Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSS024008A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Recognise common geological landforms and samples

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSS024008A - Recognise common geological landforms and samples
Description This unit of competency covers the ability to recognise common geological landforms and relate these to basic geological processes and other ecosystem components. Personnel are also expected to obtain (near) surface samples of common rocks, minerals and soils and identify them using classification tables and charts.
Employability Skills Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency is applicable to environmental technicians working in a range of industry sectors, such as:environmental services (e.g. sampling and monitoring of air quality, water, soil and noise)environmental compliance, auditing and inspectiongroundwater and clean water (e.g. catchments, supply and environmental flows)solid and hazardous waste managementmanagement of contaminated sitessite remediation or rehabilitationgeotechnical services and civil engineeringnatural resource management.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for field work
  • Review job request to identify the equipment involved, samples to be collected and/or test methods
  • Identify hazards and enterprise safe work procedures associated with the site, samples, test methods and equipment used
  • Confirm site location, access, timing and any client requirements
  • Assemble all required equipment/materials and check that they are fit for purpose
  • Stow equipment/materials to ensure their safe transport, as necessary
  • Arrange transport to site, as necessary
  • Liaise with appropriate personnel on arrival at site to ensure safety and minimise disruption to others, as necessary
       
Element: Recognise geological structures and processes
  • Recognise common landforms and relate these to geological processes
  • Interpret simple geological maps, diagrams and aerial photos
  • Apply principles of geological processes and the geological timescale to explain the formation and occurrence of common rocks, minerals, soils and aquifers
       
Element: Identify common rocks and minerals
  • Sort handheld specimens of common sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks by observing their textural, structural and mineralogical properties
  • Identify handheld specimens of common rocks and minerals by comparing their physical properties with classification charts and tables
       
Element: Identify common soil types and their properties
  • Obtain soil samples using specified sampling equipment and methods
       
Element: Examine soil colour, texture and properties of soil components to classify common soils
  • Identify and describe simple soil profiles at field sites
  • Recognise influences of rock type, drainage, age and climate on development of soil profiles
  • Recognise common forms of soil degradation
       
Element: Relate local geology to flora and fauna and land use
  • Apply the basic relationships between parent material, climate, topography, soils and living ecosystem components to interpret sites
  • Recognise how local geology can influence the revegetation or rehabilitation of sites
       
Element: Maintain a safe work environment
  • Use safe work procedures and protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of others
  • Minimise environmental impacts of sampling/testing and generation of waste
  • Collect and/or dispose of all waste in accordance with environmental/quarantine requirements and enterprise procedures
       
Element: Report data and finalise documentation
  • Report field data in the required formats and expected timeframe
  • Complete all required documentation
  • Maintain the security and confidentiality of data and documentation in accordance with enterprise requirements
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSL952001A Collect routine site samples

MSS024003A Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

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 in-field 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

oral/written questioning associated with basic sampling and in-field 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 work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

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 in-field 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 oral/written reports

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

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 in-field test methods routinely used in job role, including:

pre-use checks and safe operating procedures for sampling/test 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

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

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

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS 1289 series Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Sampling and preparation of soils

enterprise or regulator procedures for sampling and in-field testing

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

safe work procedures

Hazards

Hazards may include:

sunlight, dust, noise and heat

extreme weather conditions (e.g. fire, flood and storms)

manual/handling of heavy equipment or materials

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery

vehicular traffic on roads and sites

injuries caused by falling objects and working conditions, such as uneven surfaces, heights, slopes, wet surfaces, trenches and confined spaces

biohazards (e.g. microbiological organisms in soils)

chemical hazards/contaminants in soils

Equipment and materials

Equipment and materials may include:

survey equipment, compass, global positioning system (GPS), maps and aerial photos

tape measure, clinometers and theodolite

hammers, picks, shovel, scoops, buckets, bags, sieves and sample containers

coring/excavation equipment (e.g. auger)

hand lens and microscope

pH meter and conductivity meter

chemical field test kits

worksheets, sampling/test methods

portable computers and PDAs

Common landforms

Common landforms may include:

mounds, hills, ridges, cliffs, valleys, rivers, peninsulas and numerous other structural and size-scaled (i.e. ponds vs. lakes, hills vs. mountains) elements, including various kinds of inland and oceanic water bodies and sub-surface features

geological features characterised by physical attributes, such as elevation, slope, orientation, stratification, rock exposure and soil type

Geological processes

Geological processes that are responsible for most landforms may include:

plate tectonics

glaciation

vulcanism

action of wind and water

weathering

mass wasting or erosion

action of groundwater and surface water

Physical properties of common rocks and minerals

Physical properties of common rocks and minerals may include:

composition, texture and structure

colour, streak, crystal form, habit, cleavage, fracture and hardness

Common soil properties

Common soil properties may include:

colour

structure (size and shape of aggregate particles)

texture (varying percentages of sand, silt or clay, and organic matter)

water retention and water repellence

depth to bedrock

pH

chemical properties (e.g. nitrates, sulphates, phosphates and carbonates)

electrical resistivity and conductivity

Soil degradation

Soil degradation may include:

forms of erosion, such as gully, sheet, landslide, tunnel and stream bank

erosion agents, such as wind, water, heating and cooling of rocks, freezing of water in cracks, plant roots, upheaval of trees and chemicals

weathering

decomposition of organic material

salinity

acidification

structural degradation

soil pollution (e.g. hydrocarbons and heavy metals)

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

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Review job request to identify the equipment involved, samples to be collected and/or test methods 
Identify hazards and enterprise safe work procedures associated with the site, samples, test methods and equipment used 
Confirm site location, access, timing and any client requirements 
Assemble all required equipment/materials and check that they are fit for purpose 
Stow equipment/materials to ensure their safe transport, as necessary 
Arrange transport to site, as necessary 
Liaise with appropriate personnel on arrival at site to ensure safety and minimise disruption to others, as necessary 
Recognise common landforms and relate these to geological processes 
Interpret simple geological maps, diagrams and aerial photos 
Apply principles of geological processes and the geological timescale to explain the formation and occurrence of common rocks, minerals, soils and aquifers 
Sort handheld specimens of common sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks by observing their textural, structural and mineralogical properties 
Identify handheld specimens of common rocks and minerals by comparing their physical properties with classification charts and tables 
Obtain soil samples using specified sampling equipment and methods 
Identify and describe simple soil profiles at field sites 
Recognise influences of rock type, drainage, age and climate on development of soil profiles 
Recognise common forms of soil degradation 
Apply the basic relationships between parent material, climate, topography, soils and living ecosystem components to interpret sites 
Recognise how local geology can influence the revegetation or rehabilitation of sites 
Use safe work procedures and protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of others 
Minimise environmental impacts of sampling/testing and generation of waste 
Collect and/or dispose of all waste in accordance with environmental/quarantine requirements and enterprise procedures 
Report field data in the required formats and expected timeframe 
Complete all required documentation 
Maintain the security and confidentiality of data and documentation in accordance with enterprise requirements 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS024008A - Recognise common geological landforms and samples
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

MSS024008A - Recognise common geological landforms and samples

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: