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Evidence Guide: MSL973011 - Perform fire pouring techniques

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

MSL973011 - Perform fire pouring techniques

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Plan work for shift

  1. Review job requests to identify the samples, preparation methods required for each, and shift priorities
  2. Identify hazards, safety equipment/procedures associated with samples, preparation methods, reagents and equipment
  3. Plan parallel work sequences to optimise the throughput of multiple sets of samples during shift
  4. Assemble all required equipment, materials, reagents and check they are fit for purpose
  5. Check pots and cupels and discard those with faults and/or a record of high gold values
  6. Check that fusion and muffle furnaces are operating at the specified temperatures
Review job requests to identify the samples, preparation methods required for each, and shift priorities

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify hazards, safety equipment/procedures associated with samples, preparation methods, reagents and equipment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan parallel work sequences to optimise the throughput of multiple sets of samples during shift

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assemble all required equipment, materials, reagents and check they are fit for purpose

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check pots and cupels and discard those with faults and/or a record of high gold values

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that fusion and muffle furnaces are operating at the specified temperatures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare sample racks for fusion

  1. Check samples against accompanying documentation and record/report any discrepancies
  2. Conduct simple visual/chemical tests for each sample to assess the adequacy of prior sample preparation and possible presence of sulphides or other mineralogy
  3. Weigh out the recommended amount of sample and add specified identifier to maintain orientation, as necessary
  4. Weigh out flux components, mix thoroughly with the sample charge and transfer to recommended type and size of pot without loss of material
  5. Place pots in racks
  6. Record all required details of sample preparation to ensure traceability of samples
  7. Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge
Check samples against accompanying documentation and record/report any discrepancies

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct simple visual/chemical tests for each sample to assess the adequacy of prior sample preparation and possible presence of sulphides or other mineralogy

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weigh out the recommended amount of sample and add specified identifier to maintain orientation, as necessary

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weigh out flux components, mix thoroughly with the sample charge and transfer to recommended type and size of pot without loss of material

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place pots in racks

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record all required details of sample preparation to ensure traceability of samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obtain acceptable buttons and prills

  1. Maintain sequencing in order to track samples, buttons and prills throughout the recovery process
  2. Monitor furnace temperature/time to ensure complete sample fusion
  3. Remove fused samples from furnace and pour into moulds with minimal loss of material
  4. Recognise the need for repeat firings due to lead shotting and/or poor fusions
  5. Separate slag and button with minimal loss of collector
  6. Inspect buttons for matte, brittleness, size and malformed shape
  7. Place acceptable buttons in muffle furnace using cupels that have been previously loaded and preheated
  8. Regularly monitor furnace temperature/time/air flow to ensure efficient cupellation
  9. Recover prills, check identifiers and inspect for contamination, losses and evidence of other precious metals (e.g. high gold, Platinum and Palladium)
  10. Complete and collate sample records before presenting prills for analysis
Maintain sequencing in order to track samples, buttons and prills throughout the recovery process

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitor furnace temperature/time to ensure complete sample fusion

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove fused samples from furnace and pour into moulds with minimal loss of material

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognise the need for repeat firings due to lead shotting and/or poor fusions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Separate slag and button with minimal loss of collector

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspect buttons for matte, brittleness, size and malformed shape

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place acceptable buttons in muffle furnace using cupels that have been previously loaded and preheated

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regularly monitor furnace temperature/time/air flow to ensure efficient cupellation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recover prills, check identifiers and inspect for contamination, losses and evidence of other precious metals (e.g. high gold, Platinum and Palladium)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete and collate sample records before presenting prills for analysis

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Troubleshoot and correct common recovery failures

  1. Monitor all stages of recovery for indicators of potential loss
  2. Recognise undesirable recovery conditions and decide whether the process requires correction
  3. Apply an established corrective action and restart the process
  4. Document any adjustments made to standard methods and re-sequencing of samples
  5. Seek advice when problems are beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge
Monitor all stages of recovery for indicators of potential loss

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognise undesirable recovery conditions and decide whether the process requires correction

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply an established corrective action and restart the process

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Document any adjustments made to standard methods and re-sequencing of samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seek advice when problems are beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perform daily maintenance of assay equipment

  1. Grade and inspect pots using established criteria prior to storage for re-use
  2. Report defective equipment and consumable requirements to appropriate personnel
Grade and inspect pots using established criteria prior to storage for re-use

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report defective equipment and consumable requirements to appropriate personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain a safe work environment

  1. Use safe work procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of others
  2. Minimise the release of collectors to the work environment
  3. Segregate and dispose of waste in accordance with workplace requirements
Use safe work procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of others

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimise the release of collectors to the work environment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segregate and dispose of waste in accordance with workplace requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Plan work for shift

1.1

Review job requests to identify the samples, preparation methods required for each, and shift priorities

1.2

Identify hazards, safety equipment/procedures associated with samples, preparation methods, reagents and equipment

1.3

Plan parallel work sequences to optimise the throughput of multiple sets of samples during shift

1.4

Assemble all required equipment, materials, reagents and check they are fit for purpose

1.5

Check pots and cupels and discard those with faults and/or a record of high gold values

1.6

Check that fusion and muffle furnaces are operating at the specified temperatures

2

Prepare sample racks for fusion

2.1

Check samples against accompanying documentation and record/report any discrepancies

2.2

Conduct simple visual/chemical tests for each sample to assess the adequacy of prior sample preparation and possible presence of sulphides or other mineralogy

2.3

Weigh out the recommended amount of sample and add specified identifier to maintain orientation, as necessary

2.4

Weigh out flux components, mix thoroughly with the sample charge and transfer to recommended type and size of pot without loss of material

2.5

Place pots in racks

2.6

Record all required details of sample preparation to ensure traceability of samples

2.7

Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

3

Obtain acceptable buttons and prills

3.1

Maintain sequencing in order to track samples, buttons and prills throughout the recovery process

3.2

Monitor furnace temperature/time to ensure complete sample fusion

3.3

Remove fused samples from furnace and pour into moulds with minimal loss of material

3.4

Recognise the need for repeat firings due to lead shotting and/or poor fusions

3.5

Separate slag and button with minimal loss of collector

3.6

Inspect buttons for matte, brittleness, size and malformed shape

3.7

Place acceptable buttons in muffle furnace using cupels that have been previously loaded and preheated

3.8

Regularly monitor furnace temperature/time/air flow to ensure efficient cupellation

3.9

Recover prills, check identifiers and inspect for contamination, losses and evidence of other precious metals (e.g. high gold, Platinum and Palladium)

3.10

Complete and collate sample records before presenting prills for analysis

4

Troubleshoot and correct common recovery failures

4.1

Monitor all stages of recovery for indicators of potential loss

4.2

Recognise undesirable recovery conditions and decide whether the process requires correction

4.3

Apply an established corrective action and restart the process

4.4

Document any adjustments made to standard methods and re-sequencing of samples

4.5

Seek advice when problems are beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

5

Perform daily maintenance of assay equipment

5.1

Grade and inspect pots using established criteria prior to storage for re-use

5.2

Report defective equipment and consumable requirements to appropriate personnel

6

Maintain a safe work environment

6.1

Use safe work procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of others

6.2

Minimise the release of collectors to the work environment

6.3

Segregate and dispose of waste in accordance with workplace requirements

Required Skills and Knowledge

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Plan work for shift

1.1

Review job requests to identify the samples, preparation methods required for each, and shift priorities

1.2

Identify hazards, safety equipment/procedures associated with samples, preparation methods, reagents and equipment

1.3

Plan parallel work sequences to optimise the throughput of multiple sets of samples during shift

1.4

Assemble all required equipment, materials, reagents and check they are fit for purpose

1.5

Check pots and cupels and discard those with faults and/or a record of high gold values

1.6

Check that fusion and muffle furnaces are operating at the specified temperatures

2

Prepare sample racks for fusion

2.1

Check samples against accompanying documentation and record/report any discrepancies

2.2

Conduct simple visual/chemical tests for each sample to assess the adequacy of prior sample preparation and possible presence of sulphides or other mineralogy

2.3

Weigh out the recommended amount of sample and add specified identifier to maintain orientation, as necessary

2.4

Weigh out flux components, mix thoroughly with the sample charge and transfer to recommended type and size of pot without loss of material

2.5

Place pots in racks

2.6

Record all required details of sample preparation to ensure traceability of samples

2.7

Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

3

Obtain acceptable buttons and prills

3.1

Maintain sequencing in order to track samples, buttons and prills throughout the recovery process

3.2

Monitor furnace temperature/time to ensure complete sample fusion

3.3

Remove fused samples from furnace and pour into moulds with minimal loss of material

3.4

Recognise the need for repeat firings due to lead shotting and/or poor fusions

3.5

Separate slag and button with minimal loss of collector

3.6

Inspect buttons for matte, brittleness, size and malformed shape

3.7

Place acceptable buttons in muffle furnace using cupels that have been previously loaded and preheated

3.8

Regularly monitor furnace temperature/time/air flow to ensure efficient cupellation

3.9

Recover prills, check identifiers and inspect for contamination, losses and evidence of other precious metals (e.g. high gold, Platinum and Palladium)

3.10

Complete and collate sample records before presenting prills for analysis

4

Troubleshoot and correct common recovery failures

4.1

Monitor all stages of recovery for indicators of potential loss

4.2

Recognise undesirable recovery conditions and decide whether the process requires correction

4.3

Apply an established corrective action and restart the process

4.4

Document any adjustments made to standard methods and re-sequencing of samples

4.5

Seek advice when problems are beyond scope of responsibility or knowledge

5

Perform daily maintenance of assay equipment

5.1

Grade and inspect pots using established criteria prior to storage for re-use

5.2

Report defective equipment and consumable requirements to appropriate personnel

6

Maintain a safe work environment

6.1

Use safe work procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of others

6.2

Minimise the release of collectors to the work environment

6.3

Segregate and dispose of waste in accordance with workplace requirements

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

safely extracting precious metals from their host matrices in readiness for analysis on at least three (3) occasions

interpreting and following standard recovery methods

maintaining close attention to technical and safety requirements in a physically demanding, hazardous environment

recognising common sample preparation and cupellation problems and making standard adjustments to fluxes and firings

recognising non-acceptable characteristics of received and fused samples, buttons and prills

recognising indicators of poor recovery and applying established corrective actions

recognising the presence of highly oxidised ores, such as haematite or magnetite, and adjusting the charge weight and flux components to suit

accurately weighing samples and flux components

manually handling heavy and hot items of equipment safely

maintaining sequential control of samples through all recovery stages

keeping accurate and complete records, including:

pour sheets (date, time, client, pour number and preparation method)

number of pots, positions of sample, blank and check in rack

visual appearance of samples, buttons and prills

corrective actions for specific samples

planning work flow to ensure efficient sample throughput

minimising re-work, waste and environmental impacts and disposing of all waste responsibly

recognising hazards and using workplace safety procedures and safety equipment to work safely at all times.

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

procedures and/or standard methods for:

fusion of common mineral ore samples

cupellation of buttons

digestion/parting of prills

function, operation and maintenance of assay equipment used in job role

criteria for an 'acceptable' button, including:

one piece, mass >20 g and <50 g

malleable

separates cleanly from slag

free of undecomposed ore, matte and speiss

causes of contamination and losses, including:

poorly made cupels

base metals - copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and bismuth (Bi)

arsenic (As), sulphur (S), antimony (Sb), selenium Se), tellurium (Te) and chromium (Cr)

scoria

sprouting

indicators of potential loss and the corrective action, including:

viscous slag (check furnace temperature, adjust flux and lower charge weight)

lead shotting – (adjust flux, lower charge weight to compensate for high oxides, silicates and chromites)

sulphides (adjust fusion time, adjust sample weight and/or flux)

matte, speiss (adjust sample weight and flux)

incomplete fusion (adjust sample weight and/or flux)

unacceptable button (adjust sample weight and/or flux)

inquartation (add three parts silver (Ag) to prill, wrap in lead foil and re-cupel)

workplace and legal traceability requirements

relevant hazards and control measures, operation and maintenance of safety equipment, work health and safety (WHS) and environment requirements.

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

Australian and international standards covering the requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories; laboratory safety; quality management and environmental management; analysis of specific ores and determination of gold; and labelling, storage, handling and transport of hazardous materials

national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice, national environmental protection measures, and national measurement regulations and guidelines

specific codes, guidelines and procedures, such as National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation requirements and principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS) and safety procedures; material, production and product specifications; production and laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; and waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures

recovery methods and procedures for specific samples, sites and clients (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal), and published preparation methods

Samples

Samples include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

solids, such as rocks, minerals, soils, sands and stream sediments

core and other drill samples (e.g. rotary air blast (RAB), reverse circulation (RC) and aircore)

slurries, powder concentrates and metallurgical solutions

dump samples and grab samples

Sequencing of pots in a rack

Sequencing of pots in a rack includes, but is not limited to, or more of:

addition of silver wire or silver nitrate (AGNO3) mix

addition of coloured salts (e.g. copper sulphate CuSO4)

Separation of collectors

Separation of collectors includes, but is not limited to, one or more of:

cupellation; digestion; and/or parting, annealing and weighing for a gravimetric finish

Hazards

Hazards include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

dust, silica, slag, glass shards and molten flux

chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid, bromine, perchloric acid, aqua regia, cyanide, lead-based compounds, free-mercury and nickel compounds

noise and vibration

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery

manual handling of heavy loads, such as pots, racks and trolleys

heat exhaustion/stress and fatigue

Workplace safety procedures

Workplace safety procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

ensuring access to service shut-off points, fire-extinguishers/fire hoses, safety shower/eye wash stations and first aid stations

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs

labelling samples, reagents and hazardous materials

using direct extraction and fume hoods

providing guards for moving machinery parts

providing noise insulation

using PPE, such as dust masks, heat-resistant mittens, safety face shields with tinted visor, coats, ear muffs, safety boots, heat-reflective clothing and latex gloves for flux handling

following established manual handling procedures

regularly cleaning equipment and work areas

reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/wastewater, gasses, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates, to appropriate personnel

WHS and environmental management requirements

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

· complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time

· applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples