"Outback Opal Hunters" Down in the Dumps

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,159 ROGER: Yeah, copy, Lee. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:03,839 LEE: (ON RADIO) Gotcha, Rog. 3 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,559 Yeah, mate, gonna have to get that bloody truck up in here. 4 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,919 We, erm, need to dig out some material. 5 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,439 Yeah, man. On my way over now. 6 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,599 So this is one of the things that we've got to do. 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,239 Get all the material out. Make sure that we clean up as we go. 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,439 Once you finish, we'll, erm, we'll find another spot 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,399 because we're not having too much of a good run. 10 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,559 Yeah, copy that. You're all right to go, mate. 11 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:36,079 Gonna take off now. 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,159 I'm just finding somewhere to just dump this. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,359 Hole eight. Go into hole eight. 14 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,359 Nah, it's all lumpy here, man. The truck won't get over anything. 15 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,919 Yeah, copy that. I'm just gonna dump it here. 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,359 That's gonna be right there. About to find out. 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:57,999 Tailgate. 18 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,119 Oh. (EXHALES) All good. 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,359 Ah, you are kidding me! 20 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,239 There's too much weight at the back end. 21 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,399 Oh! (BLEEP) 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,839 Nah. You're kidding me. 23 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,399 (ENGINE STRAINING) 24 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:28,074 25 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,239 Try putting the bin down. 26 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:35,679 Nope. The bin won't even come down. 27 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,799 It's actually stuck in the pile of silt. 28 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,599 I put it up too hard against it. 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,519 Yeah, these wheels are spinning, but I ain't going anywhere. 30 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,919 If you can give us a hand to push this bin down, we'll be fine, maybe. 31 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,919 The wheels are spinning because there's too much weight at the back end. No traction. 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,639 Normally, you creep forward as you're dumping your dirt. 33 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,559 I didn't do that. Took my eyes off the prize for a little bit. 34 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,119 All right, Lee, we might be able to get it out 35 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,959 if we put a little bit of pressure back on these other tyres. 36 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,399 Try to drop that bin down, man. I'll try to give a little bit of a push. 37 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,159 Righto. Going down now. 38 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,719 Yeah, I can't get no movement out of that at all. 39 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,759 Argh. Righto. 40 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,959 I've got another idea, man. Here we go. 41 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:20,719 Oh, yeah, I got it, I got it. 42 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,239 Try and lasso that little bit of rope up there 43 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,359 so we can try and pull that bin down. 44 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,199 Ha, how much we got on this? Okay, 50 bucks. 45 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,719 Ha! Fifty bucks! 46 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,519 No, no, no.(LAUGHS) 47 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,839 No, no, no, no. We didn't shake on it, bud. 48 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:41,799 Right, grab a hold of it, pull it down. 49 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,879 Here she goes. Oh, that's the money, mate. 50 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,279 All righty. Jump back in and see how we go. 51 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,559 Ready! 52 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:52,159 There she goes. (CLAPPING) Yee-ha! 53 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,559 In Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, 54 00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:59,239 Slim Pickings' Lee Hobden and Roger Williams... 55 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,239 We aren't really picking up too much opal over this side, are we? 56 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,199 We'll have to rattle our brains a little bit and figure out where we need to go next. 57 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,919 ...are looking for fragments of opal left behind in the waste silt 58 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,879 from over a century of mining at their Government Tank claim. 59 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,839 You see all these lines here? These are all from different fields, 60 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:22,439 and this stuff was washed up to over 80 years ago. 61 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:29,519 The 200x200-metre claim is on the site of an historic water dam, 62 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,839 one of the few places old-timers 63 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:35,239 could wash their pay dirt to reveal any opal. 64 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,959 So they'd bring it here, tip the truck up, and it'd chute in. 65 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,359 These old puddlers here, they were around for about 50 or 60 years. 66 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,879 So as they put the dirt in, the water in, spinning it around, 67 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,279 throw all that mud out through this mesh here, 68 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,279 carrying all those chips and small stones into the silt bay. 69 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,679 So, how we do it is we'll come as close as we can 70 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,599 up to the puddler, that silt rump. And that's what we're after. 71 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,559 Then you'll have your black soil or whatever it's sitting on. 72 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,719 Not worth taking. It's not even silt at all. 73 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,639 Right now, we're not making exactly what we really need to keep ourselves running. 74 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,079 My kids, my family, we all depend on it. 75 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,719 This is... This is our only income. 76 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,519 You know, we've definitely got to keep that money flowing. 77 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,279 These machines, they don't fill themselves up. 78 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,199 How are you, mate? 79 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:26,999 (MAN SPEAKING ON PHONE) 80 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:33,279 Don't have anything at the moment. If you're coming, 81 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,319 we might have a parcel for you. 82 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:36,999 All right, mate. 83 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,319 Well, I just got off the phone with a buyer. He's keen as mustard. 84 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,519 Well, mate, if he's a buyer, he's a buyer. 85 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,719 Pretty much the only thing is that we don't have anything for him. 86 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,199 Let's go have a scratch, let's try up the road, if we find silt up there. 87 00:04:50,280 --> 00:04:53,279 Let's do it, then. Righto, bro. Come on, Bosco. 88 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,999 (ROGER SPEAKING) 89 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,239 Swing him over this direction here. I reckon this is a good spot. 90 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,119 We'll probably take a bit of dirt out here. 91 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:27,759 Hold on! 92 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,399 That's black soil, mate. 93 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,519 Don't have to come any further up this way. 94 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,199 Shut it down. 95 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,239 You don't find any silt in the black soil. 96 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,239 It's not even silt at all. 97 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,959 I don't know. It doesn't look good at all. 98 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,799 Really, we're after the silt. 99 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,479 We come up to the black soil here, and - Doesn't look like this is gonna pay. 100 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,519 (MACHINE DRILLING) 101 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,919 Not really any colour coming out that I can see anyway. 102 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:04,959 Give that one a go. 103 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,159 Is there any in that?Nah.Nothing? 104 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,559 Yeah, Kell, I reckon we got all the opal out of this pocket, mate. 105 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,479 You reckon? Yeah, it's not carried on. 106 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,399 We need to get the excavator and get down to that bottom level. 107 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,559 Yep.That's money, you know what I mean? It's heating up too. Like - 108 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,359 Yeah, it is hot.The weather changed like that, didn't it? 109 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,839 But can I just show you something around there? 110 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,599 Yeah. What have you got to show me? 111 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,039 I think it might be colour, but I just want you 112 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,559 to have a look at it. Just in case. 113 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,799 Yep. I'll meet you over there.Okay. 114 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,199 In Yowah, Queensland, the Opal Whisperers, 115 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:43,959 Isaac Andreou and rookie miner Kelly Taylor, 116 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,319 are attempting to open cut mine 117 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,559 dangerous old-timers' underground workings 118 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,519 on the hunt for Yowah nuts, 119 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,319 rare ironstone boulders with an opal centre. 120 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:59,159 What've you got, Kelly? Correct me if I'm wrong, 121 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,519 but let me see if I can point to it. 122 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,399 Can you see? Yeah, that's glistening. 123 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,319 There's colour right there in the wall. 124 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,559 That's shining under the sun. It's beautiful. 125 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,119 Ooh!Yeah, it's a very nice colour. That's pretty. 126 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,279 That's what we need, but we can only get that with an excavator. 127 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,999 Whole thing could fall on you if you start getting at it 128 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,759 with a jackhammer and all. The vibration, that'll bury you. 129 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,479 Yeah. Okay, well, we really need Kim to be here.Yeah. 130 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,359 Okay. Well, I'll go make a phone call 131 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,919 and see what is going on with him. 132 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,519 All right. Kim is part of the team now. 133 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,639 He's on the excavator to get us down to that bottom level. 134 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,559 KIM: This little knot's part of mining. 135 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,279 You'll spend quite a few hours in between levels. 136 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,879 If I can just break off the hard stuff, we'll be right. 137 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,999 Without an excavator, heavy machinery, we're just pushing uphill. 138 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,759 Imagine the old blokes who did it all by hand. They didn't get very far, did they? 139 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,519 So we've got the technology, we've got the machine, we just need the driver. 140 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,279 But he's sort of, er, not here today. 141 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,119 So, we don't know why. Hopefully, Kelly will find out. 142 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,759 I'm gonna go up to the bluff 143 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,999 where I can get some reception to give him a call. 144 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,839 You know, its limited ability that I do have with the excavator. 145 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,119 Oh, that's... That is bloody rough. 146 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,319 I just don't really have the confidence. 147 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,639 It's so much better if we have Kim here to help us out. 148 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,199 He is so much faster. 149 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,679 And, you know, the season's only gonna get hotter. 150 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,679 We've got to get it done quickly. 151 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,759 Kelly onboard means big machines. Her partner hires out big machinery. 152 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,519 Not had much of an opportunity to operate one of these. 153 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,119 I drive the loader every now and again. 154 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,119 This is a whole different kettle of fish. 155 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:41,799 No-one around, so... 156 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,519 ...can't make too much of a fool of myself. 157 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,479 I'm gonna have a bloody go. 158 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:49,239 Kim not showing up really has slowed us down quite a lot. 159 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,319 We're away from family. I've got a little girl, my little Zali. 160 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,359 She's everything to me. She's why I'm doing this job. 161 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,839 (BEEP)Passcode. Guest. 162 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:03,679 We need to find opal, or I'll be letting everybody down. 163 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,759 My family have been in opals. I'm second-generation. 164 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,079 So, you know, I've got to live up to the legacy. 165 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:14,919 Oh! (BLEEP) 166 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,239 I just want to go forward, but it seems to go left and right. 167 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,399 Hopefully, I can work it out. I'll just have a little practice run here. 168 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,359 Ooh, wrong way. That's the wrong way. 169 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:33,719 What is going on here? 170 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,639 (BLEEP)Hey! What are you doing? 171 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,519 Just having a crack.Dude. 172 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,119 Yeah.You break this, man... 173 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,079 I'm not gonna break it. I wanted to get it over there and put it in the right spot. 174 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,399 Righto. All right.Man, it's, like, 200 grand for another one of these. 175 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,439 Fair enough.Just in case. 176 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,239 Yeah, well, we've got to do something. I'm sitting around. 177 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,279 What's going on with Kim? Did you get on to him?Yes. 178 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:00,959 Not good news. 179 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:02,759 He's got something on with his family. 180 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,439 He needs to be there, so... 181 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,599 All right. Do you wanna have a go? You can get it. 182 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:10,559 We've got colour sitting there in the wall. 183 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,039 And I believe there's more just below it. 184 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,439 I'm happy to, like, maybe ramp down a bit, 185 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,479 but I don't want to damage it, dude. 186 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:21,119 I believe in you. You've got so many hours of experience to be able to do that. 187 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,559 All right.And I'll spot. And hopefully, you'll be all right. 188 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,599 Kelly is concerned about breaking the opal, 189 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:29,359 but I'd rather have some broken opal than no opal at all. 190 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,359 Right. Find me a million bucks, mate. 191 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,919 Been here for the whole day and nothing's happening. 192 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,599 I'm a little bit out of my depth here. 193 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:40,879 It's pretty hard to not be thinking about the tunnels 194 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,119 that are literally underneath me, but, you know, no risk, no reward. 195 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,199 So, Kelly's putting the machine into position now. 196 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,519 It's on an angle there, so it's across the drive that's underneath it. 197 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,999 It's a big, deep pit right in front of us here. 198 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,999 The last thing you want is a 32-tonne machine 199 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,679 that falls in a hole. 200 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,919 May as well bury the thing and leave it there. 201 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,759 This is the last of the fluffy stuff on top here now. 202 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,559 We're getting rid of the overburden. 203 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,559 That's the old workings from under the ground they've put on top. 204 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,839 We're a couple of digs, couple of buckets away 205 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,159 from that bit of colour you can see in the wall. 206 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,159 Yeah, I'm really hoping that we can find something in this 207 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:22,199 because we've got a massive target, and the days are long and hot. 208 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,319 And unless we find something, it's really not worth us being out here. 209 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,519 That arm's pretty extended, Kell. 210 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,039 Roger. 211 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,599 Yeah, look, hold on, mate. Hold on, mate! Whoa, whoa. 212 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:42,279 Ooh! (BLEEP) 213 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,039 (HAMMERING) 214 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,399 I think they're moving. ROD: (ON RADIO) Any success at all down there? 215 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,679 We're getting sunburned sitting up here. 216 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,759 It's just very, very slow. 217 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:00,879 So, you haven't got the pin out yet? 218 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:02,879 Not at the moment. 219 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,359 LES: It's coming, but, yeah. Les said, "It's coming, but, yeah." 220 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:16,079 Hey, Rod. ROD: (ON RADIO) Yeah, mate. 221 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,319 Just in the back of the ute, there's a... 222 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,199 A sauce bottle there. Put some diesel in it, please. 223 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,599 Might decide to make it slip a bit better.Yeah, I got it. 224 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,719 Not making any money. Haven't made any money since we've been in here. 225 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,159 And that's what we're here for, to try and make a bit of money. 226 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,359 So, hopefully, the next place we go, 227 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,719 we have a little bit more better luck. 228 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:47,599 Deep beneath the sun-blasted Grawin Opal Fields, the Bushmen... 229 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:49,519 I just dropped that sauce bottle down. 230 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,279 ...Rod Manning... It's got diesel in it. 231 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:58,799 ...Les Walsh, and Sam Mehan are relocating their entire operation. 232 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,799 Pretty excited about the new claim, but all the money's going out. 233 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,919 I've got Jacque sitting up here twiddling his bloody thumbs. 234 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,599 He's on an hourly rate. 235 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:12,039 Whilst ever this pin stays stuck, it's just costing us money. 236 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,679 If that doesn't come off the digger, you just can't lift the body out. 237 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,039 Yay! Woo-hoo! 238 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:22,959 Woo-woo-woo! 239 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,679 We've finally got it done! 240 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:26,679 Did you get it?Sure did. 241 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,639 Okay. Take it up. All the way. JACQUE: Righty-oh. 242 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,319 It's a huge relief. 243 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,159 Every minute we spend down here 244 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,399 doing things like that, it's costing us money. 245 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,559 So, to get that pin out is fantastic. 246 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,319 Our target this year is 150 grand. 247 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,599 And we haven't even hit 50 grand yet 248 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:45,999 and we're halfway through the season. So... 249 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,119 yeah, I'm getting a little bit worried. 250 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,759 That was a challenge, Les.It was. 251 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,239 I don't need that (BLEEP). Nah.(LAUGHS) 252 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,799 Things have been really hard recently. 253 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,719 I love opal. I love mining. But I have to pay for fuel. 254 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,239 I have to eat. My dog has to eat, so I'll have to pick up more shifts 255 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,959 at work where I'm an opal mine tour guide, meaning I'll have less time to dig. 256 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:12,519 Good-bye and good riddance to Robbie's. 257 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,839 Go somewhere else and shift dirt for a while. 258 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,919 She's been a real rough season, this one. 259 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,799 Costs a fair bit of money to move. 260 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,479 You got to pay the crane operator, you got to get new holes put down 261 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,199 and you've got to bell 'em out, so... 262 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,679 I got Bogger over there trying to race to get that belled out 263 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,319 so we can get this underground, put it together, and away we go. 264 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,559 Righto. Let's get out of this joint. 265 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,759 There's awful lot of pressure on me 266 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,039 because I'm the one that talked everybody into coming here. 267 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,279 Nobody really knows nothing about it. 268 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,359 It's not been mined for at least 40 years, but... 269 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,679 ...me and Sam were lucky enough to find a bit of colour underground. Oh!Oh! 270 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,359 Was a lot of little, tiny clues that I got from the place, 271 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,439 so, you know, this might be the one that sets us up. 272 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,519 Let's get things moving here, hey? 273 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,439 G'day, mate. BOGGER: How are you, mate? 274 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,679 Good. Got the, er, digger here. 275 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,999 We'll lower the digger down. Start the, er, start work. 276 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,919 Erm, about that, I haven't broken through yet. 277 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,239 What do you mean you haven't broken through? 278 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,479 I don't know what the story is. I've either gone past it or I've... 279 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,679 You've been following your pointer? Yeah. 280 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,839 I'll go and get a compass.Righto. 281 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,679 Before mining can start at Froggie's, 282 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,439 Bogger must connect two mine shafts 283 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,119 by digging a horizontal drive underground. 284 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,599 One shaft is used to extract the waste dirt, 285 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,839 while the other is kept for emergency evacuation. 286 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,079 He's taken out over three truckloads. 287 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,959 So, I don't understand how he could not have broken through that hole. 288 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,079 It's only five metres. 289 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,959 You got to go down, right.Yeah. 290 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,479 Stand with the blower pipe behind ya. 291 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,279 Your bearing is 140 south.Righto. 292 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,759 Changes things a little bit. 293 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:08,599 Can't lower the digger yet because they haven't dug through yet. 294 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,919 Righto. I'll try and work out where we're headed here. 295 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,239 So, whereabouts are you? 296 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,159 Erm, yeah, I'm a little bit off, mate. (CHUCKLES) 297 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,199 What do you mean you're a little bit off? 298 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,799 Well, the way I was going, that seems to be off to me left. 299 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,079 How far off to your left? 300 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,759 Oh, I don't know, it's probably a couple of metres. 301 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,519 I don't know. Honestly, I reckon this is gonna take a couple of days to get there. 302 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,759 Oh, Jesus bloody Christ. 303 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,479 Righto, mate, I'm gonna start getting into it. 304 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:44,799 (BLEEP) this. 305 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,839 Now that's gonna put us majorly behind schedule 306 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,839 with getting everything down here, so that's not good at all. 307 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,799 We're after the silt, but I'm not seeing enough for us 308 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:06,759 to sort of wanna put it in right now. 309 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,679 Yeah. We just hit the black soil, so... 310 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,519 What are we gonna do, man? Because it doesn't look like this is gonna pay us. 311 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:14,199 Well, I've got an idea. 312 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,799 Maybe all the puddlers were situated back up closer to the dam... 313 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:20,479 ...25, 30ft away from where they are now. 314 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,919 That means underneath the puddler is old-timers' silt. 315 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,519 Struggling to find opal-bearing silt, 316 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,279 Lee Hobden believes the silt run-off 317 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:33,479 that's normally found tens of metres from the puddler wash plants 318 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:38,839 is now directly beneath the puddlers after they were moved by old-timers. 319 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,839 Definitely, man. Like, we've made a few dollars behind it.Yeah. 320 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:43,879 What do you reckon we'll go over there, hey? 321 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:45,599 Let's take it. See what's in it. 322 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,319 So, Roger's just getting himself in position there now. 323 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:54,319 Our best chance to find opal right now is underneath that old puddler. 324 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,279 Hopefully, there is some opal under it. 325 00:17:56,360 --> 00:17:58,759 Well, let's get the money, baby. Let's do it, then! 326 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,799 Mate, I'm gonna start swinging this digger. 327 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,479 So, the old-timer had to have been on opal. 328 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,359 He's taken all the good stuff. We're licking the dinner plate. 329 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,759 So if the dinner plate's had a healthy meal on it, 330 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,479 we'll still get something out of it. 331 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,039 There needs to be opal underneath this puddler. 332 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:16,279 I've invested a lot of money into the operation. 333 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:19,119 We've got a buyer coming in. We haven't got anything yet. 334 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,759 So, Roger, from here down, that's all pay dirt. 335 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,039 That's all the old-timers' hard silt runs. 336 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,679 If there's money in that, I'm pretty excited for the next bit, that's for sure. 337 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,039 Having no opal, the pressure is on us. 338 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:38,999 Hang on. 339 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,039 There's colour here. Look at that. It's even got red in it. 340 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,399 Ooh.Look out. That's a decent piece, isn't it? 341 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,479 It looks like it's almost a cut stone. It's a bit of seam, isn't it, a bit of crystal? 342 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,999 Yeah.Nice. Colour's colour, man. 343 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:55,679 Well, I'll go and get the truck. 344 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,759 Definitely.We might as well take this whole lot out. 345 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:05,799 (BOTH SPEAKING ON RADIO) All yours, Lee.Okay. 346 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,239 Look out, Bosco! Go on! 347 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,279 Lee and Roger process the pay dirt 348 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:14,519 in their makeshift plant called George. 349 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,399 A trommel removes large rocks and sand. 350 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,999 And a repurposed cement mixer washes and agitates 351 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,479 the remaining dirt to reveal opal. 352 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,879 Get in the agitator, hopefully, we'll have a parcel 353 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,439 for the buyer at the end of the week. 354 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,479 It's about fine tuning this machine to make it going all nice and neat. 355 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:41,719 (LOUD CLANG) 356 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,319 (BLEEP) 357 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,279 Everything good at your end, Lee? 358 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,159 This conveyor is still playing up again, mate. 359 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:52,159 I think we're eventually gonna have to 360 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,079 swap that out down the track, you know.Righto. 361 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,319 That clip right there. 362 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:02,999 Because it's coming apart, 363 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,479 every time it goes over the rolling part 364 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,279 on each end of the conveyor, it wants to jam up a little bit. 365 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,759 Come on! Come on! What a (BLEEP). 366 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,679 I don't wanna keep on doing this all day long. 367 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,639 (LOUD CLANG) 368 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,879 Whoa, whoa, whoa, Kell! 369 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,679 Oh, (BLEEP)! (BLEEP) 370 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,559 Hold on, mate. Hold on, mate. Yeah, just... 371 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,199 We've got a 15, 20ft pit right in front of us. 372 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,879 Yeah, mate. I don't wanna lose you or the machine. 373 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,959 It is rather nerve-wracking being in this particular spot. 374 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,919 It's pretty hard to not be thinking 375 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,319 about the tunnels that are literally underneath me. 376 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,719 On a 22-tonne excavator... 377 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,279 ...rookie operator Kelly Taylor is struggling 378 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:02,239 to reach a pocket of opal buried deep in their trench wall. 379 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,159 Hey, Kelly! Careful of, just behind you, 380 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:06,839 there's that shaft, all right? 381 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,559 Yeah, you're right on it. Yeah, that's it. Come forward a bit. That's perfect. 382 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:13,479 Kim not showing up has really slowed us down. 383 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,199 That guy's a machine. He's been doing it for decades. 384 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,199 Thank God we've got Kell, anyway, who's doing her very best. 385 00:21:20,120 --> 00:21:22,839 I think we might be pretty close here to the level, dude. 386 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,319 (ISAAC SPEAKING) 387 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:28,999 Fingers crossed it's a winning bucket. 388 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,999 I am going absolute snail pace with this. 389 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:37,799 All right, Kelly, you've cleared all that overburden now. 390 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,479 So we're on the nut band. 391 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,759 So if we could put that separate to the overburden, we can go through that.Copy. 392 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:46,999 We're not on the best spot yet, 393 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,239 but all through Yowah, you get these beautiful Yowah nuts. 394 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,439 One in 1,000 of these will have colour in it. 395 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,319 One in 10,000 has a crystal centre, 396 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,479 but they really are few and far between. 397 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:01,519 Unique to the small Queensland town it's named after, 398 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,999 the Yowah nut is an ironstone rock with an opal centre. 399 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,359 Around 135 million years ago, 400 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,599 silica-rich water from an ancient inland sea 401 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,599 drained deep into the Earth. 402 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,759 Over time, the water hardened inside crevices 403 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,479 in the ironstone rocks to form opal. 404 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,519 You can't precision-open every single nut. 405 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,039 We're smashing through them. Once we find a patch that has good colour in it, 406 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:33,279 we'll take that home and saw 'em open nicely. 407 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,039 Every day, it costs us money to be here, you know. 408 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:38,999 Like, it's really not cheap. 409 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:44,759 So, you know, diesel, wages, food, 410 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:49,599 we need to be finding opal literally every day for this to be worth it. 411 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,159 Whoa, whoa. Yeah. Swear I saw blue. 412 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,719 The sun might be playing tricks on my eyes, but I swear I saw some blue in this one. 413 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,959 Hey-hey! Check that out! 414 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,559 Look at that. 415 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,559 Oh, there better be something there, man. 416 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,799 I don't know if that's the piece we can see in the wall, but -Yay! 417 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,959 I just broke that open and it's perfect. Oh, isn't that stunning? 418 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,719 Look, there's got to be some more in there. Sorry, mate. 419 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,399 It's all good. 420 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,079 Nah, nothing in that one. 421 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,799 Wow. There's -Ooh! 422 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,039 (LAUGHS) Look at that, green electric! Oh. 423 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:36,959 That goes all the way through! 424 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,679 This bucket needs to be sifted through really carefully. 425 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,479 All right.If there's any nuts in here, let's not whack 'em. 426 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:46,679 We'll take 'em back and saw 'em, because that's top, top-quality. 427 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:48,359 Finally, dude.Ah. 428 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,079 Now the fun starts, hey? 429 00:23:57,960 --> 00:23:59,759 (DRILLING) 430 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:02,839 (SAM SPEAKING) 431 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,039 Hello.Sammy, what are you doing down here? 432 00:24:05,120 --> 00:24:07,319 (SAM SPEAKING) 433 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,999 Yeah, right.(SAM SPEAKING) 434 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:18,079 Yeah, righto. We'll get into it. (SAM SPEAKING) 435 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,279 In Grawin, the Bushmen are battling to connect two mine shafts 436 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:28,079 at their new Froggie's claim, stalling their efforts to find opal. 437 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:33,319 Can't lower the digger yet because they haven't broken through 438 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,599 into the escape hole, 439 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,839 so if something goes wrong, you've got somewhere you can get up. 440 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,399 I feel like a bit of a letdown. 441 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,839 We were supposed to have this done today and have everything down here, 442 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,839 so hopefully, I can redeem me self. 443 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,319 To speed up the process, 444 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,439 team leader Rod Manning has enlisted the help of friend 445 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,199 and part-time miner James "JC" Caruana. 446 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,559 JAMES: Hey!How you going, mate? 447 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,919 JC's a good mate of mine. We've travelled all around Australia 448 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,279 digging opal, and he's been away for a while. 449 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:09,079 He's been over on the coast and he's missing the Outback and being underground. 450 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,559 So, I told him to get himself out here, and he's gonna dig in 451 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:16,319 toward Bogger and Sam. And he'll get 'em on the right track. 452 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,039 I am raring right now! 453 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:22,559 There's always a sense of achievement as well when you go down a new shaft 454 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,519 and you're linking up with another one. 455 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,439 So, as soon as I got the call off Rod, straight out here. 456 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,599 Rodney, you need to sharpen your pick bits. 457 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,479 This is blunt as anything, mate. 458 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,239 (ROD SPEAKING) 459 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,079 There's not enough room for both of us to dig at the same time. 460 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,439 So, Jake's digging and I'm just spotting 461 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,279 in case we find some colour. 462 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,599 Hey! What's going on here? 463 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,799 JAMES: Hello, beautiful! Hey, Jimmy. 464 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,319 How you going, mate?Good, mate. Better now seeing you there. 465 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,199 (LAUGHS) Keep opening it up. Righto, will do. 466 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,679 Finally got into the other hole! Yes! 467 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,879 (ON RADIO) Righto, mate. 468 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:38,879 This is particularly dangerous. 469 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,639 If the digger does happen to fall, 470 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,039 you know, it's gonna go rocketing down that hole, 471 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:44,959 and they got nowhere to go in a hurry. 472 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,399 You know, it's a very confined space down there. 473 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,239 That's it, Jacque. Come to me a little bit. 474 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,839 JAMES: There's a little bit of finesse involved with this part of the process. 475 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,279 You've got three pieces to this digger. 476 00:26:59,360 --> 00:27:02,079 And you've only got a small hole to put it down. 477 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,679 LES: Up you go. JAKE: Righto. Send him up. 478 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:06,399 All the way, mate. 479 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,319 It's only a three-foot hole, so you've just got to be 480 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,359 very safety-conscious. 481 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,039 Shouldn't take long to get this all sorted now. 482 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,079 We're on the last legs of the journey, so... 483 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,119 ...see how this arm goes when it comes down, 484 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,639 and it's pretty well it, then. Ooh, ooh. Hold it. 485 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,359 Just take her up a bit, Jacque! 486 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,359 Right. Go again. 487 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,919 JAMES: Watch yourselves down there, fellas! 488 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,079 He's just about there.Yeah. 489 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:36,759 Oh, whoa. Whoa! 490 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,199 JAKE: Got a fair bit of debris forward down here. 491 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:40,879 ROD: You're not wrong. 492 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,759 LES: Hold it. Hold it. Hold it! They've lost it. 493 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,919 Ooh! Jesus Christ! 494 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,399 ROGER: I need that to go down on there. 495 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,519 Oh, had it.You've got to put pressure down 496 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,759 and pull over...Yeah. ...at the exact time. 497 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:03,279 Desperate to find opal for a buyer arriving in 24 hours, 498 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:05,519 Lee and Roger's push to process 499 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:09,359 a new stockpile of pay dirt has ground to a halt. 500 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:11,079 Oh, man, have to go again. 501 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,319 Should have let me up there.Ooh! 502 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,199 We're just trying to do a bit of a quick fix on the belt. 503 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,759 The stitching has come out, and what that's doing is 504 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,319 making the whole, whole belt jutter. 505 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,799 So, if we can try and bring that in a little bit... 506 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,239 ...and get it running nice and straight, 507 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,639 they won't be getting caught on these rollers down the ends. 508 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:35,599 Nah. It's tearing it apart. Torn that screw out. 509 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,719 It's still bringing it over closer. 510 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,399 It's not by much, but... Oh, well, get rid of it. 511 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,879 Yeah, get rid of it. She won't roll with those screws in there. 512 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,159 So, then pretty much all we can do right now at the moment 513 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:51,439 is to persevere and keep on moving, 514 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,559 and hopefully, we can get this parcel up for the end of the week. 515 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:59,279 We're just gonna baby it as much as we can. 516 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,079 If we can just get away with it, 517 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,239 it means we're still getting opal in the agi, just. 518 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,399 She's all in, by the looks of her, eh? 519 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,679 I'm hoping there's some opal in there. Now I've set it for two hours. 520 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:16,399 Let her run.Yep. 521 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,639 We are under pressure to get this parcel up. 522 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:20,599 Don't have diddly-squat at the moment. 523 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:24,119 What's in that agi, that's gonna be the parcel. So, fingers crossed. 524 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,439 Coming down to do-or-die time. If this one proves a bit of colour in it... 525 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,439 Righty-oh.Make it rain. 526 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,839 Here we go. It better produce, this tray. 527 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,479 A pinch of trace. 528 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,919 That's all it is at the moment. It's just trace. 529 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,159 Ah, a few minor colours. 530 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:51,719 No real good suspects here, though. 531 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,319 At the end of day, you know, Roger needs the money for his family. 532 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,599 I need the money to sustain the operation. 533 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,319 And if we don't have any opal here today, well, it is a sticky situation. 534 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:10,039 Ooh, do you see the flash in that, Lee? Damn! 535 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:11,999 Wow! I can see that with my glasses off. 536 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,559 That is going to be an awesome little piece, man. 537 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:16,799 That's nice.(LAUGHING) 538 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,639 There's some money in this, bro, some money in this. 539 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,359 Mate, we're getting... And look at that!Ooh! 540 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,959 Look at the size of that. Yeah, that's a nice blue stone in it, isn't it? 541 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:28,759 That is some beautiful stuff, man. 542 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:30,839 And it's quite clean, so that'll cut clean. 543 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,479 So, eh, that's... Mate, that's just adding to the jar. 544 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,679 Dude, couple of grand right there. 545 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,239 Righto, man. Let's keep going. Let's keep on going. 546 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:41,039 A little bit of a crystal there. Every piece adds up, Rog. 547 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:42,919 That is some beautiful colour. 548 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,039 It's gonna be happy days, that's for sure. 549 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,799 So, what we've got here is, like, you know, 17 bits of rough opal. 550 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,719 What we're gonna do is value-add.Yeah. 551 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,039 From 2,000, this could end up tens of thousands. 552 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:04,679 Yeah. Isaac's gonna teach me how to polish and shape a stone. 553 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:08,479 Ah, I'm hoping that we'll be able to make some really nice pieces, 554 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:10,839 and hopefully, I don't break anything. 555 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,719 Just get your palms down so they're stable. Use it as a grounding. 556 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,879 And let the diamond do the cutting. 557 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,919 To maximise the value of this week's haul of Yowah nuts... 558 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:22,879 Roll it forward a little bit. That's it. 559 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:25,799 Watch the belt on the other side there, you're good. 560 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,239 ...rookie Kelly is getting a crash course 561 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,639 on opal cutting by mine partner, Isaac. 562 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:36,639 Like, roll it a little bit. That's it. It's done. 563 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,319 Let's have a look. 564 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,319 Hey!So, nothing. (LAUGHS) Nothing in it, but hey, 565 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,039 that's an absolute textbook cut, mate. 566 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,199 Look, it's exciting when you're mining opal, 567 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,039 and you're finding and seeing colour. 568 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,679 The real magic happens right here in the cutting room. 569 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,199 This is what I'm good at. This is what I love doing. 570 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,279 Sometimes the end will break because there's a bit of vibration, 571 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,519 if there's any natural fractures in the stone. 572 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,079 In other words, you go slowly. 573 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,439 Look at that, Kell. Wow! Oh, my God!Got a win. 574 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,039 I'll do this one. You do that one. Argh! Okay. 575 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:11,879 The sawing's the first part. This is our second part. This is grinding. 576 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,159 On your one, you've got the best face showing.It's already showing. 577 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,559 Other side needs to be smoothed out and the shape needs to be refined. 578 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,319 You want to anchor your hands into a good spot, 579 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,799 and just nice, smooth movements. 580 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:25,999 The edge of these grinding wheels are diamonds. 581 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:30,359 So if you get your finger on it or the stone, gauge out a big piece, it can cost you money. 582 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:32,919 Hey, what will I do with this bit here? Like... 583 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:37,159 Yeah. So, turn your stone, face up, and just grind it flat like this. 584 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:39,399 Oh, like this?Yeah, like that. 585 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:42,999 So cool when you see the colour come through. 586 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,959 This makes it all worth it at the end of the day, doesn't it? 587 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:48,919 Yeah, when you see that colour. Oh, definitely! 588 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:51,799 How old were you when you cut your first stone? 589 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,639 I was eight. Actually, when I saw Zali, my daughter recently, she just turned eight. 590 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:59,159 So she cut her first stone as well. 591 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:01,079 I put it up on the wall. Yeah. 592 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,679 That's so cool. I bet she nailed it. She did.Yeah.She did. 593 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,279 The pressure's on to make our target 300,000. 594 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:09,039 And I'm feeling the pinch. 595 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,239 All right, let's have a look at it. Getting hot. There's flies. 596 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,879 And at this time, I start thinking about home on the coast near my daughter. 597 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:18,999 Hey, not bad, mate. Not bad at all. 598 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,759 She misses her dad, so I've got to get home. 599 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,279 Time flies. You turn around, and she'll be a teenager. 600 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:27,799 I don't want to miss all those years. 601 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,439 JAKE: They've lost it. (BLEEP) thing. 602 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,119 We said to hold it. 603 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:35,399 (ROD SPEAKING) 604 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:40,799 Apparently, this radio didn't come through, so... 605 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,199 Nearly got us, but it didn't. 606 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,319 LES: This is the last piece to go on.You got him, mate. 607 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:50,799 Done enough for today. 608 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,279 We're out of light for today. It'll be dark by the time we get this sorted, 609 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,039 so there won't be any digging done. 610 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,719 Tomorrow, we'll come across some colour if we're lucky. 611 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:01,199 Hopefully, a bloody good pocket. We're due for one. 612 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,799 ROD: Righto, look out, you're in the business end.Yeah, mate. 613 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:12,079 The Bushmen have finally lowered all their equipment 614 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:15,559 into their new underground mine, Froggie's. 615 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:18,719 Yeah. This was a huge gamble, coming into this mine. 616 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:23,119 So, yeah, we're desperate for a pretty big win here. 617 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,639 Clear a little bit of that out so we can get in there and have a proper look. 618 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,159 Bloody bit of a mission to get down here, get it sorted. 619 00:34:31,240 --> 00:34:33,039 But we finally managed to do that. 620 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:36,479 So down here, my job, basically, it's just to move whatever dirt that 621 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:39,119 the digger can't reach and put it into the blower pipe. 622 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,799 Sucking it all up makes things a lot easier. 623 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:47,159 Try and get in there close and spot for me. 624 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,879 See this, Sam? See the fault? 625 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,879 Yeah, And also the roof too. Back from there...Yeah. 626 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,559 ...all the way over to there. 627 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,879 Yeah, I'll give it a bit of a loosen up just to see what's behind it. 628 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:14,399 Anything there, Sam? 629 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,799 There's, like, kind of a light crystally purple. 630 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,959 It's not great, but it could be worth getting the the jackhammer. 631 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:21,639 All right. 632 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,839 Oi! Here we go.Oh-oh-oh! 633 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:27,439 She's getting bigger! 634 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:34,479 JAKE: Oh, look at that, Jimmy. JAMES: Hey. Whoa! 635 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,599 ROD: Hey-hey!SAM: Yeah.Look at that.What have you got, mate? 636 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,439 On black!JAKE: Far out! 637 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,039 Yeah, I think you guys have picked some bloody good ground here. 638 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,159 Oh-ho!Hey! 639 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:52,799 Oh-ho-ho-ho! Sam! 640 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:57,799 Look at the size of this.SAM: Ah! 641 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:01,639 She'll keep going, don't you worry. God, we've only dug, 642 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:04,159 what's that, a foot and a half into the first drive? 643 00:36:04,240 --> 00:36:06,239 JAKE: That's it. Get us some more out. 644 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,639 When you're actually cutting opal and that, we may potentially have, 645 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:19,639 you know, an $8,000 parcel, $10,000 parcel. 646 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:21,319 It all depends on how they cut. 647 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:24,919 At his off-grid camp, 648 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:28,679 Roger Williams is cutting some of this week's opal haul 649 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:31,079 before a crucial meeting with a buyer. 650 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,999 What I'm doing right now at the moment is I'm just taking away the sand. 651 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:37,799 If I take too much off it, it could turn into nothing. 652 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,799 You know, like, that is the gamble that you do take. 653 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:43,439 So hopefully, the buyer loves it. 654 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:49,439 They're not chips at all. Look how big that piece is. 655 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:51,839 It's all got colour in it, that's the main thing. 656 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:54,559 Every single piece has colour in it. That's full. 657 00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:58,399 I was also very busy at cutting. Yep, we'll move this out of the way. 658 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,359 This is what we came up with. Seventy stones in there. 659 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,359 Wow.Beautiful jewellery stones. 660 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,319 Plus, we got all the other little cut cuts that we've got going on. 661 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:09,999 That's the parcel right there. 662 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:15,599 Roger and Lee have a mixed parcel of seam and crystal opal 663 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:18,199 featuring the full spectrum of colours. 664 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,359 There are over a kilo and a half of stones in the rough 665 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:26,319 and 17 grams of high-quality cut gems. 666 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,759 There he is.Yeah. See what we come to. 667 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,519 Let's get the business, mate.Yeah. 668 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:37,599 Nathan!Hey, how you going, fellas? 669 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,039 Good to see you.Yeah, yous, too. Thanks for coming. 670 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:42,999 How are ya?Good, mate. Good. Nathan's a good friend of ours. 671 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:45,639 I've known him for a long time. He's an opal miner. 672 00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:48,679 And, yeah, he's got his hands in a little buying at the moment. 673 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,879 So, as discussed over the phone, we've got a bit of a parcel for you. 674 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:55,839 There's some beautiful pieces in there.All right. 675 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:59,119 So, these are pretty much our precious little cut cuts. 676 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,479 Some beautiful little pieces in there, mate. 677 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:04,239 Couple of green oranges. Red on blacks. 678 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,759 Nice, bright, clean little stones. 679 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:11,399 Perfect jewellery stones, as you know, rings, pendants. 680 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:13,759 Yep.We pull out the best 681 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:16,239 and we've got the leftovers right here as well. 682 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,359 They are the ones that Roger didn't cut. 683 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,319 They are the leftover little pieces. 684 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,159 Not all of them probably will cut, but a lot of them will. 685 00:38:23,240 --> 00:38:25,319 Plus chip jar.(LAUGHS) Yeah. 686 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,279 So, everybody loves a chip jar. 687 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,599 So that's, erm, all included. 688 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:33,919 What sort of money are you looking at for 'em? 689 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:36,599 Well, for the stones alone, 690 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:38,679 we're looking around that eight-grand mark. 691 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,079 And in those two jars there, 692 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:44,159 look, we'd probably want at least two grand for them. 693 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:45,959 So, that's about ten grand, mate. 694 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:49,879 They're definitely worth it. Every single place in there has got colour. 695 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:51,799 Yeah, I'd probably be... 696 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:54,999 ...in it at about seven grand. 697 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:57,999 Ooh, geezus.Mm. 698 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:00,999 Yeah, well, I'm just looking at what I can see. 699 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,039 We'll come down a thousand bucks, mate. 700 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,719 Probably still a little bit too high for what I'd pay. 701 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,959 Could come up a little bit to probably eight and half, 702 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,639 but that would be me best. 703 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:13,199 And that's your final? That'd be me final, yeah. 704 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:19,919 Eight and a half. 705 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:23,519 No worries.Too easy. Sounds good.Done deal. 706 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:25,559 Happy days, bro.Thanks, Lee. 707 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:28,879 Start of the week, we had nothing. End of the week, we sold a parcel. 708 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:30,639 So, we're pretty happy about that. 709 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:35,359 What a day! Mate, a week! What a week.Yeah. Man. 710 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:37,199 Good sale. Nathan's happy. 711 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,039 We've done well. We produced the goods.Yeah. 712 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,079 Cheers, mate.Mate, that's what the beers are for. What a week. 713 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:51,999 ISAAC: Check out the final results. 714 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:54,079 This is that one that you, er... 715 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,999 ...pulled out of the wall early on - Oh, my gosh, is it, really? 716 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,919 Yeah. I took all the clay off the back. It's pure...Oh, yeah. 717 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:03,559 ...skin-to-skin colour. Oh, that looks so good. 718 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:05,959 I'm actually so stoked at how that turned out, too. 719 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:07,879 You did a good job, mate. Thanks, man. 720 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,359 You've done a really good job. I really enjoyed that. 721 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:13,759 So pretty.I'm impressed. You come here, doing great on the excavator. 722 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:16,399 Your work with the stones is just perfect.Thanks, dude. 723 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:19,399 So it's good to have you out here. That's a table full of magic. 724 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:26,719 The Opal Whisperers have a mixed parcel of Yowah nuts 725 00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:30,719 and crystal opal featuring the full spectrum of colours. 726 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:33,079 They've been cut and polished 727 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:36,559 and weigh a total of 250 grams. 728 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:40,279 So, how much do you think 729 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:42,919 we've made? (LAUGHS) Value-wise, ooh, okay. 730 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:44,679 The rubs are, erm... 731 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:49,319 ...15. And then the cut stones. 732 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:53,039 There's, er, 30. And then 39. 733 00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:58,479 $41,500.$41,500. 734 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:00,839 $41,500 isn't bad.Excellent. 735 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:02,719 Hey, I mean, there was a point there 736 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,039 where I thought we weren't gonna find anything. 737 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:07,799 Yeah, so we're almost halfway. 738 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:09,719 Ooh-ah.Yeah. 739 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:14,759 We've got a little way to go, but Kelly's really proven to be an asset out here, 740 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,759 and there's a lot more to dig up. 741 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:18,999 And it's all way further underground. 742 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:21,759 So, the second half of this season's gonna be a deep dig, 743 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:23,599 and it's gonna get bloody hot. 744 00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:25,839 Few firsts this week. 745 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,719 Dug some ground that I have never approached before. 746 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:32,119 So that was really cool. And the whole cutting 747 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:34,919 and shaping process, I found really enjoyable. 748 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,359 I wouldn't mind wearing that in a pendant myself. Yeah, or even as a ring. 749 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,759 Oh. Mate, let's call it a day. 750 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:44,079 Let's do it. Foot five. Yes! (LAUGHS) 751 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:46,239 Nailed it.Ha! 752 00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:56,479 ROD: Well, I'm pretty happy with what we've got here, Les. 753 00:41:56,560 --> 00:41:58,879 Oh, yeah, that's good. See, that bag there, 754 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,079 that's full of some bloody nice colour. 755 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:05,159 Some nice stones in that one. And I think this is gonna be the mine for us, actually. 756 00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:09,119 Mm. We've found more here than Robbie's the entire time. 757 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:11,999 Well, that's it.I didn't realise how tough you were doing it. 758 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:16,359 We were doing it tough. We had nothing to eat but a bloody old kangaroo leg bone.Yeah. 759 00:42:16,440 --> 00:42:18,879 We even had to fight the dog for the kangaroo leg. 760 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:20,799 (ALL LAUGH) 761 00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:26,719 The Bushmen have a parcel of dark-based crystal seam opal 762 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,479 featuring blue and green with flashes of rare red. 763 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:33,999 It's in the rough and weighs one kilogram. 764 00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:38,119 What do you fellas reckon? JAMES: You've got colour. 765 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:40,799 Can't go wrong with that. That's exactly what you need. 766 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,119 LES: So what are we gonna ask? 767 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:45,879 Might be a little bit ambitious, but I think, er... 768 00:42:47,240 --> 00:42:49,439 ...I think we'll get 20 grand for it. 769 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,559 And then that'll give you some diesel money 770 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:53,959 to get back down and find another 20 grand. 771 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:56,559 SAM: Ooh, yeah.JAKE: That's it, mate.Keep on digging. 772 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:58,519 Well, she was a bit rough along the way, 773 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:00,759 but she all worked out pretty good in the end. 774 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:04,119 So, 20 grand, which will pay for the move and all the rest of it. 775 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,039 So, we're pretty bloody happy about that. 776 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:09,239 I reckon that we ought to have a beer, 777 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:13,479 but us two old fellas versus you young'uns, the last one to catch 778 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,119 a chook has to shout for the rest of us. All right? 779 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:18,279 Righty-oh.You're on, mate. We're ready. 780 00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:22,279 All right. So, the rules are... there are no rules. 781 00:43:22,360 --> 00:43:24,959 Hey!(LAUGHTER) 782 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:27,279 Come on, Les!LES: I'm here. 783 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:32,359 JAKE: He's gone over the roof! 784 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:34,999 Hold the door! 785 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:39,439 We got a chook!(LAUGHTER) 786 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:42,479 Ours went over the house, mate! Don't wanna hear excuses. 787 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:44,759 SAM: Mate! That was the easy way to get one. 788 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,799 No use getting old unless you get cunning. 789 00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:48,679 (LAUGHTER)Yeah, righto. 790 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:51,879 Subtitles by Deluxe 791 00:43:52,305 --> 00:44:52,414 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=-