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NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters...

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Jesus.

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..the Bushmen lose their way deep underground...

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We just strayed off course a little bit. Just as well we're not at sea.

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..chasing priceless black opal.

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Newcomers, the Poms...

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Carl, look at that. That's beautiful.

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..hunt a prized opal...

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It's the excitement of finding treasure.

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..to kick-start their mining careers.

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I think I've stuffed it up. Yes!

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And after their find of a lifetime... Yes!

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..the Tunnel Rats... They can't beat that. This is already pegged.

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..must tackle a rival team.

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Why is his peg in my claim?

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Why the...is his peg in my claim?

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1: We're still a long way from reaching our target.

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We've only got two months, and so we pushed out.

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So, this our last shot.

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Who's that out there?

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On the opal fields of South Australia,

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there's trouble brewing for family team,

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the Tunnel Rats.

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We've got someone walking on our claim, looking around.

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Possibly, wanting to peg some dirt which is close to us.

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I don't really wanna talk to them, to be honest,

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cos there's only gonna be chaos.

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Oh, look at that. I've never seen an opal like this in my life.

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After 22 years struggling to make ends meet,

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they have just hit the best opal of their lives

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worth over $100,000.

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Yes. Yes!

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LEESE: That was an amazing experience.

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It's like a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing.

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You just don't expect that'll ever happen to you.

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And there could be much more.

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RODNEY: I just feel like life's just changed.

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It just made things a lot easier for us.

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But their whole way of life is now under threat,

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and time is fast running out for this opal mining family.

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We're gonna be getting shoved out of Mintabie.

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I can't afford to shift. I can't get out of here.

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In just two months' time, all the mines in the town of Mintabie

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are to be closed and the area returned to its indigenous owners.

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The Tunnel Rats will lose both their mines,

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and their mining camp home.

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I've invested over $500,000. We've all gotta get out of here.

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So, if I've got no money to get out.

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Well, I don't know where I'm gonna go,

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and how I can afford to shift.

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We've come up with a target of $200,000.

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We just need that money to be able to relocate, and set us up.

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We've got to get it. We have to get it.

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It's a must. There's no ifs, buts or maybes.

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Opal is the only way out.

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But news of their big find has spread,

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and rivals are closing in,

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scouting the ground next to their claim.

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We need to go knock them other pegs in.

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I've got some pegs ready, and we're gonna go stick them in.

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Miners are only allowed to own one claim at a time,

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marked by four corner pegs.

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Dad Rodney's covers the entrance to their mines

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and Bayden's, the area where they made their recent big find.

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The ground between them could be rich in opal.

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The danger now is that the rivals might peg it first.

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We gotta put Leese's pegs in the ground now.

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Yeah, we gotta do it now. Yeah. So...

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Yeah, we gotta go get 'em.

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As long as they haven't done it already.

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We'll just get going on the other side. Yeah.

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Is that our peg? No. That's their peg.

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The rivals have got their red pegs in first.

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But it looks like they're inside Bayden's claim.

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This is already pegged here. They can't peg that.

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When they're pegging, they're just not pegging any ground,

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they're pegging my claim.

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See my peg here? Yeah. See, he's pegged there.

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Yes. He can't do it. Have a look at my...peg.

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It's here, it comes through there. Why has he got a peg there?

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Why is his peg in my claim?

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Why the...is his peg in my claim?

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Hey. It stinks in there.

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Ugh, Rod, is that you? Is it?

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He'd be in serious trouble if that smell was me, Les.

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In outback New South Wales, 70km from the nearest town.

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Bushmen, Rod and Les, are on the hunt.

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I reckon a snake's got in here or something and died.

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In the fierce heat, the stench of a dead animal

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has saturated the Bushmen's camp,

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making living inside unbearable.

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Amanda's not really happy about the smell.

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It's all right, nothing's there.

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Ooh, yeah, it's gotten worse in here since this morning.

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She'd have hit me with a pick handle

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if I'd gone to work, and left that smell there.

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Ugh, Roddy, the stink coming out of here.

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Jesus.

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What this is is, this is our conditioner for summer.

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All this side of the claim I've worked, it's all mined out.

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So the air conditioner sucks the cold air up from underground

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and blows it in here.

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Something's gotten down one of the old shafts and died,

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and it smells bloody horrible.

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So, I'm gonna have to climb down this old mine here,

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and see what it is.

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Ahh! Jesus Christ!

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Halfway into the season, the Bushmen are fighting hard

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to reach their target.

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Things are grim. You know, we do need to find some money desperately.

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I'm worried a bit about Les.

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I know he hasn't had enough diesel to run his genny,

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so, he's had no electricity for a week or two.

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The hope is that we find enough money.

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I need another vehicle, and soon as we get enough money, I'm gonna get one.

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I hope to find enough colour to be able to go

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and visit our kids and our grandkids.

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Rod and Les are hunting the most prized of all opals - black opal.

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The best stones can sell for $43,000 per gram,

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500 times as much as gold.

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If we don't find it, well, we gotta tighten the belt a bit more.

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But until the source of the smell at camp is found and removed,

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Rod and Les won't be mining anything.

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ROD: I'm not really happy about going underground here

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because this is really dangerous ground, this little field.

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I haven't been down there for years.

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So, I don't know what it's gonna be like.

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But I know it's not gonna be good.

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LES: What's it look like down there?

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Bloody awful.

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Oh, I don't want to do this.

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The ground here is very unstable, it's very wet.

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Jesus.

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The walls start to dry out, and as they dry out,

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they shrink, and as they shrink, they develop those big cracks.

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And all this is just the walls that have caved in.

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If you're walking past, and one of those big rocks come down,

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it's definitely gonna ruin your day.

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You found anything yet?

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I can't smell too much, but I don't think it's down this end.

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Knowing what some mines go like, pieces falling out of the walls

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and stuff like that, or the roof falling in,

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you do worry, and try and keep a check on him.

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Jesus.

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It's a real dangerous mine, this.

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We don't work it anymore for that reason.

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The smell's starting to get a bit worse,

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so we might be getting a bit closer.

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Jesus. It's a kangaroo.

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Oh!

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It's come down here and landed straight

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on one of those steel posts we've got.

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Drop the bag down? Yeah, mate, drop it down.

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Here she comes.

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I just wanted it to get in, get it and get out.

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I didn't wanna hang around down there too long.

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For the smell or the danger of the mine.

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Right-o!

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Well, we've got the kangaroo situation under control.

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That smell's gone, and now we wanna do a bit of digging.

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We go back and do what we were suppose to start this morning.

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Three kilometres from camp, at their latest mine, Bondi,

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they've had a tip-off that valuable opal was found

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in three exploration holes drilled here years earlier.

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OK, Nige.

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The story is that when it was drilled 20 years ago,

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really nice colour came out of this grouping.

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They've already dug out one, but two more remain.

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So, I'll get a compass bearing on where that is.

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Taking a bearing from one of their ventilation shafts

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to the location of the holes

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should give them the direction to dig underground.

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When I go underground, I stand straight underneath this hole.

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When I get the same reading underground as what I've got here,

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that's where we need to go.

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Straight through here.

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Hole. Hole. Yeah.

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It will be pretty close.

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We reckon that the exploratory holes

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that we're looking for are a couple of metres that way.

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I just have to move in a second, but it's looking all right

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in that section there, mate.

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Rod must use all his 40 years' experience

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to make the two-tonne machine delicately slice the earth

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at a rate of just 30cm-an-hour.

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With black opal worth up to $43,000 per gram

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and scattered randomly, they can't afford to miss a single piece.

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If you can get an opal the size of your thumbnail,

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it'd be worth $30,000.

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Anything in that place? Hold it. Here we go. You ready?

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It didn't. Continue.

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After several hours' digging,

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Rod rechecks his compass bearings.

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Oh...mate.

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We've strayed off course a little bit.

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Just as well we're not out to see,

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we'd definitely have a bloody battle.

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Ugh. Mate, move. Move.

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There's gonna be loads of scraps just left around on piles.

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Stuff that people have missed. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

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In Opalton, Queensland,

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British couple, Carl Grice and Mary McMillan,

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are taking their very first steps as prospectors,

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hunting surface opal in almost eight million square kilometres

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of Australian outback.

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There's gotta be something left at the top, hasn't there?

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Former schoolteacher, Carl, has quit his job

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to chase the opal dream.

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It's a complete lifestyle change,

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and the excitement of finding treasure.

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Mary is a skilled jeweller.

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I create custom, opal jewellery.

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When I came to Australia a few years ago,

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I discovered Australian opal and just fell in love with it.

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But they're both new to opal hunting.

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Their plan is to make a living, turning any stones they find

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into high-end jewellery.

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I started having a go at cutting opal about a year-and-a-half ago,

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and found that, actually, I was OK at it.

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They've gambled all their savings

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kitting out a second-hand camper van as their mobile base,

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enabling them to cut and set opals wherever they find them.

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We've spent all our savings setting up the van,

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and it's a lot more than what we anticipated.

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We borrowed money to buy it. This is every penny I have,

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and money I don't have, and now I'm driving it down the road.

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Their destination is the opal Mecca of White Cliffs, New South Wales

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to hunt legendary opal pineapples

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worth up to half a million dollars apiece.

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It's a little mining community. Everyone's friendly

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and willing to help, and that's why we thought, 'Let's come back here

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and get a lease and do some digging.'

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But they've never mined a day in their lives.

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We've read a little, but we are complete rookies.

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With their debt growing daily,

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Carl and Mary need to find opal as quickly as they can.

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Our target this season is... $100,000. Yeah.

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That'd be good.

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So, how much do you think we need to find?

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I think to get us started in White Cliffs, We'll need at least 3,000.

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Between 3,000 and 5,000.

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We're gonna have to find at least one really good piece.

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The first stop on their journey is Opalton, Queensland,

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home of boulder opal, worth up to $20,000 per gram.

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Boulder opal's probably my favourite type of Australian opal

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because I just feel it's a bit more fascinating,

248
00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,959
it's a bit more interesting.

249
00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,719
In the 1880s, hundreds of opal mines

250
00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,359
covered this land until a dip in prices

251
00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,439
sent many miners bankrupt.

252
00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,479
Now, with prices soaring again,

253
00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:00,999
Karl and Mary could be on the way to a fortune.

254
00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,999
If we can find a few pieces we can cut into stones,

255
00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,799
Mary can set a piece, and we could sell that.

256
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:11,999
But these remote opal fields stretch almost 1,000 square kilometres

257
00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:16,719
and temperatures can hit a deadly 46 degrees Celsius.

258
00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,439
In 2018, 13 people died

259
00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,839
of heat exhaustion in the outback.

260
00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,199
We're taking a chance, and this is a little part of that.

261
00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,319
All these boulders on the side of the road. Can you see?

262
00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,599
The ironstone as well, aren't they? Yeah.

263
00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,199
In Queensland, with a $50 fossicking permit,

264
00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,679
anyone can hunt for opal on the surface

265
00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,199
of publicly designated land.

266
00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,279
I reckon this is ironstone, Mary.

267
00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:49,799
They're looking for boulder opal found inside ironstone rocks.

268
00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,879
We're in the right place. Yeah.

269
00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,159
And the ground is scattered with ironstone

270
00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,879
that could hold opal that's been missed.

271
00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,919
It's slightly darker than all the other bits around, isn't it?

272
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,959
Yeah, that's the sandstone. You can see the difference.

273
00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,439
We're managing to get our eye

274
00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,479
and spotting the ironstone pretty quickly.

275
00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,759
It stands out from the sandstone quite significantly.

276
00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,959
The tricky part now, is to try and spot a boulder that's got

277
00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,479
potential colour in it from one that hasn't.

278
00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,279
Oh, look. What is it?

279
00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:27,079
It's quite cute, isn't it? Oh.

280
00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,879
It's just that milky blue. Yeah.

281
00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,679
But all they're finding is common opal

282
00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,639
with little or no colour, known as potch.

283
00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,079
Yes, that's the colour. That's really, really potch.

284
00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,079
It's feeling a little bit like a needle in a haystack.

285
00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,359
We're teased with the right signs.

286
00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,519
We get close with a little bit of potch,

287
00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,399
but nothing that we can really usefully do anything with

288
00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,879
has presented itself at the moment.

289
00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,439
It's pretty hard going with the flies, and the heat, and digging.

290
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,119
Do you think we should try somewhere else?

291
00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,879
Maybe we should try and find something a bit more remote,

292
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,799
a bit more of an older dump. Let's go for it.

293
00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,679
BAYDEN: They can't peg that.

294
00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:20,559
My claim goes from there, and comes all the way through there.

295
00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,999
At the Tunnel Rats' Grasshopper Mine,

296
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,559
Rival miners have pegged an unclaimed area

297
00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,999
right next to their most productive bit of land.

298
00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,559
This is already pegged. No, it's not.

299
00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,639
What do you mean? It's not pegged.

300
00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:38,359
Bayden's convinced the rival's pegs are meters inside his own claim,

301
00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,559
but dad Rodney isn't so sure.

302
00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,479
So, the way I've pegged it, how I wanted to peg it,

303
00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,639
was I had my peg coming straight through yours.

304
00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:51,039
Yeah, that's where it should have been. And that is how it his is.

305
00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,759
No, it's not, because your peg

306
00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,879
goes through on an angle like that.

307
00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:03,799
Bayden has mistakenly set his pegs at an angle,

308
00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:08,399
and the rivals have legally pegged the land right next to him.

309
00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,639
If the rich opal seam that has netted the Tunnel Rats $100,000

310
00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,439
continues into the rivals' claim,

311
00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,799
Bayden, Rodney and Leese will have just lost access to it.

312
00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,159
We're talking big money here. And this kind of...

313
00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,639
It's just...you off to the point where you just...

314
00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,959
I can't even explain.

315
00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,399
I can't even explain. Oh, I just can't.

316
00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,879
No-one's gonna take care our riches off us. Not Dad and I.

317
00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,159
No. Worked too hard.

318
00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:44,839
You see my peg here? Yes, son.

319
00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:46,559
See he's pegged there. Yeah.

320
00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,199
He can't do it. Yes, he can.

321
00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,679
For Bayden, after working this claim

322
00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:56,079
for 17 years with little reward, it's the last straw.

323
00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,399
Come over here. No. Let's walk over here.

324
00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,799
No, I don't want to go over there. I'm looking at my peg.

325
00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,879
You've got to look where the other peg is. OK?

326
00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,959
The only reason I probably even haven't done it...

327
00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,799
It needs to come over more. That's what it is.

328
00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,879
Yeah.

329
00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,199
I've made a mistake. That was my first original spot

330
00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,879
where I put my peg. But then, I had an angle.

331
00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,559
Breathe. Breathe, honey. Breathe.

332
00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,119
Just breathe. I was scared about it yesterday.

333
00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,879
I was scared it was gonna happen.

334
00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,439
Just breathe. Take big breaths. Come on.

335
00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,279
They're still working in your claim, son. So, don't panic.

336
00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:41,839
That's why I wanted people to ...

337
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,359
Peg!

338
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,599
Hey. That's  why!

339
00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,679
me, Dad.

340
00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:54,679
How many times did I say, 'Please look at my claim?'

341
00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,199
How many  times, Dad?

342
00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,999
I said, 'Please, look at my claim.'

343
00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,079
Son... You know it.

344
00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,759
It's all right. You're still working in your ground.

345
00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,559
All I wanna do is, we'll sell the opal we've got,

346
00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,079
and I'm done here in Mintabie. I'm done. I'm done.

347
00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,719
Son, all this ground through here

348
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,319
is the ground that is producing opal, OK?

349
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,319
Our drive's coming this way.

350
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:31,279
Here. Underneath. So, we're nowhere near

351
00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:34,079
anybody else's ground.

352
00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:38,399
And they have just missed the run by 20 or 30 metres.

353
00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,959
It's all right, son. It's all right, mate.

354
00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,199
So, we're just gonna continue mining on our ground.

355
00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,519
So, nothing's stopping me.

356
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,319
When you think that somebody's coming in

357
00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,959
to steal your dreams...

358
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,039
..yeah, it gets emotional.

359
00:20:01,360 --> 00:20:05,239
Well, if it's silent in there, if we come back and go through there,

360
00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:07,919
we should still hit the edge of it.

361
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,359
Deep in Bondi, their last remaining untapped mine,

362
00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,239
the Bushmen have lost their way.

363
00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,319
I would've thought it was on this direction.

364
00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,679
We keep saying we're looking for nine inchers.

365
00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,319
What we mean by that is,

366
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,799
one of them, which is a nine-inch exploratory hole.

367
00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,359
They're hunting a group of long-lost exploratory holes,

368
00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,559
rumoured to hold good opal.

369
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,439
That's what we're looking for. The three over there,

370
00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,519
they drilled up colour 20 years ago.

371
00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,439
But Rod and Les have been digging in the wrong direction.

372
00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,599
Bring this right forward and lay it forward.

373
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,559
We were sort of going in that way cos we were following a nice seam,

374
00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,799
and we actually had to swing around about 45 degrees.

375
00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,959
Having struggled to find any good opal for months

376
00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,039
and running out of fuel and food,

377
00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,679
the Bushmen need their luck to change.

378
00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,919
We could sure do with a payday at the moment,

379
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,959
the way things are going. So, we're really hoping

380
00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,079
that this will be it.

381
00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,959
If we don't hit it soon, it's more goat stew and...

382
00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:18,079
and just scabbing to try and get diesel to go back underground,

383
00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,879
and keep on doing what we're doing.

384
00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,839
LES: Shift your bloody machine out the road.

385
00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,639
Well, that sounds a bit exciting. It is exciting.

386
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,719
You've got it a little harder, flatter now.

387
00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,479
It better be good, I'm telling you.

388
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,199
Ho! There she is. Look at that.

389
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,039
Not bad bloody black.

390
00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:45,479
We found an opal. It's not big money, but it's a real good trace.

391
00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,879
If you're not finding gem opal, this is the next best thing to it

392
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,599
because it's a really good sign

393
00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,479
that you're leading up to something.

394
00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:58,119
ROD: For once, Les, the stories appear to be right.

395
00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,079
It was in the truth section of the fiction section.

396
00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,759
We might suck this out so I can get in here properly, mate,

397
00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:05,719
cos it is continuing.

398
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,199
I might be able to undercut it with the digger.

399
00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:12,759
To chase the opal, they first need to clear out the mined earth.

400
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,199
A powerful diesel-fuelled vacuum called a blower,

401
00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,319
sucks up the excavated rock at a rate of four tonnes-an-hour

402
00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,399
depositing it above ground.

403
00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,159
Guess what, Les? Not sucking?

404
00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,239
Something's gone wrong. Oh, God, now what?

405
00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:37,879
The belts are off.

406
00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:39,959
The belts have come off the pulley

407
00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,239
that powers the blower's 20-year-old vacuum pump.

408
00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:47,639
Jesus. What else can go bloody wrong?

409
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,839
We were sucking out, and all of a sudden,

410
00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,919
the blowers stopped working.

411
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,319
It had spat all the drive belts off.

412
00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,159
We're just getting so close to those nine-inch exploratory holes.

413
00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,079
And we're starting to get really nice potch with good colour.

414
00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:06,239
It's just that frustration in not being to get down there, you know?

415
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,519
See, it's cracked here. It's cracked there.

416
00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,159
The pulley is broken here, its cracked through here,

417
00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,359
and it's not staying on the shaft.

418
00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,199
We're just gonna weld the bloody thing up, and be done with it.

419
00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,279
I know you don't wanna do it, but...

420
00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:20,799
Yeah, I know, because... No, I know. Don't tell me why.

421
00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,679
Don't tell me what's gonna happen, cos I don't wanna know.

422
00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,999
All I wanna know is, if you weld it there,

423
00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:28,999
it's not gonna kill either of us, is it?

424
00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,519
We won't be up here. No, OK. So what are we worried about?

425
00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,279
Let's just bloody do it.

426
00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,879
Rod wanted to do the dodgy cos I'm not into that dodgy stuff much.

427
00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,279
I'd sooner fix it properly.

428
00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,279
You shouldn't do it, but didn't have much choice.

429
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:51,079
So, I wanna keep digging. Yeah, we need some money.

430
00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,759
Now we're ready to roll.

431
00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,519
Well done, mate. Beauty.

432
00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,519
It's bloody good to be back at work, get a bit of digging done.

433
00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,399
You reckon you can pass us the jackhammer, Les? Yeah, right-o.

434
00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,479
There's a bit of bloody purply blue stuff here in the wall.

435
00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,559
Now, I've got a seam coming down there.

436
00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,639
I've got another seam coming down there.

437
00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,719
Then I've got a horizontal coming down here.

438
00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,439
And where it all meets, that's generally where you find colour.

439
00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,559
You better get the lid off the colour tin.

440
00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,439
We're gonna need it, I think.

441
00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,919
I'm getting that feeling. You got the feeling?

442
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,119
I've got the bloody feeling, mate.

443
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,199
You got your hand on it?

444
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,519
Bloody beautiful. I can see that from here. Yeah, look at that.

445
00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,879
Yeah, it's gotta be good.

446
00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,679
This is just getting better and better.

447
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,199
We've got a four-wheel drive. Let's do a bit of off road.

448
00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,279
See if we can find some old-timer's dig-ins.

449
00:25:00,360 --> 00:25:04,079
In outback Queensland, novice miners Karl and Mary

450
00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,719
are hoping to find valuable Boulder Opal

451
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:12,079
by sifting through the waste dirt from 100-year-old abandoned mines.

452
00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,399
We've been told that having a scratch around in some of the old-timer dumps

453
00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:17,559
can turn up some material.

454
00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,919
Those boys used to throw valuable stuff away.

455
00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,759
It wasn't valuable to them, but it is to us. Yeah, absolutely.

456
00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,839
But they've never mined before,

457
00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,239
and have so far found nothing.

458
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,039
We've realised just how much hard work it's gonna be.

459
00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:32,479
We scratched around, we got hot, we got sweaty, we've got

460
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,519
covered in flies and dusty, and really didn't turn anything up.

461
00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,319
It's a big expectations to turn up to a place you've never been before,

462
00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,239
do something you've never done before.

463
00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,999
They're now gambling what little they have left

464
00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:51,479
on hiring a 4x4 to help them go even deeper into the harsh outback.

465
00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,359
Well, this looks like it could be it. Brilliant.

466
00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,439
The further they go, the greater chance they have

467
00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:03,079
of discovering old mine sites that haven't been thoroughly picked over.

468
00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:07,919
These are really old dumps. They're probably 60, 70 years old.

469
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,439
So, the good stuff's probably been taken from the top.

470
00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,639
But there might be some treasure underneath.

471
00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,839
So, we're gonna dig down and see if we can find a bit more colour.

472
00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:22,439
We're going a little further down, and I'm just washing off

473
00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:25,439
to help get some of the dirt off

474
00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:27,719
so we can see if there's any colour

475
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,119
inside any of these bits of ironstone.

476
00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,119
Hang a minute, Carl?

477
00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,679
Look at that. Oh, look at that. Wow.

478
00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,519
That's real colour. That's beautiful. Lovely.

479
00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,159
Wow, look at that.

480
00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,559
There's loads of little veins in there as well.

481
00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,839
That could face on the top there.

482
00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,239
It goes all the way through. Wow. Yeah.

483
00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,679
If we come down on the face of that. Look at that. That's a stone.

484
00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,719
If the opal in this stone runs right through it,

485
00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,999
it will create a full opal face

486
00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,279
which could be worth around $500.

487
00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:05,599
Have you got another bit? Yeah, hang on.

488
00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,839
Were they all in that last shovelful? Yeah.

489
00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,439
It all just came together. Oh, wow, look at that.

490
00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,599
That colour's stunning. That's my favourite.

491
00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,679
That's the green. Yellow-green.

492
00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,199
I can't believe that just came out of there.

493
00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,079
Look at the brightness.

494
00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,919
That is so vibrant.

495
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:27,039
That's fantastic. Isn't it? We've got a stone to cut.

496
00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,479
We've just found some really, really amazing colour.

497
00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,239
Some really bright blue-green.

498
00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,599
It might have a nice face on it.

499
00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,159
So these are potential jewellery opals.

500
00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,479
These are the first cuttable stones we've seen

501
00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,719
since we arrived in Opalton yesterday. So, this is exciting.

502
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,159
If I can cut those to their best, I think we got enough stones to cut.

503
00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,359
Do you reckon? Yeah, I do.

504
00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,199
If we can find a buyer for those,

505
00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,079
we definitely have enough to get set up in White Cliffs. Yeah.

506
00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,199
Back at their mobile base, the Poms will need

507
00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,439
Carl's newly-learned skills at cutting stones...

508
00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,879
I'll probably be a bit cautious, not wanting to do the wrong thing.

509
00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,519
..and Mary's skills at making jewellery

510
00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,239
to turn these rough stones worth hundreds

511
00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:18,199
into finished pieces worth thousands.

512
00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,639
There's a lot of sun spots in the face.

513
00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:24,239
If those sunspots clear out, there's some beautiful colour underneath.

514
00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,319
But it's very thin.

515
00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,159
Hope we don't lose the colour.

516
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,439
Oh.

517
00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,319
I think I've stuffed it up.

518
00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,639
She knows. She knows exactly.

519
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,839
Lady, here.

520
00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,799
In Mintabie, rival miners have pegged a claim

521
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,079
right next to the Tunnel Rats' rich opal mine,

522
00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,039
putting them on high alert.

523
00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,159
Just put the dog on the leash at the front there for security measures.

524
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,399
They bark at everything, and anything.

525
00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,239
So, anyone snooping around, she will let us know for sure.

526
00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:15,239
Get going, buddy. Yeah, it looks like it.

527
00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,599
Yeah, it wants to.

528
00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:20,559
Timber!

529
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:22,879
In just two months, they face eviction

530
00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,639
from their camp and mining claims.

531
00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,159
And now, with rival miners closing in,

532
00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,799
it's a race to find opal.

533
00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,959
RODNEY: Every day, I feel that we're running out of time

534
00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:37,599
and I'm trying to look for ways to cut corners

535
00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,199
to get the dirt out faster.

536
00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,759
Dad's gonna be homeless. I'm gonna be homeless.

537
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,959
We need money to be able to buy another place.

538
00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:56,719
Like, it's trying. There's a fleck of red, but that's all.

539
00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,439
Up here, we've got potch and colour,

540
00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,719
and here we've got green.

541
00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,159
We'll come in over the top and we'll drop it down.

542
00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,279
You don't want to get the jackhammer too close,

543
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:08,959
or you'll smash up all your opal.

544
00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,519
Right-o, give us a hand. You all right?

545
00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,159
Oh, yeah, there's green up there. Oh, yes.

546
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,519
Look at that. Look at that. Yeah.

547
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,119
It's pay dirt, mate. It's pay dirt.

548
00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,479
All right, what do you wanna do? Green, blues, reds.

549
00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,759
Look at those pieces.

550
00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:38,999
You know, it just seems like...

551
00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,119
it just keeps on getting better.

552
00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,239
Chuck it in the drum, and let's get it all. Yeah, let's get it all.

553
00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:49,559
Bayden, look at that. Oh.

554
00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,879
I can't see any there. No, I got it off with my hand.

555
00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:58,199
Look at that. Look at freaking... Yes!

556
00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,479
Yes! That's what I'm talking about.

557
00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,559
Yes! Yes!

558
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,439
I'm nearly shaking! Yes!

559
00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,199
Yeah. We need another bucket.

560
00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,279
Oh, use the Bobcat.

561
00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,519
I think I'm bragging now. I think I might have

562
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,319
to just start dumping in the Bobcat.

563
00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,039
It's the find they desperately need to move out of Mintabie,

564
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,999
and keep their opal dream alive.

565
00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,519
The green just held off and held off and held off,

566
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,039
and all of a sudden, it's like, 'Hey. It's time to pay you.' Come find me.

567
00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:40,679
And, mate, it's come at a good time for us, I'll tell you.

568
00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,559
Hope we don't lose the colour.

569
00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:54,759
Oh.

570
00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,519
I think I've stuffed it up.

571
00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,559
At the start of his dream journey to become an opal miner,

572
00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:08,439
British ex-schoolteacher Carl has made his first rookie mistake.

573
00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:10,679
I got overexcited, trying to get the sunspots out

574
00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:12,359
so I could see the colour,

575
00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,519
and I've taken both out. The colour, and the sunspots have gone.

576
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,599
We're just down to bare ironstone.

577
00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:21,439
With its high moisture content, opal is relatively soft

578
00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:24,599
compared to other gems, and is easily damaged

579
00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:27,079
by an inexperienced cutter.

580
00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,879
We only had two stones that looked like they were promising.

581
00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,119
So, we've got one left. That one has to work

582
00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,919
if we're gonna make any money.

583
00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,959
I'm just letting the stone roll around,

584
00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:41,719
taking off some more of the ironstone and letting the shape appear.

585
00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:46,239
Jeweller Mary is already crafting $1,000 worth of gold

586
00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:48,319
into a ring for the stone.

587
00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,599
Because gold's quite expensive to buy, I usually just buy it

588
00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,719
for each commission that I do,

589
00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,759
but I've got a little piece left over.

590
00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,439
We're just trying to make the opal fit.

591
00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,799
Mary, do you wanna bring your gold out, darling, and see if this fits?

592
00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:09,479
Yeah.

593
00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,839
That's gonna be a beautiful ring, isn't it? Yeah, well done.

594
00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:21,159
Opals are quite soft. As a gemstone, they're quite fragile.

595
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,959
If there's a slight weakness in the opal, it can crack and break.

596
00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:27,839
So this is quite nerve wrecking.

597
00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:34,999
So I think that's almost there.

598
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:39,879
It goes in there nicely, but it just, sort of, catches slightly.

599
00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:41,959
Carl. What?

600
00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,599
The opal's still too big. Are you kidding me?

601
00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:49,039
I need to have a bit of gold still on the outside of the back plate.

602
00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,279
That's gonna be a lot smaller, Mary.

603
00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:53,599
It needs to be like this on both sides.

604
00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:55,319
That's a lot.

605
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,359
Usually, you start with the opal,

606
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:03,439
and you cut the metal to the size of the opal.

607
00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,959
But because gold is hideously expensive,

608
00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:08,599
we've had to trim the opal to the size of the metal,

609
00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,279
which is just heart-breaking.

610
00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:17,679
Yeah, that'll do. Stop!

611
00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,799
So, now we've re-cut the stone, and I've filed the ring.

612
00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,439
So, now, hopefully, when I put it on there,

613
00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:28,639
it should stand up on its own.

614
00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:30,879
I've got a couple of pieces of solder here

615
00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:36,319
that will hopefully join the ring band to the setting.

616
00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:43,679
So, now, I've just got to heat it all to the same temperature.

617
00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,799
And then I'll pickle that for about 40 minutes.

618
00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,119
The ring is pickled in a solution of acid and water

619
00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:54,159
to remove residues from the solder.

620
00:34:54,240 --> 00:34:58,239
And finally, the opal is placed in its setting.

621
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:02,279
It's the perfect size, which is why it's taken too long.

622
00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,519
Setting opals is quite dodgy

623
00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,759
because they're so fragile.

624
00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,839
When it just survives the whole process, it's really nice to see it.

625
00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:15,359
Karl and Mary have turned a $500 stone

626
00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:20,959
and $1,000 of gold into a piece they hope is worth over $6,000.

627
00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,439
The ring is 14 karat gold.

628
00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,759
$6,000 even sounds cheap, but we need the money.

629
00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:30,959
And Carl has polished five more lower quality stones.

630
00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:35,079
The stones, we'd like $1,000, but I'd probably ask for $1,500.

631
00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,919
In their first ever opal deal, Carl and Mary are meeting

632
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,839
with experienced opal buyer, Erik Madsen,

633
00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,759
who travels the Queensland opal fields looking for stock.

634
00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,159
Good to see you, Erik. Mary, how are you?

635
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:50,719
I'm an opal dealer from Sydney, and they mentioned to me

636
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:54,839
that they have some nice pieces that they would like to show to me,

637
00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:56,919
and maybe wanna sell.

638
00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,279
So, we've managed to find a few pieces... Yeah.

639
00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,199
..which I've cut and polished.

640
00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:05,079
So that's those there. Yeah.

641
00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:09,039
ERIK: Yeah, OK, that's a bit of...

642
00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,599
It's not worth a real big amount of money.

643
00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:15,199
I've also made a ring with a really nice opal.

644
00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:19,879
Oh, that's beautiful.

645
00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:21,999
So, it's 14-karat gold.

646
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,159
That's our prize gem out of the lot.

647
00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:26,879
It's clean face. It's got all the colours. Yeah.

648
00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:32,839
And you like to sell the whole lot as one parcel lot?

649
00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,439
Ideally. So, how much are you looking at?

650
00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:38,159
We'd like $1,500 for the stones.

651
00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:41,159
And the ring's gotta be worth at least $6,000. $6,000. Yeah.

652
00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:43,999
Yeah. $7,500.

653
00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:47,679
You know, $7,500 for the lot, I think it's a bit high for me.

654
00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,199
I'm interested in it.

655
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,319
I can give you $6,500 for the lot.

656
00:36:57,880 --> 00:36:59,879
What do you think about that?

657
00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:03,279
Erm... What do you reckon?

658
00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:07,519
It's less than what we wanted, but... Yeah, I think...

659
00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,719
Yeah, we need it, really, don't we? Yeah.

660
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,919
Yeah, OK, $6,500. OK.

661
00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,519
Thanks, Erik. Thank you. Thank you very much.

662
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:16,599
Their opal is boulder opal,

663
00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,759
cut and polished with one set in a gold ring.

664
00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:24,159
Worth $6,500, it's just the kick-start the Brits need

665
00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:27,599
to begin their new life as opal miners.

666
00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:31,839
This place has been really good for us. It's been a fantastic experience,

667
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:35,639
and we're looking forward to moving on towards White Cliffs now.

668
00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:39,959
We've made enough money to help us set up our own mine.

669
00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,799
At least get some power tools, and lights for when we're tunnelling.

670
00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,319
We're looking forward to learning more about opal,

671
00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,719
a bit more about mining, a bit more about ourselves

672
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,799
and having the adventure.

673
00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:59,079
There's a couple of bob, mate!

674
00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:00,759
Oh, yeah? Yeah, yeah.

675
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:02,439
Where's the other half? Up here.

676
00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:06,039
After years of finding just enough to survive,

677
00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:09,279
the Bushmen's opal drought appears to be over.

678
00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,559
I reckon, Les, that this is gonna be a payday.

679
00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:14,959
I know the baked beans cupboard's nearly empty.

680
00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:19,079
Yeah. Oh, man, it's everywhere.

681
00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,719
I'm scared to dig it out, Les. It's been that long.

682
00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,959
Do you want me to get under it? No, it's too big for that.

683
00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,519
Oh, man.

684
00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:34,679
Digging colour out of the wall, there's no better feeling.

685
00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:38,639
For Rod and Les, opal fever has struck again.

686
00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:43,039
When you got the opal bug bad, it's the joy you get looking into it.

687
00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:46,319
Something about the colours do something to your soul.

688
00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,479
It's just so pretty.

689
00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:50,639
I love looking at opal.

690
00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:53,159
Oh-ho-ho! Les!

691
00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,599
I'd say that will go in the colour jar, mate.

692
00:38:56,680 --> 00:38:58,799
Yeah, this is a really good place.

693
00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:03,919
Hard work, trying to break all the bloody stuff

694
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,799
you have to go through to find this, and here it is.

695
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,359
Oh, man, what a feeling.

696
00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,559
I reckon you dream in black and white,

697
00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:17,319
but I know I dream in colour.

698
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:19,879
Oh, ho ho ho!

699
00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:22,239
She keeps going.

700
00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:26,239
This here is as good as it gets for blue-green.

701
00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:29,039
You know, that could be a three-grand stone.

702
00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:32,479
Getting into some good money now. Look at that twinkle in there.

703
00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,559
It's gonna be a good payday when we cash it in.

704
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,679
We'd have something different to eat than bloody beans and kangaroos.

705
00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:43,439
Beautiful stuff. I reckon we picked up 20 grand.

706
00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:48,599
The Bushmen have unearthed high quality black opal,

707
00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:50,999
mainly medium-value blue-green

708
00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:53,399
on an intense black base.

709
00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,879
They have almost 400 grams

710
00:39:55,960 --> 00:40:00,079
with an estimated value of $20,000,

711
00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:04,679
taking their season total to over $30,000.

712
00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,319
How good is that? That's real good.

713
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,079
I'm feeling pretty, bloody good about

714
00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:14,399
all these bits of colours coming my way.

715
00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,959
Yeah, I do smile to myself,

716
00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:22,359
and I think it's really good.

717
00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,759
We hit $20 grand there this afternoon, which is fantastic.

718
00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:29,239
It's a lot of money, but I reckon there's bigger things to come.

719
00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:32,799
If this is the edge of it, you imagine what the good stuff's gonna be like.

720
00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:35,439
A bloody river in here, if this is only the edge.

721
00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:39,439
I'm thinking we're gonna hit it in this claim.

722
00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:42,839
This might be the claim that gets us all we want.

723
00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:58,919
Good morning, Robert. Good morning colour opal miners.

724
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,279
At the Tunnel Rats' Mintabie camp, fellow miner

725
00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:04,759
and and international opal dealer, Robert Haanstra

726
00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:07,039
has arrived to value their recent find.

727
00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:09,159
How are you going, mate? Nice to see you.

728
00:41:09,240 --> 00:41:12,399
Robert goes to the region, and keeps an eye on the prices

729
00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:14,919
cos he also mines himself.

730
00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:18,239
So, I trust his judgment, for sure.

731
00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:21,919
Valuing opal is subject to a number of variables,

732
00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:26,199
including colour, size, brightness and shape.

733
00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:30,359
All righty, so, the two categories I've separated into

734
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:34,519
is your top grade, which is all you're solid cutters here

735
00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:37,479
with a very bright bar along the top of it,

736
00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:39,879
and using the potch as your base.

737
00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:42,559
And this is the largest stone in the lesser grade.

738
00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:46,719
This one's more of a jelly, and you can see the comparison difference,

739
00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:48,799
where you've got a really dense pattern

740
00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:53,599
and very bright to a jelly, which is very grey in the lower grade.

741
00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:55,879
And you got a lot of smaller stones.

742
00:41:55,960 --> 00:42:00,599
Bear opal a mixture of lighter and darker Mintabie crystal.

743
00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:05,159
It's in the rough, and there is 800 grams of it.

744
00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:07,359
So how much have we got here, Rob?

745
00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:10,519
Well, for the four parcels, obviously, the top two are the best.

746
00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:13,359
The second two are very nice colour, but smaller pieces.

747
00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:16,879
I've come to a total general estimate of...

748
00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:22,919
$37,500.

749
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,079
Yes! All right! Yes.

750
00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:27,719
So, yeah, I wish you the best there. That's awesome.

751
00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:31,399
I'm excited. Finally. High-five!

752
00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:36,639
LEESE: I think that mine has a lot more to give.

753
00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:40,079
Every time you have a look, you just seem to find something.

754
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:45,359
The opal just seems to keep coming, one pocket after the next pocket.

755
00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:50,079
It just makes me so happy that I haven't wasted my life.

756
00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:52,479
That's something that we've been waiting for

757
00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:56,799
for a long, long, long time, to see it and experience it.

758
00:42:56,880 --> 00:42:59,159
Opal keeps on coming out, and all of a sudden,

759
00:42:59,240 --> 00:43:02,799
it's red, it's greens, its oranges, and all sudden it gets darker.

760
00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,359
And it's just... It's beautiful.

761
00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:07,439
I'm just hoping when it actually does make

762
00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:10,799
proper thick stuff, that's gonna be all black opal, mate.

763
00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,399
That will really be a lot of change.

764
00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,639
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764
00:43:20,305 --> 00:44:20,642
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