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Elements and Performance Criteria

Select the stone and clarify the required outcome.
Select tools and equipment and materials.
Carve opal.
Polish the carving.
- Polish entire carving with polishing compound.
- Use magnification to check the finished carving for faults and if necessary rectify faults.
Ensure that industry standards are satisfied.
- Check the carving to ensure that industry standards are satisfied.
- Correct any faults or defects if required.

Required Skills

Required skills

sanding and polishing skills

Required knowledge

the suitability of opal pieces for carving

opal carving process the equipment and consumables required

industry standards

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

To achieve competency in this unit a person must be able to carve opal to industry standards

The assessment must confirm the ability to select opal pieces suitable for carving carve the opal using opalcarving equipment and polish the carving in accordance with industry standards

Competence in this unit must be assessed over a period of time in order to ensure consistency of performance over the range of variables and contexts applicable to the work environment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed in a work environment or in a simulated work environment or in a combination of these situations

Method of assessment

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance

Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures oral andor written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills and other methods such as the evaluation of the finished piece or pieces as required

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands eg literacy and the needs of particular groups eg people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English remote communities and those with interrupted schooling

Assessment of this competency requires access to

carving and polishing equipment

tools and consumables

a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team

Range Statement


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.
Carving tools may include:	assorted mandrels coarse, medium, fine and extra fine CRATEX wheels diamond grinding burrs, assorted shapes diamond polishing wheels, assorted shapes diamond sanding wheels, assorted shapes felt polishing buffs sanding discs, assorted grit sizes and diameters silicon-carbide grinding burrs, assorted shapes supporting equipment, e.g.: drip feed watering system dust extraction system wooden polishing buffs.

Carving equipment may include:	air power tools centre point carver flexible drive hobby carvers, e.g. Dremel micro motor personal protective equipment.

Occupational health and safety issues for carving may include:	contamination eye protection guarding keeping a clean work area minimising dust inhalation the need to maintain equipment unattended running machinery.

Sanding mediums may include:	CRATEX wheels, coarse, medium, fine, extra fine, assorted shapes diamond powders up to #1200 on felt/wooden wheels pumice powders on felt wheels sandpaper wheels and discs up to #1200, assorted sizes silicon-carbide powders up to #1200 on felt/wooden wheels.

Polishing compounds may include:	cerium oxide on felt/leather/wooden wheels or discs diamond compounds from #1200 to #100,000 tin oxide.

Industry standards may include:	no sharp or protruding areas when shaping, keep the setting into jewellery in mind very high polish required no grinding marks or sanding marks on surface no cracks or obvious inclusions that should have been removed with initial grinding if for jewellery, avoid making the carving too large the more colour, the less detail is required.