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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Survey market requirements as a basis for making a decision on opal cutting strategy
  2. Weigh opal and record information
  3. Clean and orient opal to determine yields and shape
  4. Process opal to pre-form state

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

document buying preferences and technical data

consult with others about opal assessments

critical thinking and analytical skills to assess stones

literacy skills to interpret information about buying preferences

problemsolving skills to identify flaws and maximise yields

numeracy skills to make basic calculations and use numerical features of machinery

technology skills to source information from the internet and use cutting machinery

Required knowledge

characteristics of opal gemstone structure

importance of achieving yield when cutting a gemstone

market trends and industry requirements for opal products

safety issues associated with opalcutting machinery

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

Overview of assessment

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

Evidence of the ability to

apply knowledge of current retail wholesale and internet buying trends

make decisions on what the final product should be and how to cut the stone to achieve the desired outcome maximising the yield and colour play from each stone

safely complete cleaning shaping and preforming

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to

a computer

an opalcutting workshop with stones and equipment

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of processes and procedures

oral andor written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills

evaluation of the final product

review of portfolios of evidence

review of thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by candidate

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

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended


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.

Determining opal-buying preferences may involve:

accessing internet auction sites

accessing internet opal-specific sites

making contact with opal dealers

making contact with opal cutters

phoning jewellery wholesalers and other jewellers

talking with local jewellery store owners

targeting specialist opal stores.

Relevant information to be recorded may include:

date of purchase

description of stone

description of area where mined

mining lease number

number of classes

purchase price

vendor

weight.

Appropriate equipment may include:

cleaning equipment

diamond grinder

diamond saw

free-hand saw

silicon carbide grinder

slab saw

trim saw.

Unwanted material may include:

cracked material

iron stone

materials with inclusions or stains

matrix

poor colour

potch

sandstone.

General OHS principles and safe operating procedures may include:

complying with safe operating procedures for each machine

good housekeeping, in particular avoiding contaminants

using personal protective equipment (PPE) where required.