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The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
Codes of practice | Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used |
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements | Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include: Australian and international standards, such as: AS 3895.1-1991 Methods for the analysis of copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver ores - Determination of gold (Fire assay-Flame AAS method) AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set calibration and maintenance schedules enterprise recording and reporting procedures enterprise sampling procedures for specific samples, sites and clients environmental legislation and regulations equipment manuals and warranty, supplier catalogues and handbooks equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures industry codes of practice material safety data sheets (MSDS) occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) production and laboratory schedules quality manuals, training manuals, induction manuals standard operating procedures (SOPs) and published preparation methods |
Samples | Samples may include: solids, such as rocks, minerals, soils, sands and stream sediments core and other drill samples (e.g. rotary air blast (RAB), reverse circulation (RC) and aircore) slurries, powder concentrates and metallurgical solutions dump samples and grab samples |
Client requests/documentation | Client requests/documentation may include: client profile, sample identification, sample receipt, storage and analyses required preparation method/and service charges |
Consideration of mineralogy | Consideration of mineralogy may include: recognising presence of highly oxidised ores, such as haematite or magnetite adjusting charge weight and flux components to suit |
Assay equipment | Assay equipment may include: mixing equipment and balances fusion and muffle furnaces and associated spares temperature sensors and hotplates compressed air service, extraction systems and fuel supply lines pots, cupels, pouring equipment, pot loader, trolleys, moulds, tongs and hammers |
Hazards | Hazards may include: dust, silica, slag, glass shards and molten flux chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid, bromine, perchloric acid, aqua regia, cyanide, lead-based compounds, free-mercury and nickel compounds noise and vibration crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery manual handling of heavy loads, such as pots, racks and trolleys heat exhaustion/stress and fatigue |
Safety equipment and procedures | Safety equipment and procedures may include: ensuring access to service shut-off points, fire extinguishers/fire hose, safety shower/eye wash stations and first aid station recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs labelling of samples, reagents and hazardous materials direct extraction and fume hoods guards for moving machinery parts noise insulation using personal protective equipment, such as dust masks, heat resistant mittens, safety face shields with tinted visor, coats, ear muffs, safety boots, heat reflective clothing and latex gloves for flux handling following established manual handling procedures regular cleaning of equipment and work areas using enterprise procedures reporting of abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/waste water, gasses, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel |
Fluxes | Fluxes may include: bulk fluxes containing lead (II) oxide (PbO), borax, soda ash, silica, silver nitrate and flour non-standard flux additives, such as: flour (oxidising samples) potassium nitrate (reducing samples and sulphides) silica (basic ores) lead as PbO (siliceous ores) |
Pots | Pots may include: ceramic, acidic/basic, alumina, zirconia and graphite |
Sequencing of pots in a rack | Sequencing of pots in a rack may include addition of silver wire or silver nitrate (AGNO3) mix addition of coloured salts (e.g. copper sulphate CuSO4) |
Collectors | Collectors may include: litharge or lead (II) oxide (PbO) for pot fusion silver (AGNO3) for the cupellation |
Criteria for an 'acceptable' button | Criteria for an 'acceptable' button could include: one piece, mass >20 g and <50 g malleable separates cleanly from slag free of undecomposed ore, matte and speiss |
Other precious metals | Other precious metals may include: high gold, Platinum and Palladium |
Separation of collectors | Separation of collectors may include: cupellation digestion parting, annealing and weighing for a gravimetric finish |
Contamination and losses | Contamination and losses may be caused by: poorly made cupels base metals - copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and bismuth (Bi) arsenic (As), sulphur (S), antimony (Sb), selenium Se), tellurium (Te) and chromium (Cr) scoria sprouting |
Records | Records may include: pour sheets - date, time, client, pour number and preparation method number of pots, positions of sample, blank and check in rack visual appearance of samples, buttons and prills corrective actions for specific samples |
Indicators of potential loss and the corrective action | Indicators of potential loss and the corrective action may include: viscous slag - check furnace temperature, adjust flux and lower charge weight lead shotting - adjust flux, lower charge weight to compensate for high oxides, silicates and chromites sulphides - adjust fusion time, adjust sample weight and/or flux matte, speiss - adjust sample weight and flux incomplete fusion - adjust sample weight and/or flux unacceptable button - adjust sample weight and/or flux inquartation - add 3 parts silver (Ag) to prill, wrap in lead foil and re-cupel |
Waste | Waste may include: rejected pots and cupels slag, furnace material disposable personal protective equipment |
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements | OHS and environmental management requirements: all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health |