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On Outback Opal Hunters...

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Whoa! Holy ghost!

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..the Bushmen battle unbreakable rock in a rich but deadly mine.

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One pull on this lever, your whole life changes.

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Pete Cook suffers a serious injury...

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I won't be able to go underground.

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We're gonna have to change our plans a bit.

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..forcing an emergency sale of their prized $50,000 opal.

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I like the stone. I don't really like the price.

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This side here could've slipped into the hole if you go too close that way.

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And the Boulder Boys are forced out of the Badlands pit...

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Can't go any deeper, Ron.

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..onto machine-breaking shallow ground.

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You're leaking coolant. Oh, that's why  can't keep up.

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It's been dripping out the mongrel.

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# Money

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# And fancy clothes

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

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Is it up there, too? Yup.

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Holy . It's not good.

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There's a hole here in the suction pipe, too.

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The Bushmen, Rod Manning and Les Walsh

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are tackling emergency repairs on their 25-year-old blower.

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Wouldn't be able to opal mine without this stuff.

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It's the only thing that holds things together.

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Les! I can see what's happening there. She's worn.

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The blower is the only way they can clear waste rock from the mine.

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A 30-centimetre pipe sucks rock to the surface

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to a two-ton hopper, emptying into the back of a truck.

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Powered by a fan spinning at 750 revs per minute,

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it has enough suction to move two and a half tons of rock an hour.

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We might have a issue here, Les. Yeah.

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The top plate of this fan has been worn

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all the way along that back bleeding edge.

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Like, back to the centre nearly? It's on every blade.

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And we can seriously blow this up, like that plate can come off.

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Well, we'll have two halves. We haven't got anything else.

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If it goes down, there's no B. That's it.

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After signing up to a lucrative 50-50 opal deal

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with mine-owner Martin Hutchison on his Ploughboys claim,

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the Bushmen have had a disastrous start.

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That can't be good. Oh, no!

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The fan has moved on the shaft out. Jesus Christ!

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This is 30, 40 grand to fix.

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Ordinarily, last week's effort at five grand, it'd be OK.

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But we made five grand and destroyed a blower,

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so I guess we're 30 behind now.

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Last week, yeah, that was a real blow to us.

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We had to go back to the old one which we know now, she needs repair.

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All we can do is duct tape the hulls up,

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put this plate back up in there.

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That'll do. Tighten it up, say a prayer,

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and let's get underground.

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Ploughboys mine is considered one of the most productive in Grawin

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but Ron and Les are going to have to find opal

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to prove they're worth keeping on as partners.

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Looking pretty good, Les. It is?

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Got ironstone and quartz pebbles right through it, Les.

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Oh, righto. You'll often find good opal around these.

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Righto. Time to shift some dirt.

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Now that's hard ground.

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I'm mainly just skimming a little earth.

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hard.

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Holy ghost, that's unbelievable.

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You might have to go a bit higher I think.

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Just keep an eye on it up there.

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Whoa! Did you see the sparks fly off that one? Yeah.

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You could've started a campfire with that, Les.

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Holy ghost!

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We ain't getting through that, Les. No.

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That's as hard as my first wife's heart. Yeah.

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Right. Well, take her in, Ron.

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More. There's a little bit more here. Righto.

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He wants to get in a position where he can dig this test hole out.

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You don't want it too steep, cos it's wet down there.

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We don't want to slip in.

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In a dangerous 12-metre-deep pit,

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the Boulder Boys Aaron Grotjahn and Ron Selig

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are attempting to clear flood water

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to reach the level partner Eric thinks contains opal.

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I'd like to clean that right down. We gotta still be

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another 23, 24 feet down to a level.

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It's gotta go forward through there, you can't come back cos it's soft.

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It's too risky to reverse on the loose ground.

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Rotating the cab towards the hole

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could also unbalance the 30-ton excavator.

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This side here could slip into the hole,

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you know, it could go that way.

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The Badlands is two massive claims on opal-rich ground,

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worked for over 30 years,

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and recently purchased by local miner Eric Hume.

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Me and Ron are working for Eric and we're on 15% each.

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We got 30% between us.

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Eric borrowed me a little bit of money.

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I just bought Dad's estate

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and I'm in the process of cleaning it up,

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wanna open it up as a bit of a museum.

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It'd be nice to get a big find and pay that debt off.

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Aaron owes Eric $80,000.

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To pay him back, and survive the season

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they need to find $150,000 from Badlands.

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Which they can mine with Eric's heavy machinery.

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Previous owners found a nice pocket. It was just under a million dollars.

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Dig long, it'll be just a little bit of "trash, trash" and then bang!

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"Look at that beautiful colour."

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I just slid over a bit and the back of the excavator's hit the mullock.

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Aaron's positioned the excavator

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close enough to reach the hole they need to empty.

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But the pile of waste dirt known as mullock

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is stopping him from rotating the arm and bucket to dig.

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You can pick the tracks up and move them over.

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Yeah. And spin it back that way then move a bit.

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I'm gonna take the bucket up and over, then I can turn.

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Yeah, no worries. Be careful.

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I think that'll be all right.

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I'm hoping we can get in there, hope it's not gonna keep making water.

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Flooded ground can bog or overturn the heavy machinery,

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or collapse the pit.

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The water has to be removed and dumped where it will evaporate.

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I'm getting the water out.

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Getting a lot of water out.

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Can't go any deeper, Ron. That'll have to do.

123
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We reach the bottom, you can see the teeth marks all the way.

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Yeah, that was full extension on this.

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Gonna let it sit for a few days, clear up,

126
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and we'll drop the pump back in it. That's it.

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The excavator arm isn't long enough to reach the remaining water.

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Their only option is to pump it out once the sediment settles.

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But that means leaving the part of the claim

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Eric believes holds the most opal.

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We'll go and have a look at that shallow bit.

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Time's a wasting, let's go.

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So what do you reckon, mate? Go out,

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pull a load, maybe another big gem?

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Wouldn't it be nice to get another one

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and the one we've already got?

137
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Just get its bigger brother.

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Well, I want its granddaddy.

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What a start to the season that would be.

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Just days after finding a single piece of opal

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worth an estimated $50,000

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Sam Westra and Pete Cooke

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are heading back down the mine they pulled it from.

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Wanna have a look at it again? So you know what you're looking for.

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You carry it around everywhere, don't you? Not everywhere.

146
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The way the industry is right now,

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I'm not getting real good vibes from the buyers,

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they're all doom and gloom.

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You got three different patterns,

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you got Chinese writing, all the colours.

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On the other hand, when you show 'em a nice gem like that they still get excited.

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Gorgeous looking thing, isn't it? Look at it. Precious.

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This year, Pete and Sam want to expand into contract washing

154
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going from one to five agitators,

155
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to allow them to wash other miners' dirt for a cut of any opal found.

156
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It's as simple as the more dirt you wash

157
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the more chance you've got of finding opal.

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The only problem with what we're doing at the moment,

159
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we got two faces going at once,

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so I don't know which one that stone came from.

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So we gotta keep doing both.

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It's anyone's guess of where that opal came from.

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Got pretty good slips and slides in both ends of our claim.

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Just gotta keep moving the dirt.

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We don't know until it comes out the other end of the agi.

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I'm just marking on the door of the box.

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I've just crossed off number ten.

168
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Good to keep count of how many when it's time to move the truck forward

169
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otherwise, you're overflowing the dirt and put it on the ground.

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That's not where we want it. We want it in the truck.

171
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In just his third season mining... That's in the right spot.

172
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..rookie Sam Westra has big plans for his share of the opal.

173
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I'm currently saving for a house.

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I've got a camp in town, which is fine,

175
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but it's not an in-town house.

176
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If my cut got a house deposit down for me and Corinne,

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that'd be a dream come true for us.

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So, the next step in our life taken care of.

179
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What's going on, mate? What's the problem?

180
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I thought it was making a funny noise. Righto.

181
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We're losing a little bit of oil. Yeah.

182
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You can hear it, can't you?

183
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Somewhere... I can hear it squirting.

184
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You got a leak. Oh .

185
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Another long day with nothing to show for it.

186
00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,439
The sun's gone down, mate.

187
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We've been working that long? Yeah.

188
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It's dark, mate. I'm gonna take the truck home, see you tomorrow. Righto, mate.

189
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Three kilometres from the Bushmen's mine lies Rod's camp,

190
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which is completely off the grid.

191
00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,359
What are you doing with a torch? I've got no power.

192
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None at all. None at all? None at all.

193
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Yeah, well... Here, do you want the torch?

194
00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,879
Well, there's the problem, look.

195
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It's these batteries, darl'.

196
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They're getting worse. Can't get any worse than this.

197
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Um...

198
00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,799
How long's the fridge been off, darl'? Oh, the same.

199
00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,279
We just lost power completely.

200
00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,919
Oh, mate, what a  day. These batteries are completely gone.

201
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I assume dinner's not cooked neither or anything. No.

202
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We can't keep running this genny 24/7, darl'.

203
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It's gonna end up broker than we already are. Yup.

204
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I've gotta do something about the batteries

205
00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,039
so I might give Ian the ring, find out how much they are.

206
00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:28,319
With his diesel generator too expensive to run around the clock,

207
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,679
Rod needs to find replacements for his solar batteries

208
00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,119
which can no longer hold charge.

209
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Without batteries, we really are .

210
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The fridges can't run so what do you do? Got to have power.

211
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Hello.

212
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Ian. Yes. Rod Manning, mate. How are you?

213
00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,399
Oh, not too bad. That's good, mate. What's the worry?

214
00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:55,399
I was just wondering have you got any solar batteries in there?

215
00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,559
I have quite a few. Yeah?

216
00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,679
That'll be 280 a battery, will it? Yeah.

217
00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,479
Get your calculator out, girl. 280 times 18.

218
00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:11,959
5,040.  5,040. I got about a grand.

219
00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:16,559
What about opal? Yeah, I haven't got enough opal.

220
00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,199
So, what if we offer him that?

221
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,719
What, as collateral? Yeah.

222
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,879
The ring means a lot more than money.

223
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,519
I'd made it for her and gave it to her, so you know,

224
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it means a lot, and it means a lot to both of us.

225
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I can't think of anything else to do.

226
00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,119
No, I can't think of anything else to do, too.

227
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Yup, all right, do it. There, you take it.

228
00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,719
It's a huge thing and it's gonna weigh heavily

229
00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,079
on my shoulders until I

230
00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,799
you know, dig a bit of money to make it all right.

231
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,119
How you doing? How you going, mate? Pretty good.

232
00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:59,039
How you going? I'm good, mate. You've got what I'm after, some batteries.

233
00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,479
These are the batteries all ready to go.

234
00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:04,639
Problem I got, mate, is I've only got $1,000 cash.

235
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But I know you like opal, and I've brought in Amanda's good opal ring.

236
00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,559
I'll have a good look at it.

237
00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,119
Righto. $7,000 ring, so.

238
00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,079
If I don't come back at the end of the week, you can keep that.

239
00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:23,159
If I do come back, I'll get it back cos that's Amanda's favourite ring.

240
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,119
All right. End of the week. End of the week.

241
00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,519
Thanks, mate, I appreciate it.

242
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With half of any opal going to mine owner, Martin,

243
00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,479
and the remaining half being split with Les, to cover the batteries

244
00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:41,599
Rod needs to find $16,000 of opal in just five days.

245
00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,199
Let's go and have a look.

246
00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,239
We're just trying to find a shallow level,

247
00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,959
something easy to dig, get a bit of cash flow happening.

248
00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,679
The Boulder Boys are waiting for muddy sediment to settle

249
00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:07,279
before they can pump out their promising Badlands pit.

250
00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,359
They're now searching for virgin opal-bearing ground on the claim.

251
00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,559
This land just off the creek, creek's our fault.

252
00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,159
So we're having a look around here, see if we can pick up surface trace.

253
00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,999
There you go, bit of trace. Bit of trace, Ron?

254
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,759
Yeah, purple. Oh, there's another one.

255
00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,439
Give us that. Few rocks around. That's nearly colour, Ron, eh?

256
00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:34,799
It's been sitting in the sun for 100,000 years or more.

257
00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,159
All right. What do you reckon we start at the creek here?

258
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,919
Most creeks usually have a slip or a fault.

259
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,079
Yeah, let's do it. Pop it under that lucky tree.

260
00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,839
Aaron will use his 30-ton excavator

261
00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,279
to dig a trench where Ron believes the opal-bearing fault lies.

262
00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,999
He'll need to dig through sandstone to an ancient layer of sediment

263
00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:05,279
scattered with opal-bearing ironstone rock.

264
00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,439
Keep going, Ron? A little bit deeper, yeah.

265
00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,559
We're looking for ironstone boulders.

266
00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:13,839
We'll keep going till we hit them.

267
00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,799
Sandstone's starting to change. I think so.

268
00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,719
Try and go through it now.

269
00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,999
I'll slow down till we get it level. Yeah.

270
00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,719
Plenty of rocks.

271
00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,319
Oh. That's what we're looking for.

272
00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,559
Boulder ironstone. That's good rock, that's what we're after.

273
00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,519
Aaron and Ron have found small traces of boulder opal.

274
00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,519
Was that out of the last bucket? Yeah.

275
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,519
Have a bit of a look, mate, where to go.

276
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:51,199
Formed when water deposits silica in voids in ironstone rocks,

277
00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,159
the most valuable can be worth $20,000 a gram.

278
00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,919
Got a nice band here with a bit of purple in it. Boulder's got a bit of colour.

279
00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,079
Yeah, if we got a chance, might mark here somewhere, a little dip.

280
00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,119
At four metres they've found the level,

281
00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,359
the depth at which the opal is forming.

282
00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,679
What we might do if you get rid of that dirt,

283
00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,599
and I'll strip a bit off the top.

284
00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,639
Yeah. We should face that, eh?

285
00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,599
The excavator needs to get close to the pit edge

286
00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,319
to dig into the exposed opal level.

287
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,319
Ron brings in the 50-ton loader with a 13-ton bucket

288
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,719
to clear the mined dirt.

289
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,439
I got Ron to clean up the top, we're gonna start basing this level

290
00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,759
so that we don't miss anything.

291
00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,839
Bit of a problem, the temperature is just bouncing from 90 to 100.

292
00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:58,399
Hey, Ronnie. You're leaking coolant. I am?

293
00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,079
You got a leak. I reckon that pump,

294
00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,559
it's making a weird noise here, too, I reckon it's low oil.

295
00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,959
Ah, yeah. We're gonna have to fix that hose, I reckon.

296
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:16,199
19 metres underground, Pete Cooke and Sam Westra's digger

297
00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,719
is leaking hydraulic fluid.

298
00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,359
If they don't fix it, their ambitious plans

299
00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,479
to fund their mega wash plant with opal will be in ruins.

300
00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,759
Look at it, it's all sunburnt.

301
00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,719
Yeah. Decayed.

302
00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,879
Couple of hoses started leaking. I'd just like to re-do

303
00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,439
the fittings on the end of them before they blow

304
00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,359
and cost us $100 worth of hydraulic oil.

305
00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,559
It is a physical job.

306
00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,759
But I reckon what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

307
00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,759
Any crap in there? Yeah, heaps.

308
00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,959
Last season, Pete had surgery on his left shoulder

309
00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,319
after tearing the tendons repairing the same digger.

310
00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,039
Gotta try and look after the old fella, not let him lift too much.

311
00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:04,999
And wrestle the spanner out of his hand, he just loves it that much.

312
00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:06,839
He just doesn't stop.

313
00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,759
He reckons, if he hasn't grown up by 50, he doesn't have to grow up.

314
00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,559
You all right?

315
00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,679
Hurt your good shoulder?

316
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,399
It's no good. I've done something, you're gonna have to finish that.

317
00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,759
Oh. Why don't you go see someone about that?

318
00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,959
Yeah, let's just get this fixed.

319
00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:34,399
Sure you're all right? I'll do this, you just stand there. All right.

320
00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,759
All right, hold that.

321
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,399
Right, give me...

322
00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:46,199
Oh, done something in there. Torn something.

323
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,959
I think I'll go and get it looked at, see what I've done.

324
00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:52,439
The real test will be going up the ladder. See how I go there.

325
00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,879
Yeah. Well, suppose I'll go up first and unload these tools.

326
00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,079
You gonna get up all right? Hope so.

327
00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,279
I'm a bit worried about Pete and his arm.

328
00:20:01,360 --> 00:20:03,759
Could put him out of action for a while.

329
00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,839
I thinks it's a bit more serious than he's putting on

330
00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:10,759
so might take him to the doctors and see what they say.

331
00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,439
All right, I'll see you up there.

332
00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,839
You shall. Makes it look easy, doesn't he?

333
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,239
Righto, ready when you are.

334
00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,959
Having Pete out of action would throw a massive spanner in the works.

335
00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,199
We won't be mining. It's not safe to be underground by yourself.

336
00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,799
All good down there, mate? Yes. Slow and steady.

337
00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,639
So, hopefully, it's not too bad and we can keep on going.

338
00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,719
Nearly there, mate.

339
00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,279
Right.

340
00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,359
You made it. Feeling any worse?

341
00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,039
Oh, yeah. Look at that coming out.

342
00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:58,999
Oh. You're gonna have to go see someone about that.

343
00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,119
Yeah, no, that's not good. Not good.

344
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,799
All right, we'll have to get you in to get checked out, I suppose.

345
00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,679
I don't like going to hospitals,

346
00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,119
I'll avoid them like the plague if I can.

347
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,479
But you know, sometimes you got to suck it up and go and see them.

348
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,319
It can be a real blow if they say put a sling on and stop work.

349
00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,879
Well, that's what I'm supposed to do

350
00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,839
so we'll just have to see what happens, I think.

351
00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,039
Yeah, unfortunately, this is when reality kicks in, you know.

352
00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:48,519
When you realise that I popped Amanda's ring

353
00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,679
and I got to find something.

354
00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,559
So, we just gotta do what we have to do to get a result.

355
00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:58,639
You ready, old fella? Yeah, mate. Take the top out of this side.

356
00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,559
Just keep an eye on it.

357
00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,439
Nothing in the wall there?

358
00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,599
No, nothing. All right, I'll keep moving across.

359
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,839
Oh, look at that. That's a big blow, that's  big blow.

360
00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,879
A blow's a geological thing that's happened millions of years ago.

361
00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,319
And it's like compressed gases and water

362
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,039
from deep underground have blown up.

363
00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:32,159
Different type of clay in there that dries like hard concrete.

364
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,199
Cos this ground's so hard we're going through the teeth really quickly,

365
00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,919
so we're just putting another set of new teeth on it.

366
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,959
That's the difference.

367
00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,399
Other ground, you'll go years without wearing them down that much.

368
00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,959
So what do you reckon? That looks pretty  good.

369
00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,279
Yeah. In this country here. Goes down there.

370
00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:53,679
This yellow stuff, this blow, they're all good signs.

371
00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,239
Only thing we're missing is bloody opal, old fella.

372
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,839
That's it. All right, we'll have a look at this level.

373
00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,199
Where do you want me to start? Right hand side or left hand side?

374
00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,479
I don't give a You gotta pick a side.

375
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,879
That way if I don't find anything it's your fault.

376
00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,839
Ah, we might as well go to the left.

377
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,879
Now I can't see a thing so you gotta guide me.

378
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,439
Yeah, righto. In a bit.

379
00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,479
Oh, what have you done?

380
00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,159
Don't tell me I pulled it through to some colour.

381
00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,119
You went too  high. You're my spotter!

382
00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,919
Only bit of colour we've seen in ages

383
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,079
and I put my teeth through the middle of them.

384
00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,319
Well, put your proper eyes on.

385
00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,479
Look.

386
00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,999
Oh, that bit's not.

387
00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,799
We just go straight in like that.

388
00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:51,879
Just in this situation here, you know,

389
00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:55,279
you can be standing here, behind your digger, absolutely broke,

390
00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:59,759
and in one pull on this lever your whole life changes.

391
00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,879
There's nothing else that you can do that in these days.

392
00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,279
Hallelujah.

393
00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,559
What was that? Big piece of roof fell out.

394
00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,479
roof, Les. Just watch yourself, mate.

395
00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,519
That's a fair lump of rock. That coming down on your head, you'll know about it.

396
00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,479
If I didn't have this these would be falling on my head.

397
00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,439
Can't put a prop or anything under cos we're under it with the digger.

398
00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,559
Oh! Oh, that's not good.

399
00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,079
Up under there is a big hollow spot.

400
00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,399
That means your bedding plains have let go.

401
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,359
That's why it's drummy.

402
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,839
We'll just have to get stuck into this wall, Les,

403
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,999
get in there as quick as we can, mate.

404
00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,959
We can only go forward, we can't go back. No.

405
00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,399
Right, do you wanna hold the tray under?

406
00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,159
We need to get it out as big as we can, Les.

407
00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,599
Come on, old fella. Dig some colour for us.

408
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,079
It's looking good, Les.

409
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,079
Look at this. Yeah.

410
00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,559
Nice and big. And goes right through.

411
00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,879
Better than nothing.

412
00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,319
About there? Yeah.

413
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,479
Whoa. Got any colour in it?

414
00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,039
Oh, yeah, that doesn't look too bad.

415
00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,679
Tell you what, that's hell of a seam up there, Les.

416
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,799
And this big, thick stuff it could develop into something.

417
00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,319
It's not worth a fortune but it's worth something.

418
00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,119
Don't break it. Looking good, Les. Looking good!

419
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,719
This might be it.

420
00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,519
It's not brilliant but it's got colour all the way around.

421
00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,119
Let's get into it!

422
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,159
Damn it, it's looking real good. If it keeps going,

423
00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,239
we might get the ring today.

424
00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,199
If you didn't want that to come down, it would, you know?

425
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,359
Hey, Ronnie, you're leaking coolant.

426
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,799
I've got a loose something.

427
00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,079
Leaking radiator fluid on a 30-year-old loader

428
00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,359
has stalled Aaron and Ron's efforts to find opal

429
00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,919
and pay off Aaron's debt to Eric Hume.

430
00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,119
Where's that coming from? With no loader to clear dirt,

431
00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,679
they can't get the excavator close enough to the wall to dig for opal.

432
00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,239
I think it's out of this top hose here, Ron.

433
00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,199
Why don't I tighten this clamp up, mate?

434
00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,999
You reckon that's all it is? Yeah.

435
00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,319
That's why I can't keep up, cos it's been dripping out the mongrel.

436
00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,679
I'll get a spanner and tighten it, mate.

437
00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,759
Don't want to waste. That is dear, too. Yeah, I know.

438
00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,759
We just gotta tighten it up and then top her up again.

439
00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:50,839
This is pretty loose, Ron. Yeah.

440
00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,559
Lucky we spotted it. If it runs out of coolant,

441
00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,799
we could cook the motor, then we're up for more money. It's still dripping a bit anyway.

442
00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,839
I'll tighten this other one, too. It's loose, too. What the hell?

443
00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:05,679
What about this one here? Got liquid running out of here.

444
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,799
See there? That's where our coolant's been going, Ron.

445
00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:12,559
Hmm. Hey, uh, is there any in the radiator? No.

446
00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,799
Bucket will do it, eh? Maybe a couple of buckets.

447
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,359
All right, mate, here she comes.

448
00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,319
Lime cordial.

449
00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:29,679
Little things like that, if you don't catch it, can create big problems.

450
00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,199
You always gotta keep an eye out, you know.

451
00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:36,159
See, she's back down to the right temperature. No worries.

452
00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,479
Yeah, just gonna clean this front bit out, and we'll start basing that level.

453
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,719
All we're doing is we're taking that top layer off

454
00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,639
and you can see the sandstone there.

455
00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,679
We wanna keep that darker line on the bottom, the basing line on the bottom.

456
00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,239
You see that big rock in front of the track there?

457
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,079
You reckon that might be something?

458
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,479
We'll have a look, eh?

459
00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,279
A lot of voids that could've been filled.

460
00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:33,799
Nice rock. Little bit of green there, too.

461
00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,879
Yeah, a bit of green there.

462
00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:41,119
Ron.

463
00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,039
That's green, blue, Aaron.

464
00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,559
Bit of matrix here. It's going into the matrix, too, Aaron. Yeah.

465
00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,919
Matrix opal is diffused within the host rock.

466
00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,399
It's considered of lesser value than opal

467
00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,519
that forms in one pocket within the stone.

468
00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,719
We'll give her another crunch, eh? Yeah.

469
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,479
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

470
00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:14,239
Right, don't go any further.

471
00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,599
Colour.

472
00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,519
Wow! Isn't that something?

473
00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,519
Oh, yeah, look at that!

474
00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:30,759
That's got lines right through it.

475
00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:32,759
Isn't that  good?

476
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:34,679
Got a little bit of red in that one, Ron.

477
00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,879
There you go, same purple we've been finding

478
00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:38,759
but at least that one's in the line.

479
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,439
Yeah. Look at that.

480
00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,399
That one there's got a line running through.

481
00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,359
Look at that, right through.

482
00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,199
Well, couple grand.

483
00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,519
Say 1,500.

484
00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,319
Would that be a safe bet? Yeah.

485
00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:54,359
All right. You beauty, Ron.

486
00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,319
Yeah, mate! Bit of weight.

487
00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,359
That's all right, Ron. No worries. Bit more opal in the bucket.

488
00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,559
Well, after all the rocks we've been bashing at least we've got some.

489
00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:06,279
All right, mate.

490
00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,079
G'day, Sam. Can you hear me?

491
00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,919
Not the best, mate.

492
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,319
I've re-aggravated an old wound,

493
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,799
and it looks like I'm gonna have to take it easy for a couple of weeks.

494
00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:31,879
No, no. No, I won't be able to go underground.

495
00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,839
We're gonna have to change our plans a bit

496
00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:39,999
for the next couple weeks, anyway. Not a good result, really.

497
00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,199
Unable to work for two weeks,

498
00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,599
Pete and Sam need to find another way to pay the bills,

499
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:49,079
and fund the next stage of their mega wash plant.

500
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,319
Last week, getting that nice big gem...

501
00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,159
50 grand. 50 grand.

502
00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,439
..kicked us off to a pretty good start.

503
00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:02,879
To sell that stone for anywhere near what I'm hoping to get,

504
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,119
that'll be just fantastic. That'll be real good.

505
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,759
We need that kickstart, need a bit of cash behind us.

506
00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,399
All right, mate, well, see if we can sell something. Yeah.

507
00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:13,799
Pete has set up a meeting in Lightning Ridge

508
00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:15,639
with buyer Paul Sedawie,

509
00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,119
who specialises in high-end stones.

510
00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:19,799
Got the stone there, mate?

511
00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:21,519
I have. Good.

512
00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,759
So, what do you reckon we'll go in there asking?

513
00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,359
Well, I've revised it a bit.

514
00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,399
I reckon it's worth more than $50,000.

515
00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,319
It's a beautiful gem.

516
00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,639
I reckon we'll go in there with 80K.

517
00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,119
80K. 80,000, mate, yeah.

518
00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:44,239
We go in there today, what's the lowest we're gonna take?

519
00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,519
Oh, I'm not gonna go below 50.

520
00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,559
Right, so 50 is bottom dollar.

521
00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:58,399
Pete and Sam have a high-quality black opal.

522
00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,079
Featuring the full spectrum of colours,

523
00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,199
it's a partial rub by Pete,

524
00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,639
and weighs 41 carats or eight grams.

525
00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,879
Paul's a buyer. They wanna get it as cheap as they can,

526
00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:12,079
and I wanna get as much, so we just got to

527
00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,919
try and find some middle ground that we both agree on.

528
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,759
We'll see how we go.

529
00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:20,839
G'day, guys. How's it going?

530
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,279
How are you, Paul? Good to see you, Peter. You, too.

531
00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,639
Come in the office. Great, thank you.

532
00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:27,759
I've been dealing with Peter for probably,

533
00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:30,719
15, 20 years, been a long time.

534
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,399
I've had him round, sometimes he's had good quality stuff.

535
00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,479
He never lets his stuff go cheap though.

536
00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,239
You gotta bargain with him and I've got to make sure I don't lose.

537
00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:41,839
Well, so how you been? Good, mate, good.

538
00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:43,719
Hear you've found a nice stone recently.

539
00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:45,879
We've got a little gem to show you.

540
00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,959
It's a little one, is it? Just a little one.

541
00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,119
All right. What field are you working in?

542
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,039
This is from our Allawah field.

543
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,799
Cool. If you're interested in having a look. I'd love to.

544
00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:00,399
Oh, wow. That's a pretty stunning stone.

545
00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:05,039
Wow. 41.4 carats as it is.

546
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,039
We don't see these every day.

547
00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:14,119
Yeah, it's like it's got a little bit of chips in it in parts, too.

548
00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:16,159
Yeah, I'll just...

549
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,319
Get your big laser light on it. Yeah.

550
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:23,079
And I'll see how far the needles go into it.

551
00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:26,479
There's one little bit in the middle that looks a bit of a worry.

552
00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,119
Mm-hm. Still, it's an attractive stone.

553
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:31,919
What sort of money do you have on it?

554
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,879
Like I said, there's just over 40 in carats

555
00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:36,799
and I'm looking at two grand a carat.

556
00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:44,559
I like the stone. I don't really like the price.

557
00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,919
You see the coming round the front here?

558
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,319
Yeah, doesn't look real good at all, no.

559
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,639
You try not to come back here, all right?

560
00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,359
Yup. Cos I got this to protect me, you haven't.

561
00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,839
Yup. All right. Let's get into here

562
00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:03,559
as quick as we  can, mate.

563
00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:05,799
The Bushmen are on to good opal

564
00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,679
needed for Rod to get Amanda's ring back.

565
00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,119
But they're in danger of being crushed by a crumbling roof.

566
00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,479
Regardless of the roof at the moment,

567
00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:16,559
I just gotta keep on going.

568
00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:20,119
There's no option for me at the moment.

569
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,759
I've gotta get that ring back.

570
00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,639
What's that? Bit of purple.

571
00:34:25,720 --> 00:34:29,599
We're just gonna keep chasing it cos it's looking good.

572
00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:31,879
It's improving all the time.

573
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,519
Oh, it's big and it's cheesy, Les, look!

574
00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,159
That's a nice piece there. All the way around it goes.

575
00:34:39,240 --> 00:34:42,079
We're into the dollars again.

576
00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,239
That's not looking too bad, Les.

577
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,119
Might even put the glasses on for this.

578
00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,399
That's nice, look at that.

579
00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,639
There's a heap of it. Geez, if we get...

580
00:34:50,720 --> 00:34:53,359
We get a seam like this of real good stuff, mate.

581
00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,559
yeah. We'll be eating that flash chicken, mate.

582
00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,439
That's looking good. They're starting to add up, mate.

583
00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:02,279
Oh, yeah.

584
00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,319
Just gotta keep going, you can't leave it in the wall.

585
00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,879
When you're on colour you just keep on  going.

586
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:12,399
Oh. I just found a... Oh!

587
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,439
Look at that.

588
00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,519
That's it!

589
00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,599
That'll get the ring out of hock, Les.

590
00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:21,999
That'll save your life, mate.

591
00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,679
Jeepers. She's got some good colours there.

592
00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,839
Ah, what a relief, mate, I can tell you.

593
00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,399
Oh, yeah, that's  right.

594
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,399
How good is this, Les?

595
00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,079
Ah, it's been a good day.

596
00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,639
Finally gonna tip a bit of opal out on our table, mate.

597
00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:40,799
The big fella first, Les, look at that.

598
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,759
That's a nice plate, isn't it? Big plate of loveliness.

599
00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,079
Good colour. Take the top off that, could be anything under that.

600
00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:49,479
Well, that's right. And then, here, tip them out.

601
00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:55,919
How good's all that, mate?

602
00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:59,879
That one there, that's the kingstone, that fella.

603
00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:01,719
That's a nice stone, that is.

604
00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:06,399
The Bushmen have found seam opal, predominantly blue in colour

605
00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,799
with a kingstone featuring highly prized reds.

606
00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,599
It's in the rough, and there's a massive eight kilograms.

607
00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:15,519
I reckon we'll get eight grand for that.

608
00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,479
Yeah. And that kingstone.

609
00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:21,759
And we got all this stuff here. Three, four.

610
00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:24,119
Five on that. I'll get five for that.

611
00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,199
We got eight, we got five. 13.

612
00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:30,599
And I reckon this big pile of stuff is 20, 25.

613
00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,599
Don't you? Yes, I'd reckon. Yeah.

614
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:36,399
38,000, mate. Good day's work.

615
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,399
Can't wait to take this home, show Amanda

616
00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:40,399
and say, "Definitely got your ring back."

617
00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,879
That's it, yes. The only trouble is she might say,

618
00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,559
"You've got the money. What about buying me another one?"

619
00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:50,599
Yeah, 38 grand, you know, it's been a bloody good week.

620
00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:53,879
Got the ring back, picked the spirits up a little bit.

621
00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:56,319
Proved there was some opal down there.

622
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:59,039
Best week we've had in a long, long time.

623
00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,479
The best is to come yet, I think.

624
00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,439
The Ploughboys has got it there.

625
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:05,479
And I reckon it'll be there in big lumps.

626
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:08,519
Tomorrow... We might be walking around in suits.

627
00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,559
Tuxedos. You never know. Tuxedos.

628
00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,479
Lucky you spotted that, mate. 1,500.

629
00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:22,719
Would that be a safe bet? Yeah.

630
00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,519
With a debt of $80,000 to repay,

631
00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:28,199
Aaron is keen to sell their opal find.

632
00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:30,359
They've set up a meeting with Eric Madsen...

633
00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,239
G'day, boys. How are you?

634
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:36,119
..who's been in the opal business for over 45 years.

635
00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,959
I think they probably respect me reasonably well

636
00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:42,519
because I'm actually another miner.

637
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:44,519
I'm not just a buyer coming up.

638
00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,679
Have you got any opals for me? We found a nice boulder.

639
00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:50,199
Ah, yeah. There's some nice thick lines in here.

640
00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:52,199
Coming through to the other side.

641
00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:54,519
Yeah, you might get some big stones out of it.

642
00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:57,439
Yes. That's the biggest one of the lot, isn't it?

643
00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,119
Yep. It is.

644
00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,719
And the opal is quite thick in it. So that's good.

645
00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:05,919
Aaron and Ron have mainly boulder opal.

646
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,119
Blue-green with flashes of purple, it's in the rough.

647
00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,719
And there's 4.5 kilograms.

648
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:16,199
They hope to get $1,500.

649
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,919
What sort of money have you got on the parcel?

650
00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:22,319
What were you thinking, Ron?

651
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,039
You caught me there. Couple of grand, maybe?

652
00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:28,319
Nah, no, no, no. What do you think it's worth?

653
00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,079
Well, it's sort of what we call

654
00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:33,679
big, cheap stones, you know. All right. Yeah.

655
00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:38,799
1,500 will pull it up for me. 1,500? Yeah.

656
00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:41,239
Can we go halfway, 1750?

657
00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,359
No. It's a bit, uh...

658
00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:45,199
It's a bit lower, the material.

659
00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,519
I like to support you because... Yeah.

660
00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,799
..we want to hopefully buy a lot in the future.

661
00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:52,119
We can throw all the matrix in, too.

662
00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:55,479
Yeah, OK, well... There's a couple of buckets of matrix.

663
00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:57,759
OK. Green, blue, red.

664
00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:00,999
Look, you throw that in, make it 1,700.

665
00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,799
All right. Yeah? No worries. Got a deal.

666
00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:06,639
OK. No worries. I'll get a bucket for this.

667
00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:08,319
No worries, mate.

668
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,279
Always happy to buy from them to keep them going.

669
00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:13,599
It's a little drop in the bucket,

670
00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:17,279
but I guess every little bit helps.

671
00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:20,199
It's not big opal but it pays the bills.

672
00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:24,119
Every week we've been finding a bit so that's a good thing.

673
00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,279
We just gotta open the ground a bit more, have a good look at it.

674
00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:38,039
The stone's nice. It is, it's a beauty.

675
00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:42,399
I reckon it'll cut a nice 30 carat clean stone.

676
00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:47,119
Yeah, just trying to figure out the 30-carat stone.

677
00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,479
Right. OK.

678
00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:52,559
That's my main concern. Mm-hm.

679
00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:55,479
To survive the downtime of an injury to Pete,

680
00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:58,119
and to help fund a mega wash plant,

681
00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:02,679
Pete and Sam are relying on a big sale price for their prized opal.

682
00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:05,359
There's a lot riding on this sale, you know.

683
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,119
It's all good having a pretty rock

684
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:09,519
but if you can't sell it, it's not worth anything.

685
00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:12,479
So it's probably in the range of a N3 stone.

686
00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:15,079
N3. What'd I think, N4, didn't I? Yeah.

687
00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:17,119
I was actually hoping it'd be a bit blacker.

688
00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,399
Opal tone is the gem's neutral or base colour,

689
00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:23,879
measured on a scale of N1 to N9.

690
00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:27,039
Only stones from 1 to 4 are considered black

691
00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:30,919
and are the most sought-after as the colours appear more vibrant.

692
00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,639
Even if you got skill, you can't make it better

693
00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:35,399
if that's what nature's given you.

694
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:38,799
Gotta work with what nature gives. We do have to deal with it.

695
00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:42,599
I've actually been a bit heavy on price,

696
00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:45,319
but I'd probably be close to 48 on it.

697
00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:49,399
48. Yeah. Because I think any more than that

698
00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:53,159
I don't think I'm gonna have much room for much profit on it.

699
00:40:53,240 --> 00:40:55,719
So what do you think about that?

700
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:57,839
60 would sound better to me.

701
00:40:57,920 --> 00:40:59,959
I could lose money at 60.

702
00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:03,319
There's a possibility I could lose at that money.

703
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,479
So, it's up to you guys. I'm afraid that's probably

704
00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:10,079
the maximum I think I'd be comfortable to go.

705
00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:13,399
You know. All right, OK.

706
00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,119
A lot riding on this sale. If I can get some cold, hard cash

707
00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:19,839
I can get a lot more done on my wash plant,

708
00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:22,599
I'm gonna have to have two weeks off with this shoulder.

709
00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,719
So, you know, the bills still happen.

710
00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:28,359
Why don't we make it an even 50, Paul?

711
00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:33,119
Actually, I've virtually... I've pushed myself to the limit.

712
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,039
I got a fair idea of the problems.

713
00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:40,079
And you know, I think that might pull me up.

714
00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:42,919
We've been to quite a few opal dealers now,

715
00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,359
and a lot of the time you walk out with nothing,

716
00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:47,439
so I'm feeling pretty nervous

717
00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:49,479
but we really need this deal to go through

718
00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,079
so we got a bit of cash, and keep things ticking along.

719
00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:55,679
Well, that sort of stuff, I would've thought,

720
00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:58,959
you know, 3.5, 4,000 a carat is what I would've thought.

721
00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:02,079
It would have to be a little bit darker for that.

722
00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:04,119
Yeah, it's a black opal,

723
00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:06,279
but at the bottom end of the spectrum.

724
00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:09,639
If it's a little bit darker, then we put another nought on the figure.

725
00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:13,319
I reckon we could do business with an even 50, I reckon, Paul,

726
00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:16,879
if you could just squeeze that little bit more out of it.

727
00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:20,439
49. 49? Yeah, that'd be me done.

728
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,879
Geez, I'd like to get a sale.

729
00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:29,079
Gee, this is a bit of a thing.

730
00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,559
Yeah, I'd like to buy it but I don't want to lose money.

731
00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:36,679
I honestly feel I'm pushed at 49.

732
00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:39,279
50 would turn me off actually.

733
00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:42,559
49 turns you on. Yeah.

734
00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:47,639
Done deal. OK. Good on you, thanks.

735
00:42:47,720 --> 00:42:49,799
And I'll let you know when I cut 30 carats.

736
00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:53,759
Happy with the result.

737
00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,599
Of course, you would always like to get more,

738
00:42:56,680 --> 00:42:59,119
and I was hoping for more, but at the end of the day,

739
00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:01,079
I got a pretty good price for that stone.

740
00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:03,999
It had a couple of problems, which is why I didn't cut it.

741
00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:05,879
I wanted someone else to take the risk.

742
00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:07,879
So now it's on Paul's shoulders.

743
00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:09,999
Thanks for offering it to me. Great.

744
00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:12,199
For sure, Paul. It's exciting.

745
00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:15,719
We had a beautiful gem and finally got some cash for it.

746
00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,199
So, you don't get to look at it anymore.

747
00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:22,519
Yeah, money means more to us right now than having a beauty gem.

748
00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:25,719
Thanks for the business again. Thank you.

749
00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:27,799
The end of the day, we're stoked.

750
00:43:27,880 --> 00:43:29,639
That means Sam's guaranteed to stay.

751
00:43:29,720 --> 00:43:32,399
He can see that there is money in this opal mining caper.

752
00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:34,599
Whole lot more could happen to our wash plant.

753
00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:36,799
And I can have this couple of weeks off

754
00:43:36,880 --> 00:43:39,319
to rest my shoulder without any worry about the bills.

755
00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:41,519
It's a terrific outcome.

756
00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:44,999
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756
00:43:45,305 --> 00:44:45,897
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