1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,519
.

2
00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,119
On Outback Opal Hunters... Righto, coming down!

3
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,639
..the Bushmen chase opal in their last-chance mine...

4
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,839
I can hear it yelling out to me, Les.

5
00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,519
..before their world collapses.

6
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,079
The rookie miner mates, the Young Guns...

7
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,679
I spent every bit of savings getting out here.

8
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,639
..friendships are tested. You're not listening to me at all.

9
00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,559
We've just gotta keep digging forward and find opal.

10
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,879
And the Boulder Boys' excavator...

11
00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,039
Got yourself into a bit of a mess there, Ron.

12
00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,799
..is stuck in a hole. Not good. Not good.

13
00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,559
# Money

14
00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,519
# And fancy clothes #

15
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,719
We're just about to start here at Bondi.

16
00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,879
We've got everything hooked up, the blower pipes down there ready to go.

17
00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:03,199
In the drought-stricken outback of New South Wales,

18
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,079
Bushmen Rod Manning and Les Walsh are desperate for a breakthrough at their new mine,

19
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,559
after running out of luck at their old claim, Hell's Corner.

20
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,839
We found nothing, been there too long,

21
00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,999
cos there's no money down there.

22
00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,399
Halfway through the season,

23
00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,679
and their $60,000 target is still a distant dream.

24
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,839
We're struggling to pay the diesel bill

25
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,999
to keep on mining at the moment.

26
00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,239
We need to find some opal.

27
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,519
The Bushmen are hunting the most valuable opal on the planet,

28
00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,919
Black Opal, worth 500 times more than gold.

29
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,599
The most beautiful gemstone in the world cos it's got every colour.

30
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,519
You've got every colour of the rainbow.

31
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,479
You've got the fire, the red, the green of the earth.

32
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,239
If someone looks into a beautiful gem opal and says it's not beautiful,

33
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,719
there's something bloody wrong with them, I reckon.

34
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,279
To chase this stunning prize,

35
00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:01,679
Rod and Les have chosen to live on one of the most remote opal fields in the world,

36
00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:07,439
with no electricity or running water and a 90 minute drive to civilisation.

37
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,199
For us to go to town, it's about 95K,

38
00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,359
and we can drive that 95K to town and only pass one or two cars,

39
00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,759
and that's the way we like it, you know?

40
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,479
Rod and Les are hoping that 15 metres underground,

41
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,679
their Bondi mine will deliver the jackpot.

42
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,479
We wanna get the digger into that corner behind Les...

43
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,279
because that's where we hit that colour.

44
00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:38,039
A scouting mission two weeks ago produced promising signs.

45
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,999
Ah, Les, look at that!

46
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,519
Now, they need to manoeuver the digger into position.

47
00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,439
Where the digger is, is just under the hull.

48
00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,959
We can't move it any further as it's stuck on the roof and the floor.

49
00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,639
So we gotta make some room for it to move in.

50
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,119
You got a hydraulic ram that puts your pins into the roof,

51
00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,079
and you've got two hydraulic rams that put pins into the floor.

52
00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,519
That's what anchors your digging machine.

53
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,759
Digging through the sandstone is quick work,

54
00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,919
but its softness makes it difficult

55
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,199
to brace the two-tonne digger safely against the roof.

56
00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,079
Come on!

57
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,319
There's always an element of danger, you know.

58
00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,639
You can tip the digger over on yourself.

59
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,079
I can wipe the other fella out with the digger arm,

60
00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,879
which I've done a couple of times.

61
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:33,999
Slow down. Mind on the work, right? Not on something, somewhere else.

62
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,039
Ah, roof bolt, let go.

63
00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,319
Not far now. I should be able to swing the machine around now,

64
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,039
to start getting in that wall.

65
00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,799
I'll be able to start digging the face, I think, if I don't tip over.

66
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,799
Got an uneven roof there, and I've gotta, um,

67
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,279
find a bit of flat ground to get my roof bolts in.

68
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,999
Oh, I don't like that real much, but there's not much I can do.

69
00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:12,074
Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
www.osdb.link/lm

70
00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,279
We've come to the point that we can't go any further...

71
00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,239
with a machine.

72
00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,839
Deep in outback Queensland at the Dragonfly claim,

73
00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,559
Aaron and partner Ron have run into serious problems.

74
00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,959
Do you reckon she's, sort of, sunk a little bit more, since yesterday?

75
00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,479
They've dug their only machine, a 40-year-old excavator,

76
00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,439
into a dangerous position.

77
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,479
Creeping forward, I can't get dirt underneath the front tracks.

78
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,999
Whoa, not good. Not good.

79
00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,439
Stranded for two days now, moving it could tip it over,

80
00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,559
and Aaron and Ron have no way of digging it out.

81
00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,879
Yeah, things aren't looking real good.

82
00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:01,679
Top might fall in. We're sort of stuck here with this excavator. Mm.

83
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,239
We just gotta pull out for safety reasons.

84
00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,199
For Aaron, it means he can't keep working the part of the claim

85
00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:14,079
where his dad first sank a mine, 20 years earlier.

86
00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,999
It's another setback in Aaron's fight

87
00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,039
to keep his father Arno's legacy alive,

88
00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,199
and turn Dragonfly into a profitable business.

89
00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,199
My father started digging here in the early days, and it's our family legacy.

90
00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:31,399
Been here ever since I can remember.

91
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,519
When Dad passed away, that's what he said to me, keep digging.

92
00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,519
Halfway through the season, and for all their efforts,

93
00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:45,999
on the 270,000 square metre claim... Come on!

94
00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:52,119
..the Boulder Boys are only $12,000 towards their $100,000 target.

95
00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:53,879
The year so far hasn't been too great.

96
00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,559
We've made a few thousand, but we haven't done real well.

97
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,039
On the other side of the claim, from the crippled excavator

98
00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,519
at their best opal pit, they recently gambled their last $1,000

99
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,399
on draining 3 million litres of flood water...

100
00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,839
You beauty! ..in a bid to make it workable again.

101
00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,599
Let's go and see Lake, uh, Lake Disappointment.

102
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,679
Their efforts have failed.

103
00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,399
Still making water run. Bloody hell, it's frustrating, isn't it?

104
00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,479
It's coming through the fault.

105
00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,959
Water is seeping into the main pit,

106
00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,839
from a flooded claim a few metres away.

107
00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,279
It's just not gonna dry out. It's obvious now.

108
00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,039
Well, we're not gonna be able to do anything here.

109
00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,039
So yeah, this is out.

110
00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,719
Chin up. Chin up, all right.

111
00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,159
With the main pit waterlogged,

112
00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,559
and their only excavator stranded,

113
00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,439
there's no way to keep mining Dragonfly.

114
00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:58,599
Well, we gave it a go and we've ran out of tracks, simple.

115
00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,279
Had enough, mate? Yeah, mate.

116
00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,199
Ron. Yeah, mate? I've had an idea.

117
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:09,279
Mm, yeah, go on?

118
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,479
Eric's got that 35-tonner sitting there doing nothing.

119
00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,199
We could ask him if we could borrow it to strip the top.

120
00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,279
Eric and Chris are good friends of ours, I've known them for years.

121
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,639
Mining a bit further down. We've got nothing to lose, have we?

122
00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,559
We'll work out a percentage and...

123
00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,719
Let's go and see him and see what he says.

124
00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,959
Aaron's plan is to convince neighbouring miner, Eric,

125
00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,759
to lend them his equipment so they can rescue the excavator.

126
00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,999
Well, let's hope Eric's home.

127
00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:41,599
Fail, and they'll be forced to abandon Dragonfly for the rest of the season.

128
00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,999
Eric is our last hope.

129
00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,399
If he says no, then I'll just have to pack up and go to the coast.

130
00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,919
This is it. Looks like we've got two shafts either side there.

131
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,639
Sweet! We've got another mine.

132
00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,359
In the desert plains of White Cliffs,

133
00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,439
rookie team The Young Guns have spent their last $2,000

134
00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,359
on a 2,500 square metre claim,

135
00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,439
complete with its own 100-year-old mine.

136
00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,239
I'll go down first and have a geez.

137
00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,639
'There's always concerns, you know, opening up an old mine.'

138
00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:26,959
Want me to go next?

139
00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,719
'You don't really know what's down there in regards to structural integrity.'

140
00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:32,359
You all right? Yeah, man.

141
00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,479
'You don't know what diggings are around you,

142
00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:36,959
so that can really be a bit of a safety hazard, too.

143
00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,119
What do you guys think?

144
00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,679
There's a lot of digging to be done. Yeah, it's real tight.

145
00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,719
A makeshift camp was also part of the deal.

146
00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:55,479
Whoa! It's a bit drab, it's a bit beaten down.

147
00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,399
Oh, you...!

148
00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,639
Do you want a block of cheese for... for breakfast?

149
00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,119
Well, that doesn't work. That's great  So no coffee for you.

150
00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,639
It's the chance for third generation miner, Jaymin Sullivan,

151
00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,079
to prove himself to his dad.

152
00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:19,119
He's persuaded mates JC and Noah to quit their jobs on the coast,

153
00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:24,719
and join him, hunting the rarest opal of all, Opal Pineapples.

154
00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,959
Opal Pineapples are only found in White Cliffs.

155
00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,199
It's the only place in the world they're found.

156
00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,239
What would that one be valued at? This one would be 60,000 US.

157
00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,679
But with half the season gone,

158
00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,799
they're far from their $60,000 target.

159
00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,319
We've only got a few months left in the season.

160
00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,879
We need to find something spectacular to keep us going.

161
00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,479
I've spent every bit of savings getting out here.

162
00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:50,639
We're gonna put in the time and effort to do it.

163
00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:52,919
We're not going home without any opals.

164
00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,639
All their hopes rest on the old mine they've just bought.

165
00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:02,199
I like it. We've got our own, you know, set up. That's awesome.

166
00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,759
Five and a half metres deep and 20 metres long,

167
00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:10,239
it has a series of tight tunnels left by miners over the years.

168
00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,279
All right, so there's a fair bit of backfill.

169
00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,079
The mine really has some potential.

170
00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,359
We've had a bit of a look around, looks absolutely fantastic.

171
00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,679
Only real problem with it is, it's actually full of backfilled dirt.

172
00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,959
Every time a new tunnel was dug,

173
00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,119
the dirt was dumped in the nearest unused shaft...

174
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:30,639
There's a whole lot of backfill.

175
00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,799
..leaving the Young Guns 40 tonnes of worthless rubble to clear

176
00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,319
before they can start their opal hunt.

177
00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,559
We're gonna need to get some serious machinery out here.

178
00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,639
We can't bucket and shovel it out.

179
00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,319
We need a loader or Kanga loader or something like that out here.

180
00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:52,159
The Kanga is a powerful compact digger with a 35 horsepower engine,

181
00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,479
that can lift loads of 360 kilos.

182
00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:58,799
But it will cost $200 a day to hire.

183
00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,559
All right, boys, I think we need to have a serious think about how we're gonna proceed now.

184
00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,559
It is a big decision, but maybe we should just go for it.

185
00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,479
We need machinery. Like, that's just the way it is.

186
00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:13,999
We're not gonna get anywhere right now,

187
00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,479
if we try and keep going, you know, buckets and shovels down there.

188
00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:19,679
Like, that's...that's not gonna work at all.

189
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,879
It's gonna be a massive risk, but it may pay off, so...

190
00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,839
Yeah, I suppose I'm in. Yeah, I'm bloody... I'm definitely in.

191
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,359
Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's make it happen.

192
00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,199
Let's get a Kanga, get it out here.

193
00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,079
Yeah, find some proper opal.

194
00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,239
If we spend that money, we come out here and have a dig,

195
00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,759
and find no opal at all, we're gonna be in some serious trouble.

196
00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,199
15 metres underground at their Bondi mine,

197
00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,079
the Bushmen think they are finally closing in

198
00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,919
on the quality opal they desperately need.

199
00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,599
I can hear it yelling out to me, Les.

200
00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:01,039
Well, I can't, because I'm a bit deafer than you are!

201
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,279
It looks good.

202
00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:08,039
For much of this season, the ancient gem has eluded them.

203
00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:12,119
Last time, that little bit of dirt out there was on the surface,

204
00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,639
was um, before mankind was even on Earth.

205
00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,039
Opal forms over millions of years,

206
00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,679
when silica-rich water trickles into faults in the rock,

207
00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,839
eventually hardening to form the gem.

208
00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,279
All right, that wall's hard.

209
00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,679
I'm just gonna move forward again, Les.

210
00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,919
Ha ha! What are you doing, dancing?

211
00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:56,959
This digger here,

212
00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,839
it's really, really struggling on this hard ground.

213
00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:03,599
Hopefully we'll get through the hard ground and it'll soften up a little bit.

214
00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,559
Is that someone coming down the ladder? Yeah, it is.

215
00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:15,919
Hey, it's young Nick!

216
00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,879
Neighbouring miner, Nick Casement, has worked with the Bushmen before

217
00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:21,959
and is a trusted mate.

218
00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,399
Hey, Nick. How you going, mate? Pretty good. What you up to?

219
00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,199
I come to see how you guys going. Any luck yet?

220
00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,359
Not a great deal! Bloody hard, eh?

221
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,199
It is hard, it's bloody hard.

222
00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,679
I was driving through here the other day with my dad,

223
00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,079
and I was showing him where your claim is here.

224
00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,079
And he said 20 years ago when this first got found,

225
00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:40,919
an old bloke, he was drilling out here,

226
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,999
and he drilled up some colour just up here, he reckons.

227
00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,879
Three or four holes where he said some good crystal came out of.

228
00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:48,839
What, on this claim? Yeah, on your claim.

229
00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:53,679
Where do you reckon that is? Looks like it's somewhere over there.

230
00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,719
That direction? Yep.

231
00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:57,559
So the opposite to where we're going!

232
00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,559
Opposite to where you're going!

233
00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,199
If Nick's tip-off is right, the Bushmen's best chance of opal

234
00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,639
could be at the other end of this new mine.

235
00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,679
Par for the course, always going in the wrong direction!

236
00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,679
If we can't dig, we might as well not be here, Ron. Yeah.

237
00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:25,639
On the Dragonfly claim, Aaron and Ron have stranded their excavator,

238
00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,839
forcing them to stop mining.

239
00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:29,919
We tried to go as far as we could.

240
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,399
Need to get something to dig out behind it and get the machine out

241
00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,479
and set it up a bit better and get going again.

242
00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,959
Their season is over, unless they can borrow some heavy machinery

243
00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:45,399
from neighbouring miner, Eric, to dig their excavator out.

244
00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,719
If he says yes, we can keep mining.

245
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,519
If he says no, we'll just pack up and do what we gotta do.

246
00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:52,599
But there's no harm in asking.

247
00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,719
How are you, Eric? Hey, g'day, Aaron.

248
00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,799
Eric. Ron.

249
00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,879
What are yous up to? We're a bit snookered up there where we're digging.

250
00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,799
Oh, are you? Oh.

251
00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:09,879
We're wondering if we could do maybe a deal,

252
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,879
and use your excavator if you're not busy with it,

253
00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,199
and keep going, cos we're on good trace.

254
00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:19,079
Yeah, yeah, we could arrange that. I'll get all the diesel.

255
00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,439
Get me one good big shiny one, eh? Yeah, no worries!

256
00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,959
Come on, then. I'll show you.

257
00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,039
Yeah, you show Aaron. This one, at the back.

258
00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,839
See that lever? Yep, yep, yep.

259
00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,559
OK, then when you wanna start, put that over to the side and wait.

260
00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,959
So... Yeah, yeah, just wait.

261
00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,639
Yep. It hasn't happened yet.

262
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,279
I can hear something.

263
00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,599
Gotta say it twice!

264
00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:55,639
There she goes.

265
00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:02,159
Eric, one last thing. I know you've got a front end loader. Yeah, yeah.

266
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,879
It would be much more appreciated

267
00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,359
if we could have a loan of that for a little bit.

268
00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,199
Only if you're able to. We can only ask, and we do appreciate it.

269
00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,399
As long as you look after it. That's all right, all good.

270
00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,399
And we'll go steady with it.

271
00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,759
And now, that's two nice ones you gotta give me, eh? No worries!

272
00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,399
We're on business again. Thankfully, Eric's come to the rescue,

273
00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,719
and very kindly given us an excavator and a front-end loader.

274
00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,359
Using the borrowed loader and 35-tonne excavator,

275
00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,359
Aaron and Ron have just two days to dig out their own machine.

276
00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,399
I've never driven flash gear like this!

277
00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,599
It will take them two hours on rough dirt tracks,

278
00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,079
just to get the excavator the 5km back to Dragonfly.

279
00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,359
He's doing about 3,4K an hour.

280
00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,159
Maybe 5K an hour.

281
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,559
We just have to do the work and give it our best go.

282
00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,959
That's all we can do. We can't do more than that.

283
00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:20,399
In White Cliffs, the Young Guns have gambled on hiring a Kanga loader

284
00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:24,799
to dig out their new mine at a cost of $200 a day.

285
00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,639
It's a serious upgrade, but they need it to pay off,

286
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,759
or they'll run into debt.

287
00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,999
It leaves us a bit short in the end,

288
00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,999
but we're gonna go big or just pack up and go home.

289
00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,119
Boys, you're back! Can you see that? That's a beast.

290
00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,679
That is an absolute beast. Dude, can you believe it?

291
00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:46,759
We're really gonna move some dirt with this.

292
00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:57,119
Looks like he's been doing this his whole life, absolute pro!

293
00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,879
Man, I'm stoked, this is gonna... This is absolutely gonna...

294
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:02,679
Look how cool it is! ..change everything.

295
00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,479
Their new machine can shift 360 kilos of dirt in a single bucket,

296
00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,399
nearly 100 times more than a hand shovel.

297
00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,839
No more picking up buckets, we've got this thing!

298
00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,839
The next step is to get the one tonne Kanga into their mine.

299
00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,559
But with no crane to lower it down the shaft,

300
00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,239
the Young Guns need to find another way in.

301
00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:26,119
There's a little bit of a trench running down this way,

302
00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,039
which could potentially be an entry

303
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,399
to one of the mines, you know, behind us here.

304
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,759
Next to their camp, a trench runs close to the main mine shaft.

305
00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,439
It could be the best way to get the Kanga in.

306
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,799
We can literally take out all this loose dirt

307
00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,159
without much of a problem, get rid of all this.

308
00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:46,599
You've already got a solid path, a solid lead into it.

309
00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,559
If you have a look there, you can see where the dirt's eroded straight back down here.

310
00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,559
We remove that dirt, then we can go straight underground. It's gonna look good.

311
00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,159
That's a tough bucket, whoo! That's a good bucket.

312
00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,399
The decline here is already half dug.

313
00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,119
We just gotta clear it back out.

314
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,679
It's really convenient, it's all falling into place.

315
00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,799
We've got two guys on the jackhammers and Jaymin on the Kanga.

316
00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,879
It's carting through the rock, we're churning through it.

317
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:18,959
We have improved our operation big time.

318
00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,039
But while it's on the surface moving worthless dirt,

319
00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:26,679
the $200-a-day Kanga isn't earning any money.

320
00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,519
We need to start, you know, getting the Kanga underground,

321
00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,999
moving that dirt out so we can start looking for our opal level.

322
00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,079
After six hours digging...

323
00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,159
What are you yelling about? A hole. All right.

324
00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:42,319
..JC and Noah uncover what looks like another possible entrance.

325
00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,199
I reckon we can go all the way up this one.

326
00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,799
You can see, like, all the way up to the left.

327
00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,559
It connects with that shaft there.

328
00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,959
It does. I can see light.

329
00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,439
But team leader Jaymin isn't convinced.

330
00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,599
Ah, yeah, well, let's keep digging.

331
00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,399
No time to explore, let's just move the dirt out. Mm.

332
00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,759
Yeah. Let's just keep going.

333
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,999
I wanna explore. Mm.

334
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,599
I think we should go have a look in, um, that shaft over there,

335
00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,959
but Jaymin just... he just reckons we should keep going.

336
00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:20,559
I don't know if this is working, all this going down this decline...

337
00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,919
We can't explore that hole, we've got no time. I think we should.

338
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,319
If we're going to find some opal, like...

339
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,239
We've been digging constantly, me and Noah have, at least.

340
00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,479
We can't just stop and just set up all our equipment in one area,

341
00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,599
then move as soon as you find another interesting hole to look down.

342
00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,559
It's not about that. It's about checking our other options,

343
00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,439
making sure we're doing the, you know,

344
00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,479
going down the best possible option at the moment, which I feel like we're not doing.

345
00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,519
Someone's gotta be making the decisions or we get nothing done.

346
00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:49,399
Yeah, all right. If you say so.

347
00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:50,999
But just... Just...

348
00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,479
Keep your ears open for me and Noah a little bit more...

349
00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,919
I hear what you're saying, but it's the only option.

350
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,639
We need to keep digging that way and keep pushing through.

351
00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,919
All right, we'll keep doing that, but...we're still here.

352
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,399
We're still, you know, we still kind of have an idea. Let's get to it.

353
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,359
Jaymin is kinda getting me and Nos to do everything.

354
00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,479
We're constantly digging and doing all the hard work, it seems.

355
00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,319
He's definitely taking up the leader boss position,

356
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,919
telling us what to do all the time, not listening to our ideas much.

357
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,039
I don't know, he's got a bit bossy and all that,

358
00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,519
but I don't know if it's working at the moment.

359
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,319
Reckon it's down that way? I reckon it's that way, maybe a bit to the right.

360
00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,519
All right, well, I guess we'll go up and have a bit of a look, Nick.

361
00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,999
At their Bondi mine, in desperate need of an opal payday,

362
00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:49,239
the Bushmen have had a tip from neighbouring miner, Nick and his dad.

363
00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,479
His dad's a good miner, and if he tells you something,

364
00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,719
then it's good information.

365
00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,759
After finding only $8,000 so far this season,

366
00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,359
a helping hand is just what they need.

367
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,639
The opal found here, according to Nick's dad, is Crystal Opal,

368
00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,799
which can fetch up to $25,000 a gram.

369
00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,679
It was extracted from three, nine-inch exploration holes,

370
00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,719
near the Bushmen's mine.

371
00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,119
Red crystal, multi-coloured. Multi-coloured crystal, eh?

372
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,159
I reckon this is the end of the drive. Here?

373
00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:33,319
We're not far, so we... We may as well give it a go.

374
00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,679
We'll start heading towards Nick's, er, 9 inches. Yeah.

375
00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,879
That's where the colour was drilled,

376
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,159
so that's what we're heading towards.

377
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,319
Oh, that sounded right. Yeah, I felt that. There was a crunch there.

378
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,119
Look, that rock right there in my light, Les?

379
00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,199
Hang on.

380
00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,959
There, look at that. Ah! Oh!

381
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,039
It's red. It's red on black.

382
00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:07,959
As we're working over here towards where Nick's holes are,

383
00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:13,959
digging out the floor, we've hit a big pocket down in the floor,

384
00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,519
and we just found a little bit of red on black in the floor.

385
00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,479
So it's looking like they might be right.

386
00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,519
I got the twitch, Les. I got the twitch!

387
00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,919
Oh, I haven't got much of a hold on that roof neither, Les.

388
00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:33,719
Just be a bit careful.

389
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,679
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

390
00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,719
No, stop, stop!

391
00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:45,919
We've hit one of the nine-inches that Nick sort of told us was gonna be there.

392
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,159
We've got a definite seam running into the nine-inch.

393
00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:50,999
We're on the right track for a change.

394
00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:56,759
We've got a good bit here. All right, I'm gonna rip it out, Les.

395
00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:58,279
Righto.

396
00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:01,199
I'm gonna go over you, mate. Just stay down for a second.

397
00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,319
The ground is completely changing.

398
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,279
It's just getting softer and more organic.

399
00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:11,359
Yeah, we got pots everywhere.

400
00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,039
Soft sandstone is the perfect ground for opal,

401
00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:20,119
but makes keeping the digger locked in place a challenge.

402
00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,559
For the Young Guns, tensions are rising.

403
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,559
We've all agreed to dig in that direction.

404
00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,879
You also want to dig in all these other directions,

405
00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,839
which isn't viable. We've gotta pick a direction, stick to it,

406
00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,239
and find our opal down that way. Yeah, all right.

407
00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,399
It's supposed to be a group of mates going out trying to find a fortune,

408
00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,359
not a boss, you know, telling his underlings what to do.

409
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,399
So I don't know if it's working the way it should be at the moment.

410
00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,119
The rookie crew are under pressure

411
00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,599
after hiring a $200-a-day mini loader for the next two months.

412
00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,679
To get it into their mine,

413
00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,359
they're clearing what Jaymin thinks is a collapsed entrance,

414
00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,799
last used decades ago.

415
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,839
We're just getting right down to the end where the decline would start going underground.

416
00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,799
JC and Noah are just having a bit of a jackhammer along the side,

417
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,239
to trim it off so I can fit the loader in a bit easier.

418
00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,319
Once we get to the end of it, it's got a bit of an archway,

419
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:25,959
what we think is a bit of a plug,

420
00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,119
hopefully that's gonna open up into the mine.

421
00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,519
It's looking like it is a bit of tough work at the moment there.

422
00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,119
I can't see anything back there, eh?

423
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,639
Just keep taking a bit more off, and we'll see.

424
00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,199
That sounds just like a rock wall there.

425
00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,519
I don't know if it's... Just ended there?

426
00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,119
..going deep, but that looks like it. That looks like just rock.

427
00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,719
Ah, bummer!

428
00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:03,599
After a hard day's grind, Jaymin has led his team into a dead end.

429
00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,519
So that's a no-go, then?

430
00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,359
Yeah, that's a bummer, boys.

431
00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,519
We've gotten to the end of our trench,

432
00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:12,679
slogging it out to get underground there.

433
00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,759
Jaymin kinda thought it lined up, but apparently it doesn't.

434
00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:20,119
Oh, well. Looks like I got it wrong. Looks like our best bet now

435
00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,559
is just to find the entrance that JC and Noah found,

436
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,559
keep going through that way.

437
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,159
Let's go, Mario! OK, Luigi!

438
00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,119
Dude! What's that?

439
00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,399
Hey, hey! What?

440
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,519
Look at this! Is that opal?

441
00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,479
It is, that's opal. Holy...!

442
00:26:56,360 --> 00:26:58,879
Dude, that's nice. It's actually nice.

443
00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,159
Look at those rainbows. That's so cool.

444
00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,959
It's the colour, I don't think you can get colour better than that.

445
00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,479
That's a really good sign, mate. This is what we wanna see.

446
00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,639
For the Young Guns, it's the first sign

447
00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,159
that going it alone in their new mine could pay off.

448
00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,719
That's awesome, that's a really good sign for us.

449
00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:27,559
In outback Queensland, the Boulder Boys are making a 5km trek

450
00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,639
to rescue their season.

451
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,559
This'll be our last-ditch effort to make it turn around,

452
00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:36,799
and end up with a pay packet.

453
00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,479
At the Dragonfly claim, their excavator is trapped,

454
00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:45,399
surrounded by loose earth that could bury it at any moment.

455
00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,359
Need to get rid of the dirt and we'll go again.

456
00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,159
It's got good potential, eh?

457
00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:01,719
A lot safer, Ron, isn't it?

458
00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:03,799
We've done a lot of moving, mate.

459
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,039
Mission rescue. It was.

460
00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:09,519
I'm gonna clean the place and start digging. All right.

461
00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:13,239
Finally, their own excavator can get back to work,

462
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,039
digging the spot first mined by Aaron's late father.

463
00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:20,839
If you look at the shaft that Arno dug, Aaron's dad,

464
00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:22,879
you can see at the bottom there,

465
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,479
all that sandstone running across on an angle.

466
00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:30,479
The point where the layers of rock converge is known as a pinch,

467
00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,359
a spot where water could have pooled millions of years ago,

468
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,159
and formed opal.

469
00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:39,039
So where it pinches out is where we're finding the opal.

470
00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,719
As we're coming around, we're just following the pinch.

471
00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:49,319
Over a decade ago, Aaron's dad hit a jackpot in this mine shaft.

472
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,319
He found $20,000 rock in that shaft,

473
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,319
all at the same level as we're digging.

474
00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,599
So, uh, it's live ground.

475
00:28:57,920 --> 00:28:59,399
Ron? Yeah, mate?

476
00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,759
It's only minute, but it's a big of green.

477
00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,559
Little lines in it, too. Little lines, yep.

478
00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,319
Starting to come alive. It's a good sign, mate.

479
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,759
Do the corner, because that's where it's been starting to liven here.

480
00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,479
Righto.

481
00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:17,999
There's some nice rock there.

482
00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,519
Oi! That's a nice bloody pancake.

483
00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,919
Wow, look at how thick the line is.

484
00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,959
Give us a look, yeah. Could be anything in the middle of that.

485
00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:37,319
All right, put him in the bag, Ron. We'll go through carefully now.

486
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,839
You've got it. Where's your level? Here? There.

487
00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,159
Hey, look at the butterfly. Now, that's a butterfly for the opal.

488
00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,719
Last season, they saw a butterfly before their biggest ever find.

489
00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,719
I'm gonna break this one and hit it.

490
00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:53,799
Whoa, bloody hell!

491
00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,599
Electric blue, very nice.

492
00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,599
Ron. Oi!

493
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,999
We're on colour, all right! That's nice!

494
00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,639
Hey, we might be on a nest of 'em.

495
00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,959
Well, there's a little dip here, mate. Go very steady, mate.

496
00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:10,439
You're not wrong.

497
00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:13,759
Oh, look at that.

498
00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:16,239
Wait.

499
00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:20,399
Ah, yes, look at that. Look in the middle.

500
00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,319
I know, wow. Look at this one.

501
00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:29,039
There's still a few more here, another one there, another one here.

502
00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:31,839
Ron, on here.

503
00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:35,319
Bloody hell. A little pocket, I would say.

504
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:37,159
Now, that is a pocket!

505
00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:41,919
Ah Ron, have a look at this one.

506
00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:43,639
Oh!

507
00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:46,959
Red. Ooh.

508
00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:49,319
Oi, look, it goes right around.

509
00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,119
Wow.

510
00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,519
At the Bushmen's new mine...

511
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,519
..Les has survived a close call.

512
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:12,279
All right? Yeah, I'm all right.

513
00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,999
It just let go. You can see the part where it just let go.

514
00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,679
Les could've easily, easily been killed then.

515
00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:26,719
The scraping sound of the roof bolts sliding along on hard stone,

516
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,159
the instinct tells you to get back out of it.

517
00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:35,079
They've moved their one-tonne digger into a new section of the mine,

518
00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,319
after a tip-off from a mate.

519
00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,759
Ground's bloody beautiful, Les.

520
00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:41,879
You could put it on a sandwich and eat it.

521
00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,039
And the switch already looks like paying off.

522
00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,039
Beautiful. Yeah. Like black on black or grey on grey?

523
00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,119
Green on pink. Green on pink, is it?

524
00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:54,399
Try over here.

525
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,679
Ah, finally you got it right.

526
00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:58,639
It is.

527
00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:02,559
Yeah, it's got a bit of red in it, a bit of green in it.

528
00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,759
That's what it's like with opal, you know?

529
00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,359
You can be just digging like this, and you keep saying it's gonna turn,

530
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,159
and then for months it never does.

531
00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:13,719
Then one day, just bang,

532
00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,719
you just open up into this big, juicy thick seam of colour.

533
00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,319
Nice bit of green and gold in there, Les.

534
00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,479
Bit of green, blue and gold.

535
00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:25,199
This, um, fault's coming down the side here, Les.

536
00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,959
Running right through here. Yeah.

537
00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,959
It's starting to look all right there, Les. Yeah.

538
00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:34,079
There's a bit of... Ooh.

539
00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,279
Oh, ho! Look at that! Yeah.

540
00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:39,959
Hey! Look at that, Les.

541
00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,759
This is floor material, running this way, Les, into the floor.

542
00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:46,919
It's everywhere. Yeah.

543
00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,719
Oh-ho, look at that.

544
00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,519
That's on black. Look at that. Look at the flash... Oh, yeah.

545
00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:59,039
It's looking really good. That's bright.

546
00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,159
Now, that... That's a bit of purple.

547
00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:04,399
That'll count as stone. We found it, didn't we?

548
00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,759
Oh-ho, what have we got here? Look at the red there.

549
00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,359
Yeah, right there. There's a twinkle, Les, there's a twinkle.

550
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:13,399
Bloody hell, the colours in there.

551
00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:15,999
Well, I reckon my bits are better, Les. Look at that.

552
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,359
All right, yeah. Oh! Another bit there, look.

553
00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:23,439
Jeez, Les, I reckon this Bondi's gonna pay for us this season, mate.

554
00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,519
We haven't done much yet. We haven't done much.

555
00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,239
I reckon we'll get some bloody good money out of this.

556
00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,959
I told you I'd find it. We've got a few bob for today, anyway.

557
00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:44,559
Got a bit of colour, darl.

558
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,159
Oh, good. Let's take a look. Finally got a little bit.

559
00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,559
She stands by me, so it's that good feeling

560
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:55,079
of also being able to walk in and tip that out on the table,

561
00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:57,839
and say, you know, we got some money now, you know.

562
00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,839
Yeah, look at that. Very pretty.

563
00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:01,799
That is all right, isn't it? Yeah.

564
00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,799
That's a colour. Les? Oh, yeah.

565
00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,359
Things are looking up. Bondi might be the one.

566
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,839
We need this so bad. It's a good sign so far.

567
00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:13,159
Yeah. Can you see the twinkle in the top there? Oh, yeah.

568
00:34:13,240 --> 00:34:16,199
That's... There's black down the... ..nice piece of stone.

569
00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:18,039
Yeah, very nice.

570
00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:20,519
Their opal is Crystal Opal,

571
00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,759
green/blue, with some more valuable yellows.

572
00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,039
It's in the rough, and they have 15 grams.

573
00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,879
Well, I reckon we ought to put a price on this, Les. Yes.

574
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,679
What do you reckon?

575
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:36,759
Yeah, I reckon it'll be about three grand.

576
00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:38,599
There's some nice stones in there.

577
00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,439
Good find. Yeah, Bondi's going... Yeah, good find.

578
00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,479
It's the payday the Bushmen needed.

579
00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:50,439
Their last-chance mine, Bondi, might just turn their season around.

580
00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,639
This is just the start, Les. Just the start, mate.

581
00:34:53,720 --> 00:34:57,319
I got that bloody feeling again, mate, I got that feeling!

582
00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,719
As long as it keeps on coming in. It'll keep on coming, don't you worry.

583
00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:15,439
The Young Guns have made a lucky find at their new mine.

584
00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,119
We got opal in here! Dude, that's like high...high-end colour.

585
00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:24,279
But it's impossible to trace which part of their mine it came from.

586
00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,119
If we just see it in there, like, we have no clue

587
00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,479
as to where it's actually gonna be forming, which is what we need to find out.

588
00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:37,519
The pressure's on to get their $200-a-day digger into the mine

589
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,519
and speed up the search for more opal.

590
00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:45,959
Ah, we've only got a little bit more. We're doing really well.

591
00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:48,119
We're almost at a walkthrough.

592
00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:50,399
Once it can get inside the mine,

593
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:55,159
the Kanga will clear 360 kilos of mined rock at a time,

594
00:35:55,240 --> 00:35:59,399
80 times faster than bucketing it out using the mine shaft.

595
00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,039
It looks like JC was right. Their hunch paid off.

596
00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,439
I was wrong. Doesn't really matter though, now.

597
00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,039
We're in there, we're in there.

598
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,799
It's looking pretty good. We can walk straight in!

599
00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:10,479
Yeah. It's bloody unreal!

600
00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:14,799
After three days of hard slog and heated disputes,

601
00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:16,719
the Young Guns have broken through.

602
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:21,359
It's unreal. We can walk into the mine! We've got our way in.

603
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,879
And this is where we're gonna start digging. Let's do it.

604
00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:26,599
Well done, boys.

605
00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:30,999
The boys have put in some hard work, so that's been great to see.

606
00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:34,159
It's not an easy job, it's dusty, it's hard work.

607
00:36:34,240 --> 00:36:36,599
It's long days and a lot of hard hours put in.

608
00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:41,359
To have people like that out here sharing the job is absolutely incredible.

609
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:43,559
It's dug.

610
00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,839
Jaymin's keen to show veteran opal miner, Graham,

611
00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:48,719
his new mine's promise.

612
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,319
I found a few nice little bits, but actually I've got...

613
00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,559
This bit here I wanted to show you at some point,

614
00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:57,439
but, have a look at that. Oh, wow, Jay!

615
00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,519
That is really nice, that is.

616
00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:02,119
Definitely some good colour? Absolutely.

617
00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,999
I mean, that is really impressive. That is really jammy, mate.

618
00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:09,839
What do you think something like that would be worth? Couple of hundred, or...

619
00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:11,599
like a hundred bucks, maybe?

620
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:15,719
Mate, looking at this specimen, this could be worth...

621
00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,679
..650. Yeah, right?

622
00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:24,239
Absolutely, mate! Yeah, look, I mean, you don't get pieces like this, you know, very often.

623
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,719
So... Boys are definitely gonna be happy.

624
00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,999
They're gonna be ecstatic. Go home and give them the good news.

625
00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:32,079
650, yeah?

626
00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,559
Their opal is Crystal Opal,

627
00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:37,639
with blues and greens and more valuable reds.

628
00:37:37,720 --> 00:37:43,759
But it's in the rough, giving it a value of $650,

629
00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,719
and bringing their season total to $8,400.

630
00:37:49,240 --> 00:37:51,759
Blew me away, really. Like, the expectation there

631
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:53,639
was maybe 100, maybe 200 dollars,

632
00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:57,239
just as, you know, a piece. $650, that's, you know,

633
00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:01,399
way more money than I thought, so I'm gonna head back down the street and get the boys a treat.

634
00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,319
Boys!

635
00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:13,239
How's it going? What's this? What's that?

636
00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:16,159
What the...?

637
00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:18,439
Are you kidding me? What the hell?

638
00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:21,359
That is the most beautiful bucket I've ever seen!

639
00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:24,879
There we go. I have some good news, so...

640
00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,359
What's the good news? That specimen bit that I took to...

641
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:31,919
you found at the backfill there? I showed Doug, ran into him.

642
00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,199
He valued it at $650.

643
00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,839
So I figured we might celebrate a little bit.

644
00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:39,879
Not bad for something we just pulled out of some loose dirt.

645
00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,679
We weren't even looking for opal in that spot. 650 bucks?

646
00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,559
Yeah, that's it. Jesus Christ!

647
00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:47,119
That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

648
00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,039
I can't believe it.

649
00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:51,799
Dude, this mine's already paid off.

650
00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:00,799
Ron, we're still on it, mate.

651
00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,519
On the brink of quitting, the Boulder Boys, Aaron and Ron...

652
00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:07,039
You never get over that, do you?

653
00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:11,639
..have finally hit an opal seam that could save their season.

654
00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:16,359
Well, look at that, it's blue. Phwoar. Look at that.

655
00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:19,559
Look how that goes into the red. It's got all the colours.

656
00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:21,799
Man, that's unreal.

657
00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:27,399
Hey-hey, look at this one.

658
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,159
Ah, that way looks even better.

659
00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:33,199
It always looks better when I lick it!

660
00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:39,759
Ooh. Colour again, Ron?

661
00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:42,639
Wow. Look, you can see the red from this angle.

662
00:39:42,720 --> 00:39:45,119
Glad we didn't throw the towel in, Ron, eh?

663
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:47,999
Absolutely we get some surprises when we cut it up.

664
00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:51,439
Very, very nice rock there.

665
00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,119
Oi, have a look at that.

666
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:56,919
Wow. Natural break, mate.

667
00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,719
That's nice. Bloody hell, that's nice!

668
00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:01,799
Strong pattern. What's it got in here?

669
00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,239
Hey look, you've already loosened him.

670
00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:06,799
Look at that for a face.

671
00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:08,959
Keep him like that, eh? Unreal!

672
00:40:09,720 --> 00:40:12,879
Got all the colours, boys. That makes the day, doesn't it?

673
00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,239
That's not even polished and it's looking nice.

674
00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:17,399
Well, mate. Another parcel, mate.

675
00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:21,359
Enjoy it, mate. Yeah! We've done well.

676
00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:27,559
Well, I'll be happy if it cuts up well and there's your year's wages.

677
00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:30,359
So far looks good to me.

678
00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,839
They've mined 12 kilos of promising ironstone rocks,

679
00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:36,599
but they won't know the true value

680
00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:39,919
until they're cut open with a diamond tip saw.

681
00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:44,919
At the moment, we've got stones that are just on one edge,

682
00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:46,719
we've got the colour coming out.

683
00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:49,719
But we don't know what's in the other half, cos we didn't hit it.

684
00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:54,999
As it is, the haul is already worth around $20,000.

685
00:40:55,080 --> 00:41:00,079
But if they find high-quality opal running through the stones,

686
00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,919
it could be much more valuable.

687
00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:07,599
Wow! Wow!

688
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,479
Look at that. You would never have known that's there.

689
00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,359
That's running from there to there.

690
00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:21,039
Oi! Eh, that proved it.

691
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,119
Look, nothing, nothing. Nothing.

692
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:24,999
Proved it. Ah, look at that!

693
00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:27,839
Good quality opal, running right through.

694
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:30,079
You gonna give her a go, Ron? Yeah, I am.

695
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:36,119
Ah, whoo-hoo!

696
00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:38,879
And look how big that stone is once you grind that off.

697
00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:42,239
Yeah. Good break. That was a good break, Ron. Yeah.

698
00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:46,599
Whoa!

699
00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:51,039
Look at that! Isn't that incredible?

700
00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:56,159
Oh, that was worth mucking around with... Mucking around.

701
00:41:56,240 --> 00:41:58,079
That's a good surprise.

702
00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:00,079
If we would have sold it in the rough,

703
00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:03,359
all them surprises would've been a bonus to the boys.

704
00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:09,199
Wow. You happy with that, mate? Oh, I am.

705
00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:13,799
Their haul is stunning Boulder Opal,

706
00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:18,159
with bright blues, greens, reds and yellows.

707
00:42:18,240 --> 00:42:23,199
It weighs an estimated 60 grams, making it highly valuable.

708
00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:28,359
Well, it was better than I thought. Yeah.

709
00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:31,319
Why don't you have a gamble and guess at it, Ron?

710
00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:36,839
I'd go most probably 80 grand.

711
00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:40,439
That's not a bad week's work. It's all right.

712
00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:44,639
This incredible find means the Boulder Boys' season total

713
00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:49,199
has jumped from 12 to $92,000.

714
00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:52,919
For the Boulder Boys, the legendary Dragonfly Claim

715
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:56,119
has lived up to its reputation for rich opal

716
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,799
and turned their fortunes around.

717
00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:02,159
That parcel is, for Aaron, it's a lifesaver.

718
00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:04,959
Now, time will tell how we go.

719
00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:10,079
But we've got a very good parcel for him to keep on digging.

720
00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:15,519
Your dad was digging there for 40 years. He'd be proud of what we're doing at the top there.

721
00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:17,959
He said you'd get opal and been right.

722
00:43:18,040 --> 00:43:20,119
Wherever he's told me to dig, I've found opal.

723
00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:27,279
Subtitles by Deluxe

723
00:43:28,305 --> 00:44:28,557
Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
www.osdb.link/lm