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.

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NARRATOR: On Outback opal Hunters...

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ROD: It's scary down there when you first start off.

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The bushmen battle a collapsing mineshaft.

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Ah! Jesus...Christ!

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The Boulder Boys struggled to drain their flooded claim.

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Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Cut, cut, cut, cut!

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And out of time and money... We may lose everything.

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..the Fire Crew hope they've finally hit the prize of legendary black opal.

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Whoa. That's colour.

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# Money

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# And fancy clothes... #

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Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
www.osdb.link/lm

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Three months into the season,

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Bushmen Rod Manning and Les Walsh are struggling to survive,

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far from their season target.

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Let's get this show on the road, Les. Yeah, all right, mate.

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Hey, Les. What's wrong with that?

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I don't know. We're not starting, bud.

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This was hanging down. I just, I think it's just shaked loose.

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Maybe one of the wires came out, Les. Maybe.

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I'll have a look around this side.

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Someone's taken the alternator.

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What? And the fan belt, that's what it is.

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The Bushmen's only generator has been hit by thieves known as ratters.

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It's not the first time their remote claim has been struck.

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If we do find someone down there, they're gonna get a bloody shock.

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Oh. Hey, Les, this has been cut.

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Rare crystal opal was stolen from their mine.

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Hey! Hey! Idiots!

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Thieving bloody ratters. .

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Did you check the blower? That empty?

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Bone dry. NARRATOR: Fuel has been siphoned.

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What are we gonna do? Can we run this without the alternator?

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Well, not really because we need... Oh, the fan.

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We need the fan to be driven to drive the water pump.

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So we have to have an alternator

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or a pulley on there to tighten the fan belt.

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Without their generator, they can't mine

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and can't make any money.

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So, we're down 60 litres of diesel. We're down an alternator.

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We're down a bloody fan belt. We're down the time

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that it takes to fix it and find the bloody part.

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Such a low act for someone to do to another bloke.

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The Bushmen live off the grid,

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70km from the nearest town.

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While theft is a constant threat,

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the lack of rules is all part of the appeal.

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ROD: What I like probably the most about living out here is the freedom.

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Pretty much live the way you want to. No judgement out here.

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We still got a lot of the freedoms you did have 60-70 years ago.

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Rod and wife Amanda have been living in the bush for ten years.

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It's a beautiful photo.

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ROD: We've got six kids, and they all live on the coast.

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Amanda does like living here, but she misses the kids, you know.

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What lured them here from the coast

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is a treasure that could make them millionaires overnight.

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Black opal, worth $43,000 a gram,

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500 times more than gold.

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When you bust into it in the wall, you know you've got something special

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cos it just pops out at you, talks to you.

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Just the most magnificent thing you've ever seen.

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To rescue their season, the Bushmen are pinning their hopes

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on a new mine, Bondi.

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Just let me have a look in the face before we...

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And the first signs are good.

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Colour here up in this little patch here.

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Bit of blue-purple, got a little bit of a glint to it, Les, and there's more.

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But the ratters' latest attack has halted them in their tracks.

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They've pretty much stopped us for the moment. That's for sure.

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We gotta try and find another bloody alternator now

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and replace the bloody diesel.

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That's a further $200 the Bushmen can't afford.

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We need to find some opal.

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We're struggling to pay the diesel bill to keep on mining.

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CASSIDY: Do it.

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Yeah!

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2,000km away in the deserts of Western Australia,

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the Fire Crew are also on the hunt for precious black opal... Look at the red in the corner.

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..but in a location where it's never been discovered before.

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We found thick trace, and we're following that today.

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We found the end of it, which is the left-hand side. It stops there.

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So we're going down.

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As we're getting deeper into this, we're realising how hard this rock is.

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A layer of granite is the last thing they need.

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In two days' time, firefighter Adam

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must leave for his next shift, 900km away.

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We've got a limited amount of funds and a limited amount of time.

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There is a real risk coming out here, not finding anything,

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but the payoff is just so phenomenal that you'd be mad not to.

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Last season, rookie miners Cassidy and Adam

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invested their life savings, over $30,000,

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teaming up with Adam's parents Pete and Vikki.

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They uncovered a huge haul of 30kg of little-known Australian fire opal.

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Look at that. Whoa! You beauty! Whoo!

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But it all turned sour

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when they couldn't find an international buyer.

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Is this something that you'd be interested in buying?

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Um, not really.

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'We just can't keep digging it out for fun.'

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This season, Adam and Cassidy are gambling on Pete's belief

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there exists an undiscovered deposit of black opal,

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thousands of kilometres from any known source.

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If Pete's right, it will be life-changing for the family

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and make headline news around the world...

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For us to find a brand-new deposit, here in WA,

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that's going to be huge.

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..sparking a brand-new opal rush.

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Black opal would just set us up.

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It would be money in the bank straightaway.

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You're talking millions if it produces what I expect it to.

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But if Pete's wrong, he'll be sending

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Adam and Cassidy even deeper into debt.

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The stakes are high now. It's either make or break.

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We're cleaning out the hole where we're trying to excavate a bit more dirt,

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and we're starting to come to a bit of our limit.

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I've only got so much reach with the bucket on the digger,

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so it's starting to get in the way of where we need to dig.

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We really need Dad's machine to push all this dirt out of the way.

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Meanwhile, over 30km away...

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PETE: Well, let's hope we can get it going.

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..Dad Pete is trying to resurrect their 55-year-old front end loader

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Able to shift half a tonne of dirt at a time, it can clear the mine site

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20 times faster than by hand.

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Sprung a leak. It's sprung a leak.

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It just needs a bit of tender loving care.

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No loader might just be the last straw

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for newly engaged couple Adam and Cassidy.

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So much sand.

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The longer I spend out here, I really do realise just what an impact

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it has on my life back home.

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I do have moments where I want to go, "I'm over it.

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Let's just go back home and let's just get on with life.

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Is it really worth it?" That definitely is a question I ask myself.

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Hopeful spot, but I think all of it's been quite black, hasn't it? Hang on a minute.

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I think I found colour. No way, show me. Check that out.

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Colour. Look at that.

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Over 2,000km away in the opal fields of Queensland...

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Whoa. That's a bit of water. Mm.

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It's been a late start to the mining season for the Boulder Boys.

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Heavy tropical rains have flooded their most productive opal pit.

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This year, we had 18 inches of rain, which is a good wet season.

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To stand any chance of hitting their season target,

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Aaron and partner Ron desperately need to drain the water.

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Things aren't going that well at the moment.

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Want me to do it? What do you reckon? Pump her up. That's it.

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Then it's done. It's not gonna happen by itself.

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Have a look at this! Hey, what?

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Last season, the now flooded pit

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produced the biggest find in the Boulder Boys' career.

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Now, that's opal, eh?

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$100,000. Whoa!

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That's what this is all about.

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Steep slopes surround the pit.

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To work it, Aaron and Ron need to get

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three million litres of water up, out and away.

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We're just gonna pump it out over the hill here.

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There's a little creek there. It'll run away from here.

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We don't want it running back in.

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A mate of mine, Eric, he's got a big pump that he said we can borrow.

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To start pumping, a 50kg diesel pump needs to be manhandled

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to the water's edge.

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You're ready? Go.

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Got a sore ankle.

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Well, it's a good place to break your ankle.

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Straight on the shin.

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Oh! Oh, yeah. Hang on.

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Hang on. This way. You get down in position, Ron.

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I am.

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On the tin, down the ramp.

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We'll start the pump up. It'll suck the water through the suction line

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into the blue line to the discharge line and will go out over the hill.

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It'll run into the creek, and in a few days we'll have it pumped out.

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The discharge line needs to be long enough

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to reach up the slope and to the creek,

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a total distance of 150m.

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So where we goin'? Up this way? Straight up there, mate.

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And then that way. OK.

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A little bit too short.

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We'll have to think of something.

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How many metres are we short?

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Oh! We can pull our pump back.

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Right, lift.

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Oh, we're a bit short, but we dragged our pump up.

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We're just joining the pipe. Because we haven't got a joiner, we're just using PVC.

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The plan is, the metre-long PVC pipe

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will act as a makeshift join and get them over the hill.

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Right. All right.

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This is the moment of truth.

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Oi, oi. Cut, cut, cut, cut!

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Oi, oi. Cut, cut!

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At the Bushmen's Bondi mine...

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It's probably 60 litres of diesel been stolen.

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..ratters have taken fuel and an alternator from their generator,

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leaving them without power, unable to mine.

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Amanda, I'm going to see Nick. I'll be back later.

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The Bushmen are on their way

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to neighbouring miner and mate Nick Casement.

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They hope he can lend them the part and fuel to get back mining.

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I'm having trouble holding it. The brake's  slipping.

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Earlier in the season, 22-year-old Nick

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helped the Bushmen set up their new Bondi mine.

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Good work, Nick. Well done, mate.

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They're hoping he can save the day once again.

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Nick, if you're this crook, mate,

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a trip to town in the ambulance won't hurt you, you know.

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Nick is in no shape to help anyone.

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It'll do you good. You'll be better in a couple of days.

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So, what are you thinking?

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All right, then. Well, we'll, uh, bell out, OK?

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Ring me if you get any worse, all right?

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All right. Righty-oh, then. I'll close this door for ya.

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See you, mate.

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He asked us, you know, could we keep belling out and everything for him.

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You can't say no when he's like that. No.

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He said he'd give us a friggin' percentage of the hole anyways.

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Yeah. Whatever. So we'll do that, eh? Yeah.

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Nick helps us and we help him,

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and if we're not working and we can give him a hand, why not?

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Rod and Les will widen or bell out

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the bottom of Nick's new mineshaft by hand.

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It's one of the most dangerous jobs in an opal mine.

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The newly dug shaft is soft and unstable.

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It's a bloody long way down there, Les.

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Rocks falling 20m can potentially kill a miner.

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Anything that comes down that shaft 65ft above,

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it's coming straight at me. I've got nowhere to go.

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Mate, I'm gonna toss you for the bell out, all right?

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So, if it comes like that, I'll do the bell out.

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Not a problem. Goes that way up, you do the bell out. Yup.

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Fair enough? Yup. You sure? Yup. You ready?

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Damn!

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Jesus Christ, I hate ... You need a bit of exercise.

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Man, I hate belling out.

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Bloody Nora.

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Yeah, I lost the bloody toss. I reckon  rigged it.

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Well, might as well make an effort. I don't win many things,

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but that was a good one for a starter.

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Here we go!

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Underground mining, your biggest fear is a cave-in.

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This is the most dangerous bit. You have rocks falling from the top,

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from anywhere down the shaft, your ladder coming down.

243
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,679
There's just so many things can go wrong.

244
00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,599
70km from the nearest hospital,

245
00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,759
a serious injury could be fatal.

246
00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,679
It's scary down there when you first start off.

247
00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,399
Hey, Jesus Christ. What was that?

248
00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,959
What the hell was that, Les? Hey? What's happening?

249
00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,559
A bloody heap of that just hit me on the helmet.

250
00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:30,079
You all right down there? Yeah, keep an eye on what's happening.

251
00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,159
Righto.

252
00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,159
I do have a bit of a slip coming in here.

253
00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,679
It's not carrying anything, but it's not bad looking down.

254
00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,119
LES: Look out!

255
00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,199
Jesus Christ!

256
00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,759
Hey, watch out. There's some freaking big rocks falling down.

257
00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,279
Yeah, some fell out from up here.

258
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,079
I don't know where it came from, but it was a decent bloody rock.

259
00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:08,959
There's nowhere for Rod to hide.

260
00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,199
Ah! Jesus...Christ!

261
00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,279
Jesus!

262
00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,879
Cut! Cut! Cut!

263
00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:52,119
At Dragonfly Claim, the Boulder Boys are fighting floodwaters

264
00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,199
in their best opal pit.

265
00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,959
The hose clamp came loose. You got a screwdriver?

266
00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,719
Yeah, I have. Put two on it, eh?

267
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,599
I'm gonna need it. It's tight. Yeah, so we're gonna put two clamps on it. That'll hold it better.

268
00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,599
It's teething problems. Is that what they call it?

269
00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,679
Yeah. OK. There you go.

270
00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:16,959
Last season, the pit produced over $100,000 in boulder opal.

271
00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,719
To have any chance of reaching this season's target,

272
00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,959
Aaron and Ron need it pumped out.

273
00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:28,159
Look at the bands here. Same as what we were mining.

274
00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,399
Yeah. Opal's just in there.

275
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,399
We need to get this out before we can do anything.

276
00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,199
Could be millions. You don't know, eh, until you dig it.

277
00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,639
She pumping? Nothing coming up yet.

278
00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,119
Mate!

279
00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,559
The little valve on the bottom, this is sticking. There's a bit of rope caught in it.

280
00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,559
In the shallows, the submerged end of the pump is blocked.

281
00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,119
Once we fix this, we'll prime it up. There's a heap in there.

282
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,759
That doesn't help.

283
00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,879
Now it might be better. I think so, mate, eh? All right.

284
00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:17,959
To stop the valve from blocking,

285
00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,519
they need to get it into the deepest part of the mine.

286
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,039
To do it, Aaron will need to climb this 10m sheer cliff face.

287
00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,559
We'll throw the rope over, and I'll walk around and I'll drag it out, Ron.

288
00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,439
You're not gonna walk up there, are you? Be careful there. I'll be careful, Ron.

289
00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,639
Hang on. Let me get some hose, all right?

290
00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,639
It's gonna work out right good, Ron. I hope so.

291
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,839
That'll do it, eh? That's it. That's the deepest point here.

292
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:57,399
From this vantage point, the enormity of the task hits Aaron.

293
00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,199
That might take more than a few days to pump.

294
00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,239
Approximately 3.2 megalitres of water,

295
00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,959
the equivalent of one-and-a-half Olympic pools.

296
00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,879
You beauty!

297
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,719
Eventually, we got some more water coming out of it.

298
00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,799
The pump will be running for three days,

299
00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,919
chewing through fuel and cash.

300
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:36,199
While they wait, Aaron and Ron need another source of opal.

301
00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,719
Let's see if Squibby can do some... make some more colour for us.

302
00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,199
So how we go.

303
00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,359
Another section of their claim producing opal

304
00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,279
is a poor quality level close to the surface

305
00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:50,959
called the Squibby Level,

306
00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:52,639
where 20 years ago

307
00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,279
Aaron's late father had success.

308
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:58,159
Your dad got a rock just here.

309
00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,599
$20,000 one. Didn't he? In the shaft. Yeah.

310
00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,679
We're not far from the shaft.

311
00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,639
There was a ridge there. He got opal all the way down. Did he?

312
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,999
Pockets after pockets.

313
00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,559
And we're sort of at the end of the ridge.

314
00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,919
Opal out of the Squibby here is always a nice colour.

315
00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,319
One, two, three levels.

316
00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,799
And then there's a change of ground there. Sorta must have dropped down.

317
00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,399
We got the pink sandstone there, orangey stuff,

318
00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,799
and same sandstone there as there.

319
00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,079
So, a lot of movement here. That's why we're getting opal.

320
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,039
Queensland boulder opal forms when silica-rich water

321
00:21:38,120 --> 00:21:40,959
trickles into cracks in ironstone boulders

322
00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,159
scattered through the sandstone

323
00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,759
in a process thought to take millions of years.

324
00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,719
Ranging from a few inches to a metre across,

325
00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,399
the only way to check the boulders for opal

326
00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,959
is to break open every rock by hand.

327
00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,159
Going through it. Look at these greasy rocks here. They're good.

328
00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,319
They are. They're a good style of rock.

329
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,199
These dark iron stone rocks are what they're looking for.

330
00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,599
Deeper in the wall, opal may have formed.

331
00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,759
It's coming better as we're going in.

332
00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,959
Let's go in a little bit here to get a bit off the top, real gentle.

333
00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,879
The trick now is to dig them out without destroying them.

334
00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,079
I'm gonna go in and take the top rock out.

335
00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,679
But Ron's gonna stay and keep his eye on it that we don't throw any out.

336
00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:39,879
Did I hit this one, Ron? Yeah, that's a bottom.

337
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:43,079
It's a bottom one. We're all right.

338
00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,559
Hm. Yuck.

339
00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,959
If they can't find opal here,

340
00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,799
their season will experience yet another setback.

341
00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:07,279
Oh, look at that now. That looks like an interesting shape.

342
00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:09,759
Oh! And it's an interesting colour!

343
00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,999
Here. Have a look. Well, we'll saw him.

344
00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,799
Yes, I think it might have a stone or two in it.

345
00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,199
Nice clean blue, eh? Beautiful blue.

346
00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,399
So have a look at this. Oh!

347
00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,879
Ron's getting happy. Hey, Ron.

348
00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,999
It's producing. It is like a little pocket, mate. It is.

349
00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,839
All right. It's a trap.

350
00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,519
And it's all caught in this trap, the rocks.

351
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,999
There's another 400. That's 1,000 already, Ron.

352
00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,079
That's all right. Wages.

353
00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,079
It's good opal when you look in the dark bag and it's looking at you.

354
00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,679
What we found here is very good.

355
00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,079
It's hard to say what it's worth till we put it on the saw and cut it all up.

356
00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,679
Well, there you go. You've been carrying on.

357
00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,639
Ron, we had a beautiful day today.

358
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,439
In outback Western Australia...

359
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,759
Oh, that's colour! That's colour! CASSIDY: Show me, show me.

360
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:15,599
..the Fire Crew may have just hit the jackpot. I don't wanna go.

361
00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,359
A never-before discovered deposit of black opal

362
00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,159
worth 500 times more than gold.

363
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,839
CASSIDY: Oh, wow.

364
00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:30,879
It's an addiction. It really is. I think it's easy to get sucked into the opal hunting vortex

365
00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,199
because before you know it, you're hooked,

366
00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:37,159
and you're just thinking, "What else can I sell? How else can I get money?

367
00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,039
What else can I do to stay out here longer?

368
00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:40,519
Because I need to find it now."

369
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,679
I don't know how to describe it.

370
00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:49,119
They've discovered a seam of black material with flashes of colour.

371
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,079
Signs a pocket of black opal could be nearby.

372
00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,319
It's in here. The pocket's in there.

373
00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:00,359
Meanwhile, in Laverton...

374
00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,559
Adam's waiting for it out on the diggings cos we need to shift dirt.

375
00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:08,919
..Dad Pete's still battling to fix the 55-year-old loader

376
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,079
the family desperately need to clear the mine dirt from their claim.

377
00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,679
That's why we need this one. This will do the job.

378
00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,319
You bugger.

379
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:25,559
In just two days, the crew lose firefighter Adam,

380
00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,639
who must return to work.

381
00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,359
Like Dad said, we just gotta find the level. We find that level and that's gonna be black opal.

382
00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,119
But I don't know how deep that level is.

383
00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,639
And we're out of fuel! Ugh!

384
00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,439
We're gonna be here forever. We are gonna be here for a long time at this pace.

385
00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,959
It's just...it's agonising.

386
00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,279
I haven't got Dad here to tell me what's going on.

387
00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:55,519
I'm just doing the best I can.

388
00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,239
And now I'm out of fuel. And I can't dig.

389
00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:05,399
Their operation is at a standstill.

390
00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,119
I've got this incredible trace of colour,

391
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,239
just bits and bobs here, there and everywhere.

392
00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,719
But I can't follow it. I can't dig.

393
00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:22,199
I think the best bet would be to just clean up the hole and get a...

394
00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,119
Here he is now.

395
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,559
Pete hasn't fixed the loader.

396
00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,479
Tell me what you can see right there.

397
00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:35,039
But, hopefully, he can verify whether they've really found black opal.

398
00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:37,119
You see it?

399
00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:42,279
Oh, yeah, I see the line. You see the green line? Yep.

400
00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:44,199
Is that opal? Yeah.

401
00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,399
That's coloured opal, isn't it? Yep.

402
00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:48,919
Is that it? We're on it. You're on it.

403
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,679
That's money, isn't it? Yeah.

404
00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:54,159
We just need more of it. Well, you can't stop now. You gotta keep following that.

405
00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:58,759
Well, funny you say that cos we just ran out of petrol for the generator.

406
00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,079
You didn't bring any, did ya? No. Oh!

407
00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:11,879
Here we go!

408
00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:16,479
20 metres below ground, Rod Manning's in serious trouble.

409
00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:21,999
Jesus...Christ! Jesus!

410
00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,079
Jesus! What the...was that?

411
00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,679
I don't know. What's going on down there?

412
00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:34,759
Les, what happened?

413
00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,239
She come down on me.

414
00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,639
What the  happened, Les?

415
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,319
Dirt fell out around the ring there.

416
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,199
Couple of holes there from there around there. Yeah.

417
00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:51,359
Oh, right up in there, mate. Yeah.  that.

418
00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,439
I had rocks bouncing off me everywhere.

419
00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,919
I'm not doing any more. He needs another ring.

420
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,519
The mine belongs to fellow miner Nick Casement.

421
00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,719
While the Bushmen have agreed on a 50% cut,

422
00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:11,679
for Rod, experiences like this bring the risks of opal mining home.

423
00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:17,199
I've been in a few dicey situations before and it sort of brings a lot of that back.

424
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,319
You know, it's not a nice feeling.

425
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,679
Our life sort of revolves around colour.

426
00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,959
And, uh, no colour, no life.

427
00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,879
It might be dangerous, but working Nick's mine

428
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,319
is the best chance the Bushmen have of finding opal.

429
00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:44,399
All right, Les.

430
00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,439
Rod has no choice but to go back down and keep digging.

431
00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,159
Take it easy down there when you're down there.

432
00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,599
Put my eyes on because there's a bit of structure coming in here.

433
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:07,799
What's that?

434
00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:16,199
Look at that! Oh! Look at that!

435
00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,599
You bloody beauty! Look at that!

436
00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:24,399
Green and blue and red, all on bloody black.

437
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:29,199
Good quality black opal is worth $43,000 a gram.

438
00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:33,079
Rod and Les could finally be in for a payday.

439
00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,839
Hey, Les, we're on colour, mate! Righto.

440
00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,159
It's nice too! On black!

441
00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:44,879
On black big stuff? Real, real nice green on black.

442
00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:49,079
And there's a heap of black fell out onto the floor.

443
00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,919
And chuck us down a little container. Righto.

444
00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,519
Here she comes!

445
00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,199
If he's happy, it's a big 'un.

446
00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:02,399
I've jackhammered down this way, busted the pocket. See the slip coming down here.

447
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:04,639
I had another one coming down through here,

448
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,519
and that's where they intersected.

449
00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:11,119
That's where you get colour, where the water has run down.

450
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:15,039
I just got a container. I'll just start putting it in this container.

451
00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:22,279
Some blues, some green, a little bit of red.

452
00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:27,559
Oh, there's a nice little bit. Oh!

453
00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:32,879
You freakin' beauty. It's bloody nice. It's all on black.

454
00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,999
And I'm getting  half a lunch box here already.

455
00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:43,799
It always pays to do someone a good turn.

456
00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:48,039
You got the bucket full yet? We got a couple of bob, Les!

457
00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,119
This is nice!

458
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:53,439
We could have 20 grand here. I'm going up and calling bloody Nick,

459
00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,439
tell him to get out of his sick bed, come down here and we'll give it a rub.

460
00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,599
In outback Queensland...

461
00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:10,039
We kept digging that Squibby Level, Col.

462
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,119
..Boulder Boys Aaron and Ron

463
00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,679
are visiting mate and former partner Col Duff.

464
00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,439
This stuff is the stuff to play with.

465
00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,999
Veteran opal miner and cutter,

466
00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,079
the boys hope Col can help them maximise

467
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,479
the value of their Squibby Level stones.

468
00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:30,599
The first step is to trim away the excess rock.

469
00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,719
It's a beautiful colour, so let's see what's there. So that one we'll leave for you.

470
00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:39,679
And this one here, you want me... Take the dead wood off and maybe trim it down a bit. Yeah.

471
00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,079
If we're lucky, it'll be opal all the way. That'll split at the end.

472
00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,959
All right, well, we'll work on that.

473
00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:50,839
With the diamond-tipped blade spinning at 3,000RPM,

474
00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:54,719
one slip and Ron not only risks serious injury

475
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:57,679
but destroying the opal inside.

476
00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:09,879
We've got a nice green line here.

477
00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:12,959
We're gonna try and split that into two faces.

478
00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,719
Splitting it into two will make the boys more money.

479
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:27,279
I'll do a bit of work on the grinder and come down on this back.

480
00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,439
And we put a slice in it,

481
00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,639
and just see if we can pop it into matching pairs.

482
00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,359
It will require all of Col's 30 years' experience

483
00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:41,639
to turn hundreds of dollars into potentially thousands.

484
00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:45,759
So I can see the line all the way through there now.

485
00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,919
And we already had a natural cavity there.

486
00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:53,999
So we've just made the most of it with the saw blade on the dead potchy side of that.

487
00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,759
We put that in.

488
00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,999
And pretty well, it just fell apart like that.

489
00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:06,039
Bit of slicing and dicing.

490
00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:09,799
Aaron and Ron's haul is boulder opal

491
00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:13,999
with blues and greens, weighing 65g.

492
00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:17,999
The splits turned out pretty good.

493
00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:21,359
Wow, beautiful. Beautiful blue, green. Shame about those spots

494
00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,439
all the way through but you cut around them.

495
00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,639
It's a beautiful stone. Five carat. Blue, green.

496
00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:33,319
I think you could cut five grand out of that.

497
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,919
That's good. Hey, that's good. No worries. Good to see you, Ron.

498
00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,519
Thanks again, Col. Good fun.

499
00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:44,039
This latest find keeps the Boulder Boys in business.

500
00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:46,199
We're not making big money,

501
00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,919
but enough to keep food on the table and diesel coming in.

502
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,959
That's all we need, as long as we can keep going, keep chasing that opal.

503
00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:58,799
Cracking that rock and seeing that colour makes you happy to be here.

504
00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:00,399
That's what you come for.

505
00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:04,119
Ron's been here a week. We got a lot of things done. It's been great.

506
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,839
It's good to have a good hand and someone that doesn't mind working.

507
00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,799
It's a good feeling that it's a box ticked.

508
00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:24,959
ADAM: See the green line? PETE: Yep. That's coloured opal, isn't it? Yep.

509
00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,679
That's money, isn't it? Yeah, you're on it.

510
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:32,399
The Fire Crew are convinced they've found signs of black opal

511
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:35,439
worth up to $43,000 a gram.

512
00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,639
We gotta find the level. Find that and that's gonna be black opal.

513
00:34:38,720 --> 00:34:41,399
If they're right, it will be the first time

514
00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,519
black opal has been discovered in Western Australia.

515
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:46,879
On the verge of making history, absolutely.

516
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,639
Look, it's WA. And we've got potentially black opal.

517
00:34:50,720 --> 00:34:54,279
And everyone's gonna be rushing back here.

518
00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:57,559
But with a potential fortune beneath their feet,

519
00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:01,959
the Fire Crew's treasure hunt has hit a wall.

520
00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:05,039
The funds are low, we haven't quite got the machinery.

521
00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:09,239
We need fuel, we need time. We need a lot of what we don't have.

522
00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,599
We need a lot more money to actually do the job properly.

523
00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:15,479
We're gonna be here for weeks, and we didn't plan for this.

524
00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:18,199
We don't have time for that. I gotta get back to work.

525
00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:22,519
Yeah, so we just have to reassess everything. I think that's right.

526
00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:28,199
With the dig on hold, the Fire Crew leave behind their 3sq km claim.

527
00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:33,399
The hope is the remoteness will protect it from prying eyes.

528
00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,759
Back at home base, 900km away in Perth,

529
00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,839
Adam, Pete and Vikki get to work,

530
00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:50,599
cleaning up the find they hope is black opal.

531
00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:55,399
PETE: What we've discovered, it's exciting for us,

532
00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,599
but we still need to validate it.

533
00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,359
We'll get a second opinion, take a few pieces in with us,

534
00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:04,359
prep 'em up a bit to show 'em what we've got.

535
00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:08,719
Bit of colour there. I've got green flash here.

536
00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:12,519
He's an independent jeweller, he'll give us his thoughts on it.

537
00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:17,399
Just to verify what we've found by an independent person.

538
00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:21,519
This season, hunting this black opal, it's becoming a bit stressful.

539
00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,159
Dad's always pretty sure of what he has.

540
00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:28,279
I'm still sitting at that 80% of what we've got is black opal.

541
00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,479
Definitely got fire opal, I know that.

542
00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,759
But that black stuff, not sure what that is.

543
00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:36,239
I'm excited. Are you excited? I'm excited. Ahh!

544
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:40,559
Adam and Cassidy have gambled $30,000 of their savings

545
00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,719
chasing the opal dream in Western Australia.

546
00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,119
Their hopes of finding life-changing black opal

547
00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:51,119
are now all in the hands of expert jeweller Alfie Gryg.

548
00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,719
So, we've been following this black trace. Mm-hm.

549
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,279
The situation we're in is it's expensive to dig.

550
00:36:57,360 --> 00:36:59,639
So ideally, we'd like for you to give us

551
00:36:59,720 --> 00:37:01,959
kind of a bit of a green light on this today.

552
00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:16,239
What's this black stuff that we're looking at? Is that potch or...?

553
00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,279
No, I think this is more of your shale.

554
00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,879
OK. Never heard of that. Yeah, shale's, um...

555
00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,159
Yeah, that's not opal. What is shale?

556
00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:30,239
That little flake there in the corner? Yeah.

557
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,879
Is that anything? No. That's nothing.

558
00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:36,199
From seeing this, would you continue digging, Alfie?

559
00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:40,559
I don't think there's enough in there. Hm.

560
00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:44,439
So it's not black opal.

561
00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,599
It's fire opal with shale.

562
00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:51,119
Yep. Right. Thanks for your honest truth, Alfie.

563
00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:56,079
Every moment I think we're getting one step closer,

564
00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:58,239
I feel like we're taking two steps back.

565
00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:04,079
For now, it's the end of the line for the Fire Crew's black opal dream.

566
00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,679
I feel a little bit drained.

567
00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:08,319
Doesn't mean we're gonna stop,

568
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,879
but it just means we're gonna have to regroup and figure out a new plan.

569
00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:16,559
At the moment, we're probably out of pocket. We haven't made a profit, we haven't made any money.

570
00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:20,119
But that's the risk that you take. It's a very high risk industry.

571
00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,479
PETE: You sort of deal with the losses.

572
00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,359
You just have to find a way to keep going.

573
00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,559
But there is good news.

574
00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,359
Their fire opal is finally finding buyers online.

575
00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:34,439
Adam and Cassidy aren't giving up hope.

576
00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:37,119
So, I think we're gonna try and find some more fire opal,

577
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:38,879
just get that bank balance back up.

578
00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:43,319
And then, we'll re-evaluate and go and look for the black opal again.

579
00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:59,039
Right, let's have a look at some opal and see what we can figure out, eh?

580
00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:03,639
Forced to abandon their own mine after key equipment was stolen...

581
00:39:03,720 --> 00:39:06,319
Such a low act for someone to do to another bloke.

582
00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:09,519
..and surviving rock falls in Nick's mine...

583
00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,639
Ah! Jesus...Christ!

584
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:16,719
What's that?

585
00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:18,879
..the Bushmen have finally found opal.

586
00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:21,519
Real, real nice green on black.

587
00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:23,919
They're keen to show a recovered Nick

588
00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:27,039
and Rod's wife Amanda what they found.

589
00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:30,759
We got some reasonable colours, eh?

590
00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:34,199
The deal with Nick is a 50-50 split.

591
00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:37,799
It's worth a few dollars. I'd reckon you'd ask for 15

592
00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:40,959
and settle on 11 or ten, somewhere around that.

593
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,919
I was thinking something like that. Ten grand, I'll be very happy.

594
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:49,679
Don't forget, it was halfsies. Yes, I know, yes, half.

595
00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:53,839
Well, good luck. I think we're gonna need it.

596
00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:56,879
I think you might.

597
00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,879
The Bushmen have found a parcel of black opal.

598
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:04,279
It's in the rough, showing good colour with a weight of 60g.

599
00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:05,999
They hope to get a total of...

600
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:13,319
The Bushmen's half share will be their biggest find for over a year.

601
00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:25,119
It's a 70km drive into Lightning Ridge...

602
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,719
to meet veteran opal buyer Edmond Lahoud.

603
00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:30,919
Edmond, how are you, my friend? How you going?

604
00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,399
Good to see you, mate. Good to see you too, mate.

605
00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,319
So, what you been onto? Little bit of black.

606
00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:40,559
Black and green. Not bad material, mate.

607
00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,439
Yeah, nice green.

608
00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,439
So, what do you have in the parcel, mate?

609
00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:50,719
Well, for anyone else I'd charge...18,

610
00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:55,039
but for you, probably go down to 14 for you.

611
00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:59,359
That's definitely exciting. Colours are there,

612
00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,479
but honestly, what I can cut out of you, mate.

613
00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:04,559
You're open for offers?

614
00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:08,199
Oh, of course. I'd go down to 13.9, mate. Yeah.

615
00:41:08,280 --> 00:41:13,279
Mate, how does eight grand grab ya? Not at all. No, no, no.

616
00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:16,639
Eight grand, come on. No.

617
00:41:16,720 --> 00:41:21,999
You don't wanna pay too much for it and you wanna bleed us dry, huh?

618
00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:24,919
It's not like that, mate. If I bleed you dry,

619
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,439
how do I bloody make a living later on?

620
00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:33,799
Well, there's a reason why I generally leave Les outside the buyer's room.

621
00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:37,399
The old feller tends to get a little bit wound up,

622
00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:41,119
and if he  the buyer off, he'll go down, not up.

623
00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:45,079
All you buyers make millions. Give us nothing so we can hardly live.

624
00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:47,719
And you choose not to see the bloody inclusions in it.

625
00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:50,159
That's the problem. You gotta give and take.

626
00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:53,959
Rod, look, I appreciate you coming to see me,

627
00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:56,239
you know, and...

628
00:41:56,320 --> 00:41:59,959
What about... 12? ..12?

629
00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:05,599
Mate, I tell you something, I don't wanna play bloody lawyer's game.

630
00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:10,599
I'm very hungry for material. It's scarce now. We all know. Yep.

631
00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:13,719
I'm prepared to pay a little bit more than what I normally do.

632
00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:17,599
I'll go up to nine grand, OK?

633
00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:20,159
Nah, even nine. Come on, mate.

634
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:23,519
Nine grand. Come on, shake a hand on it, Rod.

635
00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:26,919
Nah, can't do nine, mate. I'll tell you what. What?

636
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:29,399
We'll stop the buggerising about. Yeah.

637
00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:33,559
I'll take ten grand, and I won't take anything underneath ten.

638
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:40,479
Ah, look. Just for the sake of keeping my supply going, I'll shake hands on it, mate.

639
00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:42,479
Thanks, Edmond. Appreciate it. No worries.

640
00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:47,039
We got the ten grand, which is what we wanted.

641
00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:50,199
So we're as happy as buggery. Yeah.

642
00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,079
For the Bushmen, it's a good end to a bad week.

643
00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:59,639
Their 50% share has netted them a cool $5,000.

644
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,759
The week started off bloody horrible. The ratters had been into us.

645
00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:07,639
We couldn't work. It was a bit depressing there for a while.

646
00:43:07,720 --> 00:43:10,959
But one good deed really seems to have paid off.

647
00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:14,199
And we can get back to mining now. We got some money to buy diesel.

648
00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:16,279
We can keep on going.

649
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,319
Don't get much better than this.

650
00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:21,039
subtitles by Deluxe

650
00:43:22,305 --> 00:44:22,883