1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,119
On Outback Opal Hunters -

2
00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,839
Probably one of the most dangerous things we've done.

3
00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:11,639
With their old claim drying up, the Young Guns make a drastic decision...

4
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,199
Holy !

5
00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:19,359
..to take out the floor that separates two levels in their mine.

6
00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,999
You good down there?

7
00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:23,799
You did say it was rusty, and it's rusty.

8
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:29,199
Pete and Sam head further into the red, buying a second-hand truck...

9
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,279
The smoke!

10
00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,999
..desperately needed to scale up their mega wash plant operation.

11
00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,799
We're in risk of a major collapse.

12
00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,679
And in critically unstable ground...

13
00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,959
This is as bad as it gets.

14
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,519
If I don't make this, you can have my cowboy boots!

15
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,599
..the Bushmen risk mine collapse in the hunt for opal.

16
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,959
# Money

17
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,719
# And fancy clothes #

18
00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,074
Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
www.osdb.link/lm

19
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,759
Today might be the day, mate. Yes.

20
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,799
Couple of nice stones, give me enough money to get the new car.

21
00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,999
Radiator is ! Alternator is !

22
00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,639
Tyres are ! But other than that, it's a goer!

23
00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,079
It's the biggest heap of , this thing!

24
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,719
He's always gotta be fixing something on it.

25
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:46,159
It's got no brakes. It's got more rattles than a millionaire's baby.

26
00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,239
He's got a couple of logs jammed in the back of it,

27
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,839
holding the roof up, and all the roof is sheets of corrugated iron.

28
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,559
Yeah, she's just about a retirement job.

29
00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,439
Les deserves a turn in luck. He really does, you know?

30
00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,999
He's... He's a good old bloke, and...

31
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,559
you know, he's had such a tough run the last few years.

32
00:02:08,640 --> 00:02:12,079
It'd be good to see him start to get up on top.

33
00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,159
Righto.

34
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,519
We've got a... a real problem with the roof here.

35
00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,959
You can see this crack coming across the top here,

36
00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,439
right across there in my light?

37
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,959
It's a fault that runs through here.

38
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,079
And the big slab there is hanging, there's not much holding it.

39
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,359
It's about to let go.

40
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:54,599
The Bushmen are 11 metres underground in a claim known as Ploughboys.

41
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,759
Owned by business partner Martin Hutchison,

42
00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,279
the deal gives Rod and Les half of any opal they find.

43
00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,959
Ha-ho!

44
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,719
So, we're creeping up there with the target, you know?

45
00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,639
This is the good thing about Ploughboys.

46
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,839
You only have to get a pocket and you'll get 70, 80 grand out of it.

47
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,159
Just come out from under there, Les. Just come around behind me, mate.

48
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:24,119
But the more opal Ploughboys gives up, the more dangerous it becomes.

49
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,799
Lot of weight up in there and running up into the roof.

50
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:32,079
So, you can get a big section there will come down. It's just when.

51
00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,639
Can we get a crowbar down here? Yeah, down around the corner.

52
00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,479
I might try and bar it off.

53
00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,999
I've seen roofs come down, and there's no escaping them.

54
00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,079
They come down with a thud, and if you're under it, you're dead.

55
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,759
That's all there is to it.

56
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,239
There's a big section there wants to come down, Les. Yeah?

57
00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,639
Well, that didn't make it look any better!

58
00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,039
Not looking good at all, no. It's very, very dangerous.

59
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,679
I'm going to try and pop it out with the digger.

60
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,159
Hang on. Might just be a little tiny fall,

61
00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,919
or it might be a massive fall, we don't know.

62
00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,439
So, if anything goes wrong,

63
00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,639
skedaddle that way and up that drive.

64
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,919
Yeah. So, just be ready to go.

65
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,359
Righto, Les, you ready? Yeah, mate.

66
00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,799
If I don't make this, you can have me cowboy boots!

67
00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,039
JAYMIN: It's gonna be a big week for us.

68
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,919
Today, we're going down into the mine, pulling the digger back out.

69
00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,319
All right, boys.

70
00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,879
I reckon the plan for today is get this machine out of the hole,

71
00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,119
back to the shed so we can do repairs on it,

72
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,479
and get the new control panel in place.

73
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,479
Just take it slow and easy, JC. Thanks, mate!

74
00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,319
The digger's fantastic.

75
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,919
It's really changed how quickly we move dirt, which is really good.

76
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,719
On the other hand, we've got oil leaks all over it.

77
00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,239
With their precious second-hand digger in need of repair,

78
00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,959
the Young Guns face a delicate operation

79
00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,799
to get it out of their old claim "World's End".

80
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,839
It is quite frustrating to have the machine

81
00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,519
we've spent all our money on

82
00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,959
continuously having problems and breaking down.

83
00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,959
Watch out for that bit of ducting right above you.

84
00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,719
We don't want to end up pulling down the whole vent.

85
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,399
JC: This is one hundred percent careful time.

86
00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:44,039
It's so top heavy, this machine, if you're on one little angle wrong

87
00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,879
and press a control the wrong way,

88
00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:47,999
you could have the whole thing topple over.

89
00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,399
Not only could that break the machine, but it can crush someone.

90
00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,519
Careful there.

91
00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,119
That's looking good, JC. You're doing well.

92
00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,559
Nice work. You've got it out of the underground.

93
00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,559
It's just bubbling all over the place now.

94
00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,759
There is a bit of oil coming out, eh? Yeah.

95
00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:09,239
Crossing the fulcrum now.

96
00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,239
There we go, flat bit. Mate, good work.

97
00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,959
She's out. Didn't even tip it over, not once!

98
00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,759
In just their second season mining,

99
00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:21,559
the Young Guns recently found their best haul yet...

100
00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,039
Is that colour? Where?

101
00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,279
Yeah? That's colour, baby!

102
00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,599
32.5K! Whoa!

103
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,839
..and received a windfall of $50,000 of machinery,

104
00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,879
courtesy of new investor, John Jennings.

105
00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,639
Hey, John. 'How's it going, fellas?'

106
00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,079
Yeah, good, mate. All the gear has turned up.

107
00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,279
NOAH: John investing has given us, you know,

108
00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,279
pretty much 50 grand and all this gear.

109
00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:55,319
But John's investment comes with the expectation of opal.

110
00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,319
A 25 percent share of anything found.

111
00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,359
A massive weight on our shoulders. If he doesn't see a return,

112
00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,839
we don't want him to rethink the partnership and pull out.

113
00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,199
And we need to find opal. We need to make money.

114
00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,039
We can't use the digger down the mine right now.

115
00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,119
The roof is, you know, unstable, unsafe. It's spongey.

116
00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,199
We can't go into the new mine cos we're waiting for paperwork.

117
00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,319
One week after finding a new claim in West Field,

118
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,359
the Young Guns are still waiting for approval of their mining permit.

119
00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,639
It's frustrating. We know there's opal there. We want to get digging,

120
00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,119
but can't touch the ground until that paperwork goes through.

121
00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,319
We've gotta do something. We can't just sit around wasting our time.

122
00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,919
Can't use the digger and we don't have the other claim.

123
00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,519
So, jackhammers, unless we wanna use a pick.

124
00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,279
Do we just have one last look down there? Yeah.

125
00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,199
See if we can drop a bit of wall that's in a safe spot,

126
00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,039
even if we have to use the handsaws? I reckon we should do it.

127
00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,919
Let's head down there, see what there is.

128
00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,319
This mine is, uh... It's pretty much had it now.

129
00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,199
We're gonna give it one last crack,

130
00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,039
see if we can find any, you know, last bit of opal in there.

131
00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,999
SAM: Good-looking ground we're digging through now.

132
00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,079
There's plenty of faults, slips.

133
00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,799
There's heaps of movement in the ground, really good sign.

134
00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,879
I'll come around with the bogger. Yeah.

135
00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,319
Take a couple of loads out of here. Yeah.

136
00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,599
There's a lot of pressure to find opal,

137
00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,519
and we're doing what we can towards that end, by moving more dirt.

138
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,959
I've just found a nice purple trace in here

139
00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,759
and there's nice thick black potch in here.

140
00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,199
Really, really good signs.

141
00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,199
Last time we found a bit of trace in the wall,

142
00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,759
there was a $49,000 nobby in the wash.

143
00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,119
So, we'll be hoping for the same again out of this lot.

144
00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,679
Pete Cooke and Sam Westra's season took off

145
00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:03,079
when they found a rare black opal, which they sold for $49,000.

146
00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,959
But since then, their promising Allawah claim has only teased them.

147
00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,199
Nice bit of trace in the wall.

148
00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,239
There's seam. Yeah, a little bit of green and blues in there.

149
00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,159
Another couple of nobbies in the wash. That's it, mate.

150
00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,239
Well, we know what happened last time!

151
00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,999
Since selling that stone,

152
00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,039
I've managed to reinvest the money in a bit more mining equipment.

153
00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,159
Two agis going at once, that's good. That's a bonus.

154
00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,879
Pete has risked thousands, expanding his mega wash plant,

155
00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,639
to try his luck at contract work.

156
00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,559
I wanna take on contract washing.

157
00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,879
It's where other miners have dirt that they've dug,

158
00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,479
but they don't have the capability to process it.

159
00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:49,679
So they get someone like me to process that dirt,

160
00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,759
and then we do a percentage basis of what opal comes out.

161
00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:58,519
A 50 percent share of any opal found is a common deal.

162
00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,839
But Pete and Sam have to collect, cart,

163
00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,999
and wash the dirt at their own expense.

164
00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,839
It's a gamble. But if you don't take risk, you're not gonna get rewards.

165
00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,279
In Lightning Ridge, opal is often encased in sandstone

166
00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,159
that needs to be washed away in a converted cement mixer or agi.

167
00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,479
Pete currently has two agis.

168
00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:25,159
His dream is to have five.

169
00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,839
Washing dirt, for anyone, it's all a gamble.

170
00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,319
All that's guaranteeing me is more dirt to wash.

171
00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,919
And so it's increasing my chances of, uh, being involved in opal.

172
00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,039
Righto, Sam. There's a load in the truck.

173
00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,279
We'll take it into the, uh, wash plant.

174
00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,279
'Let's see how this drive over hopper performs.'

175
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,279
They're about to trial a new unloading system.

176
00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,879
If it works, it will give them the capacity

177
00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,959
to feed up to 20 tonnes of dirt into their wash plant every hour.

178
00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,759
Moment of truth. We, uh, haven't tried it out yet!

179
00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,999
To find opal, we've gotta wash a lot of dirt.

180
00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,319
But it costs money to cart that dirt and to wash it,

181
00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,559
so we're just trying to work out a way

182
00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,959
to make it as efficient as possible.

183
00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,479
Perfect, mate. All good.

184
00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:20,199
Loading the agi.

185
00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,799
This is a crucial part of the whole system.

186
00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,959
Instead of the dirt coming out of a hole in the back of the truck,

187
00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,639
the whole tailgate opens,

188
00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,559
and all that dirt is out virtually straightaway.

189
00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:36,719
First time we've tried it altogether, so could be interesting!

190
00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,839
We'll open the tailgate, dirt will go down into the hopper.

191
00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,159
It's got a very slow conveyor belt,

192
00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,639
which transfers it to the radial stacker,

193
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,999
onto the next conveyor, and into the agi.

194
00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:56,919
That's how it works in theory.

195
00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,959
We're about to find out if it works in, uh, real life.

196
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,119
ROD: I think the only option we've really got

197
00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,239
is to bring it down in a controlled bloody fall,

198
00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,159
and just hopefully not too much comes down.

199
00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,359
The Bushmen are attempting a controlled collapse

200
00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,239
of a dangerous section of their mine roof.

201
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,479
You're probably looking at a tonne of dirt.

202
00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:29,799
That comes down on top of your helmet,

203
00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,079
right on top of your head, it'll kill you.

204
00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,879
It breaks your neck.

205
00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,199
It's safe enough now. It's not 100 percent safe, but it's safe enough.

206
00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,159
But just for now, it'll hold.

207
00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,039
It looks like we've got to put a heap of props in

208
00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,239
before we do anything else.

209
00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:53,919
Let's get out of here, mate.

210
00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:58,759
To keep mining this section,

211
00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,479
Rod and Les need to return with timber props to support the roof.

212
00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:05,519
All right?

213
00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,399
You've got to make it safe.

214
00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,559
But yeah, it's hard work getting props down there

215
00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,159
and carrying them around and putting them up.

216
00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,479
You've either gotta put a chair in here for me, Les,

217
00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:23,999
with a backrest, or get a new car.

218
00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,999
For old Les, it's definitely time for a new car.

219
00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,519
We only need to find a small pocket,

220
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,279
then hopefully you'll get enough to get your car. Yeah, well that's it.

221
00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,559
I need to get hold of a good car,

222
00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,959
something that won't break down on me!

223
00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,679
And then I can go down and see my daughters and my grandkids.

224
00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:58,439
Les' daughter and her family live 1,500km away in Adelaide.

225
00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,959
Hi! How you going, Teresa?

226
00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,439
Good. How you doing? I'm doing good.

227
00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,799
He last visited them two years ago.

228
00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,719
Hey, little Lucy!

229
00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,599
Little Miss Chatterbox has suddenly gone all shy! Oh!

230
00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:16,479
She doesn't recognise you, Dad.

231
00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:18,759
I'm gonna have to get down and see you soon,

232
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,599
so you know me better. How's that?

233
00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,959
I can't get down there with the old car.

234
00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,039
It's, uh, not going real well.

235
00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,159
I know, Dad. We know you'll get down when you can. We miss you a lot.

236
00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,839
Yeah. Bye, Papa! Bye bye!

237
00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,679
Mwah! We love you! Love you!

238
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,399
ROD: Old Les, I know he misses his daughters

239
00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:46,439
and he doesn't like not seeing his grandkids, that's for sure.

240
00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,359
They mean a lot to him and it's hard just living so far away.

241
00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,639
JAYMIN: There's not a lot of options down here.

242
00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,919
Up there is too dodgy, too sketchy in there.

243
00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,919
Really, the only option left is go through this sketchy bit of ground

244
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,079
and into those old workings that we never really touched.

245
00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,159
That's the only spot we haven't dug out.

246
00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,719
I mean, it could be worth a bit of a jackhammer.

247
00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,519
But it's gonna be dangerous.

248
00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,639
The Young Guns are under pressure to find opal for their new investor.

249
00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,679
But with their digger in need of repair,

250
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:32,719
they've been forced to scout for ground they can dig with hand tools.

251
00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,559
It is a bit sketchy in here.

252
00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,879
Cool. We've never worked an area like this before.

253
00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,559
We've got two different drives, one underneath and one up the top,

254
00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,039
and then we've got about a foot, two foot of level in between.

255
00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,079
The plan is to pretty much come in,

256
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,679
take out that in-between level and make one giant drive.

257
00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,759
All right. Going to smash this edge, here.

258
00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,599
Right now, the biggest danger we face is, you know,

259
00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,359
the floor collapsing under us,

260
00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,279
us falling down and someone getting seriously injured.

261
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,799
If we find anything, it'd just be, you know,

262
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,199
a really good way to finish off the mine.

263
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,119
Holy !

264
00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,199
You good down there? Yeah, we're good.

265
00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,639
Definitely could've been standing further back! But that's all right.

266
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,839
Yeah, that was a little bit closer than we thought it was gonna...

267
00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,639
it was gonna come down. And he took off a massive chunk!

268
00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:36,599
But, um, yeah, jumped out of there real quick!

269
00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,159
Oh, shaking a little bit!

270
00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,639
I guess that shows you just how dangerous it can be,

271
00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,519
working these two different levels.

272
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,079
I think I might head back to the shed and start the repair work.

273
00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,519
It's a bit tight in here for the three of us.

274
00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,079
With two jackhammers, we'll keep digging.

275
00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,879
So, it was a really big call to go out and buy this $12,000 digger.

276
00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,279
It was pretty much our entire season's mining budget in one go.

277
00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:09,079
JC: He was the one that was all guns blazing for buying the digger.

278
00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,839
And now that it's having so many problems and so many leaks,

279
00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,799
I think he's really feeling the responsibility of it.

280
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,479
We got it back in one piece.

281
00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,519
So, what we're gonna be trying to do is change over this new spool valve.

282
00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,719
The spool valve works like a tap.

283
00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,639
As a lever is pulled, pressurised hydraulic oil

284
00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,759
is channelled into the part of the digger that needs to move.

285
00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,159
Yeah, so I've never changed a spool valve before.

286
00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,039
Right, so we've got all the hoses off.

287
00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,319
Now I'm just going to pull that control panel off.

288
00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:54,999
Oh, it's got some weight. There we go.

289
00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,399
After I'm finished,

290
00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,879
I'm thinking about giving it a coat of paint and surprising the boys.

291
00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,679
SAM: Rightio, you ready? PETE: Yeah.

292
00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,599
It's working great, just how we thought it would.

293
00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:20,879
Dirt's going in the agi,

294
00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,799
and the truck is empty in, you know, one or two minutes. It's perfect.

295
00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:30,359
Very pleased. It all ended up in the agi way over there. That's great.

296
00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:37,119
Pete and Sam's drive-over hopper is proving a success.

297
00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:42,279
They can now load two agitators from one central drop-off.

298
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,239
But they still want more efficiencies.

299
00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,519
Oh, it'd be nice if we had two trucks, mate,

300
00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,199
then we could move double the dirt in the day.

301
00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,279
What I've, uh, been thinking about

302
00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:57,159
is getting a dog trailer to tow behind this thing.

303
00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,359
Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea.

304
00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,279
So, um, I've actually bought one.

305
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:07,279
What, you've bought a new trailer? Yeah, mate.

306
00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:12,479
Eyes right, check it out, new rig! Oh, new truck AND trailer, mate?

307
00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,919
Yeah. The truck came with it.

308
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,399
We'll pull some dirt now with that!

309
00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,719
You ripper! Not just a trailer, the truck as well.

310
00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,639
Nine cubic metres in the body. Ten in the back.

311
00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,559
Bought it from eBay and a photo, mate. Whoa!

312
00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,599
Pete's already accepted his first contract washing job of the season

313
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,799
for 50 percent of any opal they find.

314
00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,279
Maiden voyage already! Yeah.

315
00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,319
Oh well, see if the old girl holds up.

316
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,439
He did say it was rusty. So... Yeah.

317
00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,519
So... And it's rusty!

318
00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,239
He needs this 50-year-old truck and trailer to be up to the task

319
00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:01,399
or he's cost himself $18,000 and his reputation as reliable.

320
00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,039
These front corners... Yeah?

321
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,679
..you can see a lot of daylight through 'em. Won't be a pretty job,

322
00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,159
but it's just to stop the dirt falling out, mate.

323
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,279
I'm pretty keen to get this contract washing up and happening.

324
00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:16,719
Just cut and fold, shut and screw in,

325
00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,239
and just got to stop all the gems from falling out. Yeah, that's it!

326
00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,479
That's how we have to do it up here.

327
00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,279
We're not a great big mining company with unlimited resources.

328
00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,039
We're just a little two-man show, and you've gotta be resourceful,

329
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,879
you've gotta find these worn-out bits of machinery,

330
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,199
re-purpose them. Do whatever we have to do

331
00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:43,879
to make it work and make it fit.

332
00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:49,719
Rightio.

333
00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,999
Oh well, see if she starts!

334
00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,359
Look at her! Bit of smoke!

335
00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,799
Well, Sam, she's a bit of a beast, mate, I tell you what!

336
00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,319
She's smoking me out in the cabin a bit.

337
00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,079
I'm glad we've got the windows down!

338
00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,919
At least all the indicators work, mate.

339
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:19,879
She's travelling all right.

340
00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,879
I don't know how comfy it is, but it looked all right from here.

341
00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,519
How about not comfy at all!

342
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,599
Tally-ho, and off we go, mate! Go and get a load.

343
00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:37,199
All right, mate. We're here. We'll  get her loaded up.

344
00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,279
Sam's just got his excavator ticket.

345
00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:45,119
He gets to play in this nice new 32-tonne excavator.

346
00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:49,399
He's got a big smile on his face. I think he's enjoying it!

347
00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,759
I just love driving big machinery. It's why I'm out here!

348
00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,239
It's a lot of fun playing with these big toys.

349
00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,039
It's a big bucket. It won't take many scoops and it will be full.

350
00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,239
We've got about ten cubic metres of dirt in the front,

351
00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,799
a similar amount in the back trailer,

352
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,239
and then off to the mega wash plant.

353
00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,679
It seemed to, uh, drive here empty OK.

354
00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:22,839
We'll see how it performs with a load.

355
00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,479
That's the, uh, that's the test. Yeah, contract washing is good.

356
00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,279
It's nice and quick and easy like that.

357
00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,319
It only takes, you know, half a day.

358
00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,439
So, hopefully there's some opal in it and it can pay its way.

359
00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,759
Double the dirt in one trip, so we've gotta be happy with that.

360
00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,559
It's not a bad old bus, mate. Bit of an old rocket.

361
00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:49,839
With light fading, it's a 4km drive back to Pete's wash plant.

362
00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,239
That went all right. Yeah, very well.

363
00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,879
Get the dirt unloaded. Get it happening, mate. Let's get into it.

364
00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,199
Just be careful the gate doesn't suddenly come and get you.

365
00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,279
I don't know if it'll go!

366
00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:17,959
I can't open this!

367
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,639
JC: Another day, another dollar. Let's get down there.

368
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,159
Jaymin's gone to the house to go work on a digger.

369
00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,599
While he's doing that, we can dig some more

370
00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,719
and hopefully find some opal.

371
00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,839
If we find one more bit of opal in the mine we're in now,

372
00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,839
it'd just be a bit of a morale boost.

373
00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,799
Even a bit of a find before we leave.

374
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,119
We still haven't really pulled out much for the investor.

375
00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,999
After desperately digging out a section of floor

376
00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,239
in their 100-year-old mine,

377
00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:53,479
but finding nothing, JC and Noah are now searching the walls.

378
00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,199
There's a little bit of opal. It's just potch, but hey, Nozza!

379
00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,919
What? I've got a bit of trace.

380
00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,479
Little bit there. Anything in the rock?

381
00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,959
Can't see anything. Little bit of trace, which is always a good sign.

382
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,519
Not really worth looking for though, just potch.

383
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,559
I'll see if it turns into anything.

384
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:23,679
The Young Guns are hunting for white seam opal, worth up to $7,500 a gram.

385
00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,399
Just trying to search around to see if there's any, you know,

386
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,599
solid seam that's formed around it.

387
00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,199
We've been finding heaps of this trace.

388
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,039
Just tiny thin stuff, so it might just be little bits.

389
00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,119
You know, nothing might come of it.

390
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,879
Still, it's the best find you can get in the ground,

391
00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:43,679
so we're gonna keep tracing it.

392
00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,919
Nozza! What?

393
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,999
Oh!

394
00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,959
It's not trace, mate, it's colour! What do you mean?

395
00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,639
Whoa! It goes around the whole lot!

396
00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,719
What the...?

397
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,919
Oh, dude!

398
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,799
Look at that! I'll go get Jaymin.

399
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,839
I'm gonna go give him a call. Look at that!

400
00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,879
I thought I'd just picked up another bit of trace there.

401
00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,959
Pushed it a little bit apart,

402
00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,639
and there's a whole row of stones along there!

403
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:20,839
That is the dream right there.

404
00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:25,759
Woo-hoo-hoo! It's coming out of everywhere here.

405
00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,439
I don't want him to pull it all out by himself.

406
00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,439
What did youse find? Look at this bit!

407
00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,159
Oi, oi, come here. How much more have you found?

408
00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:35,679
Look at this!

409
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,759
Brought you a bucket! Look at that bit, Noz, Jay.

410
00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:40,559
What have you got?

411
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,959
Oh, my god! Look at that!

412
00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,079
How many stones will come out of that?

413
00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,719
We've got a few, eh? That one looks like a massive, just a massive one.

414
00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,039
Last dig of the mine, and it's come through one last time.

415
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:55,439
We've found a bit of opal. Couldn't be more stoked at the moment.

416
00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,959
I've got some other good news, boys. Yeah? Yeah?

417
00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,119
Look what I got from the mail. What's that?

418
00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,119
We have our claim sorted. Ooh!

419
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,439
That means we've got the new mine ready to go.

420
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,679
We just need to get our gear in there. Mate!

421
00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,639
That's it, our claim? Ground's secured.

422
00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,359
No-one else can bag it. Oh, mate!

423
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,239
Mate, slap us some. Jesus! Good stuff.

424
00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,199
So, this is the end of the claim.

425
00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,679
We honestly didn't expect to find anything.

426
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,399
We thought we'd give it one last go

427
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,959
and, uh, the mine came through for us one last time,

428
00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:26,759
which was absolutely perfect.

429
00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,079
ROD: After you, sir.

430
00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,479
We've got a few problems down there.

431
00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:43,279
It's not a good roof.

432
00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:46,359
So, we've got to be very careful of the roof.

433
00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:47,999
What's happened here, Les?

434
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,479
That wasn't here last night, I mean, when we knocked off yesterday.

435
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,799
That looks like it's all ready to fall out there.

436
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,719
Oh! Hang on, stand back, Les.

437
00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,759
This column is all cracked.

438
00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,199
Oh, this other one's cracked too, Les.

439
00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,999
Oh, mate, we've got a real problem.

440
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,999
The weight has come down on the roof.

441
00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,879
The column we've got on this side,

442
00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,679
and the column on the other side have both cracked.

443
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,479
And some of it's fallen out. You see all these cracks here?

444
00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,399
That's pressure. To get pressure to crack your columns,

445
00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,559
your roof has got to come down.

446
00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,759
And this is as bad as it gets.

447
00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,479
We're in risk of a major collapse.

448
00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,159
Oh, what do we do, Les?

449
00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,439
I don't even like being in here, Les. No.

450
00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,439
It's not worth dying for. No. Can't spend it dead.

451
00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:42,359
Les, what do you reckon our options are, mate?

452
00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,399
I reckon pull out of it and go somewhere else.

453
00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,319
We've got too much life in us to get killed under here.

454
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,599
Yeah! Not going to die doing this.

455
00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,439
What we wanna do is just get our digger out of here

456
00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,039
before the roof comes down.

457
00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:58,559
Could come at any time and we don't wanna have it buried.

458
00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,119
So, we're going to try and get it out.

459
00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:03,999
Take your roof jacks down.

460
00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,599
Righto. Ready for a catastrophe, Les? Mm-hm.

461
00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,119
Right, well that's got us out of danger.

462
00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:33,719
At least if it comes down now,

463
00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,559
this won't be buried, and neither will we!

464
00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:42,039
Rod and Les have walked the digger north to safer ground,

465
00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:46,919
still following the fault line where they're most likely to find opal.

466
00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,599
Plenty of ground under here to dig,

467
00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,999
if we can find another spot that might pay us some money.

468
00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,199
A foot in there, there could be a hundred thousand.

469
00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,279
This one here potentially could deliver,

470
00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,639
because anything on the fault line here produces.

471
00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,599
Les!

472
00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,679
What? I've got the twitch.

473
00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,039
It's going to happen, mate! You watch! Yeah!

474
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,959
The opal fever tingle!

475
00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,479
When you're about to get close sometimes,

476
00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,239
you get this twitch, you know?

477
00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,319
You start twitching and you know it's not far.

478
00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,079
And I've been twitching!

479
00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,319
This is black opal country.

480
00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,079
As the most valuable opal in the world,

481
00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,359
it can be worth up to $43,000 per gram.

482
00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:46,119
You all right, Les? Yeah.

483
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,319
Righto, go in a bit more.

484
00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,679
Take about six inches.

485
00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,599
Oh, oh, oh!

486
00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:05,399
A little bit of colour it's just starting to make. It is, yeah.

487
00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,999
I'll undercut that side a little bit for you, Les.

488
00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,119
That'll do.

489
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,559
Pull out. Nice seam, Les.

490
00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:19,959
Whoa-ho-ho! Call me grandmother, Les, look at that!

491
00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,599
That's  good!

492
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,839
Left turn!

493
00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,039
Off out the top.

494
00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:39,159
A bit of a tailgate malfunction. We nearly lost the tailgate.

495
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,319
Pete and Sam's first contract wash job of opal dirt

496
00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,239
is jammed behind a rusty tailgate

497
00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,879
on their newly purchased 50-year-old truck.

498
00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,039
Might have to tip it up a little bit.

499
00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:55,959
Righto!

500
00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,399
It's all teething problems, first time.

501
00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,359
Can't get it perfect.

502
00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:04,479
It's all gone! All gone?

503
00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,039
All gone! That's perfect!

504
00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:08,959
That's how it's meant to work!

505
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,999
Working a treat! Perfect.

506
00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,119
Yeah, that's great. That's what we wanna do,

507
00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,559
get that dirt roaring on these conveyor belts and into the agi.

508
00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,199
We've got agi one spinning round washing dirt,

509
00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,999
agi two is loading up ready to wash dirt.

510
00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,159
If you find some gems, all this is worth it, no doubt.

511
00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,599
And, um, time will tell.

512
00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,879
Next morning, the washed dirt from their own mine

513
00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,959
is ready for the tailout.

514
00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:48,039
We've tailed out agi one. So yeah, this is the pointy end.

515
00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,679
This is where you're hoping you find the gems.

516
00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,719
Ten tonnes of dirt have washed down to one tonne,

517
00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,319
transported in a bulk bag.

518
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:00,759
We did see a bit of trace when we were digging

519
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,599
and that's always encouraging.

520
00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,559
You've gotta have that trace before you get any real opals.

521
00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,799
You only need just one good stone in a tailout

522
00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,559
that makes it all worthwhile.

523
00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,999
All right, mate? Let's give it a rinse off

524
00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,079
and, um, see what we've got, eh?

525
00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:24,119
If there's another $50,000 opal stone in their haul,

526
00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,079
this is where they'll discover it.

527
00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:28,919
You got a little bit of potch, did you?

528
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,999
Yeah, a little bit of black in there before.

529
00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:33,919
Cool. It's in one of that.

530
00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,959
It's the stuff we were seeing underground, that real black.

531
00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,359
Yeah. No colour.

532
00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:42,079
No colour though, is there? No colour, no.

533
00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,919
No money, I'm afraid.

534
00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:48,519
Colourless opal known as "potch" is worthless,

535
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,519
but it forms under the same conditions as precious opal

536
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,119
and is often found close by.

537
00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:56,959
None of this.

538
00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,799
So, uh, more of this nice black potch,

539
00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,519
but, uh, just no colour, mate.

540
00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,159
Very ordinary, young fella.

541
00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,799
Nothing much there. A pretty ordinary sort of tailout.

542
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,039
Wasn't it ever? I think we'll just, uh,

543
00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,439
put that one as practice! Yeah!

544
00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,319
Still got our client's dirt in the agi washing away.

545
00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,159
There's every chance there could be opal in that.

546
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:22,719
We'll just have to see how we go.

547
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,999
That's just the way it is. Opal mining, there's no guarantees.

548
00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,199
It's a gamble. The dirt is in the agi spinning around now.

549
00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,279
Looking forward to tailing that out,

550
00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,959
hopefully it'll be better than the one today.

551
00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,239
JC: What do you reckon, Jay? Have we got money there?

552
00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,279
I definitely reckon we've got some really nice stones.

553
00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,559
We've gotta get the stone out of all the dirt behind it,

554
00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,879
so we're gonna grind down this edge here

555
00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:52,479
until we get back to the opal.

556
00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,559
You just grind it down to the opal, don't take any more away...

557
00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,719
otherwise we're losing money.

558
00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:02,839
Basically, the biggest reason we're cutting this at the moment

559
00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,319
is to sell it as a more finished product, make a bit more money.

560
00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,359
Desperate to show a return for their new investor,

561
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,119
The Young Guns are trying to add value

562
00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:17,879
to the last opal to come from their World's End mine.

563
00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:25,599
Starting to look good. It's looking nice. Nice shape.

564
00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,999
It would be good to take it to our usual cut stone expert, Macca.

565
00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,599
Unfortunately, he's not available at the moment,

566
00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,519
so we're going to sit with Dad and see if he can work out

567
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,159
a price as to how much it's gonna be worth.

568
00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:39,879
This is what you've been working on, Jay? Yeah.

569
00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,279
Jaymin's father Graeme is White Cliffs' biggest opal dealer.

570
00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,239
That's pretty. Yeah.

571
00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,359
We're pretty much just looking to see what you reckon about,

572
00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,839
a total value for these ones.

573
00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,079
Do you know how heavy you are?

574
00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:58,359
Ah yes. All up with these three here, we're at 100 carats.

575
00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:02,679
It's pretty material. I mean, just given what I'm seeing there,

576
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,239
easily be looking at three to four thousand. Oh, nice!

577
00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:08,279
Yeah, I know. That's pretty good.

578
00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:11,719
We've also got this one here. Little bit different.

579
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,599
Yeah, he's unusual. Yeah.

580
00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,239
I'm gonna say fifteen hundred. Fifteen hundred?

581
00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,519
Yeah. So, we're looking at about $5,560 all up.

582
00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,919
Lot better than you were thinking? A LOT better than we were thinking!

583
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,999
That's brilliant.

584
00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,679
The Young Guns have blue green crystal opal.

585
00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,319
It's cut and polished.

586
00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:38,879
There's 100 carats or 20 grams, with an estimated value of $5,500.

587
00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,759
Well, thanks for that, Dad. Get back out there.

588
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,399
Go find some more. Yeah, will do. That's it.

589
00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:46,399
A great way to finish off the mine.

590
00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,519
We had one last dig down there and managed to pull a bit of opal out.

591
00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,239
And, you know, to cut that and have it valued, you know,

592
00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,719
over $5,000 is phenomenal.

593
00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:00,039
I've been working pretty hard on the digger. Ah, it's ready to go.

594
00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:02,719
Boys, I've got a surprise for you. JC: What have you got?

595
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,159
Mate, the bin chicken is dead.

596
00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:08,999
Have a look at the Iron Man.

597
00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,359
The Iron Man, eh? What?

598
00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,639
Is this even our digger, mate? I'll turn it on, you have a go.

599
00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:17,399
You ready? Ready.

600
00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:18,879
Iron Man!

601
00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:21,479
Look at this, mate! Have a look at that!

602
00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,039
Mate, that's brilliant!

603
00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:26,719
What do you reckon, Noz? Mate, it looks awesome.

604
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,559
How fast does it go? Bit faster because it's red!

605
00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,319
Yeah!

606
00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:35,119
Five spool control. It works like a charm.

607
00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,639
That's unreal. This is gonna change the game!

608
00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,039
I just want to get it underground now.

609
00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:53,919
Pete Cooke and Sam Westra's last chance of making money this week

610
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,199
rests with their contract wash job, now ready to tail out.

611
00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,239
Rightio, gentle, gentle!

612
00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:03,919
So, it's a gamble.

613
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:07,119
It's almost like putting money in a poker machine, in some way.

614
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,999
You've gotta put diesel and money into the agis and into the trucks.

615
00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,599
And we'll find out in the tailout room

616
00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:16,119
whether or not it was worthwhile.

617
00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:24,759
I didn't like the sound of that!

618
00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:26,959
I don't trust it at all!

619
00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:30,519
Don't put your head or your arm under it when you're up there, OK?

620
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,079
No. That didn't sound good!

621
00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,319
Get it up there before it bursts!

622
00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,279
Pete and Sam need to find opal.

623
00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,319
So far, this has cost them two days' work,

624
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,519
$600 in diesel and $18,000 on a second-hand truck.

625
00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:52,599
The odds are definitely against you in this opal mining caper.

626
00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:56,439
Yes, a little bit more grey potch. OK.

627
00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,999
The odds aren't a million to one, they are millions to one!

628
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:06,479
No, not much so far. Bits of trace and potch, which are good signs.

629
00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:09,999
But, uh, no money or nice stones yet.

630
00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,999
The gem quality black opal is so rare, it's just so precious.

631
00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:16,679
You just don't see much of it.

632
00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,639
You've gotta move a lot of dirt to try and find that elusive opal.

633
00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,399
There's a bit of colour. A little nobby.

634
00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:28,519
Oh right, yeah. Just a flick of green on it.

635
00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:30,879
Yeah, green, purple, but...

636
00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,279
I don't think you'll get a stone out of it.

637
00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,159
Something to show our client. That's it.

638
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:38,199
Although I'll be, um, thinking twice

639
00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,239
whether to wash more of this !

640
00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:42,319
Yeah. Not much in them, is there?

641
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:47,119
You'd, um, want to see a bit more for your time, wouldn't you?

642
00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,119
This is, uh, pretty ordinary.

643
00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:52,479
What you got there, mate?

644
00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:55,279
Well, I think it's the king stone for the day.

645
00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:58,279
That's it, mate! That's the best one we got?

646
00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,599
Yeah. Won't even pay the fuel.

647
00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,959
No. I don't think you can retire yet! No.

648
00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:07,879
Big find early in the season.

649
00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,239
We thought we'd smash our season target.

650
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:13,359
But the last few tailouts have been pretty dismal.

651
00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,999
I wouldn't say we're desperate, but certainly keen.

652
00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,959
That's how I'd put it. Just damn keen!

653
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:21,799
No opal in that, mate? No, mate, no.

654
00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,319
She's a bit ordinary. But what can you do?

655
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,719
Just another truck.

656
00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:28,919
That's it. Keep washing. Yeah.

657
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,639
With nothing to show for their efforts,

658
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:36,359
Pete and Sam's target remains a long way off.

659
00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,759
I got a bit grandiose with our season target.

660
00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,639
You can't tell. You can't tell what's gonna happen.

661
00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:52,479
ROD: Whoa-ho-ho!

662
00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:56,039
Call me grandmother, Les! Look at that! That's  good!

663
00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,079
We've got quite a nice electric bar on the top.

664
00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:01,319
And there's still more up here.

665
00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:03,279
Oh, this is it, Les!

666
00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,759
Life don't get better than digging colour out of the wall, mate!

667
00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:12,759
After risking a mine collapse, The Bushmen have hit pay dirt,

668
00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,439
a rich seam of blue green crystal opal.

669
00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:18,999
Look at that, Les! Bloody good green.

670
00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:20,679
Look at that!

671
00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,359
That's what I like to see!

672
00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:26,839
Oh, Les!

673
00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:29,559
It's big and it's cheesy!

674
00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:31,919
Oh!

675
00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:34,999
Oh, ha ha! Look at this!

676
00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,279
How good is this, mate?

677
00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:38,999
All colour.

678
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,079
We're going  great guns here.

679
00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,759
We've mainly got a grey base crystal.

680
00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:47,759
It's got patches that are very, very nice.

681
00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:49,719
Righto, Les.

682
00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:51,839
Let's collect our wealth!

683
00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,679
Well, Les. Let's see what we've got, eh?

684
00:40:57,760 --> 00:40:59,999
Let's see how rich we are.

685
00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:02,759
Righto.

686
00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,599
This is it, Les. Moment of truth, mate.

687
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:09,999
Better see what she weighs, mate. What are you betting?

688
00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:13,359
Six hundred. Six hundred?

689
00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:17,959
Not even close. Huh.

690
00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:21,439
368 grams.

691
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:26,639
That's a real nice parcel of crystal, I reckon, don't you? Yeah, yes.

692
00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:28,999
Put that on a sandwich, you could eat it!

693
00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:31,119
I reckon I can get 15 for that.

694
00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:33,639
Yeah, yeah. Yeah? Happy with that?

695
00:41:33,720 --> 00:41:36,759
I'm happy with 15. And that's some good stuff in there too.

696
00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:40,599
I like some of that. I'm thinking... I'm thinking 20.

697
00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,039
Twenty? Twenty for the bucket.

698
00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:45,919
Yeah? And it's 15 for that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

699
00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,279
Yeah. That's 35, isn't it?

700
00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:50,119
Yeah. It was when I went to school.

701
00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,759
That's a good week's pay. She's a bloody ripper, mate.

702
00:41:54,920 --> 00:42:00,039
The Bushmen's two parcels of blue-green grey based crystal opal

703
00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:03,999
have a combined weight of 1.6 kilos,

704
00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:07,959
and an estimated value of $35,000.

705
00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:14,799
With a 50 percent share, that's $17,500 for the Bushmen.

706
00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,799
We're well and truly on our way to that season target!

707
00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:30,879
What's this? Oh!

708
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,959
Something good! Finally!

709
00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:35,639
Yes! Well done, mate!

710
00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:38,999
Yes. She's a nice little wagon, mate. Wow!

711
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:41,719
What a beauty!

712
00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:45,159
I've got my new car and I'm happy with it.

713
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:50,039
Looks great. Now I can go down and see my daughters and my grandkids.

714
00:42:50,120 --> 00:42:53,879
That's been a priority for a fair while now.

715
00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:55,679
Up, up.

716
00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:58,119
Let me in!

717
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:02,119
She's very flash, Les!

718
00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:04,119
She's a flash car, mate.

719
00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,959
You've even got brakes in this one, Les!

720
00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:11,759
Well, the dogs seem to like it, Les. Yeah, they're all happy.

721
00:43:11,840 --> 00:43:16,799
Right, old fella, see if you can fishtail it up the road!

722
00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:21,239
It's just the start for us at Ploughboys.

723
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:25,679
We're gonna do very well out there, I reckon.

724
00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:27,999
Subtitles by Deluxe

724
00:43:28,305 --> 00:44:28,557
Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
www.osdb.link/lm