Diploma in Geology

Purpose

The qualification is vocational, intended to produce well rounded achieving learners, and prepare learners for a Career in the field of earth sciences that may require working in remote outdoor environments. The graduate will work independently and function as a geological technician in a range of earth science fields such as mining, construction, geophysical surveys, mineral and water resource exploration. Geological technicians will work in multi-disciplinary teams, that includes engineers, mine surveyors, metallurgist, chemists, mine managers. The individual is empowered with knowledge and skills for the earth science industry that are essential to mining, construction and water resources which contribute significantly to socio-economic development. The qualified geological technician will demonstrate knowledge of mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, economic geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, engineering geology, stratigraphy, mining and exploration geology, entrepreneurship, applying skills such as core logging, sampling, geological mapping, geophysical mapping, borehole sitting, pump tests, water sampling, rock identification.

Rationale

Geology is currently one of the scarce fields in the country. South Africa is a country of geological superlatives with outstanding deposits of diamonds, gold, platinum, coal and many other commodities. As such it has the most developed mining industry in Africa. Mining activities provide a lot of jobs in South Africa and generate a lot of revenue for the country. There is a great demand for well-trained practical geological technicians and geologists with an ability to explore mineral deposits both in South Africa and in particular in the rest of Africa, since most countries in Africa have not been properly explored for minerals. Currently, the program at the institution is the only higher education institution in Africa that offers a qualification in this field on a diploma level. An increasing number of our graduates are also finding employment in geological consulting companies and are working in different countries in Africa, whilst others are being employed at the Department of Water affairs and other hydrogeological consulting companies as well as engineering geologists. The requirements from industry for these different fields of geology were researched extensively and then implemented as modules within the program. The qualification has a high level of practical and theoretical training and is aimed at equipping learners with analytical thinking skills and the ability to solve problems of a three dimensional nature that are required in the different geological fields. This qualification thus enables learners to quickly get an understanding of the problem at hand; choose the relevant geophysical, geochemical, geo hydrological and engineering methods to apply; design an appropriate field mapping qualification; collect the relevant samples and data; use the appropriate analytical methods and data processing techniques to allow for solving the problem and communicate the findings to his/her supervisor through geological reports or relevant results. The geology program is conscious and sensitive of the need to explore and exploit minerals in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Geologists also play a major role in finding clean groundwater for rural communities and towns without which these communities could not exist. The entrance requirement for this qualification is a national senior certificate with the appropriate scores in relevant subjects. On completion of the qualification the graduate can apply to enter the Advanced Diploma in Geology.

Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL)

As per institutional policy, Credits towards this qualification may be obtained by means of Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL).

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5 and 6 totalling 372 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 132 Credits

• Minerology, 6 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship I, 12 Credits.
• Communication for Academic Purposes, 10 Credits.
• Information Literacy I, 2 Credits.
• Stratigraphy, 6 Credits.
• Chemistry I, 24 Credits.
• Geological Maps I, 6 Credits.
• General Mathematics I, 24 Credits.
• Geology I, 6 Credits.
• Life Skills, 2 Credits.
• General Physics, 24 Credits.
• Computer Literacy, 10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 240 Credits

• Environmental Earth Sciences I, 12 Credits.
• Engineering Geology I, 20 Credits.
• Economic Geology, 20 Credits.
• Hydrogeology I, 12 Credits.
• Structural Geology, 12 Credits.
• Geophysics I, 20 Credits.
• Petrology, 12 Credits.
• Geological Maps II, 12 Credits.
• Geophysics II, 18 Credits.
• Mining and Exploration geology, 18 Credits.
• Geographic Information system and Remote sensing, 12 Credits.
• WIL in Geology I, 24 Credits.
• Hydrogeology II, 18 Credits.
• Engineering Geology II, 18 Credits.
• Environmental Earth Sciences II, 12 Credits.

1.Demonstrate detailed knowledge of mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, economic geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, engineering geology, stratigraphy, mining and exploration geology, entrepreneurship, including an understanding of and an ability to apply the concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of geology, to unfamiliar but relevant contexts; and knowledge of the field of earth sciences and how that knowledge relates to mine planning, ore extraction and processing and surveying.

2.Demonstrate an ability to honestly evaluate, select and apply procedures and skills in petrology, structural geology, mineralogy in order to create and Compile an accurate and reliable geological map using relevant computer software.

3.Demonstrate an ability to analyse and interpret a geological map professionally and creatively construct an accurate cross-section of an area, using core logs and structural geology data to solve geological problems.

4.Demonstrate an understanding of the professional ethics, principles, rules, confidential codes of conduct in mining geology, exploration geology, engineering geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and the financial, social and environmental implications of decisions and actions in geology.

5.Demonstrate an ability to honestly and professionally evaluate different sources of information, to select engineering geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and mining and exploration geology tasks to apply well-developed Geotechnical, hydrogeological and geophysical techniques to analyse, synthesise and evaluate the geological information.

6.Demonstrate an ability to professionally and reliably present, interpret and communicate core logs, mining, exploration, geophysical, hydrological and engineering geology maps, and cross-section information using accurate report writing skills relevant to the field.

7.Demonstrate the ability to professionally coordinate, analyse, compile and interpret geological field work outcomes and be able to communicate key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories in the different fields of earth sciences. The graduate should also be able to create, compute and coordinate the theories, research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to earth sciences.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes.

Acquire appropriate data that is in accordance with the objectives

• Appropriate processing of data utilising standard processing techniques.
• Interpretation of data.
• Scientific report writing.

Apply and/or consider the following in the exploitation of earth resources

• Knowledge of all geological concepts and principles relevant to the specific resource and those that could impact on the environment.
• Knowledge of the relevant legal, economic, environmental and safety implications in the exploitations of such resources.

Demonstrate knowledge of

• Selection of the appropriate techniques and instrumentation for the identification and delineation of specific geological targets.
• Working principles and limitations of applicability of the instrumentation for the given context.

The application of appropriate techniques or instrumentation and limited interpretation of results in support of geoscientific investigations.

Integrated Assessment

Learner assessment is multi-faceted in that it is undertaken as a mixed form of formative assessment tasks and a summative assessment following each academic semester or at the end of the module. Within each module, learners are requested to complete at least two theoretical formal assessments, submit a research related task, undertake tutorial mini assessments in class as well as present the results of a practical task undertaken on a field excursion. At the end of the module the learner must write one three-hour summative assessment. Experiential learners are assessed on a continuous basis for six months by an industrial moderator and reviewed by an academic staff member.