Required skills

Required skills include

planning and organising resources for field work

following legislative requirements standard methods enterprise procedures and instructions governing geological sampling and infield testing

reading topographical maps and aerial photos and simple geological maps

collecting collating and recording simple geological information for a site

using and maintaining equipment to undertake required field work

preparing brief oralwritten reports

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

working safely for the protection of self and others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

overview of major fields of geology

basic structure of the earth including the core crust and major components

basic geomorphology and landforms including agents of erosion and transportation stability of rocks and minerals in different environments and depositional processes

regolith including physical and chemical weathering climactic effects stability of minerals weathering processes soil formation common soil types and composition

rock cycle

introduction to igneous rocks including origin of magma movement of magma volcanic plutonic types of volcanoes and simple tectonic setting

introduction to sedimentary rocks including clastic chemical organic types grain size and composition sorting roundness lithification sedimentary structures and environments of deposition

introduction to metamorphic rocks including regional contact dynamic metamorphic zones rock textures and fabrics

structural geology concepts including folds faults tilts and uplifts

overview of geological time including eras periods relative time stratigraphic methods for establishing relative ages of strata and radiometric dating

introduction to palaeontology including preservation of fossils and their role in dating strata

introduction to the links between local geology climate topography and living components of ecosystems

geological sampling and infield test methods routinely used in job role including

preuse checks and safe operating procedures for samplingtest equipment

sampling procedures

purpose principles and measurement steps of test

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

expected values for sample type

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

planning and preparing for field work

following relevant procedures and methods for conducting field surveys

recognising common geological landforms and explaining their formation

identifying handheld specimens of common rocks and minerals

obtaining and classifying samples of common soils

relating local geology to other ecosystem components

accurately recording field data

working safely

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidates workplace

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSLA Collect routine site samples

MSL952001A Collect routine site samples

MSSA Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

MSS024003A Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

MSSA Collect spatial and discrete environmental data

MSS024005A Collect spatial and discrete environmental data.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team

Resources may include

access to suitable sites and vehicle

enterprise procedures governing geological sampling and infield testing

maps and aerial photos

suitable survey sampling and testing equipment

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of field data results and records prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures and works safely

oralwritten questioning associated with basic sampling and infield testing of common rocks mineral and soils and their identification and reading the landscape

observation of the candidate undertaking basic geological field work

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a worklike environment

Guidance information for assessment

Codes of practice

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Hazards

Equipment and materials

Common landforms

Geological processes

Physical properties of common rocks and minerals

Common soil properties

Soil degradation

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements