Occupational Qualification Document
Occupational Code
31170101
Qualification Title
NQF Level
Mining Technician: Mine
planning Practitioner
(Hardrock)
Name
Email
4
Phone
Logo
Development
Quality Partner
Mine Qualifications
Authority
011 547 2600
Assessment
Quality Partner
Mine Qualifications
Authority
011 547 2600
______________________
______________________
DQP Representative Signature
Date
311701010 - Mining Technician: Mine Planning Practitioner (Hardrock)
Page 1 of 6
Table of content
1. QUALIFICATION DETAILS ............................................................................................................ 3
2. RATIONALE ...................................................................................................................................... 3
3. PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................................... 3
4. RULES OF COMBINATION ........................................................................................................... 4
5. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................. 4
6. EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA .......................... 5
7. INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY ........................................................................................... 6
8. INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT....................................................................................................... 6
9. RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING....................................................................................... 6
10. ARTICULATION ............................................................................................................................. 6
11. CRITERIA FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF PROVIDERS .................................................... 6
12. NOTES............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
311701010 - Mining Technician: Mine Planning Practitioner (Hardrock)
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1. QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Qualification Title: Mining Technician: Sampler Mining (Hardrock)
Level: 4
Credits: 248
Occupational Code: 311701
Curriculum Code: 311701010
Originator: Quality Assurance Body: Mine Qualifications Authority
Qualification Type: Occupational Certificate
Field:
Subfield:
Sub Framework: Qualifications Sub Framework for Trades and Occupations
Assessment Quality Partner: Mine Qualifications Authority
Registered qualifications and or learning programmes to be replaced:

Assessors must be registered against requirements set by the AQP for assessment practice;

Assessors must be in possession of a Mine Survey, Sampling or Geology qualification at an NQF
level 5 or above;

Assessors must have a proven track record of working as a Surveyor, Sampler or Geologist on a
hardrock mine for at least five years.
Recorded trades to be replaced:

none
2. RATIONALE

This curriculum is targeted for Mine Planning Practitioners;

The role of the Planning Officer/Practitioner is an ever changing one. Most mines fill this position
using production staff or staff from other technical services disciplines. The role is becoming ever
more specialised and the various associations have long ago identified the need for a national
qualification that will assist with the professionalization of this role;

This qualification will assist in the formalising of the requirements for this very important and divers
occupation. There will be ample opportunity for RPL for mine employees and this will allow new
industry entrants to be fast tracked to a productive career.
3. PURPOSE
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mining Technician: Mine Planning
Practitioner (Hardrock Mining) and be able to develop and schedule the exploitation of a mineral body to
convert the mineral resource into mineral reserves for the safe and profitable extraction of the minerals in line
with given organisational strategies.
A qualified learner will be able to:
311701010 - Mining Technician: Mine Planning Practitioner (Hardrock)
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
Produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts and production schedules including
resource and equipment requirements for the mining of various mining commodities; and

Prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short and
medium term mining plans.
4. RULES OF COMBINATION
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
Knowledge Modules:

311701010-KM-01, Introduction to Mine Planning, L3, Cr40

311701010-KM-02, Mineral Resource Management (01), L4, Cr38

311701010-KM-03, Mineral Resource Management (01), L4, Cr13

311701010-KM-04, Operations Management and Supervision (01), L4, Cr6
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 97
Practical Skill Modules:

311701010-PM-01, Assist with the production of short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts
and production schedules including resource and equipment requirements for mining final products,
L3, Cr34

311701010-PM-02, Update mining layouts and schedule the required resources to achieve the
production rates., L4, Cr20

311701010-PM-03, Coordinate Mine Planning meetings, L4, Cr10

311701010-PM-04, Make inputs into a process to determine the possible risks in executing mine, L4,
Cr7
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 71
This qualification also requires the following
Work Experience Modules:

311701010-WM-01, Exposure to the mining value chain, L3, Cr32

311701010-WM-02, Exposure to the short and medium term mine planning processes, L4, Cr32

311701010-WM-03, Exposure to the mining risk assessment processes, L4, Cr16
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 80
5. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of the National Foundational Learning Competence

Mathematics OR Mathematical literacy at Grade 12 or equivalent qualification at (NQF4)

Physically capable of executing the work in mines.
311701010 - Mining Technician: Mine Planning Practitioner (Hardrock)
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6. EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Integrated Assessment Exit Level Outcome 1 (Weight 60%)
The ability to produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction Layouts and production schedules:
Associated Assessment Criteria








Given basic sampling and data to determine the value of mined minerals learners will with reference
to learning material and with the use of a programmable calculator be able to correctly make the
basic calculations required to determine the value of mined minerals;
Without reference to learning material learners will be able to correctly answer all questions related
to the basic geological principles, explain the key geological terms and describe the impact of
geological features on the mineral deposits in underground hardrock mines;
Without reference to learning material learners will be able to correctly answer basic questions
related to the surveying process, definitions and the purpose of taking measurements in mines;
Describe the mine planning process giving detailed explanations of all the relevant definitions and
the international standards associated with mine planning;
Given a range of survey measurement data learners will be able to accurately plot the information on
mine plans and make all the required calculations accurately to check and verify the survey data.
Given various correct and incorrect mine plans and designs with descriptions of related
infrastructure, mineral body characteristics and mine business objectives, learners will, with
reference to learning material, be able to correctly identify all the mistakes on the mine plans and
make appropriate alterations to the mine plans;
Without reference to learning material learners will be able to explain what is meant by integrated
mine planning and demonstrate with examples how this concept applied to various mining scenarios.
The explanation and examples must be 100% correct;
Given descriptions of a range of mining scenarios learners will, with reference to learning material be
able to identify and describe the most appropriate mining methods to extract the resource and
describe the implications of the various mining methods on mine planning. The methods will be
correctly identified and all implications accurately described.
Integrated Assessment Exit Level Outcome 2 (Weight 40%)
The ability to prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short
and medium term mining plans produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction Layouts and production
schedules:
Associated Assessment Criteria



Given descriptions of the ground conditions and mineral deposits found in various mines in South
Africa learners will, without reference to learning material be able to correctly explain the
relationships between foot-wall, hanging-wall and the mineral deposits and indicate the implication of
the various situations on developing mine plans;
Given a range of scenarios learners will be able to identify the legal authorisations required and will,
without reference to learning material accurately describe the processes needed to obtain the
various authorisations and permits;
Given a description of a mine, mine results over a sustained period and the socio-economic
conditions at a macro and micro level, learners will, with reference to learning materials, be able to
describe the current and potential future profitability of the mine and indicate the factors that will
potentially impact on the sustainability of the mine;
311701010 - Mining Technician: Mine Planning Practitioner (Hardrock)
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

Without reference to learning material learners will be able to correctly answer all questions related
to the terms, definitions used in the application of the theory of constraints that is relevant to mine
planning.
Given a completed mine and geological plan, a plan of specific workings (stope sheets) as well as
production plans and results and relevant services department reports for a work area the learner
must be able to:
o
Calculate volumes, tonnes, and face advance (distances) using the mine plan.
o
Plot and update the section plan with the production information.
o
Interpret the mine and geology plan and describe the implications of the conditions on the
mine plan related to the specific working area in terms of safety and production.
o
Identify and describe: a. All geological features indicated on the plan; b. all infrastructures
indicated on the plan; c. Identify the direction and coordinates on the plan d. Distinguish the
elevation and gradient (dip and strike) e. Identify the boundaries and pillars f. Identify the
types of excavations (shafts, sub shafts, drives cross-cuts, drives, travelling ways. g. Identify
the position of survey pegs and stations. h. Identify restricted areas and abandoned
workings. i. Identify all dams. j. Lines indicating the planes of sections; k. Water plugs l. Falls
of ground. m. Ventilation districts. n. Harmful gas intersections. o. Economically mineable
areas.
o
Identify and describe possible areas where the current planning can be improve
7. INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY
There are no comparable qualifications internationally
Despite the lack of directly comparable qualifications internationally, the qualification is directly
occupationally based and will meet a specific need in the industry and is therefore deemed a
valuable and relevant qualification.
8. INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
Written assessment combined with the evaluation of completed work tasks. Candidates for this qualification
will complete a two hour theoretical assessment. The assessor will also evaluate the accuracy of the
captured and plotted data on the relevant mine planning system.
9. RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved
workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to
establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by
issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.
RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior
learning against the relevant access requirements.
10. CRITERIA FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF PROVIDERS
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the
QCTO website.
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