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Elements and Performance Criteria

Select the stone and clarify the required outcome
Select tools, 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 practice and expectations are satisfied
- Correct any faults or defects if required

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to discuss potential for enhancing stone with colleagues and clients

critical thinking and analytical skills to assess the potential of pieces and choose the best approach

planning and organising skills to select appropriate tools equipment and materials

numeracy skills to use numerical features of machinery

technical skills to

choose appropriate stone for cutting

cut sand and polish opals using correct technique

correct faults and defects

Required knowledge

characteristics of opal gemstone structure

suitability of opal pieces for carving

opal carving process including required equipment and consumables

safety issues associated with opal cutting and polishing machinery

industry standards for carving

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

select opal pieces suitable for carving

carve the opal using opal carving equipment to industry standard

polish the carving according to industry standards

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to

carving and polishing equipment

tools and consumables

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 finished pieces

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.

Carving tools may include:	assorted mandrels coarse, medium, fine and extra fine wheels diamond grinding burrs of assorted shapes diamond polishing wheels of assorted shapes diamond sanding wheels of assorted shapes felt polishing buffs sanding discs, assorted grit sizes and diameters silicon carbide grinding burrs of assorted shapes supporting equipment: drip feed watering system dust extraction system wooden polishing buffs.
Carving equipment may include:	air power tools centre point carvers flexible drive hobby carvers micro motor personal protective equipment (PPE).
OHS issues for carving may include:	contamination eye protection guarding keeping a clean work area minimising dust inhalation maintaining equipment unattended running machinery.
Sanding mediums may include:	coarse, medium, fine and extra fine wheels of 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 or wooden wheels or discs diamond compounds from #1200 to #100,000 tin oxide.
Industry practice and expectations may relate to:	no sharp or protruding areas when shaping, keep the setting into jewellery in mind very high polish no grinding marks or sanding marks on surface no cracks or obvious inclusions that should have been removed with initial grinding avoiding making the carving too large considering how strength of colour may affect the need for detail.