1
00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,439
Looks like I'm getting in here! Yeah.

2
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,239
The machinery hasn't been started for a year,

3
00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,039
so we're going to give it a bit of this professional choice,

4
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,639
get her going.

5
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,719
All right, ready? Yep.

6
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,279
Come on, come on! Yeah!

7
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,439
She's a goer!

8
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,839
This is the Normet, this is what hauls the dirt out of the holes.

9
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,439
Hasn't been started for a year. She started, no worries.

10
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,999
We'll get the gear down there, get all set up,

11
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,279
start moving some dirt.

12
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,519
Good to go, bro.

13
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,639
We've got Leif on the skid steer, doing the main digging.

14
00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,039
We got Cozza on the Normet truck.

15
00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,679
He's the one that hauls the dirt out.

16
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,639
Me, I do the odds-and-ends jobs,

17
00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,359
trying to make sure everything keeps moving,

18
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,679
pretty much whatever Leif wants as we go.

19
00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,159
We'll take this dirt out, load it up in the Normet,

20
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,679
dry it out, see what comes out of that.

21
00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:19,359
It's good to see dirt moving again, good to be back, raring to go.

22
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,074



23
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,599
Get out of here, Leif - he's got no brakes.

24
00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,839
Here I come!

25
00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,639
! Hit the pump brake!

26
00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,719
Hey, hey, hey!

27
00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,239
The Apocalyptic Australian outback.

28
00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,199
NEWSCASTER: Black and as foreign as the moon.

29
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,159
Silent, charred, twisted.

30
00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,839
NEWSCASTER: These three cars were swallowed this morning.

31
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,279
NEWSCASTER: This mouse plague is going to be devastating.

32
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,199
An isolated land of extremes

33
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,239
deadly to the unwary...

34
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,999
Whoa, whoa!

35
00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,919
Whoa, watch out!

36
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,479
Old Les, he's going to love this!

37
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,039
..relying on ancient machinery...

38
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,439
, hey!

39
00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,919
..and battling dangerous... Watch out, it's coming down!

40
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,719
..brutal terrain. Whoa, !

41
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,679
Look out! You trying to get yourself killed?

42
00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,519
The hunt for opal...

43
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,319
Look how bright that is!

44
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,959
Scotty, look at that!

45
00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,439
Hey!

46
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,679
..tests the very limits of the miners...

47
00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,799
Whoa, Jesus!

48
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,919
..brave enough to seek their fortune in the unforgiving earth.

49
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,519
If you want to make your dreams come true, this is what you want

50
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,679
and this is what you need.

51
00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,559
COLIN: Hey, hey, hey! MATHEW: Hit the brakes!

52
00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,199
Oh, Christ!

53
00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,239
You all right, man?

54
00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,839
Yeah, I'm all right!

55
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,879
Your back all right?Yeah, mate. We lost all gears and brakes!

56
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,679
On the edge of the desolate Andamooka opal fields,

57
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,879
brothers Mathew and Colin Kathagen

58
00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,519
and team leader, Leif Tanzer

59
00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,119
are just beginning their mining season.

60
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,879
I come over the top of the crest there and I lost brakes.

61
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,479
The gears were holding me up, but halfway down the ramp,

62
00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:12,439
the gears decided to let go as well, and off we came. Very close call.

63
00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,679
Without this machine, we're not getting dirt out,

64
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,239
targets won't get met.

65
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,559
Let's hope that it can be an easy fix.

66
00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:25,719
One of the lines, the oil lines, has come loose, it's losing pressure.

67
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,719
Hopefully, we can tighten it up.

68
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,279
I think we're good to go. Awesome, man.

69
00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,399
Top it up with oil, it should be right.

70
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,559
Matty and Cozza are mates I've had half my life.

71
00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,519
I met them when they came to Mooka.

72
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,079
Cozza's my brother.

73
00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,679
We've worked and travelled and lived together most of our lives.

74
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,319
Mat's my brother, we're close.

75
00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,479
We left Sydney together, I was just 18 and he was 20.

76
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,559
We didn't know what we were going to do at that time.

77
00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,399
We came here, got taken through a couple old claims,

78
00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,319
and couldn't believe what's here and open for us to do.

79
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,039
We just stayed here.

80
00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,039
Leif's dad, Paul, was the owner of everything we've got here.

81
00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:14,559
Dad and I were partners, working together for a long time.

82
00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:21,319
Leif's father, Paul Tanzer, began mining in Andamooka in 1980.

83
00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,679
He taught Leif, and then Matty and Cozza, how to find opal.

84
00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:31,119
Me and Cozza met Paul. He put the pieces of the puzzle together.

85
00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,199
We owe him everything of our opal-mining careers.

86
00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:38,079
We'd still be wandering around aimlessly if it wasn't for Paul.

87
00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,559
November will be two years since I lost Dad.

88
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:46,279
Paul Tanzer was caught off-guard during a disagreement,

89
00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,319
and died from his injuries.

90
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,719
The way he said goodbye was dying in my arms on the way to hospital.

91
00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,079
I kept my promises to him.

92
00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,679
That's, not giving up on anything, and pushing forward

93
00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:02,759
with everything I do.

94
00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,599
Leif and his old man ran a tight ship.

95
00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,079
It's going to be hard to fit in here.

96
00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,279
Let's just hope that I've got the spot for it.

97
00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,879
I've invited Matty and Cozza to continue the mining we were doing.

98
00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,599
Our goal is to uphold the standard Dad would have expected.

99
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,519
It's hard to keep a partnership together.

100
00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,119
It's important to show Leif that we're up to the challenge.

101
00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:31,919
I'm a full-time opal miner.

102
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,759
My goal is to feed the family, put some money in the bank.

103
00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:38,839
We're hoping for the 60-grand mark.

104
00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,159
We'll get moving on this season, and see if we can make it.

105
00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,879
You want to put the spike on, man? Sure, yeah.

106
00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,519
All good, bro.

107
00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,959
That's our big superspike. Leif will go in and spike the wall.

108
00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,839
Leif is reading the face the whole time.

109
00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,919
It's very important he does, because we could go straight through opal.

110
00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,119
If we're going straight through the opal every day,

111
00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,679
we'll never meet our target, that's for sure.

112
00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,319
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

113
00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,079
Is that the spot, bro? Yeah, that'll do it.

114
00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,879
Dad, at the moment, he's up fixing the agi.

115
00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,999
Rory and I worked out a spot we want to drill.

116
00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,879
Just got to get her in a position,

117
00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,959
whack a hole down, and hope for the best.

118
00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,879
Are you happy, mate? Yeah, I reckon.

119
00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,439
Righto.

120
00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,759
I'll shut the truck off, start the rig up, and get into it, eh?

121
00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,839
Sounds good. Righto.

122
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,159
The ground that Oscar and I are drilling is uncharted.

123
00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,999
I'm happy with that, bro. That's good. Put her down.

124
00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,519
We're pretty hopeful that we can find another run of opal.

125
00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,039
Fingers crossed, eh, mate?

126
00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,999
Tell you what - fingers crossed, toes crossed.

127
00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:14,759
If anything stuffs up on this and we can't use it, we're a bit stuck.

128
00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,959
This is our last hope at the moment.

129
00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,319
Dad's left us in charge of the drill,

130
00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,879
the most important piece of equipment.

131
00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,599
We don't want to break anything on it - I don't think he'd be happy.

132
00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,039
The level underground is around 24 to 26 foot.

133
00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,359
Once we see sandstone, we know we're coming into opal level.

134
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,559
What happened, did you touch anything?

135
00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,439
I don't think so.

136
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,599
She just turned off? Yeah.

137
00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,319
We just blew a digger hose.

138
00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,879
The Cheals - Rory and Oscar with dad, Chris -

139
00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,719
are fighting for their survival as opal miners.

140
00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,119
So far this season, we've been going absolutely rubbish.

141
00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,199
We've had trouble with the diggers.

142
00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,039
Everything that could go wrong went wrong.That's the end of that.

143
00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,519
The axle on the agi, that cost $600 for a bearing,

144
00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,479
which normally costs $70.

145
00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:12,959
With parts so rare, there was only two in the country.

146
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,359
We're close to rock-bottom.

147
00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,359
The 27,500 we're at now,

148
00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,799
that's just covered costs.

149
00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,359
We've made nothing out of it personally.

150
00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,119
This hole is the one you were talking about,

151
00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,959
that they dug too hard? Yeah.

152
00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,039
They did get nice opal, they just couldn't dig it -

153
00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:31,679
the digger was too small.

154
00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:37,359
Last season, The Cheals lowered their 2.5-tonne superdigger...

155
00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,079
Hey, Rory.

156
00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,919
..into their megalease, planning to tunnel 50 metres

157
00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,759
to an abandoned mine.

158
00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,319
The opal didn't run out, they just couldn't dig it out.

159
00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,199
The superdigger should get through it.

160
00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:57,359
But while waiting for parts to repair the agitator,

161
00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,719
they're unable to wash opal dirt, stopping the cash flow they need

162
00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,479
to finish their tunnel.

163
00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:08,959
I've just poured a lot of money in diesel and costs.

164
00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,999
With all the breakdowns, added costs,

165
00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:18,679
I want to go away and get some work and get some more money for diesel.

166
00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:23,239
Hopefully, while I'm away, the boys can drill something up.

167
00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,199
How'd you go - still fuelling it?

168
00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,639
There's 3" or 4" of fuel in the bottom.

169
00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,639
It's got plenty of juice.

170
00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,479
Drilling is a lot cheaper than digging

171
00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:38,839
because you're not running all the big machinery.

172
00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,879
Oscar and I are going to drill without Dad.

173
00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,639
It makes me a bit nervous.

174
00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,039
If we find something with the drill,

175
00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,599
it warrants us digging to the old workings

176
00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,359
we've been digging all year.

177
00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,839
I'll take this fuel line off, we'll blow back through it,

178
00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:55,999
and see if anything might push it out.

179
00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,759
Hopefully, we don't have to call Dad.

180
00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,799
He's trusting us with the rig,

181
00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,559
last thing we want to do is break it on him.

182
00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,599
With old machines comes many problems.

183
00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:10,719
Dad's not out here, it's just Oscar and I.

184
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,759
So, yeah, we've just got to sort it out.

185
00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,599
It's getting  cold now.

186
00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:29,879
It's a nice change from the 48 degrees

187
00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,559
and 50 degrees butt of summer.

188
00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:37,079
Just going over to see if our Les is ready for  work.

189
00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,519
He's not been real good, you know?

190
00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,919
He reckoned he was going to be all right, but we'll see.

191
00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,399
Some days I'll go to pick him up, or he'll come over home, and that's OK.

192
00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,159
Other days, you know, he's just too crook to work.

193
00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,799
He's just gotten a bit long in the tooth for like this -

194
00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,879
it's a hard game, you know?

195
00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:07,119
We all have to get put out in the paddock one day.

196
00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,879
Ed, what are you doing?

197
00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,799
How you going, mate? Oh, yeah.

198
00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,399
Want to go to work?No, mate, my leg's giving me .

199
00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,359
Really? Yeah.

200
00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,039
What, your hip again? Yeah.

201
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,239
I'll go and see the quack. Yeah?

202
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:34,439
Yeah.

203
00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,279
All right, mate, well, let me know what the quack says.

204
00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:39,879
I will, yeah.

205
00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,599
If he's going to put me down, I suppose you'll want a certificate.

206
00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:46,759
, yeah. Righto, I'll see what I can do.

207
00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:51,079
I need plenty of notice too so I can dig a hole.

208
00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,559
That's it.All right, mate, well, you look after yourself.

209
00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,119
Yeah.

210
00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,839
Yeah, I've been in the wars.

211
00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:02,719
Something's gone wrong with my hip,

212
00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,599
and the pain is... It's a job to walk.

213
00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:10,599
It goes right down my leg, you know? I don't know what it is.

214
00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:14,599
I have to see what the quack's got to say for himself.

215
00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:19,919
This season, The Bushmen - Rod Manning and Les Walsh -

216
00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,479
are chasing $260,000

217
00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:27,039
on their 50 X 50-metre Billy Goats Claim.

218
00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,759
The goal for this season is pretty much the same as it was last year -

219
00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,359
we want to get enough money to see the old fella out.

220
00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:40,119
In their hunt for life-changing black opal,

221
00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,359
worth up to $43,000 a gram,

222
00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,959
74-year-old Les has suffered numerous injuries.

223
00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,839
He burned the skin off both arms and legs and his chest.

224
00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,999
He has very few comforts over at his camp.

225
00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,559
I'd like to retire him with some comfort -

226
00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,639
an air conditioner and hot-water system.

227
00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,599
We need a bit of cash to do that.

228
00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,519
We ain't been finding much.

229
00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,239
We've just got to keep hammering forward,

230
00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,199
I've got to shift more dirt.

231
00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,279
With Les unable to work full-time,

232
00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,079
Rod has begun the search for a new mining partner.

233
00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:23,039
Head down, arse up! You're doing the work of two now, mate.

234
00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,079
The guy's a good bloke. He had a crack but he won't make the grade.

235
00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:28,919
You need someone younger.

236
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,959
It's harder to find a mining partner

237
00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,839
than it is to find  opal, to tell you the truth.

238
00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,519
It's real tough, it's real tough.

239
00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,239
Rod's going to go and see if he can find this other bloke.

240
00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,679
Hopefully, he'll give him a hand.

241
00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,559
A friend gave me a young bloke's name

242
00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:56,279
that he reckoned would be interested in coming and giving us a hand.

243
00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,559
He said he's a good kid.

244
00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,679
I don't know the kid real well,

245
00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,799
but I know his old man and uncle are all right.

246
00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:07,599
I've got a fair idea of what he looks like and where he's at.

247
00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,679
I think it's just down here somewhere.

248
00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,799
How're you going, mate? Good. Yourself?

249
00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,359
Damien, isn't it? Yeah.

250
00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,319
Rod. What brings you?

251
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,599
I've got a bit of a deal to offer you.Yeah?

252
00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,319
We're struggling. We're trying to find someone

253
00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,439
that potentially can come in and give us a hand now,

254
00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,639
but potentially go on with it.

255
00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,079
I've heard some pretty good things about you.Yeah.

256
00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,519
Damien's a young bloke from town.

257
00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,119
He's sort of wanting to have a crack at opal mining,

258
00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,199
so he's giving it a go.

259
00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,759
My great-great-great grandfather

260
00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,679
was the first to start digging in Grawin.

261
00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:52,879
Also, my father, he's an opal miner. My uncle, my pop.

262
00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,239
It would be very good for me to join that family history.

263
00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,319
What we're looking for is someone that's reliable,

264
00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,399
that wants to make something of himself,

265
00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,799
and not afraid of hard work.

266
00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,639
Well, Rod, it sounds very good, mate.

267
00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,039
Good onya, mate, that's fantastic.

268
00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,559
He's camping pretty rough out there, he's got an old caravan.

269
00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,359
I don't think it's even got a door on it.

270
00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,279
It's freezing at night-time when she drops temperature.

271
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,999
You've got all the critters outside cos there's no door.

272
00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,119
There's mice, snakes, centipedes.

273
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,519
That shows he's got dedication and a bit of heart and is a bit tough.

274
00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,439
This kid might be good for us.

275
00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,959
It's pretty hard to just bring a young kid in and do what we do,

276
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,159
but we're a little bit desperate at the moment.

277
00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,479
You just don't know till you give him a go.

278
00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:04,919
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

279
00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:09,639
Hang on, mate! Maybe we'd better cut the tunnel out a bit, eh?

280
00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,519
Yeah, take that ramp down. You all right? Sweet.

281
00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:14,759
Too much dirt going up the ramp.

282
00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,839
If you've got the thing too high, she'll pull it up.

283
00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,399
Yeah, too much dirt.

284
00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,719
The Mooka Boys - Leif, Matty, and Cozza -

285
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,039
are searching for opal at Lunatic,

286
00:17:27,120 --> 00:17:32,279
two adjacent claims on one of the most isolated fields in Andamooka.

287
00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,799
Yeah, that's good, mate.

288
00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,159
We've dug about 17 feet. We're going to go a little bit slower now.

289
00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,479
Leif will start prodding the face a little more gentle.

290
00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,599
Hey, boys! What's that?

291
00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:01,119
Found something in the wall, I think so.Oh, you beauty!

292
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,959
Oh, man! We've got the angel stone.

293
00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,839
Angel stone is a silicate-rock conglomerate.

294
00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,959
When you get enough silicate in it, it can form opal.

295
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,719
You have to take it nice and easy. We'll get that stone out,

296
00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,879
and hopefully, there's some opal behind it.

297
00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,999
See any trace, Matty?

298
00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:30,239
That's why they call it Lunatic - it really can be hit-and-miss.

299
00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,319
There has been good money found on this field.

300
00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,359
It wasn't what we wanted.

301
00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,959
We haven't seen signs of seam opal in the mud,

302
00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,479
but it could have fallen down in the patch.

303
00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,159
We'll take this dirt out, and see what comes out of that.

304
00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,719
The Mooka Boys' noodling machine is 4km from their mine site.

305
00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,719
It uses a system of conveyor belts to sort through opal dirt.

306
00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,959
This is the darkroom.

307
00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,799
The opal comes through here on the belt.

308
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,319
We've got black lights for the area.

309
00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,239
The black light shines it up,

310
00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,599
makes it easy to spot that opal, even if it's got mud on it.

311
00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,959
Leif inherited the noodler and all the other machines from his father.

312
00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,959
Mum and Dad built this machine 35 years ago.

313
00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,959
Most of it was bits and pieces, whatever they could find around.

314
00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,679
They turned it into a pretty good machine.

315
00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,799
Dad had very high standards. This is about continuing on Dad's work.

316
00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,079
Right, here we go.

317
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,399
We get our conveyor belt,

318
00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,399
now we fire up the load bin, hope for the best.

319
00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,719
All right. Fingers crossed, that's all going well.

320
00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,519
Is that long conveyor going?

321
00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,319
Nah.

322
00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,519
We've got a bit of a jam in our long-feed conveyor.

323
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,079
What's going on?

324
00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,039
I reckon that joiner is stuck again.

325
00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,079
Dad was very thorough, he was meticulous.

326
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:02,639
It's important to keep things working the way he would want it -

327
00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,999
keeping the maintenance up, keeping things running smoothly.

328
00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:12,599
Turn it off, we'll pull it backwards.You won't pull it.

329
00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,799
Kill her now! Roger.

330
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,439
This is why you need to empty the dirt off,

331
00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,599
or you'll have  problems.

332
00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,639
She's a little bit jammed up from last season still.

333
00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,639
From now on, that machine gets cleaned every day, every shift.

334
00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,759
It's full of dirt. There's no  way.

335
00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:36,359
Dad didn't do that, that's not how I'm going to do it either.

336
00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:45,039
Do you want to crack that blade screw?Yeah.

337
00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:50,639
The fuel's cut out in the rig. We're not 100% sure what's going on.

338
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:55,039
This lever pumps all the fuel back through the lines.

339
00:20:55,120 --> 00:21:00,439
Any air that's sitting in the lines should come out of there.

340
00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,479
Seeing anything? Nothing's coming out.

341
00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,239
You pumping?Yeah, I'm pumping. There's not a lot of pressure.

342
00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,399
Maybe that's the issue -

343
00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:14,079
if the engine's not getting fuel, it's not even pumping through.

344
00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,079
Dad has a lot of  in his truck.

345
00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:21,799
I think he might have a little 12-volt fuel pump onboard.

346
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:26,479
Any major issue with the drill rig that Rory and I can't fix

347
00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:29,439
could put us in real big trouble.

348
00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:32,639
There it is.

349
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:36,159
We've got that pump here. Oh, gun!

350
00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,759
We're trying to dig this dirt out.

351
00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,159
If we don't get anything, we're going to run ourselves broke.

352
00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,479
This should start pumping.

353
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,279
Can you hear it ticking along?

354
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:52,639
It's going, we've just got to wait for the air to come out.

355
00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,759
There we go!

356
00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,959
Righto, let's give it another go.

357
00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,799
Well done, mate, that's the go! Good work!

358
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,879
Oscar and Rory Cheal are using the last of their cash,

359
00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,799
drilling for opal just metres away from an abandoned mineshaft.

360
00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,599
We've been told that the people that were digging in that area

361
00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,799
found opal, about 20 grands' worth.

362
00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,639
The dirt was too hard for their digger at the time.

363
00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,959
We're going to go chasing it.

364
00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:26,119
Oscar? Yo.

365
00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,199
Look at this big nobby.

366
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,959
Holy ! Did you just pick that out?

367
00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,439
Look, there's more in there, literally everywhere.

368
00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,079
Look at that black nobby, bro! They're all black as.

369
00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,359
A nobby is where silica-filled water is formed into a ball.

370
00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,999
They can cut really good stones.

371
00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,159
There's a lot of material here for sure.

372
00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,119
Just look at that colour!

373
00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,119
If you have a colour bar with that black potch,

374
00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,359
you could have a few hundred thousand. That's a big stone.

375
00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,199
I think this is enough to stop Dad going away for work.

376
00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,519
I reckon we give Dad a call and just hook in.Yeah.

377
00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,879
Because that's the best we have all season.

378
00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:21,039
It is freezing.

379
00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:24,199
I've never, ever seen it this cold out here.

380
00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,359
I've got young Damien starting this morning,

381
00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,999
just going to go through things with him.

382
00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,799
Bushman Rod is trialling a new apprentice,

383
00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:40,119
fourth-generation miner, 16-year-old Damien McBride.

384
00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:45,159
Damien's done mining, but he's never worked with big machinery.

385
00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,199
The digger is the main thing I've got to be watching.

386
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:54,719
They're very dangerous. My father's told many stories about them to me.

387
00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:57,799
All right, mate, this is it.

388
00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,679
At least it's a little bit warmer down here.Yeah.

389
00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,359
We're 60 foot down.

390
00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,839
Come down here, and I'll show you the digger.

391
00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:12,959
This is where we're at, mate.

392
00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,479
When I start digging and everything,

393
00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,839
I can't see a lot from behind the digger.

394
00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:25,159
So, what you're looking for is any sign of potch or any sign of colour.

395
00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,359
What I might get you to do is, grab your pelican pick,

396
00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:33,199
pull these around, and kick that pipe over that way a little bit.

397
00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:41,119
He's going well.

398
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,999
Bang your pipe, mate.

399
00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,879
Bang your pipe. No, the end of your pipe's blocked.

400
00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,999
They all go well for the first one or two days.

401
00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,639
We'll see what happens after three or four days.

402
00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,039
Righto, mate, back over here.

403
00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,199
Take a step forward or back.

404
00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,279
You don't want to be right alongside this, just in case,

405
00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:12,039
when I put pressure on.

406
00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:15,439
Superdiggers are pretty dangerous.

407
00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,679
If you're in the wrong position,

408
00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,879
I can throw you across the drive pretty easily.

409
00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,559
Being around a digger, one little swipe, bang, you can be dead

410
00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,119
or you can be knocked out.

411
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:31,599
Be very careful, listen to the boss, hopefully, I'll get up that ladder.

412
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,919
The roof bolts are on that bit of a drop-off there.

413
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,439
They're not going to hold real well.

414
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,119
She's going to kick around a bit until she settles in, I think.

415
00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,559
This is the drive we've been doing all season,

416
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,879
working towards those old workings.

417
00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,119
We must be getting close.

418
00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,319
We measured 78 feet, I think, so we shouldn't be too far.

419
00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,439
I was worried we might be digging here for nothing,

420
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,759
but after what youse drilled, we're in with a real good chance.

421
00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,239
Chris Cheal has rejoined his sons

422
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:16,919
in a last-ditch effort to dig to a 3'-diameter mineshaft

423
00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,559
before their cash runs out.

424
00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,959
Try and find the three-footer,

425
00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,599
move the blower over, then we'll have the suction

426
00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,119
to get out to where youse drilled that stuff.

427
00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,279
It's barely doing the job now.

428
00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:34,639
Their operation relies on a 140-horsepower blower

429
00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:41,359
which, at its limit, sucks rocks 40 metres up to the surface.

430
00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:46,039
Buster, get out of it! You'll get sucked up that pipe.

431
00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:49,039
If they can find the bottom of the old shaft,

432
00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:52,999
it can be used as a new access hole for their blower.

433
00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,559
We can move the blower and reset the pipes.

434
00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,399
That way, we can go out in any direction,

435
00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,279
and we're not going to struggle with the pipes,

436
00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:03,879
like we are at the moment.

437
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,279
Broken through, boys.

438
00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,959
We'll go and have a look, eh?

439
00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,759
Looks like we're a bit in the floor.

440
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,319
There is a bit of a drop.

441
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,079
There's not a whole lot down here, eh?No.

442
00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,839
There's our three-footer. That's what the blower will go over.

443
00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,239
Come look at this! That's not bad, eh?

444
00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,719
Another one there, look.

445
00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,319
We'll have a little gouge.

446
00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,919
We're onto really good material already, good potch.

447
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:43,519
All we need now is colour.

448
00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,879
But we can't go any further until we move the blower over.

449
00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,799
I really took for granted having Dad around.

450
00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:02,639
He'd keep on top of the maintenance, everything like that.

451
00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,799
You'd just rock up and work.

452
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,519
Leif's got a bit of responsibility, filling his dad's shoes -

453
00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,079
big shoes to fill.

454
00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,199
Dad had very high standards.

455
00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,559
He was always on the go, keeping things up to maintenance.

456
00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,879
When things aren't working, I get frustrated.

457
00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,799
It's important for us to show Leif that we're serious about this,

458
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,759
and we want to do this for a career.

459
00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,599
Our long belt is a bit jammed up.

460
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,079
We're going to change the power around,

461
00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,479
run the machine backwards, get it off its stuck point.

462
00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:38,759
You swap the phases on the gen set, everything will run backwards.

463
00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,639
Ooh, don't run too long!

464
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,759
Ahh! Oh, that's why.

465
00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,679
One of our joiners has come loose off the belt,

466
00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,999
and as it's turning around, it's catching on the feed bin.

467
00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:09,119
Cut that with a grinder for now, then we'll just run it.

468
00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:21,919
Out of the way? Yeah.

469
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,879
All right, that's what we want! You beauty!

470
00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,959
The noodler seems to be going good now.

471
00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,959
For a 40-year-old machine, she still goes pretty strong.

472
00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,919
When everything's at full speed,

473
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,599
we can push through about 100 tonne of dirt a day.

474
00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:45,679
Rabbit food.

475
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:50,159
We're not doing too bad, but we're not getting a whole lot just yet.

476
00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,079
I'd like to see more size coming through.

477
00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,039
This is getting to be the last bits of dirt that we dug out.

478
00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:02,239
Call it a day, and hopefully, the boys have got diesel money in there.

479
00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,799
Right.

480
00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,439
I'm pretty sure we pulled out some half-decent concrete here.

481
00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:11,679
It'll need a good wash to make sure.

482
00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,319
Here we have concrete, which we find all through the level.

483
00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,439
It's more limestone or more rock than opal.

484
00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,519
It looks just like concrete.

485
00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,719
Here, we have a piece of matrix,

486
00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,799
which we also find in the same sort of areas.

487
00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,479
This one is probably more opal than rock.

488
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,759
They're pretty worthless as they are.

489
00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,999
They do have a little bit of colour but not a lot of value.

490
00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,039
After we clean them and get them into sugar and acid treatment,

491
00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,279
darken that host stone they're in,

492
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,639
it could be worth a hell of a lot more.

493
00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,359
That's the concrete and those matrix pieces.

494
00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:54,599
No worries.

495
00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,959
Let that heat up for a bit, see how she goes.

496
00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,919
Cooked at roughly 80 degrees Celsius,

497
00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,119
the porous limestone host rock absorbs the sugar.

498
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,959
We've had the concrete and matrix in the sugar solution

499
00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,759
for a couple hours.

500
00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:16,399
I'll pull it out, give it a quick wash, and we'll put it in acid.

501
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,119
After adding the sulphuric acid,

502
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:24,399
a chemical reaction begins with the sugar in the host rock.

503
00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:30,039
The acid changes the sugar's hydrogen and oxygen molecules into water,

504
00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:34,239
leaving the black carbon molecules embedded in the stone.

505
00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:38,759
The more vibrant the opal colour against the blackened host rock,

506
00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,199
the more valuable the gem will be.

507
00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,879
This could be worthless right now.

508
00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:49,119
If it comes out really well after treatment, it could have value.

509
00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:54,759
Top-quality concrete can be worth up to $200/kg,

510
00:31:54,840 --> 00:32:00,559
while the best matrix can sell for $600 a gram.

511
00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,839
We haven't found a great deal of opal.

512
00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:08,479
This week's success hinges on a few of these coming out just right.

513
00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:23,119
I've been in to have a check-up

514
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,079
and see if I can find out what's going wrong.

515
00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,119
The doc gave me some pain-killers.

516
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,959
Hopefully, that'll take the edge off the pain for a while

517
00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:34,759
so I can do something.

518
00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:40,959
How're you going, old fella?

519
00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:44,359
Not too bad. They changed my pills over.Oh, yeah?

520
00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,959
Are you working today?

521
00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:48,599
Yeah, I'll have a go.

522
00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,519
Young Damien needs guidance from you on the tools...Yep.

523
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,559
..how to use a pick properly and that.Yep.

524
00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:02,239
I can see how I'm going down here this morning, mate.

525
00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:07,879
Bit of a strain on my muscles.

526
00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,399
Ahh! Where are you, old fella?

527
00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:17,199
Eh? What are you doing?

528
00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,279
Just pulling the wire through.

529
00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:26,239
I did that bit of pull-around, then I ran out of air real quick!

530
00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:28,319
You all right? Yeah.

531
00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,839
Don't go keeling over on us.

532
00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,799
If you're struggling, take it easy. Yeah, I am.

533
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:38,399
We've got Damien and that. You all right?Yeah.

534
00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,839
Well, if you keel over, I'm stuffed if I'M giving you mouth-to-mouth.

535
00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:45,919
Damo, that's your job.

536
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,079
It gets a bit hard there at times.

537
00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:53,839
Yeah, dunno why. One minute, you're good,

538
00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,999
next minute, there seems to be a lot of pressure.

539
00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:58,679
Hey, Damo? Yo.

540
00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:01,639
Pull us a little bit of dirt there back, mate,

541
00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,039
and we'll pull the pipe over just a tiny bit.

542
00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:09,199
I need to put in a lot of work down here, trying to prove myself.

543
00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:13,839
It's tough work, feeding the blower pipe. It's good to have Damo here.

544
00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:15,759
He's doing the majority of it,

545
00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:20,079
but Les has to do a little just to make himself feel good, you know?

546
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,839
All right, boys, here we go.

547
00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,439
And watch that overhang, Les.

548
00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:33,039
I might clear some of that out of the way, then I'll drop that top.

549
00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,799
Righto. So don't get under there.

550
00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,759
Look out!

551
00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,719
Did I get your leg? No, it's all right.

552
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,559
I'm just going to turn it a little bit.

553
00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,079
Oh, hey!

554
00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:48,639
Don't go in there, Damien! !

555
00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:51,919
You trying to get yourself killed? I saw colour.

556
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,799
That's OK, we'll get to it. Your life ain't worth colour, mate.

557
00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:01,279
Hoy! And that's why you don't walk underneath it, Damien.

558
00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:03,279
I just got a bit excited,

559
00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,479
went to go in to get that bit of colour to shout the boys,

560
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,759
but I shouldn't have did that.

561
00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:13,279
Lucky that Les was here. I'm still breathing.

562
00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,799
Youse can have a look at that if you want to. It's safe up there now.

563
00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,039
Oh, Rod!

564
00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:24,639
Good find, Damo!

565
00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:27,759
Oh-ho, we got colour, Les!

566
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:29,399
That sounds good!

567
00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:38,439
It is, Damo. Whoa, yay!

568
00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,519
Looking better.

569
00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:42,599
We've got cheese!

570
00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,079
Yeah!

571
00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,279
Here you go.

572
00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,759
Absolutely red gem.

573
00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:58,679
If you want to get your dreams come true, this is what you want

574
00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,759
and this is what you need.

575
00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:10,999
This is the dirt out of the break-through area.

576
00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,319
We've gone into the old workings at the end of the drive.

577
00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,439
Using their newly repaired agitator,

578
00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,679
the Cheals are gambling on finding enough opal

579
00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,359
to keep their operation alive.

580
00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:27,279
I was going to get some work just so they can keep drilling,

581
00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,519
but they drilled up some handy material,

582
00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,399
so we just decided that we'll stay

583
00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,599
and give it one more roll of the dice.

584
00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,359
It's good, black potch.

585
00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:57,279
We've only just started. I'm hoping that it gets a bit brighter.

586
00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,039
Nothing to get excited about in this so far.

587
00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:05,599
Mixed-up nobby. It's got green in it.Oh, yeah.

588
00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:09,079
Is that worth anything? Not going to cut a stone.

589
00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:13,159
It's good, what the boys drilled, but we've got to dig over to that.

590
00:37:13,240 --> 00:37:16,759
Just got to find enough to get us out there,

591
00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,919
I reckon we'll be all right.

592
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,599
All we really need is a few of these to clean up.

593
00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,879
A couple colour bars, and we're all right.

594
00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:27,879
Whoa, oi!

595
00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,519
Jeez, look at that one!

596
00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,519
Blue's fine. Wonder if it's going to be sandy.

597
00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:38,319
Looks pretty solid up the top there.

598
00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:41,919
You want to have a look? Yeah, let's have a look at him.

599
00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:54,199
The Cheals have found Lightning Ridge nobby opal.

600
00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:59,319
It shows greens, blues, and purples, and it's in the rough.

601
00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:03,079
To be honest, boys...

602
00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,439
..I think there's a couple of grand there.

603
00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:12,639
2,000 is better than nothing. It keeps us going, doesn't it?

604
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:15,239
We're still in the game, mate. That's it.

605
00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:18,639
That's enough to keep you back here, mining with us.

606
00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:21,199
Hopefully, the best is yet to come. One day,

607
00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,759
we've just got to keep in the game long enough.

608
00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:45,719
I just got a bit of wood to light the fire up.

609
00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:49,799
Bushman Les is back on the power tools

610
00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:53,559
while still recovering from chronic hip pain.

611
00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:56,679
The doctors don't have to know all I'm doing.

612
00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:00,279
They never really told me I couldn't,

613
00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,439
so, while I can, I will.

614
00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:11,999
Good old stove, this one. I've cooked a lot of meals on it.

615
00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,039
Found it down the local rubbish dump.

616
00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,479
I don't know why anyone would want to throw away a good stove,

617
00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,559
but I'm glad they did.

618
00:39:23,240 --> 00:39:26,879
Righto, let's see what we've got here, men.

619
00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,559
Not a bad day's work, I guess, Rod.

620
00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,839
Not bad at all! That would have been nice in a big stone.

621
00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:40,599
The Bushmen's parcel is Grawin crystal opal.

622
00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:44,959
It features blues and greens with flashes of valuable red,

623
00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,919
and it's in the rough.

624
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,279
All that is pretty good. Even the bad pile's not that  bad.

625
00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:55,839
It's blues and purples, but some of them in there

626
00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:59,999
have got a little bit of red, bit of orange, bit of nice green.

627
00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:02,399
What if...

628
00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:06,319
..we'll ask for five? Good price, yeah.

629
00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:12,279
Still not a bad day's work, and better than we've been having.

630
00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:17,159
That's right.So, mate, there's a spot in the team for you

631
00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:19,759
if you want to go ahead with opal mining.

632
00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,439
You keen? Yeah, I'm very keen.

633
00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,039
It's just, school's the other thought.

634
00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,239
Think about finishing your schooling?Yeah.

635
00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:30,359
He's got a little bit of time

636
00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:32,879
before he would have to go back to school,

637
00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:36,679
so I'm hoping he'll come with us short-term, anyway.

638
00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:38,799
Righto, boys, come and get it!

639
00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:42,159
It's a phenomenal feeling to see opal in the wall.

640
00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:45,319
Hopefully, I will be going digging with them again.

641
00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:47,839
The fire's nice too.

642
00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:50,959
That's one of the things about the life out here.

643
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,799
You can sit outside and have a beer and a feed with good friends.

644
00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:57,839
You can't ask for much more in life, I don't reckon.

645
00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,159
Well, here's to you, Damien.

646
00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:15,839
We've had the rocks in the acid for a good hour or so now.

647
00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:18,399
That's about as much as we'll need.

648
00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:20,999
I'll pull them out, we'll have a good look,

649
00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:23,199
and hope we got some decent results,

650
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,959
otherwise we're in a little trouble this week.

651
00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,719
This week has been tough. We've come to the end of our fuel supply.

652
00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:34,439
We're hoping that we can at least get enough to cover the costs.

653
00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,639
All right, guys, everything comes down to this for the week.

654
00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:44,279
We've got some concretes coming out, showing a bit of red,

655
00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:46,119
a bit of colour, not too bad.

656
00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:47,879
A bit of a bar.

657
00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,559
A few matrixes came out all right.

658
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:55,959
This matrix has the most beautiful rolling flash I've ever seen.

659
00:41:56,040 --> 00:42:01,519
The Mooka Boys have cooked Andamooka matrix and concrete,

660
00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:05,559
predominantly red, blue, and green,

661
00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,959
with the matrix featuring vivid colour.

662
00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:13,279
It will be processed in acid again to further enhance the colour

663
00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,399
before being cut and polished.

664
00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,719
What do you reckon that opal's worth, Leif?

665
00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:21,759
We've got a bit of cutting to do.

666
00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:24,279
I think, cut stone...

667
00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:29,919
..say, 7,000. An easy seven grand.

668
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,079
Not a bad start to the season. Good job, boys.

669
00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:35,159
How about we fire up the barbie

670
00:42:35,240 --> 00:42:38,319
and have a couple beers? I thought you'd never say!

671
00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:41,239
Awesome way to finish the week.

672
00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:45,759
This first load, it'll get us diesel for the next few weeks.

673
00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:49,079
Here we go, boys, ready to go. Here we go.

674
00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:51,479
The concrete and matrix saved the day.

675
00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:54,679
We'll get cut stones out of that, and make some money.

676
00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:58,399
I think Dad would be satisfied with the effort we put in.

677
00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,639
We came together as a team, and got the result we wanted.

678
00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:13,439
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00:43:14,305 --> 00:44:14,945
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