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NARRATOR: In the world of treasure hunting,

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they are the toughest.

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On a quest to strike it rich...

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..for the queen of gems.

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Opal.

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JOHN: Once you've found that first lot of opal,

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that's it, you're hooked.

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A single piece can be worth millions of dollars...

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That's where our money is.

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..and over 90% of it comes from only one place on the planet...

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The Australian Outback.

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Hot, harsh and unforgiving.

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Ahh! Only the driven...

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You there? ..and the lucky survive.

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# Money

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# And fancy gold

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# Telling you what to do Back when it went to gold #

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Hiding beneath these desert plains lies a fortune.

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Millions of years ago, an ancient inland sea

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dominated the interior of Australia.

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As the sea dried up, water seeping underground

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beneath the old shoreline deposited layers of silica in cracks

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and along fault-lines,

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gradually hardening to form a legendary treasure.

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More precious than diamonds.

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Discovered in South Australia in 1849,

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and first mined in the 1880s.

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Soaring demand has sent world prices sky-high,

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creating a new Australian opal rush.

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But finding it is guesswork.

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Pick a direction, throw a dart.

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Striking it rich is a gamble.

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60% will go broke.

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But out here, they answer to no-one.

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We don't work for anybody. We work for ourselves.

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Small teams, loyal partners,

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free to make a fortune if they can find it.

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Now we're cooking with gas.

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Gambling on their wits and willpower.

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Yeah, that hollow end of that star is compromised.

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Pushing their bodies... All right, hang on. Go, go.

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..and back accounts to breaking point.

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Huh!Braving extreme danger, prepared to pay the ultimate price.

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Hunting the ultimate reward.

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You can be broke in the morning, and a millionaire in the afternoon.

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Boom. There it is. There's $100,000 in rough opal.

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Do you want subtitles for any video?
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Coober Pedy, South Australia.

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More opal is produced here than anywhere else in the world.

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It's a brutal landscape.

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Temperatures can rocket to over 45 degrees Celsius,

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destroying both miner and machine.

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But it hides a fabulous treasure.

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Coober Pedy's speciality is white opal.

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So called because of its milky body tone.

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Opalised shells, remnants of the ancient inland sea can be found.

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The clearer the stones' background, the more valuable.

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Even in rough form, straight out of the ground,

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it can be worth up to $1,500 a carat.

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That's just one fifth of a gram.

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If we can at least find, what, $100,000...

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Rookie opal hunters Dan Becker and Justin Lang

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are heading for Coober Pedy, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

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to make a fortune. This is the first time

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that we have a realistic chance at hitting a million bucks.Yeah.

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One million, two million, three million.

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Well, the possibilities are endless out here.

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With barely any equipment, the rookies have been learning

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the hard way.

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Scratching for opal in long abandoned mines.

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That's what we want.

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Digging out shards with simple hand tools,

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in a quest that could push them to the edge.

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They call opal the crazy stone.

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Look at that, look at that. Stretch for it.

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They've well and truly caught opal fever.

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Look at that. You're starting to shake.

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Just you and the opal. That's it.

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When you catch opal fever, you're finished.

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Oh, we're good.

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Now, Justin and Dan want to hit the big league.

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I'm not out here for bloody, you know, 10 or 15,000 bucks.

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I'm out here for big money. But to do it,

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they must leave family and day jobs behind,

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nearly 1,000km away.

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I've got a cuckoo clock shop.

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Hello, how you going? Come on in.

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Authentic German Black Forest cuckoo clocks,

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grandfather clocks, wall clocks and all things German.

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But, you know, it's in my blood to come and go treasure hunting.

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Bit like my grandfather. Back before I was born,

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he was up here mining.

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JUSTIN: My wife is pregnant, 32 weeks at the moment.

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We're expecting a little girl.

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Is there any opal in this one? No.

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Have a look. Yeah, I saw opals.

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I need to make some money to provide the best life

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for them that I can, and that's why I'm here.

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For the next nine days, Justin and Dan will battle

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the brutal conditions on an all-out hunt

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for the opal jackpot.

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It's a hard, tough environment.

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The sun's belting down on your shoulders all day.

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There's flies, there's snakes, there's spiders.

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There's all this shit that you gotta deal with.

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So, we're not spending time 1,000km from the family for nothing.

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I think if we can get out $100,000, that'd be good for us.

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I want the big stuff.

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They've come to Australia's opal capital

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to meet an opal-hunting legend.

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Good day, John. How you going? How are you?

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Their friend and mentor, John Dunstan.Good, good.

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He's the godfather of Coober Pedy. Come out and have a look.

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Hugely successful miner. Very nice bloke.

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In 2003, John found Australia's most famous opal,

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worth a million dollars.

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The Virgin Rainbow, we named it.

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It was an ancient cuttlefish's backbone.

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The best piece of opal I've ever found.

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Justin and Dan have seen John's legendary find first-hand.

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Oh, wow.Oh, my God.

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Now they want to find their own Virgin Rainbow.

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And if anyone knows where opal is, it's John.

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I found my first opal when I was only 14 years old.

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My father said, "You're a bloody idiot.

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There's no future in opal mining."

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Once you've found that first lot of opal,

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that's it, you're hooked.

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Well, there has definitely got to be opal out there.

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John has taken Dan and Justin under his wing.

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I'd like to help new opal miners.

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If I've got anything I can tell 'em or teach 'em, I will.

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I mean, I've got nothing to hide. Nothing I do is a secret.

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With the 50 years that I've done, I think I've got a little bit

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of experience that I can pass on to some of the new miners.

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So, you coming out to the Shell Patch tomorrow?

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Yeah, that's the plan. Absolutely.

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He's given Dan and Justin the lead on a rich opal field

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about to be reopened to mining after four decades off limits.

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33km north of town, it's known as Shell Patch.

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This patch here was rich.

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The last person that worked here found a couple of million bucks.

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Somebody's gonna be lucky.

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At only 800 by 800 metres,

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claims for this prized land will be decided in a lottery draw.

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But news of Shell Patch has spread, and miners have flocked in

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from all around the country.

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Look at all the cars, jeez. Look at all the bloody people.

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I've never seen this many people out in a field before.

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It's a genuine opal rush.

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I'd say it'd have to be one of the biggest events here

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in Coober Pedy for quite some time.

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At less than $100, a stake in this lottery

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could turn into a fortune.

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Hundreds of miners want a piece of the action,

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and everyone has a treasure map.

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This could be the ticket to a million dollars,

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you never bloody know in Coober Pedy.

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But there isn't enough land to go around.

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A ballot will decide who gets a claim.

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I hope we're gonna win this. I hope we're gonna win this.

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When we drove up here, we couldn't believe it.

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You don't see that many cars in one spot in Coober Pedy, ever.

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Against odds like these, Dan and Justin will need

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a big dose of luck to land their dream claim

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and make their mark as serious opal hunters.

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Fingers crossed, and hope that if there is millions of dollars,

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you know, it'd be nice to get that.

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Lightning Ridge, New South Wales.

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Below this ground is where the most valuable opal

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in the world is found.

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Black opal.

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Identified by its black body tone.

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As with all opal, blue-green is the most common colour,

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but the rarest and most valuable is red.

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The finest can be up to $35,000 a carat.

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$175,000 a gram.

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25km out of town...

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With those pegs that the other blokes have put in, we can go off those. Yep.

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Brothers Mick and Pete Cooke are following clues,

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they hope lead to a bumper hall of opal.

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Nice, big box trees, a good line that could be a...

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That's a good indicator. ..could be a fault, yeah.

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You can make some money over there.

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Another fella over there, 140 grand, just the other day.

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We can slot right in between 'em, that looks good for us.

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There's a gap there for us. That'll do. Let's do it.

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Let's see if we can find the gems. OK.

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Pete and Mick have been digging for opal together for two decades.

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I'm the eldest. Yeah, yeah.

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Mick hates it, cos he looks a bit older than me.

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Oh, I'm better looking.

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Living across from each other,

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they're the perfect opal-hunting partners.

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Welcome to the...Man cave.

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Oh, yeah, I like the nice, shiny chrome, you know.

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You got to have your toys, I think.

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Mick will buy anything that's yellow and rusty.

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And big.

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Collector, a collector. Not a hoarder.

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A collector. That sounds better.

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All this mess is actually money.

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I go to work, make money and come back here and spend it.

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For Pete and Mick, black opal is the ultimate gem.

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There could be thousands of dollars in that tiny

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little bit of colour that you see.

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It's rare. It is rare as a rock in horse shit.

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Genuine quality black opal. It's the creme de la creme of gems. My word.

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To find the opal, the Cooke brothers need a monster.

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65 tonnes. 17 metres high.

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It's Megatron.

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Having that drill, that's a pretty big advantage.

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That's probably the best drill in the ridge.

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Most modern technology.

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Once they've registered their claim, they can put down corner posts

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on a 50-by-50 metre patch of land,

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but an opal fortune could be anywhere or nowhere,

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and big equipment costs.

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We've put a lot of money into the gear.

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Machinery and the processing plan, I'd say half a million bucks.

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Yeah, something like that.

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Their target is $200,000.

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Might pay back some of the investment, yeah.

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Time for Megatron to earn its keep.

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Grinding through solid rock,

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their first test hole will bore down 27 metres.

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With all they've invested, their gamble on this new claim

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needs to pay off.

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900km northwest...

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..Opalton, Central Queensland.

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Almost half a million square kilometres

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of weathered ironstone outcrops and acacia scrub land.

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Unique to Queensland is boulder opal,

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identified by its brown ironstone backing.

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It can be worth up to $4,000 a carat.

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$20,000 a gram.

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For some, this place could seem like a living hell,

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but for others, it's paradise.

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My name's Col Duff.

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Col is one of Opalton's most renowned opal hunters.

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You just gotta to love the freedom of being in the Outback.

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His partners, Aaron and Greg, complete the team,

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sharing both the risks and the rewards.

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There's never a dull moment. No. Yeah, yeah.

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We're all good friends, and we all look out for each other.

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That partnership's the most important thing in all mining.

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You've got to have really good partners.

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Now, Greg and Aaron, I can trust them and I can rely on them.

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We're adventurous, we're treasure hunters,

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and this is the ultimate treasure hunt.

252
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,459
Col and his crew have had a late start

253
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,139
to this opal-hunting season.

254
00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,439
It's been delayed by unexpected health worries.

255
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,259
When you get a diagnosis of cancer, it's a bit of a scare

256
00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:49,019
and a slap in the face. It certainly makes you wake up.

257
00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:53,299
With his future uncertain,

258
00:16:53,340 --> 00:16:57,439
Col is determined to make up for lost time and money.

259
00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,019
I need to find 20 grand before the season's out.

260
00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:06,459
20,000 to cover my arse, and keep going.

261
00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,299
The whole crew needs to find some opal,

262
00:17:10,340 --> 00:17:13,359
so, we're not desperate, but we're getting down to it.

263
00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,419
So we'll give it our best shot in a couple of different places.

264
00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,099
Lightning Ridge, source of the legendary black opal.

265
00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:32,439
The Cooke brothers are driving Megatron hard.

266
00:17:38,020 --> 00:17:40,299
You have to be a bit of a gambler to be an opal miner.

267
00:17:40,340 --> 00:17:44,439
You throw a lot of money at it. There's no guarantee of any return.

268
00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,439
Just looking through the level.

269
00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,479
Trying to find a little bit of trace with the colour.

270
00:17:53,020 --> 00:17:56,479
But this ground isn't going to give up its opal easily.

271
00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:05,159
Mick hits a layer of solid silcrete.

272
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,319
And even Megatron is struggling.

273
00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:15,239
There's a hard cap, and that can be up to six feet thick,

274
00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,079
and, yeah, that can take hours, and, you know,

275
00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:20,239
20 teeth on the drill to get through.

276
00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:26,139
If they can't punch through this layer,

277
00:18:26,180 --> 00:18:29,219
they can't get to the opal-bearing level below it.

278
00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:36,299
This stuff that's coming up now looks pretty good.

279
00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,279
That looks like level there.

280
00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,179
That's, er, the dirt we're looking for, the opal dirt,

281
00:18:43,220 --> 00:18:46,039
down below the sandstone.

282
00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,459
Now, a bit of colour or trace, it would be nice in that,

283
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,099
but, er, we won't really know until we wash it.

284
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,339
Called an Agitator, this one-time cement-mixer

285
00:19:06,380 --> 00:19:10,439
washes away the clay mud, leaving just the rocks and pebbles

286
00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,179
known as nobbies, that could contain the opal.

287
00:19:17,180 --> 00:19:19,399
Only then will they know if their gamble

288
00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:23,059
on their new claim has paid off.

289
00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:40,019
Shell Patch, one of the last big opal fields in Coober Pedy.

290
00:19:40,060 --> 00:19:43,419
103.George Weiss.

291
00:19:43,460 --> 00:19:47,119
Get your pegs and, erm, off you go.

292
00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:51,259
221 miners are vying for just 58 lots.

293
00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:53,299
Rookie miners Dan and Justin

294
00:19:53,340 --> 00:19:56,179
have just a one-in-four chance of getting a claim.

295
00:19:56,220 --> 00:19:59,019
So, our number needs to come up.

296
00:19:59,060 --> 00:20:02,279
Those lucky enough to score one could make a fortune.

297
00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:06,039
Number 54, Irene Spielmann.

298
00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,379
Like a Klondike Gold Rush, once your number's called,

299
00:20:09,420 --> 00:20:13,039
it's grab your claim posts, and run.

300
00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:17,139
The first will get the best spots. Dennis Turnbull.

301
00:20:17,180 --> 00:20:21,179
Once you've planted all four, whatever lies between is yours.

302
00:20:23,380 --> 00:20:26,459
As the lots are snapped up, Dan and Justin's chance

303
00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,439
of getting in on the action are fading fast.

304
00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,299
A lot of the areas that were sort of regarded as hot property

305
00:20:38,340 --> 00:20:40,339
have already been claimed.

306
00:20:40,380 --> 00:20:42,379
When the last ball is drawn,

307
00:20:42,420 --> 00:20:45,299
it looks like the partners are left empty-handed.

308
00:20:45,340 --> 00:20:48,419
Reserve has pretty much been pegged out.

309
00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:58,179
But then, a stroke of luck.

310
00:20:58,220 --> 00:21:02,459
Around the margins of Shell Patch, there's still some land left.

311
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:07,139
The rest of you, if you wanna peg anywhere else, you can go anywhere.

312
00:21:07,180 --> 00:21:09,339
And anyone can grab it.

313
00:21:09,380 --> 00:21:12,999
Free for all! All right.

314
00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,079
Let's go! Go, go, go, go!

315
00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:18,059
Dan and Justin are back in the race.

316
00:21:18,100 --> 00:21:20,239
Look, there's no... There's nobody on that side.

317
00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,279
All right, lets go! Go, go, go, go.

318
00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,019
In Central Queensland...

319
00:21:42,060 --> 00:21:44,379
Groceries. ..Col Duff and partners

320
00:21:44,420 --> 00:21:46,999
Aaron and Greg are flat out...

321
00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,039
Roll that, mate.All right.

322
00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,019
..prepping everything for the start of the mining season.

323
00:21:52,060 --> 00:21:55,039
All we need is the compressor and the hoses and jackhammers,

324
00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:59,019
and Col's just getting a few shovels and crowbar and the gear.

325
00:21:59,060 --> 00:22:02,399
Their start was delayed by Col's cancer scare.

326
00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,119
Little bit of a backward step, and it's like, "Oh! why me?"

327
00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,019
I'm happy that we're back working, and I'm at home.

328
00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:15,119
To make a living, Col's crew live as simply as they can.

329
00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,419
We've got a kitchen, couple of beds, wardrobe.

330
00:22:17,460 --> 00:22:20,259
A lot of this is just whatever you can get at hand

331
00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:23,219
to make things work for you.

332
00:22:23,260 --> 00:22:26,399
Out here, the mining season is short.

333
00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,219
Conditions are only bearable for four months of the year.

334
00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,139
You better put all your money in the winter

335
00:22:34,180 --> 00:22:36,299
and get out in the summer. It just gets hot.

336
00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,399
To make enough money to cover their costs,

337
00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:46,219
the're all relying on Col's instinct for opal.

338
00:22:46,260 --> 00:22:50,219
I know there's opal there. Found it before. We'll find some more again.

339
00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,459
Finding the opal in this brutal landscape is a massive challenge.

340
00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,479
What they're looking for are underground fault-lines.

341
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,119
This is where water seeping underground will have formed opal.

342
00:23:14,140 --> 00:23:17,239
Aerial imagery is a lot better than satellite imagery.

343
00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,259
And if we get the height right, we can actually see the rocks

344
00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:22,419
and the rock outcrops on the ground.

345
00:23:22,460 --> 00:23:25,119
Here's a fault structure coming through,

346
00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,059
and another one coming through, another one coming through.

347
00:23:28,100 --> 00:23:30,119
So, it's on those crossings.

348
00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:34,139
It's all geo-referenced, so we can go exactly to what we see.

349
00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:40,079
See if we can go and find some opal.Yeah, that's a good idea.

350
00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:44,079
Keen to make some much-needed cash, Col leaves the team

351
00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:47,019
to a site he's convinced still contains opal.

352
00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,019
Sometimes we do all right there, and other times, we get teased.

353
00:23:54,060 --> 00:23:56,119
Yeah, could be good.

354
00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:01,999
This old claim is nicknamed The Batcave.

355
00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,179
Col hasn't worked this spot for five years.

356
00:24:06,380 --> 00:24:09,199
Hey, Greg.

357
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,299
Key to the operation is this bucket hoist.

358
00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,439
You watch this, it'll go "Bom!"

359
00:24:19,220 --> 00:24:22,999
Didn't really fire at all, did it? Try it again.

360
00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,319
Huh...

361
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,159
Didn't even sound like it.

362
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,479
It's a bad start to an already tough season.

363
00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,319
It's the moment of truth for Mick and Pete.

364
00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:54,099
Brought the dirt in to the edge. He washed it down all yesterday,

365
00:24:54,140 --> 00:24:56,259
a bit last night. And then we're gonna tail out.

366
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,259
If there's any opal from this first test hole,

367
00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:03,279
it'll be a sign their new claim could be a rich one.

368
00:25:05,380 --> 00:25:08,239
15 cubic metres of dirt has been washed away,

369
00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,039
leaving one cubic metre of rock.

370
00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,359
They're looking for the slightest sign of colour in the stones.

371
00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,319
Good mate and veteran opal miner, Rowe, pitches in.

372
00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:22,239
Just gotta wash the dirt, that's all.

373
00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:27,079
Three pairs of eyes should make sure no trace of opal is missed.

374
00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:29,439
Hopefully, there'll be a bit of trace.

375
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,339
Encouragement to go mining there.

376
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,999
But so far, nothing.

377
00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,199
Where are the gems? Come on.

378
00:25:59,340 --> 00:26:02,059
The Batcave.

379
00:26:02,100 --> 00:26:05,399
We need the spanners. Where are they? They're on the dash of the car.

380
00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,159
Col, Aaron and Greg are still struggling

381
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,339
to get their bucket hoist working.

382
00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:15,179
It's at the opening of a two-metre hole on the surface,

383
00:26:15,220 --> 00:26:18,339
the entrance to a network of claustrophobic tunnels

384
00:26:18,380 --> 00:26:22,139
eight metres deep, and 20 metres long.

385
00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:25,059
Key to success is their ancient hoist

386
00:26:25,100 --> 00:26:27,439
which brings up the mine dirt from underground.

387
00:26:29,260 --> 00:26:32,219
But with it broken, the operation has stalled.

388
00:26:32,260 --> 00:26:34,279
We need a new belt.

389
00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,379
Look at this !

390
00:26:36,420 --> 00:26:39,439
Let's see if we can be lucky and find something.

391
00:26:41,020 --> 00:26:43,119
Sometimes it's easy.

392
00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,139
They're too big. It's no good.

393
00:26:47,180 --> 00:26:49,319
Sometimes it's hard.

394
00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,339
A-ha!

395
00:26:57,460 --> 00:27:00,439
Come on, baby. It'll work.

396
00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:04,059
Thank you, guys!

397
00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:08,019
That's good. We got it working.

398
00:27:09,020 --> 00:27:12,179
Got it moving, Greg.

399
00:27:12,220 --> 00:27:14,459
Col's crew is back in business.

400
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,039
It's full steam ahead.

401
00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,119
But eight metres underground is a whole new set of challenges.

402
00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,279
All right. You have to give it a kick, mate.

403
00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:32,439
At four feet high, there's not even room to stand up straight.

404
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,179
It's a bit low.

405
00:27:35,220 --> 00:27:38,119
There are no supports to hold up the roof.

406
00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,999
But down here is where the opal is hiding,

407
00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,439
inside rocks, scattered through the loose earth.

408
00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,479
It's like one rock can be 50 gram, that big.

409
00:27:47,020 --> 00:27:49,999
So we've gotta keep an eye out when we do drop the rock out,

410
00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,079
cos there are some nice ones amongst 'em.

411
00:27:52,120 --> 00:27:56,219
The dark layer of ironstone is where any opal-bearing rocks will lie.

412
00:27:56,260 --> 00:27:59,239
That's where all the opal usually occurs. That's where we gotta

413
00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,239
be really careful. That's where our money is.

414
00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,399
Col wants Aaron to dig away just the soft clay above and below this,

415
00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,199
leaving the opal-rich rocks still standing.

416
00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:14,019
You can see all those rocks there, are you planning to stay?Yeah.

417
00:28:14,060 --> 00:28:17,099
Every rock is an opportunity to find opal.

418
00:28:17,140 --> 00:28:20,139
We'll all start shovelling throw it up there behind us,

419
00:28:20,180 --> 00:28:22,999
and we'll get all this cleaned out, mate. We're laughing.

420
00:28:26,100 --> 00:28:29,119
But former coal miner Aaron hasn't got the message...

421
00:28:30,180 --> 00:28:32,419
..and brings down the opal rock as well.

422
00:28:34,220 --> 00:28:37,419
Any opal is now mixed in with the tailings.

423
00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,999
How's it going, Aaron? No opal at all.

424
00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,039
Where's the big rock that was there?

425
00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,279
I told you when you started, don't drop any rocks.

426
00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,339
Just don't dig it out.

427
00:28:50,380 --> 00:28:53,399
I was watching, Col, I was not... What, have you got X-ray vision, have ya?

428
00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,259
You got bat eyes, and you can see the opal in the dark?

429
00:28:56,300 --> 00:28:59,259
All right, all right.

430
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:07,079
1,000km southwest in Coober Pedy...

431
00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,279
All right, let's go, go, go!

432
00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,319
..rookie miners Dan and Justin

433
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,099
are racing to grab an unclaimed patch of land

434
00:29:14,140 --> 00:29:16,139
before someone else does.

435
00:29:17,340 --> 00:29:23,059
No, pull up here. Here, here, here. That's free there.

436
00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:25,379
I'll grab the pegs.

437
00:29:25,420 --> 00:29:27,419
You know, the rush is on.

438
00:29:27,460 --> 00:29:31,019
It said free for all, so people are just running out of the place.

439
00:29:31,060 --> 00:29:33,059
We are in for seconds.

440
00:29:34,100 --> 00:29:36,479
We seemed to have found a spot here.

441
00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:40,319
This is one of our second picks, and no-one got it, so we're lucky.

442
00:29:44,460 --> 00:29:48,199
The wheels are falling off already!

443
00:29:49,460 --> 00:29:52,239
Claims must be marked with four corner posts.

444
00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:58,079
Justin! We're going this way.

445
00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,419
The land's not theirs until they've got all four in the ground.

446
00:30:01,460 --> 00:30:05,419
They have to act fast before a rival gets their stakes in first.

447
00:30:05,460 --> 00:30:08,059
What we're gonna do now is run back to the car,

448
00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,319
get the measuring tape out.

449
00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:12,359
Get their sizing wrong, and they could lose

450
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,039
the potential fortune beneath their feet.

451
00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:18,479
We're just having to move the pegs really quickly.

452
00:30:19,020 --> 00:30:21,279
We're bringing it up by another seven or eight metres,

453
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,139
just because we're a bit over with our initial estimate, we're stepping it out.

454
00:30:25,180 --> 00:30:28,119
If it's incorrect, then they can pull our pegs straight away.

455
00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,159
That's it.

456
00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,199
It's better to be under, just in case.

457
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,199
When we got our pegs in the ground,

458
00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,079
we felt bloody amazing. We knew we're in it. We're here.

459
00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,419
We're gonna pull up a million bucks, we're gonna do it.

460
00:30:40,460 --> 00:30:43,179
We're finally bloody well here, and we've nailed it.

461
00:30:43,220 --> 00:30:47,239
The piece of Shell Patch they've secured is 50 by 100 metres.

462
00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:52,219
This could be their ticket to the big time.

463
00:30:54,140 --> 00:30:56,379
But they're not the only ones who've got lucky.

464
00:30:56,420 --> 00:30:59,279
Johnny.Mick.

465
00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,319
All right, you've got your spot? Yeah, I got my spot.Ahh!

466
00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,379
And where was it? Tell him. Woo-hoo!

467
00:31:06,420 --> 00:31:09,439
They've pegged everywhere, but they didn't peg my spot.

468
00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:11,479
I managed to get the spot I wanted.

469
00:31:12,020 --> 00:31:14,019
With their claim secured,

470
00:31:14,060 --> 00:31:16,439
Dan and Justin's biggest challenge is about to begin -

471
00:31:18,180 --> 00:31:20,179
finding the opal.

472
00:31:20,220 --> 00:31:24,299
But all the boys have between them is a ute and a couple of jack pegs.

473
00:31:24,340 --> 00:31:27,279
Barely enough to scratch the surface.

474
00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,019
They're going to need some heavy machinery.

475
00:31:31,180 --> 00:31:34,419
This is a custom-made investigator drill.

476
00:31:34,460 --> 00:31:38,439
It sinks a small nine-inch hole up to 27 metres deep.

477
00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:42,119
If the drill brings up opal,

478
00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:44,359
it could be a sign of a fortune below ground.

479
00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:48,159
Still on a high, the boys are convinced

480
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,259
it's going to be worth the cost.

481
00:31:53,340 --> 00:31:56,259
And it might just pay off. Our luck will be finally coming.

482
00:31:56,300 --> 00:31:58,419
Because this is where the opal is!

483
00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,079
At the Batcave...

484
00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,019
How's it going, Aaron? ..there are problems.

485
00:32:16,060 --> 00:32:18,279
No opal at all.

486
00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,039
Aaron has bought down the opal-bearing rock

487
00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,079
Col instructed him to avoid.

488
00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:27,279
Well, we did it. Took a bit out underneath it, eh?

489
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,359
Any opal will now be hidden by the dirt,

490
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,119
or worse, shattered by the jack hammer.

491
00:32:34,420 --> 00:32:37,299
Where's the big rock that was there?

492
00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:42,999
I told you not to do it until we were all there, and we'd do it together.

493
00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,099
Sorry. Were you even  listening?

494
00:32:45,140 --> 00:32:47,239
It's the crucial point, I want us all to be there

495
00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:49,999
with the light, knocking rocks out, not losing it.

496
00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,079
I didn't get the message. Yeah.

497
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,019
Now we've got to search through all the  for whatever we've lost.

498
00:32:55,060 --> 00:32:57,219
That really pisses me off, cos  I told you

499
00:32:57,260 --> 00:32:59,439
don't drop any rocks until we're all there.

500
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:02,119
I'm  sorry. This is a total  up.

501
00:33:03,180 --> 00:33:06,279
I was watching, Col, I was not... What, have you got X-ray vision, have ya?

502
00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:09,259
What, are you gonna shovel it all out now, after you've dropped the level?

503
00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:11,299
Yeah, well, some's here and some's up here.

504
00:33:11,340 --> 00:33:13,419
I wanna look through it, you .

505
00:33:13,460 --> 00:33:16,039
Right-o, right-o.

506
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,219
It's like every rock you miss could be a good one.

507
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,219
OK...

508
00:33:30,260 --> 00:33:33,319
Dig it up there, OK? Righto.

509
00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,239
Out here, mates are all you've got.

510
00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,439
At the end of the day, as long as you've got good mates that are here,

511
00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:43,219
helping you, you've got a chance. You couldn't really do that alone.

512
00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:49,199
It's not the first time I've seen him have a little tiff.

513
00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,059
Time to pull the team back together.

514
00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:54,139
I probably did go a bit overboard.

515
00:33:54,180 --> 00:33:56,339
Yeah, you probably did.

516
00:33:56,380 --> 00:33:59,319
Don't do it again, you naughty boy. Naughty boy?

517
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,459
You're naughty. That is a terrible .

518
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,419
But if I don't say that, they don't get the  message.

519
00:34:04,460 --> 00:34:08,999
It'll be Col one minute, then there'll be another Col then another one.

520
00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:11,339
Not a split personality, more like three or four.

521
00:34:11,380 --> 00:34:14,119
Come down, mate. Yes.

522
00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:17,019
I  up, but OK.

523
00:34:17,060 --> 00:34:20,259
Yeah, we had a little moment there, but nothing serious.

524
00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:23,479
Same as anyone, they have a little argument and get over it, and that's it.

525
00:34:24,020 --> 00:34:26,019
I messed up. Yeah.

526
00:34:26,060 --> 00:34:28,419
Yeah, if he got upset, he would've slapped me in the face,

527
00:34:28,460 --> 00:34:31,239
and said, "Wake up, you stop talking to me like that!

528
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,999
No good carrying on like school kids.That's right.

529
00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,319
No future in that. No.No.

530
00:34:38,420 --> 00:34:42,299
With Col's crew back together, they call it a day.

531
00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,339
Bit more mucking around than we anticipated, but that's all right.

532
00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:52,379
It's full steam ahead, and tomorrow we'll start seeing colour.

533
00:34:52,420 --> 00:34:54,999
If they don't find opal soon,

534
00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,159
they won't have enough money to make it through the season.

535
00:35:13,060 --> 00:35:15,419
At the Agitator processing plant,

536
00:35:15,460 --> 00:35:17,459
Mick and Pete are checking the dirt

537
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,119
from the test hole on their new claim.

538
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,319
This is where it's all concentrated. This is the apex of all the work.

539
00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:25,359
This is where it all comes through.

540
00:35:26,380 --> 00:35:29,339
Even with three set of eyes scouring the tail out,

541
00:35:29,380 --> 00:35:32,339
there's not even a trace of opal.

542
00:35:34,100 --> 00:35:37,399
With half a million dollars invested in their operation,

543
00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,439
they need a sign soon.

544
00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:42,319
We'll just get a bit more out, and we'll sort through it.

545
00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,099
Hopefully, the gems will be in this bit.

546
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:52,479
Bit of potch.

547
00:35:53,020 --> 00:35:55,019
Potch is opal,

548
00:35:55,060 --> 00:35:57,419
but with no colour, it's of little value.

549
00:35:57,460 --> 00:35:59,459
But it's a good sign.

550
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,119
Where there's potch, there's often opal.

551
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:04,479
Good indicator that there's, you know...

552
00:36:05,020 --> 00:36:08,039
Yeah, look at that. Oh, that's better.

553
00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:10,079
A flash of colour.

554
00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:13,099
Nice blue-green traces on grey.

555
00:36:13,140 --> 00:36:17,259
But, er, it looks like it might have come from something bigger even.

556
00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:19,479
This means there's opal on their claim.

557
00:36:20,020 --> 00:36:24,459
Finding coloured trace on our first hole on this claim,

558
00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:26,999
that's really exciting.

559
00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:31,259
It's encouraging, yeah.If there's more like that, that'd be good.

560
00:36:31,300 --> 00:36:35,299
Their target this season is $200,000.

561
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,459
Their stone is worth $250.

562
00:36:41,260 --> 00:36:45,379
But this one small piece is the sign they've been looking for.

563
00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:49,199
Yeah, it's a very good indication.

564
00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:52,299
We'll definitely be having a look down this hole.

565
00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:58,119
It could be a bumper season ahead.

566
00:37:03,180 --> 00:37:05,179
Rookies Dan and Justin

567
00:37:05,220 --> 00:37:08,479
are about to start drilling test holes on their new claim.

568
00:37:09,020 --> 00:37:11,019
Opal is scattered randomly.

569
00:37:11,060 --> 00:37:14,259
Deciding where to drill is pure guesswork.

570
00:37:15,260 --> 00:37:19,039
It's exciting. I've never actually seen a drill operate at close range,

571
00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:21,199
so it's all new to me as well.

572
00:37:25,180 --> 00:37:27,179
As the first hole goes down,

573
00:37:27,220 --> 00:37:29,999
they're hoping their lucky streak keeps going.

574
00:37:31,220 --> 00:37:33,219
Fingers crossed.

575
00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:38,099
The rubble mix the drill brings up is fed into a grater

576
00:37:38,140 --> 00:37:41,179
that sifts out the sand, leaving just the larger rocks

577
00:37:41,220 --> 00:37:44,179
that might contain the all-important opal.

578
00:37:44,220 --> 00:37:46,459
Seeing this ground, we think, "Wow, this could be it."

579
00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,099
But so far, nothing.

580
00:37:53,140 --> 00:37:55,139
Come on, bring me opal.

581
00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:03,299
That hole just cost us $60.

582
00:38:04,380 --> 00:38:08,479
Another hole, and another $60 hole in their pockets.

583
00:38:19,420 --> 00:38:21,999
But the second is empty, too.

584
00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:24,459
Still hoping there'll be a bit of trace in the ground.

585
00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:28,079
Justin and Dan keep digging.

586
00:38:31,380 --> 00:38:36,199
13 empty holes later, they're $780 in the red,

587
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:38,239
with nothing to show for it.

588
00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,219
The test drilling hasn't really been very successful.

589
00:38:41,260 --> 00:38:48,259
13 holes to a depth of up to 45 feet, and we came up empty.

590
00:38:50,060 --> 00:38:53,159
Nothing came up. Zero. Nothing.

591
00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,999
It's a shit claim, and a half, this one.

592
00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,379
For these rookies gambling on a new career, it's a hard lesson.

593
00:38:59,420 --> 00:39:02,299
The hype was unreal when we secured this claim.

594
00:39:02,340 --> 00:39:05,999
We thought there's gonna be plenty, but it seems like there's nothing.

595
00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:09,019
As Dan and Justin abandon their Shell Patch claim,

596
00:39:09,060 --> 00:39:13,179
their dream of finding big opal has hit its first setback.

597
00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:17,319
So, there's no way I can go home like this, you know,

598
00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:20,279
and tell my wife I've failed. That's not an option.

599
00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,399
Their target is $100,000.

600
00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:26,999
So far, Dan and Justin have drawn a blank,

601
00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:30,479
but they've definitely got a taste for the hunt.

602
00:39:31,020 --> 00:39:34,039
There's plenty of opal out here, just a lot of dirt in between.

603
00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:36,259
You know, it's gotta be here somewhere,

604
00:39:36,300 --> 00:39:38,299
and I reckon we'll find it.

605
00:39:47,340 --> 00:39:49,339
Early morning, Opalton.

606
00:39:49,380 --> 00:39:51,379
Hello!

607
00:39:51,420 --> 00:39:55,459
We're keen to get underground, and start working. We wanna find some opal.

608
00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:02,279
After their disastrous first day, Col's team needs some motivation.

609
00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:05,439
Oh, Jeffrey! Jeffrey!

610
00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:10,039
It comes in the form of their nearest mining neighbour, Jeffrey Weller.

611
00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:12,079
Good day, guys.

612
00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:14,119
Hey there, buddy.How are you? Not bad.

613
00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:16,359
How are you?Yeah, all good. How are you, Jeffrey?

614
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:18,399
You been finding a fortune, Jeff?

615
00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:21,179
Oh, I found a bit of stuff down there the other day.

616
00:40:21,220 --> 00:40:24,079
Cool.I thought I'd just bring it up, and catch up with you.

617
00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:26,119
Good to see a bit of colour.

618
00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:29,239
Oh, he got it wrapped up. It must be a good one, eh?Yeah.

619
00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:31,279
Oh, gee.

620
00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:37,339
This is pipe opal with a backing of caramel potch.

621
00:40:37,380 --> 00:40:39,379
Lovely. Not too shabby, eh?

622
00:40:39,420 --> 00:40:42,039
There's a stack of meat on that. Oh, yeah.

623
00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:45,199
See the way it's running. And a good hard backing.Yeah.

624
00:40:45,240 --> 00:40:48,139
I'd like to think there's quite a few bob there in all that.

625
00:40:48,180 --> 00:40:51,079
It's a nice commercial grade, that's for sure.

626
00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:56,119
Jeffrey's pieces are worth between $15,000 and $20,000.

627
00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:59,459
Yeah, there's a few grand there. Isn't that nice?

628
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:04,059
That really gives us inspiration. Let's go and find something for ourselves.

629
00:41:16,140 --> 00:41:19,059
Scrape through the wall here, and you can hear the matrix,

630
00:41:19,100 --> 00:41:21,099
cos it's ironstone.

631
00:41:25,100 --> 00:41:27,099
Oh, there's a nobby there.

632
00:41:27,140 --> 00:41:29,139
That's where they live.

633
00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:32,299
Oi.

634
00:41:32,340 --> 00:41:36,339
How you going up there, Col? Hey, mate, you better come and have a look at this.

635
00:41:36,380 --> 00:41:39,279
I am getting some really good traces in this matrix.

636
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:43,479
Col has uncovered a deposit of matrix opal.

637
00:41:44,020 --> 00:41:46,259
Opal vein through the ironstone rock.

638
00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:50,359
It's a nice, big chucky nob. That's what we wanna see.

639
00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:53,459
And it keeps coming. Oh, that's more like it.

640
00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:59,999
That's a nice green. Mm.

641
00:42:01,020 --> 00:42:04,439
So, we've got a bit of encouragement and a bit of tucker money to keep going.

642
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:07,299
That's good.

643
00:42:07,340 --> 00:42:11,019
Time to head home and see what money they've made.

644
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,399
Here we are.

645
00:42:26,060 --> 00:42:29,279
Oh, there's a few kilos there. That's good.

646
00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:34,319
Oh, look, there's a bit of colour shining out already.

647
00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:37,399
Wetting the rocks allows the opal to shine through.

648
00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:39,439
Oh, look. See the colours on the top there?

649
00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:41,479
Nice colour.Nice.

650
00:42:42,020 --> 00:42:45,319
Yeah, that's beautiful green. This one's loaded.

651
00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,279
This is ironstone matrix opal.

652
00:42:48,320 --> 00:42:52,459
Blue-green in colour, the most common, and it's in the rough.

653
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,039
But they have two kilos,

654
00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:59,199
making the team's haul worth approximately $1,500.

655
00:42:59,240 --> 00:43:01,239
A bit of purple. Oh, look at that.

656
00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:04,359
Oh, gee, have a look, mate.

657
00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:07,419
With a target of $20,000 this season,

658
00:43:07,460 --> 00:43:13,259
the team's haul of $1,500 after just two days is a great start.

659
00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:16,219
Right, well, that looks like the best of the best.

660
00:43:16,260 --> 00:43:18,259
Yeah, I reckon $1,500.

661
00:43:18,300 --> 00:43:20,299
They're beautiful stones in there.

662
00:43:20,340 --> 00:43:22,399
Off to a good start, Col, anyway.

663
00:43:22,440 --> 00:43:25,279
Yeah, it's a nice colour, isn't it? Yeah.

664
00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:29,219
Good little kick-along, bit of a start, bit of tucker money. Good start.

665
00:43:29,260 --> 00:43:33,479
All right. Let's have a beer, eh? Bloody owe it. Where's the car?

666
00:43:34,020 --> 00:43:36,099
Welcome back, mate.

667
00:43:36,140 --> 00:43:38,139
subtitles by Deluxe

667
00:43:39,305 --> 00:44:39,403