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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of stratigraphy 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
376201  Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of stratigraphy 
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  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
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 understanding of the principles of stratigraphy.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the history of the development of stratigraphy.
  • Demonstrate understanding of stratigraphic classification systems.
  • Demonstrate understanding of South African stratigraphy. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in the following:
  • Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate understanding of the principles of stratigraphy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Stratigraphy is defined and discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Correlation is defined and discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The fundamental principles of stratigraphy are identified, defined and discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Principle of Uniformitarianism.
  • Law of superposition.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The principal means utilised to correlate individual units are identified and discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Colour.
  • Rock type.
  • Fossil assemblage.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate understanding of the history of the development of stratigraphy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The development of stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles prior to Hutton is discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The role of Hutton in the development of stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles is discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The development of stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles subsequent to Hutton are discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role of stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles in understanding the age of the Earth prior to the development of isotopic age dating is discussed and analysed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The importance of fossils in developing a stratigraphic column is discussed, and examples provided in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The development of a common international stratigraphic column prior to the development of isotopic age dating is discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the stratigraphic classification systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principal periods of geological time are identified, the origin of their names, age spread, location of their type occurrence and characteristics discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The differences in fossil types within the different geological periods are discussed and defined in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Lithostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy are discussed and defined, and their relationship within an individual unit explained in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The lithostratigraphic classification system for sedimentary rocks is described, explained and examples provided in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The lithostratigraphic classification system for igneous and metamorphic rocks is described, explained and examples provided in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The chronostratigraphic classification system is described, explained and examples provided in terms of sound geological principles. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of South African stratigraphy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The history of the development of South African stratigraphy is discussed in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Du Toit.
  • Bains.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Notable miscorrelations of South African stratigraphic units are discussed in terms of sound geological principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The general stratigraphy of South Africa is described in terms of sound geological principles. 


    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 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.
  • 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 context of the unit standard:
  • The principles of stratigraphy.
  • The history of the development of stratigraphy.
  • Stratigraphic classification systems.
  • South African 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:
  • The ability of the learner to identify features that can be used to correlate individual units contributes to his/her problem solving ability. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively:
  • The ability of the learner to integrate the geological data to provide a coherent stratigraphic model for an area indicates that the learner can organise and manage activities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • The ability of the learner to integrate the geological data pertaining to the stratigraphy of an area into a model 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 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:
  • The analysis of the geological data pertaining to the various stratigraphic classification systems 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:
  • The ability of the learner to understand the development of the science of stratigraphy, its role in explaining the evolution of the Earth and the relationship between different stratigraphic units 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:
  • The ability of the learner to explore more than one strategy to analyse the different stratigraphic systems 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 and/or Laid Down Procedures are contained in one or more of the following:
  • Training manuals.
  • Education manuals, including recent 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
    Core  77963   Further Education and Training Certificate: Mining/Exploration Geology  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.