution, South Africa and surrounding African countries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal events in the evolution of the Earth are identified and discussed in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The South African evidence of principal events in geological evolution is identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The relationship between specific stratigraphic units in South Africa and surrounding countries are identified and described in geological terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Specific examples of comparable stratigraphic units internationally are identified and described in geological terms. 


    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 is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • The principal characteristics of the prominent lithostratigraphic series within South Africa and their relationships to South African crustal evolution.
  • Major events in geological evolution and their relationship to South African crustal evolution.
  • The fundamental principles of stratigraphy. 
    		•

    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 lithostratigraphic series and their economic characteristics contributes to his/her problem solving ability. The extrapolation of local geological data into surrounding countries indicates creative thinking. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability of the learner to integrate the geological 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 geological 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 the data from various sources 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 geological data pertaining to the various lithostratigraphic series 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 individual lithostratigraphic series and global geological evolution 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 explore more than one strategy to identify the individual lithostratigraphic series 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 and/or Laid down Procedures are contained in one or more of the following:
  • Training manuals.
  • Education manuals, including geological text books.
  • Geological illustrations.

    Legal Requirements are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    None applicable.

    Notes to the Assessor:
  • Gold within the Witwatersrand Supergroup and Greenstone belts.
  • Coal within the Karoo Supergroup.
  • Diamonds within kimberlites and alluvial deposits.
  • Chrome and platinum within the Bushveld Complex.
  • Iron and manganese within the Transvaal Supergroup.
  • Copper within the Phalabora Complex and Namaqualand. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  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.