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

Determine the precious metal content of an assayed sample by high temperature cupellation and weighing 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
9747  Determine the precious metal content of an assayed sample by high temperature cupellation and weighing 
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  7 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-04-13  2008-04-13  SAQA 0859/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-04-13   2012-04-13  

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 is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
256601  Determine the precious metal content of an assayed sample by high temperature cupellation and weighing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  7   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for a person required to perform high temperature cupellation and mass measurement of precious metal prills. It is applicable to laboratory personnel in the platinum mining industry. A person credited with this unit standard can:
  • Perform the high temperature cupellation process
  • Quantify precious metal prills by mass measurement 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Those listed below or the equivalent:
  • Determine the mass of a substance.
  • Recover precious metals from a lead button by means of the cupellation process.
  • Science, mathematics and communications at ABET 4 level.
  • Relevant health, safety. and environmental standards
  • Computer Literacy 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This process is applicable to the platinum mining industry and it applies to prills obtained from the low temperature cupellation stage of the fire assay process. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Determine the precious metal content of an assayed sample by high temperature cupellation and weighi 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Perform the high temperature cupellation process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Quantify precious metal prills by mass measurement. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Obtain a prill by means of high temperature cupellation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the high temperature cupellation process are identified and explained with reference to team health, safety and environmental impact. The appropriate preventive measures are described and applied. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Housekeeping
  • Waste disposal
  • Fume extraction
  • Heat control
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The required personal protective and safety equipment are operational, fit for purpose, used and maintained in accordance with design specifications and specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The equipment needed for the process is identified, is in working order, used and maintained in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The purpose and basic principles of the high temperature cupellation process are explained with reference to the fire assay for precious metals. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Basic principles must include:
  • Elements volatilized
  • Temperature
  • Time
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The samples are verified and the process conducted according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The work is conducted to meet health, safety, environmental and security requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. The work is conducted in a manner that supports a smooth flow from the previous process through to the next process. The effect of non-compliance is explained in terms of turnaround times. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. Common problems and their effect on the process are explained and /or dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Quantify the precious metal content by weighing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the process are identified and explained with reference to team health, safety and environmental impact. The appropriate preventative measures are listed and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Equipment for the process is identified, verified, used and maintained in accordance with manufactures` specifications and specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The purpose of the process with reference to the fire assay process and customer requirements is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The samples are verified and the precious metal content quantified and reported according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The work is conducted to meet housekeeping, security and quality standards, and specific production targets. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Common problems and their effect on the process are explained and/ or dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. The work is conducted in a manner that supports a smooth flow throughout the process. The effect of non-compliance is explained in terms of turnaround times. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Report writing
  • Health and safety knowledge
  • Legal and site-specific requirements 
    		•

    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 candidate to identify technical problems, sub-standard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: The candidate is required to maintain the link in the process in order to achieve production, health, safety and environmental targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The candidate is required to prioritise and integrate the various activities in order to meet the set targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to collect and evaluate information from numerical data and/or physical observations in terms of specified requirements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: The candidate is required to accurately and clearly conveys information to relevant personnel. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The candidate is required to use equipment responsibly to avoid environmental pollution and to safeguard team health. 
    		•

    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 candidate is aware of his/her role in the organization in terms of social, economic and environmental impact. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 256601, which is "Determine the precious metal content of an assayed sample by high temperature cupellation and weighing", Level 3, 7 credits.

    Terminology

    1. Specified Requirements are contained in one or more of the following:
  • Managerial instructions
  • Codes of practice
  • Laboratory Standard task procedures
  • Risk assessment documentation
  • Working guides
  • Relevant legislation

    2. Verify refers to selection and checking 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  58248   National Certificate: Laboratory Practice  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-08-05  MQA 
    Elective  58952   Further Education and Training Certificate: Laboratory Analysis  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-08-05  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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.
     
    1. IMPALA PLATINUM SERVICES LTD 


    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.