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NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters...

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..it's the end of the season.

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That machine rocks.

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The Misfits return to Death Valley...

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Oh, the dust out here is absolutely crazy.

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..armed with an ancient 40-tonne dozer...

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We have a leak. You want to cut off the machine?

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You can't. You'll crack the turbo.

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..to dig their first-ever open cut mine.

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If I go too far, the dirt will collapse from underneath me

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and I'll fall into that other hole.

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The Cheals race summer storms...

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Every time we get a roll on, we get rained out.

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..in a last-ditch attempt...

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As soon as it starts raining, we're not gonna be able to get across that lake road.

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..to rescue their disastrous season.

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That's it, ay? There wouldn't even be $20 in that.

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And tensions flare...

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You did remember the hose, didn't ya?

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..as the Opal Whisperers struggle to prove themselves

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in their first full season as mine owners.

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Ah!Isaac!

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# Money

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# And fancy clothes #

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

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So this is Betsy.

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She's a Komatsu dozer 1972 model, D155.

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She's 50 years old.

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Where do I find the grease nipples in this flat-chested machine?

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You grease those arms, you grease four nipples,

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two on this side, two on the other side.Here.Yeah, there's two there.

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We've spent $10,000 getting Betsy ready.

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We're taking Big Betsy to Death Valley to do an open cut.

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Just days are left before unworkable 50-degree temperatures

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and vicious dust storms shut down all mining in Andamooka.

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I'm definitely feeling the pressure at the moment.

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We are just working as hard and as fast as possible

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to be able to find this opal so we can pack up for summer.

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The Misfits, Angel Dempsey and Juan Vasco,

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are risking everything, relying on Betsy, a 40-tonne dozer,

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to dig an open cut mine and reach their season target.

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I'm not super confident because it's such an old machine.

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And it's huge. It's the biggest machine I've ever operated.

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I've had no formal training on how to operate a dozer.

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Enjoy the ride, man.

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I'm all self-taught, you know, like jump in the deep end really.

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Oh!Angel, stop! Stop! Stop!

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In charge of their first attempt at an open cut mine

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is financial backer and mentor, 'Opal' Joe Kalmar.

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This way, Ranger. Come here. JOE: Ranger.

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We have to go to around 25 to 26 feet for the bottom level.

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All the indicators here indicate there will be good pockets.

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Ah, actually, I'll take that home.

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Good opal was found there previously,

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literally only a matter of a few months back.

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We're confident that people missed where we're digging,

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but it's too dangerous to dig there without doing a new cut.

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The only way the Misfits can reach the opal level at eight metres

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is to remove layer upon layer of flint-hard dirt.

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And for that, they need Betsy operational.

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The plan with Betsy is to get down and to hopefully find

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the red crystal opal that Death Valley is known for

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and we'll be able to smash our season target.

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I came from the Amazon jungle, Colombian side.

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Growing up, I was broke.

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No hope, no nothing. No future, no nothing.

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If I get to achieve that top level of wealth,

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I would really like to help people that are suffering.

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Growing up, as a kid, we were living paycheque to paycheque.

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So I really want to be able to find opal, so I can

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have that financial freedom to do whatever I want.

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Just to make this worthwhile,

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$80,000 will keep us happy,

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but it's a big gap that we have to be realistic about.

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She's bled up.What was that? Made a mess. Oh.

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I wasn't expecting that to come out.

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I had the revs up a bit too high than what I should have,

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you know, come through and splashed everything.

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This side of the machine's full.

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I'll make sure the bungs are tight, and then, hopefully,

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should have gears.

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All right. I'm gonna start it back up again.

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Get a good crank, man.

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You rock! Good stuff.

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Get down and look for leaks. I'll look.

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Whenever you got big machine situations, Angel's the girl.

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She's ready for work. It's unreal.

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We got the ultimate machine, like, it's just a monster.

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That machine rocks.

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When driving Betsy up and down the cut,

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my focus is, is to get the walls as straight as possible

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and the floor as level as I can.

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Cos at the end of the season, it's hot, dry and dusty.

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I hope Betsy can handle the heat.

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Because I don't want to risk blowing this machine up.

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I can't see.Angel!

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All year, we're getting smashed by the weather

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and every time we get a roll on,

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we get rained out, so we've got to get into it.

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RORY: Hey, big fella. How you going over here?

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Few nobbies around.

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Yeah, no colour at that.

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This week, it's our last chance, so the stakes are much higher.

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Don't know what to make of today.

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I don't know whether it's going to come good for us or not.

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Nobby there too.NARRATOR: It's the final days of their mining season,

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and the Cheals are hunting for nobbies,

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small balls of opal that form in circular voids

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in the surrounding sandstone.

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The majority are colourless opal called potch,

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but the most valuable feature rare red on a black base.

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That's a lot better than some of the other stuff we've been seeing.

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What we need is colour on that, we'll be right.

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That's nice black potch, ay.

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If you had a colour bar running through that,

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you can get up to, what, $8,000, $10,000 a carat?

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Righto, that's the end of that.

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Tore the axle off.Oh.

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After months of breakdowns... We're down now.

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We won't get a tailout this week. Spewing.

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..the Cheals are now facing

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season-ending crippling 50-degree temperatures...

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The window's closing for us because it will get too hot.

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I don't like running the gear in summer.

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..and floods from torrential summer rain.

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I think we're 700, 800 kilometres inland,

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and because we are so remote,

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the weather in Lightning Ridge is so extreme.

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Yeah, look at how black it is today. Right around too.

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It's, erm... It's going to come in, there's no doubt about that.

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If there's a lot of rain, we can get flash flooding

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and it's pretty flat ground, so it can actually flood into the claims.

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We originally set our target to $150,000.

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With all the challenges we've had, if we were to hit 100 grand,

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erm, out of this week, I'd be absolutely stoked.

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The Cheals have invested heavily in a 23 lease mega claim

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and an online opal selling business.

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At the start of the year, Rory and I went all in with Cheal Opal.

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We've had barely any opal this year.

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It's really good at the back end of the year

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to get something to put up, which, you know,

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people might be interested to buy.

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I'm just proud of the boys that they had an idea

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and they've run with it and they backed themselves.

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It'd mean the world for us to hit a nice pocket

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and to finish the season really strong.

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That's the hole we punched in last week,

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we got nothing out of it, but let's move the digger out.

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We're thinking about coming in here.

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There's a few slides and the dirt doesn't look too bad.

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It's got a flare to it and there's nice white bands coming in.

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We could get a few big ones, roll out, and be set.

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Rory and I are starting to work like a well-oiled machine on the outside.

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We've got the digger and the bogger going.

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Dad is over on the other side on the blower by himself.

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Chris is feeding a high-powered blower

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which sucks the dirt into a 12-tonne truck on the surface.

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A bit of a fossil here. Probably bit hard to pick,

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but a branch or something. Erm, and it's only just sort of

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a really thin seam in amongst where that fossil is.

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All we can do is just keep digging out.

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We've got bad weather coming in tonight.

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If we get too much rain, it'll just shut us down.

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We thought we'd have all week to dig out a couple hundred tonne.

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Unfortunately, that's not the case,

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so we need to get as much dirt out as possible

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before the rain comes in.

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You know, they're talking 90% chance of 40 to 50 mil of rain

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and that will just put us out.

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We can't get the truck back across the lake.

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It just becomes impassable, so we're trying to get

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two days' digging in one and it's really frustrating.

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ISAAC: Smash it, Sof. Yeah! Whoo!

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Wow, this is awesome.

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Isaac and I have literally put everything on the line here.

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It's crunch time. A few little bits of opal is great,

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but we're looking to reinstall our family vision.

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We've set out on a mission.

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Our mission is to find the opal and to supply the world.

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What's going on with this? Hold on.

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Maybe it's the generator. I can't hear it any more.

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We've lost power. We have so much earth to move here,

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erm, but the generator's just conked out.

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Good to go?Hang on. All right, come on, baby.

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Come on, baby. We need you.

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No, she's dead.

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We've got $1.2 million.

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At the end of last season, the Opal Whisperers,

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Isaac and Sofia Andreou, helped unearth

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a record $1.2 million worth of opal.

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Whoo!DAVE: Yeah.

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I never dreamt in a million years that this is what we'd end up with.

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Now the brother-and-sister team are struggling to survive,

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having gone out as independent miners,

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working the first claim they've owned.

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We're second-generation, so our family name's on the line.

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What's your name?

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Xaliana.Yeah.

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So much at stake.

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Not only the dream that started with my parents,

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I just want to bring my Xaliana

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the best life she could possibly have.

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And we're trying to find some opal to sell in Sofia's shop.

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We're almost at the end of the season

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and summer is quickly approaching.

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We were counting on finding a couple

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100 grand's worth this year.

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We're nowhere near that figure.

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If we don't find a decent-sized pocket soon, we can't continue on.

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So time's running out.

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The hammer's working well. It's warmed up, and then it just stops.

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She's all good. It's just fuel.

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What?Seriously? There's no fuel, man.

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You're kidding me.Running out of fuel is a disaster for us.

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Without it, we're basically doing nothing.

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Is it definitely out of fuel?Yeah.

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Ah, bastard. All right, erm, erm, erm, erm...

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Your bike.What about it? It's got unleaded in it.

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Going for a ride.We're siphoning. It's my relaxation time.

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I'm going to ride this. I've been wanting to do it for days. I'm going for a ride.

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OK. We'll put off the whole mining expedition for today, shall we?

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Shall we go have lunch?How do you even want to get it out of there?

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We'll siphon it out.If you're gonna siphon it out, you do it.

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This is the absolute last thing that we need.

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It's so hot. We're using so much energy.

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Does it have fuel in it, Isaac?

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Yeah, of course, it's got fuel in it.

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I remember to put fuel in my machines.

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With all the flies, the heat, the conditions around us,

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and the hard work, you get annoyed.

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Look, OK, look. I don't mind siphoning some out as long as

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I've got enough to go for a blat.The blat can wait.

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We're here to do one job, not to ride.

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I've been working my butt off.

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I kind of want to go for a bit of a ride. I call it a blat. Blat! Blat!

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You did remember the hose, didn't ya?

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I remembered all of my list of things.

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All right, well, where's the hose then?

239
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Oh, here it is, here. She didn't forget it at all.

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I've got the hose, Sophia.

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Let's just get this done and get back to work, ay?

242
00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,759
Here you go, mate, you can sort it out.

243
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,559
I'm gonna take a minute. Where's my water?

244
00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:08,519
Did you just get a mouthful of fuel?

245
00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:28,439
Oh, the dust out here is ridiculous. Like, I can taste the dirt.

246
00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,799
I can feel it in my throat. My eyes feel like it's full of it.

247
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,559
It's absolutely crazy.

248
00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,679
All right, Juan. Watch out for the opal if it comes up.

249
00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,879
We've got no time to lose. Please, go.

250
00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,359
In the final days, before extreme weather

251
00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,679
renders machines inoperable,

252
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:53,199
the Misfits have put all their faith in an ancient 40-tonne dozer,

253
00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,039
Betsy, to dig an eight-metre-deep open cut mine.

254
00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,879
Overall, it's quite costly. If they don't put the effort in,

255
00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:03,559
that wouldn't be acceptable,

256
00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,599
and I'll close the door on the situation.

257
00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,159
It's really important for me to hit our season target

258
00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,759
I want to prove to Joe that I am a fully-fledged miner.

259
00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,439
You know, I can do it.

260
00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,319
As the dirt's falling,

261
00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,839
it's, like, making the dust ten times worse,

262
00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,319
so I can't actually see.

263
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,199
I'm relying on Juan to guide me and tell me where to stop.

264
00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:33,439
If I go too far, the dirt will collapse from underneath me

265
00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,799
and I'll fall into that other hole, and it's quite nerve-wracking.

266
00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:58,959
Hey, Juan! There's a leak.

267
00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:03,879
Do you want to cut off the machine?No.

268
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,079
No! You can't. You'll crack the turbo.

269
00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:10,639
Just do it up.

270
00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,079
That one is leaking as well.What?

271
00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,039
There is one at the back leaking too.

272
00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:20,719
That's leaking pretty bad.

273
00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,039
We're totally relying on this machine

274
00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:26,639
to be able to find that opal.

275
00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,599
That one up here. I can't afford a breakdown.

276
00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:32,639
We've already spent $10,000 on it.

277
00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,039
Definitely feeling the pressure at the moment.

278
00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,639
Predicted rain tomorrow, so we decided we'd try and get

279
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,399
two trucks out today, so we're just going to race this one into town

280
00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,359
and come back out and get another full one.

281
00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:58,359
They're talking 90% chance of 40 to 50 mil of rain.

282
00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,399
That will be the end of the season for us.

283
00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,239
There's a lot of dark clouds around.

284
00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,159
I think we need to get out there quick.

285
00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,119
If we get stuck out there and rain starts,

286
00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,159
we won't be able to get the truck back in.

287
00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,799
To beat the weather, the Cheals need to haul

288
00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:16,399
two 20-tonne truckloads of mined earth in one day

289
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:20,679
to their agitator, a wash plant that removes dirt and clay

290
00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,959
from mined rock to expose any opal.

291
00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,479
If we can keep the gear running, then I think we got

292
00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,079
a real good shot of meeting our season target.

293
00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,239
I said we'll get a lot of this in. That's washed down to nothing.

294
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:33,959
It's like...That tyre.

295
00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,079
Where?See how that one's low?Yeah.

296
00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,479
Well, the inside one's let go.

297
00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,759
Tyre's flat. We can't run it like that.

298
00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,199
We'll just have to fix it before we go back out.

299
00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,959
While Oscar fills this, we'll go and get what we need to fix it.

300
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:52,439
We've got to be off site here before dark, so I want to be back in,

301
00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,359
have that agi full before dark.

302
00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:58,839
Every minute counts at this stage.

303
00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,359
Weather's coming in, but can't take the truck back out

304
00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,439
until we get the tyre fixed, so, you know,

305
00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,359
just another time delay we didn't need.

306
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,479
We got the air jack here, so we're just going to take these two off,

307
00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:15,159
chuck that one on the inside,

308
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:16,879
put them back on and get out of here.

309
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:18,759
We got a better-fitting socket?

310
00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,079
Ah, seems a bit tight. What size is it?

311
00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:27,559
32 mil. That's imperial. Try that one, Dad.

312
00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,159
Oh, bloody hell.

313
00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,839
Pretty speedy change, although we've still lost about a half an hour,

314
00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:39,719
which, you know, doesn't help.

315
00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:42,919
Not going to get it much better than that.

316
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:45,639
With the tyre replaced,

317
00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,639
the Cheals can now return the truck to the claim

318
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,519
and load up with more mined dirt.

319
00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,519
RORY: Was that not there before? Nah.

320
00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,959
It's worn through. Not ideal, ay?

321
00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,999
We've got a hole in the blower pipe. It affects the suction.

322
00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,039
We won't actually be able to get the dirt out from underground.

323
00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:05,719
What is it?Hole in that bend.

324
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,799
Got a hole in the back of that suction pipe,

325
00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,279
so as the dirt comes up, it hits in one spot there and it's worn a hole.

326
00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:14,039
You've holes in your pipe, you're not getting the suction

327
00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:16,879
at the face where you need it. See how it's peeled out?

328
00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:18,959
If they peel in, you'll smash opal.

329
00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:20,719
We'll have to pull up and fix that

330
00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,519
and then, you know, there's another day or so gone.

331
00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,839
It's been the same story all year, hasn't it?

332
00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,319
JUAN: It is dripping big time. Yeah, the seal's gone.

333
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,759
Oh.But we can't do anything about that.

334
00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,439
Just... Just put this one here.

335
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,719
That's not going to do anything. Yeah. Absorb.

336
00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,879
It doesn't matter. Environmentally-friendly, man.

337
00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:48,559
Hopefully, that'll hang in there.

338
00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,199
Otherwise, we won't be able to get down to the opal.

339
00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,679
The leak in the back ram is a bit of a worry.

340
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,719
Hopefully, it doesn't get too much worse,

341
00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,559
otherwise we'll have to quit.

342
00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,079
Hopefully, it'll hang in there until we get it done.

343
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:07,159
With just days left to prove themselves to mentor 'Opal' Joe,

344
00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,199
Angel and Juan need their failing dozer

345
00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,439
to reach an opal level eight metres down

346
00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,959
before extreme summer temperatures end the season.

347
00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,279
JOE: To have what's been set up here,

348
00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:29,439
yeah, it's expensive but if they find opal,

349
00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,319
the investment hopefully comes back,

350
00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,799
and if I don't see the effort, then I'll just pull the support away.

351
00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,159
Angel and Juan are down about 15, 16 feet

352
00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,239
and they're starting to expose ground

353
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:42,919
that can be opal-bearing.

354
00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,439
The only thing I'm looking for is that different colour

355
00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,239
that opal brings to the surrounding dirt.

356
00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,359
Usually, when opal's exposed, you'll see a flash of red or blue

357
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,359
or purple or green, you know, and you'll be able to spot it.

358
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,599
ANGEL: Joe says any moment from now, we could dig up a pocket.

359
00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,519
So with two sets of eyes on the ground,

360
00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,679
we'll hopefully find it as Betsy rips it up.

361
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,839
JUAN: Mr Joe, does this mean something?

362
00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,999
It's opal, Juan.Oh.

363
00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:31,119
Angel!Angel! You got to stop.

364
00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,639
What, why?Ah, do you mind having a look?

365
00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,319
All right, I'm coming to look.

366
00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:42,879
Mr Joe, I see red.

367
00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:46,839
Whoa. Oh, oh, wow!

368
00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,999
ISAAC: I can't believe you ate fuel, mate.

369
00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,239
I'm sorry for laughing. It was pretty funny.

370
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,599
It was pretty funny.Do you want me to give you a hand?

371
00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,439
How much fuel do you have in there?

372
00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,759
Oh, it's a full tank, but it's only a motorbike.

373
00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,239
I'm just wondering if it's even worth it.

374
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,199
Like, if it's... It's gonna give us an hour in the generator.

375
00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,359
Well, that's true. On the next lease,

376
00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,759
somebody mining there. Maybe...Uwe's next door.

377
00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,039
Uwe's next door.That man's got everything.OK.

378
00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:17,999
If I pay for the fuel, he'll be all right.

379
00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:19,799
All righty.Hi, Uwe.

380
00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,879
How are you, mate? We're just over at the Yowah House.

381
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,119
Can I buy 50 bucks worth of unleaded from you, mate?

382
00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,479
We need to make it on our own two feet.

383
00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,439
I'm a single dad. My little girl, you know, I don't want her

384
00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,119
to be wanting anything at all,

385
00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,599
but the outback's a harsh, rugged spot.

386
00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,839
It can break you in two seconds flat.

387
00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,199
Hey, Sof.Yeah? Yeah, he's got a jerry can.

388
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,239
He's got 20 litres he's gonna bring over.

389
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,039
That'll fill the bike, generator.

390
00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:47,999
What a legend.Sick.

391
00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,399
Uwe, a long-time friend of the Andreou family,

392
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,039
has worked in Yowah for over 30 years.

393
00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:59,959
Uwe is a very experienced opal miner.

394
00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:01,679
In no time, he came to our rescue.

395
00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:04,679
Awesome.There we are.Yes.

396
00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,719
No worries.Thank you.

397
00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,119
To help out... Plenty of room. Yep.

398
00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,879
..Uwe has also brought with him a pneumatic jackhammer

399
00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,519
which breaks through rock at double the rate of their electric model.

400
00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,159
Air compressed, lighter than what you're working.

401
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,399
Yeah. Doesn't look as bad-arse, though, does it?

402
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,079
But it is.

403
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,079
And it cuts through like butter. Yeah. What you got to do...

404
00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,759
Yeah...utilise the natural cracks.

405
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,599
OK.You go up or down, or this way, whichever way,

406
00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,599
it's going to break easier.

407
00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,439
Oh, yeah.

408
00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,359
Whoo! I love the power.

409
00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,119
NARRATOR: Six metres below,

410
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,839
the Whisperers are working an opal level,

411
00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:56,519
hunting rare Yowah nuts found nowhere else on Earth.

412
00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,919
A tiny percentage of these small ironstone boulders

413
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,919
contain elaborate and highly sought-after patterns.

414
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,759
The patterns are formed by minute fissures

415
00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,159
that fill with silica-rich water,

416
00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,599
hardening to form opal over millions of years.

417
00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,279
Isaac, stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Hang on.

418
00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,719
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! What? Look.

419
00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,639
Oh, wow! Uwe, mate, you're a good luck charm!

420
00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,119
Oh, yeah, yeah.You see that. You did good. Yeah.

421
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,959
Lucky Sofia stopped me as I was about to hammer into that.

422
00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,479
To be honest, I've been nervous with the jackhammer.

423
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,839
Erm, opal is fragile material. It's, it's...Yes, that's right.

424
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:37,519
Be so careful.

425
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:42,959
Check that out! Where's the sun?Whoa!

426
00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,639
You get that in the sun?Oh, wow! That's a really nice colour.

427
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,759
Yeah, have a look, Uwe. What do you reckon?

428
00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,999
We must have lost some, though. You reckon there's more?

429
00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:54,959
Jackhammer in underneath. Yeah.

430
00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,279
Underneath there and lift that off. Oh.Should be all right.

431
00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:01,599
Ooh!Isaac, stop!Whoa!

432
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,279
There you go. There you go.

433
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:06,239
Oh, wow.Oh, yes.All right.

434
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,319
Yeah.OK. We're in business, baby. Finally.

435
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,239
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Oh, oh! You nearly hit it.

436
00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,239
This pipe of black opal, it's black opal in bloody Queensland.

437
00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,679
Can we please bring Uwe every single time?

438
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,959
Whoa!

439
00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,279
Whenever you hear that laugh from my brother,

440
00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:30,879
it means that there's definitely colour.Yeah.

441
00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,959
Oh, Uwe!

442
00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,759
Look at the size of it. Oh, what?

443
00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,879
Oh, my God. Is that good stuff or what?

444
00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:42,839
Ooh, yeah. It's top stuff. Yeah, yeah.

445
00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:44,919
I'm shaking, ay. I can't even hold it.

446
00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:55,799
We don't have the time, erm, to get out here and fix it properly.

447
00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,999
Oh, just going to try and plug that hole.

448
00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,559
Seems like everything's hanging together by duct tape

449
00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,239
this late in the season.

450
00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:06,159
All we need is just something to hold a bit of weight.

451
00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,799
That'll probably do. It can go at any point.

452
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,799
If it does, that's us done for the year.

453
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,079
I might need you up here, Rory.

454
00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,559
NARRATOR: The Cheals' blower pipe that sucks dirt

455
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,039
from deep underground is punctured.

456
00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,559
With heavy rain forecast, they'll need a quick fix

457
00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,279
to keep working and rescue their season.

458
00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:31,159
You want to make a bit of room for me as well.

459
00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,719
It's five mil. Five-mil plate that's worn through.

460
00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,559
We've got two straps, so happy with that.

461
00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,399
Yeah, it looks pretty good.

462
00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,079
OK, can you hold that one up out of the way?

463
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,359
I'm hoping that's all our bad luck out for the day

464
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,399
and the rest is just digging gems out.

465
00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,599
Better late than never, ay?

466
00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,559
There's only way to find out whether we've had a change of luck

467
00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:04,399
and that's to do the work, I suppose.

468
00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:16,319
Be racing to get this load in there before it pours.

469
00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,039
Just one of those wet years.

470
00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:20,719
It's hampered us all year, as far as our production.

471
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,959
It's gone soft over here.

472
00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,159
We're just cutting through like nothing else.

473
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,999
Whether it's a good sign for opal here remains to be seen.

474
00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,359
Part of opal mining is just gritting your teeth sometimes

475
00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,679
and doing the hard yards.

476
00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,679
With where Dad's digging, we know there's nobbies down there.

477
00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,839
We could be one or two digger swipes away from a huge pocket.

478
00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,159
This is our last shot for the year.

479
00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,479
Everything's riding on having something this tailout to,

480
00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,679
you know, end the season on a bit of a high note.

481
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,239
With this rain, it's not even about losing days.

482
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:05,999
It's the end of the season.

483
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,839
As soon as it starts raining, we're not gonna be able to get

484
00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:21,079
across that lake road. We're not gonna be able to dig any more out.

485
00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,079
While Uwe was there helping,

486
00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:37,639
this beautiful bit of blue-green black opal pipe

487
00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,119
just came out of the wall from nowhere.

488
00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,839
That beautiful crystal pipe just told me

489
00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,519
that there's more back there. Ah!

490
00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,599
Jeez, we must be a good solid metre in, ay?

491
00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:52,439
Maybe a metre and a half?

492
00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,119
It's more than just our money.

493
00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,679
Riding on this is our whole family history,

494
00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,599
and there's a lot of expectation from the older people.

495
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,199
We spoke to Dad the other day. When we say trace,

496
00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:04,519
I saw Dad's face drop.

497
00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,759
We're carrying on the dream. We need to nail it.

498
00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:09,679
I'm just working these two levels.

499
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,999
It's all white, then you've got this clear brown level going on here,

500
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:17,599
then it's all white again, there's a thinner one down the bottom. See that?

501
00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,319
A hundred million years ago, there was an ancient forest

502
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,959
or something like that that did fossilise.

503
00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,479
Hopefully, an animal has died or a tree branch has left a cavity

504
00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,719
that the silica's been able to fill up and that's where we're hoping to find the opal.

505
00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,559
Ah.I've got my eye on that top soil.

506
00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:39,279
What do you mean?It's drying out.

507
00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,919
So what wasn't crumbly yesterday is now falling apart.

508
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,199
Compromising safety is not a good idea,

509
00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,879
but when you see colour, just nothing else matters, ay?

510
00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,919
Yeah.Whoa!

511
00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,879
Whoa!Oh.

512
00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,519
I've never seen green gold like that.Oh, wow.

513
00:30:57,600 --> 00:30:59,239
I need a knife or something small.

514
00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,679
I've got a knife. That's fine.

515
00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:03,359
I just, er...

516
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:11,079
Ah! Oh!

517
00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,039
Holy crap!Oh. Oh.

518
00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:16,799
That's a lot more than it was showing.

519
00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,479
Wow.Huge.

520
00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,359
Makes all the work worthwhile.

521
00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,039
I was gonna say let's have a break.Keep going.

522
00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:31,719
But let's go. We'll just take this whole level on.

523
00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,599
OK.All right.Careful, hey?Yeah.

524
00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,759
Whoo!

525
00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,079
OK. OK. All right.

526
00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:44,879
Hope we haven't smashed it up though.

527
00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:49,159
Ow!

528
00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,839
I love this. There's more coming.

529
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,359
Beautiful.Whoa, hey!

530
00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,799
That bad boy. Yes. We found our own pocket.

531
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,919
Ow! Just kidding.

532
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,399
We don't like to leave any stone unturned

533
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,119
when we're on a level. We have to sort through this.

534
00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,719
This one looks good. Colour.

535
00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:15,199
It's just a little bit.Little bit? That's a massive boulder.

536
00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:19,879
See? Imagine if we missed that. Do you want to put it in the bag?

537
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:23,679
I'm just gonna have another pick at the wall

538
00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,319
because if there's any more of that, I want it.Yeah. Fair enough.OK?

539
00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,479
I'm going to get us some water.

540
00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:35,559
Ooh.

541
00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:38,159
Ah! Ooh.Ah!

542
00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:41,399
Ah! Isaac!Ah!

543
00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,759
CHRIS: Last night, it pelted down.

544
00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:53,039
It's just frustrating.

545
00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,479
But we've managed to get our dirt back in over across the lake.

546
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:02,639
We had a break in the weather, and see what the tailout brings us.

547
00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,079
Last chance of the year to find a bit of opal, so fingers crossed.

548
00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:11,879
Can't see much colour, boys.

549
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,359
Nothing jumping out at me yet. You know, we got a lot to go through.

550
00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:18,119
Oh, all we need is one.

551
00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:32,479
Money, mate?No. Mixed-up nobby with colour all through it.

552
00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,279
Yeah, got a few of those as well.

553
00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:36,079
Couldn't get much closer, could we?

554
00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,639
No. There's colour, they're just not formed properly.

555
00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,599
Maybe give them a few more million years

556
00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,639
and they'd come good, these nobbies.

557
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:44,679
Well, I won't be around to dig them out.

558
00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:47,839
Well, we run our race, boys.

559
00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,039
We didn't finish first, that's for sure.

560
00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:53,719
That's it, ay?That's it.

561
00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,519
Tub full of nobbies with nothing in it.

562
00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,479
That sounds about right.

563
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,399
There wouldn't even be $20 in that.

564
00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,119
I guess we were, you know, a little bit down on our spirits.

565
00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,719
Last tailout for the year, would've been awesome

566
00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,719
to get a couple of nice stones out of it.

567
00:34:21,240 --> 00:34:22,919
Hi, boys.Yeah?

568
00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:24,999
Come over here. I've got something for youse.

569
00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,599
A couple of days ago, I got a, erm, inquiry off the website, right?

570
00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,759
He's just come through, erm, earlier today

571
00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:34,559
and said that he's really interested

572
00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,999
in the stone, erm, and wants to have a chat about it.

573
00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:39,839
He's based in Norway.Norway?

574
00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:41,519
Norway. Yeah.Really?Yeah.

575
00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,519
Give him a call. Want to give him a buzz?

576
00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,119
Why not?May as well. Can't hurt.All right.

577
00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,439
MAN: Hello, hello.Hey, man, how you going?

578
00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:52,879
G'day. I see ya, Chris, Rory. Nice to meet you.

579
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:56,239
Yeah, you too. Do you have any questions in regards to the stone?

580
00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,159
Who found it? It was a team effort.

581
00:34:58,240 --> 00:35:00,519
So us three, erm, from our claim out

582
00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:03,239
at Lemonade Opal Field in Lightning Ridge.

583
00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:05,879
The stone's 2.35 carats.

584
00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:08,039
Perfect, erm, ring stone.

585
00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:09,839
So what are you going to use it for?

586
00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:12,479
Trudie's birthstone is opal.Yep.

587
00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:14,159
Oh, awesome.Oh, cool.

588
00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:16,039
I'm from Australia. Living in Norway.

589
00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,999
I know that the best opals in the world come from Australia.

590
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:20,679
Of course. Sure do.

591
00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,599
So it's an engagement ring. Awesome!Lovely.

592
00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:27,639
It's our first sale on the net.

593
00:35:27,720 --> 00:35:29,439
Going all the way over to Norway, ay.

594
00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:32,559
If you're ever out in Lightning Ridge, you better look us up.

595
00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:35,559
OK. Will do. Will do. Thanks so much, guys.

596
00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:37,799
Cheers, guys.Have a good day, guys.

597
00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:40,039
You too.All the best. Thanks for the call. Bye.

598
00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,679
How awesome was that? First sale. Good work, mate.

599
00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,679
Boys have just taken it to a whole new level.

600
00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:50,959
It's something that I would have never have had the knowledge to do.

601
00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,559
That's awesome. When you go through those tough times

602
00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:56,159
and you're second-guessing yourself, to get a sale

603
00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:58,039
to someone on an international level,

604
00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,759
it proves that the idea's, you know, got some value.

605
00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,639
It makes it look really good going forward and I'm excited for next year.

606
00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:08,279
I mean, that's sick, man.Yeah.

607
00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,919
I think it is unbelievable to know that we could build

608
00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,759
a really strong business and a family business together,

609
00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,559
and, yeah, kind of blessed, I reckon.

610
00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:21,959
RORY: To end on a note like this, I think, is absolutely amazing.

611
00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,199
Cheal Opal for next year, onwards and upwards.

612
00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:35,839
ISAAC: Oh! Shit.

613
00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:37,519
SOFIA: Ah! Isaac.

614
00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:41,359
Help!Isaac!

615
00:36:45,720 --> 00:36:48,199
Isaac, cover your head.

616
00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:55,439
Oh.

617
00:36:56,720 --> 00:36:59,799
Isaac. What happened?

618
00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:01,479
I was just picking this nut out,

619
00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,999
and then this is my little lucky charm, I think.

620
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,519
Lucky I only got out of it with a bit of a scratch.

621
00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:13,639
If anything actually ever happened to him, how would I tell my parents?

622
00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:17,359
My little girl could've lost her dad today.

623
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:19,439
Yeah, I don't even wanna think about that.

624
00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:22,839
It's a bit of an eye-opener really.

625
00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:35,639
My favourite thing is cutting opal. It's a meditation for me.

626
00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:38,039
It's a therapy.From the get-go,

627
00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,599
Isaac is thinking about this opal,

628
00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:42,719
and I know he's going to do a great job.

629
00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:45,759
I'm going to run around the outside of the stone

630
00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,799
so I can see the bar all the way around of colour.

631
00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:51,439
I haven't decided yet which way's going to be the top.

632
00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,199
Still just cleaning her up. Oh, wow!

633
00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:58,759
By the way the colour bar's going, that's the top,

634
00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:01,039
so just start to face it.

635
00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:10,599
This just broke in half.

636
00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,599
And now, I'm working on the piece that I really, really wanna work on.

637
00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:21,719
It's the gorgeous electric blue black opal Queensland pipe.

638
00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:24,639
Treating this one with kid gloves.

639
00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:29,199
It's like we're on a first date, to be honest. I'm a single dad.

640
00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,159
I've got to romance myself somehow and opal is the most beautiful thing

641
00:38:33,240 --> 00:38:36,399
out here, so we get together sometimes.

642
00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:38,359
As long as I keep a good hold of it,

643
00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,119
don't let it get mashed up in the back of this machine...

644
00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:44,439
..we'll be OK.

645
00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:47,639
I've never seen a black pipe like this, ever.

646
00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:51,519
This is a showstopper. I can't wait to show Sofia this.

647
00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:56,399
Haven't shown you these yet.

648
00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,919
You've got this beautiful crystal here.

649
00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:02,279
They're stunning.It's going to be a nice teardrop stone.

650
00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,919
Pretty nice.Yeah. What's that other one looking like?

651
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:08,039
It's that pipe opal. Pretty excited to see that.

652
00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:10,719
Awesome.Yeah, this is the bombdiggity.

653
00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,159
The Opal Whisperers have found Yowah nuts,

654
00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:18,119
crystal and pipe opal,

655
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:23,079
featuring deep blues and purples in classic Yowah patterns.

656
00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:28,839
There are rough and polished stones weighing a total of 24 kg.

657
00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,159
It all comes down to this, doesn't it?

658
00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:34,839
This stuff has so much potential.

659
00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,559
This will end up specimen and sold in the rough.Yeah.

660
00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:43,519
And, I mean, it's good rough. That's a nice volume of opal.

661
00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:47,599
Let's see.All right, ready? What have you got?

662
00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:54,719
Retail, we're looking at $49,750.

663
00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:56,639
Yes!This is good.

664
00:39:56,720 --> 00:39:59,639
This is great. We can keep going. Yeah, love that one.

665
00:39:59,720 --> 00:40:01,519
That's actually my personal favourite.

666
00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:04,039
The red from that angle, it's crazy.

667
00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:07,079
Looking back, everything that Isaac and I have been through,

668
00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:08,879
I don't believe that there's anything

669
00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:10,559
that we can't do in the future.

670
00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:15,439
We're successful in establishing ourselves as independent miners

671
00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:18,479
and we did it as a family. I reckon that's a success.

672
00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:20,239
Are you happy with that?Yes.

673
00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:23,439
Ah. Whoo.Whoo!

674
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:38,559
What'd you find? Oh, it's red crystal.

675
00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:41,479
No! You must be kidding me.

676
00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,999
This is what I've been waiting for all morning, man.

677
00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:46,439
Oh, wow!

678
00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:48,879
Is there any more? Have a look at this.Oh!

679
00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:53,439
Pour water on it.That's a lot, man.

680
00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,719
It's all smashed up, but the colours are unreal.

681
00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:02,319
It's real opal. It's real opal.

682
00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,519
I can't believe after the amount of sweat,

683
00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:13,159
the amount of diesel, the amount of dust I've inhaled,

684
00:41:13,240 --> 00:41:16,799
and we've found opal. Like, it just made it all worth it.

685
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:18,959
I think we might as well call it payday.

686
00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:21,519
It it is payday. It is a good day today.

687
00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:23,199
It's a good damn day.

688
00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:31,479
Get ready to break the scales.

689
00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:34,119
Yeah. I don't know if it will break the scales, but...

690
00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:35,879
A couple of mega tonnes. ..you know.

691
00:41:35,960 --> 00:41:37,919
Now careful with it.

692
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,639
What's your guess, Angel?

693
00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:42,399
I reckon about 18 ounces. 22 ounces.

694
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:44,119
All right. Watch the wind.

695
00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:47,679
20 ounces.20 ounces?

696
00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:52,399
NARRATOR: The Misfits have high-quality crystal opal,

697
00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:56,279
featuring the full spectrum of colours on a grey base.

698
00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:00,879
It's in the rough, and there's 570 grams.

699
00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:04,839
I got to tell ya, it's, er...

700
00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,519
I reckon an easy $2,000 an ounce every day of the week.

701
00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:13,439
$2,000 an ounce?Yeah. What, $40,000?

702
00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:16,919
$40,000 is what...Wow! So youse will be rich.

703
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,359
There's a lot, man.

704
00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:21,959
Absolutely stunning. That's a good find.

705
00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:23,959
That's a good find. Youse have done well.

706
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,039
Our target for the season was $80,000

707
00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:31,719
and we ended up smashing it with $85,000.

708
00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:34,039
What the hell? Like, I would never have thought,

709
00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:36,519
you know, we would have done that. It's awesome.

710
00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:39,039
Juan and I have come a long way this season.

711
00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:42,079
In the beginning, we didn't even know what we were looking for.

712
00:42:42,160 --> 00:42:43,839
So I'm over the moon.

713
00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,399
I feel like a proper, fully-fledged miner now.

714
00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,639
They've absolutely smashed it out of the park.

715
00:42:48,720 --> 00:42:51,199
They started knowing nothing and now they're on opal.

716
00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,959
Many miners won't see opal like that in all their lives.

717
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:55,639
I'm very proud of them.

718
00:42:57,240 --> 00:43:01,679
The fulfilment that it brings to me is not just a financial ambition,

719
00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:06,919
but rather the journey. I got my family, Angel, Mr Joe.

720
00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:10,799
I am in the place that I belong. This is priceless.

721
00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:13,119
I'm a hundred percent committed to this journey,

722
00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:15,879
like, I can see myself mining for years and years.

723
00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:18,999
It's what they call opal fever, like, I'm not giving up.

724
00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:21,159
I'm chasing that opal.

725
00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:24,679
Next season will be a whole lot of fun.

726
00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:26,719
Nothing will get in our way.

727
00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:31,159
Misfit machine is here to rock.

728
00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:48,679
# Money #

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00:43:49,305 --> 00:44:49,595
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