"Outback Opal Hunters" The Sky is Falling

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,999 . 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:06,379 NARRATOR: Desperate for cash, The Rookies take a dangerous path underground... 3 00:00:06,420 --> 00:00:09,319 Whoa! I'm getting out of here. 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,079 ..hunting magical white opal. 5 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:15,019 Whoa, whoa! Oh, my God. 6 00:00:17,260 --> 00:00:19,259 I can't pull any harder. 7 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:23,239 The Opal Queen struggles with man and machine...Don't, don't. 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,339 ..in the search for the legendary black opal. 9 00:00:26,380 --> 00:00:29,319 There's a big fault running straight up the guts of it. 10 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,019 Stay there. I'll come round with ya. 11 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:38,119 Col's Crew fight frustrations... It's probably going to pieces. 12 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:41,299 ..as they chase Queensland's prized boulder opal. 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,419 # Money 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,139 # And fancy clothes 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,399 # Telling you what to do 16 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,439 # The right way to live 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,479 # And where to go # 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 19 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:19,099 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 20 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,479 A remote town of just a few thousand souls, 21 00:01:25,020 --> 00:01:28,299 said to produce more opal than anywhere else in the world. 22 00:01:33,020 --> 00:01:36,119 Its speciality is white opal. 23 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,419 Worth up to $1,500 a carat, or a fifth of a gram, 24 00:01:40,460 --> 00:01:43,059 its value is climbing rapidly. 25 00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:46,459 Opal prices are doubling every three to five years. 26 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,119 A lot of friends of mine, they found millions of dollars, 27 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,159 literally, millions of dollars. 28 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,259 And there's plenty more to be found. 29 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,439 An estimated 90% of Coober Pedy is still waiting to be mined. 30 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,359 Rookie miners, Dan Becker and Justin Lang 31 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,999 are on a quest for riches. 32 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,199 Ahhh! (LAUGHS) They've left their families behind 33 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,399 and put their daily lives on hold 34 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,319 to chase the elusive opal jackpot. 35 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,279 I've come here to, erm, have two things, adventure and money. 36 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,039 All you need is 300 bucks to register a claim, 37 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,099 couple of pickaxes, and then 38 00:02:34,140 --> 00:02:36,999 you could find your million dollars any day after that. 39 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,039 But it's been a bad start. They've found nothing. 40 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,079 If they're going to make opal mining pay, 41 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,119 they need a radical plan. 42 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,359 We're...Let me get my bearings. Stuart Highway. 43 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,359 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.Yeah?Scrap shell Patch for now, put it on hold, 44 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,359 and we'll move to 17 Mile right over there. 45 00:03:02,060 --> 00:03:06,139 The area they're heading for is notoriously dangerous. 46 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:10,099 A no man's land of thousands of abandoned mine shafts... 47 00:03:11,180 --> 00:03:13,179 ..named 17 Mile. 48 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,259 People have died here, people have disappeared. 49 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:19,299 The minefields are deadly. 50 00:03:20,380 --> 00:03:25,219 This area is littered with deep shafts, up to 30-40m deep in some areas. 51 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,279 If you fall into one of those, you're dead. 52 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,999 The plan is to go down one of these abandoned mines... 53 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,099 And roll. ..chasing scraps of opal 54 00:03:39,140 --> 00:03:41,399 the original miners may have missed. 55 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,479 We'll go down, look for some trace in the wall and try and drill it out. 56 00:03:47,020 --> 00:03:49,019 Hopefully, we'll find a pocket or two. 57 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:51,059 But it's a risky strategy. 58 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:56,039 At the bottom of this 30m hole could be both fortune and disaster. 59 00:03:58,100 --> 00:04:02,039 The mine they're about to enter is a tangled network of tunnels 60 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,079 over a kilometre long. 61 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:08,419 It'll be easy to get lost down here and easy to get hurt. 62 00:04:10,380 --> 00:04:12,419 It is risky, it is dangerous. 63 00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:15,379 You can have rock collapses, you can have all sorts of other 64 00:04:15,420 --> 00:04:18,379 unknown things down there that can end your life. 65 00:04:18,420 --> 00:04:20,419 (GENERATOR STARTS) 66 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,019 Perfect. Keep going. 67 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:33,159 A winch will carry them down. 68 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,359 If it fails, this ladder will be their only way back to the surface. 69 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,379 Going underground is quite a scary experience, 70 00:04:44,420 --> 00:04:47,339 especially when you haven't done it before, you know? 71 00:04:56,020 --> 00:04:59,259 Dan and Justin begin their 30m dissent. 72 00:05:02,140 --> 00:05:06,099 From this point on, they're entering the unknown. 73 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,119 Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. 74 00:05:25,220 --> 00:05:28,239 600 kilometres northwest of Sydney, 75 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:31,359 the town sprung up around an opal rush in 1905. 76 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,219 It's been an opal mecca ever since. 77 00:05:39,020 --> 00:05:42,339 Here is where the most valuable opal in the world is found... 78 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,159 ..black opal. 79 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,199 The darker the background, the rarer and the more expensive it is, 80 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,219 fetching up to $35,000 a carat. 81 00:05:57,300 --> 00:06:00,419 Third generation opal hunter, Kelly Tishler, 82 00:06:00,460 --> 00:06:02,459 has been mining here since childhood. 83 00:06:04,020 --> 00:06:07,999 The only place on the planet where I can get black opal. Only place. 84 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,159 We might start drilling this week, take a lease out and get stuck into it. 85 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,299 She's hoping to secure a lease 86 00:06:15,340 --> 00:06:18,439 on the legendary Grawin opal fields. 87 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,119 Here, millions of dollars of black opal have been found. 88 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:28,019 Kelly's partnering up with a veteran opal hunter - her dad, Al. 89 00:06:28,060 --> 00:06:32,179 Oi.Hiya, bub.Hey, Dad. How are you?Good. 90 00:06:32,220 --> 00:06:34,319 What's happening? Nothing. What's going on? 91 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,459 Not much at all. Look at this. 92 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,999 (BOTH CHUCKLE) How have you been? 93 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,479 Good. Come here and I'll show you what I've got down here. 94 00:06:42,020 --> 00:06:45,019 Father and daughter have worked together on and off for years. 95 00:06:45,060 --> 00:06:47,079 Come on, now. Let's go. 96 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,299 Well, I'm supposed to be the boss, but... (LAUGHS) 97 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:52,419 ..but that's not necessarily the case. 98 00:06:52,460 --> 00:06:56,279 (LAUGHS) He's bit of a hard task master. Like, he... 99 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,319 He doesn't take it easy on you. 100 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,279 Like, you will pull your weight or he will sack you. 101 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,319 Nothing like being sacked by your father. 102 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,119 Now, I'm the boss, so he doesn't like working for the boss. (LAUGHS) 103 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:16,339 What makes their partnership work is their shared obsession. 104 00:07:16,380 --> 00:07:19,139 When you find a really good stone, you know, 105 00:07:19,180 --> 00:07:22,379 you can't eat, you can't sleep, you get those butterflies. 106 00:07:22,420 --> 00:07:25,439 You just live it. You just live the whole thing. 107 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,079 It's one of those things. Once you catch the bug 108 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:32,219 and you've seen really good opal, it's something that you'd like to see over and over again. 109 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:34,379 It's in your blood, runs in your veins. 110 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:36,419 I had a stone once. 111 00:07:36,460 --> 00:07:40,219 I was that blown away by it I could hardly breathe. 112 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:43,319 It was just like peeling back a rainbow. 113 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,059 It's why you do it. It is why you get up every day. 114 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:49,259 What pushes you. It's what drives you. 115 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,479 But recently, times have been tough. 116 00:07:54,020 --> 00:07:56,199 Dear old Dad, he retired - well, semi-retired - 117 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,239 about five or six years ago. 118 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,439 And, of course, as life goes, everything sort of runs out. 119 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,079 Good old superannuation is in the ground out here. 120 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,199 So, he's had to come back. He's down to his last couple of stones. 121 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,319 Even though we've been here a long time, I haven't had much success drilling out here. 122 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,479 We're going for a million bucks. That'd be great. 123 00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:19,379 Ideally, a million dollars would be fantastic. 124 00:08:19,420 --> 00:08:22,199 Erm, a million dollars in a claim, 125 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,279 which would take you five years to dig out. 126 00:08:25,380 --> 00:08:29,139 Kelly has her own pressures, raising three children. 127 00:08:30,180 --> 00:08:34,379 Having to prioritise, really, on basic bills. 128 00:08:34,420 --> 00:08:38,279 End of the day, you get used to being very creative with beans. 129 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,059 Manny!Manny! 130 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:45,439 The kids have had to understand that this is what we do. 131 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,479 And it's been hard for them. 132 00:08:48,020 --> 00:08:52,079 A couple of years ago, we didn't go to holiday for three or four years. 133 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,179 But then, it just really depends on how much opal you find. 134 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,259 Hang on. Don't, don't. OK, now hold it... 135 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:02,359 While times are tough, Kelly's determined not to quit. 136 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,119 That's a (BLEEP). 137 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,219 It might knock me down, but I'm getting back up. 138 00:09:06,260 --> 00:09:07,439 I can't pull any harder. 139 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:13,339 No matter all the showers of shit you throw at me, I'm gonna stand up, go, "Let's go mining." That's it. 140 00:09:13,380 --> 00:09:16,459 You need to have the stamina for it, 141 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,059 otherwise you get your arse kicked. 142 00:09:19,100 --> 00:09:23,239 The hope here is that, together, they can change both their fortunes. 143 00:09:33,340 --> 00:09:38,239 To cover operational costs, they need at least $20,000 a month. 144 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:39,479 All right. 145 00:09:40,020 --> 00:09:44,459 First up, Kelly needs veteran Al's inside knowledge of the Grawin fields. 146 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,339 Yeah, those two there, that's no longer registered, so... 147 00:09:48,380 --> 00:09:51,439 So, this is the current, as of today, the current claims. 148 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,379 There's one spot there that I think there's a chance. 149 00:09:54,420 --> 00:09:57,279 There's a couple of areas that I drilled some years ago, 150 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,299 where I bored up some pretty reasonable trace. 151 00:10:00,340 --> 00:10:06,039 So, the area that I'm a bit interested in is here. 127A. 152 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:11,059 127A is a vast, two square kilometre stretch of land. 153 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:14,079 The plan is to explore the area first 154 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,299 then, if opal is found, peg a claim and mine it. 155 00:10:20,180 --> 00:10:21,479 The race is on. 156 00:10:22,020 --> 00:10:25,379 Kelly must secure the exploration rights at the mining office 157 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:27,419 before someone else does. 158 00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:31,099 The only thing which can go wrong is I go down there and the lease is gone. 159 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,079 (HORN HONKS)Oi! 160 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,359 Hugely busy. Back in the day, you'd have 161 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,419 a hundred people going for the same lease. 162 00:10:42,460 --> 00:10:44,459 Still there yesterday arvo so... 163 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,399 Oh, well, we'll know in about two minutes. 164 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,439 Fingers crossed. 165 00:10:59,380 --> 00:11:01,379 See you in a bit. 166 00:11:10,020 --> 00:11:12,019 Central Queensland, 167 00:11:12,060 --> 00:11:17,019 remote, desolate, hot as hell. 168 00:11:17,060 --> 00:11:21,159 Out here, the mercury can hit close to 50 degrees Celsius. 169 00:11:22,420 --> 00:11:27,099 This burnt landscape is the hunting ground of Col's Crew. 170 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,419 It's been a slow start to the season with Col receiving some bad news. 171 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:38,479 When you get diagnosis of cancer, it's a bit of a scare, 172 00:11:39,020 --> 00:11:42,259 a slap in the face. It certainly makes you wake up. 173 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:45,079 With the killer heat making this season short, 174 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,479 Col's Crew need to find opal fast. 175 00:11:50,180 --> 00:11:53,219 What they are looking for, is Queensland's boulder opal, 176 00:11:53,260 --> 00:11:56,459 identified by its brown ironstone backing, 177 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,179 and can be worth up to $4,000 a carat. 178 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,479 They say that opal's, erm, one of the only gems that has emotions 179 00:12:06,020 --> 00:12:09,399 because it's alive with colour. The colours of the soul. 180 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:22,479 Partners Greg and Aaron are scoping out 181 00:12:23,020 --> 00:12:26,319 an old, open-cast mine, known as Bald Knob. 182 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:31,019 And it's called Bald Knob. That's... Ever since we can remember 183 00:12:31,060 --> 00:12:35,479 that's just what it was called cos as you drive in you've got all them baldy knobs on the left. 184 00:12:37,140 --> 00:12:40,139 At nearly 100,000sqm, 185 00:12:40,180 --> 00:12:44,139 Bald Knob is a big claim for just one man to work. 186 00:12:44,180 --> 00:12:47,379 We've all got leases, and, erm, we will work them as a team. 187 00:12:47,420 --> 00:12:50,299 Bald Knob is Aaron's. 188 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:56,199 We set up here cos it was one of the dad's leases for the last 20 or 25 years. 189 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,099 We thought, "Well, let's put a camp here." 190 00:13:00,140 --> 00:13:04,059 Up on the hill, and it's good. We can walk to work now. 191 00:13:05,140 --> 00:13:09,099 For over 50 years, Aaron's dad had a camp here. 192 00:13:09,140 --> 00:13:11,279 "Danger granate." 193 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,319 Yeah, I think that's in German. 194 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,239 Where it says "poison," didn't he used to have water bottles there? Yeah, yep. 195 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,059 They're still there. 196 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,219 Aaron's dad has found good opal here 197 00:13:24,260 --> 00:13:27,199 and this season is especially important to Aaron. 198 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,119 My dad passed away late last year. 199 00:13:36,180 --> 00:13:38,359 Yeah, so... 200 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,399 All I'm trying to do is keep everything going, 201 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,439 the legacy, and... 202 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:48,159 see if I can stay there and keep it sort of in the family. 203 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,439 Oh, right. That'll work. 204 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:03,139 Their operation is basic but even that comes at a price. 205 00:14:03,180 --> 00:14:07,359 Even when you're free in the wilderness...freedom costs. 206 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,259 Bald Knob is already proving promising, 207 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:14,459 with the crew having found potch. 208 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,119 Looking like smoky glass, potch is opal with no colour. 209 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,419 It's of low value but where there is potch, 210 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:24,039 there is often opal. 211 00:14:25,340 --> 00:14:27,459 Just needs something to trigger it to colour. 212 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,239 Maybe summer it might get stronger. 213 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,299 We got a nice slip in the hill over there, 214 00:14:32,340 --> 00:14:34,999 so we just gotta keep crunching through it and... 215 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,179 Cos if it turned, that's where it's got a fair chance of making opal. 216 00:14:40,060 --> 00:14:44,019 But before they can start digging, their excavator needs repair. 217 00:14:46,460 --> 00:14:50,239 One of the teeth on the bucket has worn down and is too loose. 218 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,399 But in the remote outback, there are no machine shops for miles. 219 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,259 The nearest town is over 120km away. 220 00:14:59,300 --> 00:15:02,119 It's up to Aaron to fix it. 221 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,459 You gotta be a jack of all trades in this game. 222 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,379 We gotta get Greg on to his little baby. 223 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,199 In the soaring heat, it's just another delay. 224 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:31,179 At the mining registry office... 225 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:37,139 All good. 127A - got it. So it's ours for the next 28 days 226 00:15:37,180 --> 00:15:39,339 and then I can go straight out and go to work. 227 00:15:39,380 --> 00:15:43,439 Kelly has her lease, now the race is on 228 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:48,299 to drill as many exploration holes as possible within the 28 days. 229 00:15:51,220 --> 00:15:53,299 But the task ahead is huge. 230 00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:59,039 127A is two square kilometres of dense bushland 231 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,139 that's been explored many times. 232 00:16:02,180 --> 00:16:05,099 It's like Swiss cheese, it's got holes everywhere. 233 00:16:05,140 --> 00:16:08,219 But in the past, Al has found good opal here 234 00:16:08,260 --> 00:16:10,259 and hopes he will again. 235 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:18,259 Essential to exploration mining is the drill rig. 236 00:16:20,140 --> 00:16:22,439 Five steel drill bits called augers, 237 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:27,339 each 5 metres long and weighing 150 kilos, make up the drill. 238 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,139 Four augers sit in a cage known as a carousel. 239 00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:35,259 The carousel swings each auger into position 240 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:37,299 at the drill head. 241 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,159 They're then connected with a steel pin. 242 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,419 It's dangerous work. 243 00:16:46,460 --> 00:16:50,199 You gotta watch your hang-ins, you know, you drop an auger down 244 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:54,359 and you've got your hands in the wrong position, you can cut your hand off. 245 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,079 Coming through. 246 00:17:05,340 --> 00:17:09,239 First hole and there's no sign of opal in the tailings. 247 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,199 Nothing yet. It's shitty. 248 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,199 It's crap. 249 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,419 Absolute... Not a good start but anyway... 250 00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:28,119 Kelly and Al are keen to pull up and move on... 251 00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:32,119 ..but there's a problem. 252 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:36,119 I'll get it. (INDISTINCT SPEECH) Hold it. 253 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,419 No? Go?(BLEEP) 254 00:17:39,460 --> 00:17:43,459 Al's old drill rig is playing up. The carousel's jammed. 255 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,119 I can't pull any harder. No, it's not you. 256 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,399 If Kelly and Al can't fix it, their mining mission could be over 257 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,179 before it's even begun. 258 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,239 Underground mining is completely different to mining on the surface. 259 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,139 You have to lower yourself into a shaft 260 00:18:06,180 --> 00:18:08,439 that can be 30-40m deep. 261 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,439 You don't wanna fall down because that'll most likely kill you. 262 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,139 It's dangerous, dangerous work. 263 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,139 You're going into the abyss. 264 00:18:25,180 --> 00:18:27,459 It's pitch black down there. 265 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,019 In an abandoned mine, 266 00:18:31,060 --> 00:18:33,999 Dan and Justin are 30m underground. 267 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,039 All right. 268 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:45,039 Down here is a rabbit warren of heavily-mined tunnels and caverns 269 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,199 with many areas unstable. 270 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,479 But the boys hope they can find opal that's been missed. 271 00:18:51,020 --> 00:18:53,059 Sometimes the old miners left opal 272 00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:55,419 in the support pillars or in the walls. 273 00:18:55,460 --> 00:18:59,119 You gotta be very, very careful. A lot of people have been killed 274 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,019 taking these support pillars out and the whole wall 275 00:19:02,060 --> 00:19:04,059 or the whole roof collapsed on them. 276 00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:07,159 Well...All righty. What do you reckon we're gonna do? 277 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,459 The boys need to make the most of their time here. 278 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,039 They decide to split up. 279 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,099 If you worked over there, I went into that corridor there, 280 00:19:15,140 --> 00:19:17,999 we've got enough extension lead to make it happen 281 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,479 so we can both use the drills. All right, we better get cracking. 282 00:19:21,020 --> 00:19:24,139 Let's do it.All right, I'll go in there.See you soon. 283 00:19:24,180 --> 00:19:26,179 Good luck.Yeah, you too. 284 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,319 Dan's heading into the far reaches of the mine 285 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:36,319 in search of heavily dug out areas known as "ballrooms." 286 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:38,479 Areas that look interesting 287 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:43,039 might have some chips of opal in the heaps around it. 288 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,219 That is often a good indicator of what's been in the wall. 289 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:53,159 Meanwhile, Justin's concerned just how dangerous this mine really is. 290 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,339 We can go around and... (SOFT TAPPING) 291 00:19:57,340 --> 00:19:59,999 ..listen whether the roof is... 292 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:04,019 ..hollow sounding. Over here...very dangerous. 293 00:20:04,060 --> 00:20:08,399 Er, some miners have been killed in areas like this 294 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,099 where there might go in to have a look and... 295 00:20:12,140 --> 00:20:14,439 if you don't look what's up, you might have 296 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,299 a couple of ton of rocks come down on top of you. 297 00:20:17,340 --> 00:20:20,459 You might just tap it and the whole thing falls down. 298 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:22,999 You know, it's very dangerous. 299 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,059 You know, even like that... 300 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:28,319 That is how easy it is and there's more right through here. 301 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,359 I might even get out of this area because it's way too dangerous 302 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,039 to even work anywhere along here. So, too dangerous, eh? 303 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:43,159 What I've got here is a UV light or black light. 304 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:48,159 White little bits that show up in the dirt... 305 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:53,059 This is all potch. Potch being the base material 306 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:57,239 and potch becomes opal once there is colour in it or fire. 307 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,299 But... 308 00:20:59,340 --> 00:21:01,339 No colour. 309 00:21:03,180 --> 00:21:06,379 Justin's looking for opal in the tunnel's walls. 310 00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:09,219 You've gotta be careful. You can see here 311 00:21:09,260 --> 00:21:12,419 the big pillar that's holding up millions of tons above us. 312 00:21:12,460 --> 00:21:14,999 This one's starting to crack cos it's thin. 313 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,099 There's a lot of weight that's pushing down on this. 314 00:21:18,140 --> 00:21:20,359 So, you gotta be very careful. 315 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,079 I would not in a million years touch this pillar. 316 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,019 If it had a million dollars worth of opal in it, I'd leave it. 317 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:41,439 No, nothing in this one. 318 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,159 There's no bloody opal, today. 319 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,399 This trip hasn't been successful. 320 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,319 So, feels like the trip's closing in on us. 321 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:54,299 Er, we haven't found the opal that we're expecting 322 00:21:54,340 --> 00:21:57,359 and it's starting to wear on us, I think. 323 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,319 Determined to carry on, Justin keeps drilling. 324 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:06,059 But the more he drills, the more he weakens 325 00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:08,259 the wall holding up the roof. 326 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,299 That's good enough. 327 00:22:26,340 --> 00:22:29,119 Sorry. Beautiful. 328 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,999 At the Bald Knob claim, the excavator's fixed 329 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,399 and Col's Crew is ready to dig. 330 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:42,239 My job today will be breaking rocks on the face. 331 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,299 One of the boys will operate the excavator 332 00:22:44,340 --> 00:22:47,479 and the others will keep an eye 333 00:22:48,020 --> 00:22:50,159 on what's coming out and, erm... 334 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,199 so we don't throw it away into the dump. 335 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,279 We'll be breaking rocks. It's like working on the chain gang. 336 00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:00,059 Now, the rocks are in that yellowy band 337 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:04,259 and they just make rocks sometimes big ones, 338 00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:07,219 sometimes little ones, sometimes a big bunch of 'em. 339 00:23:07,260 --> 00:23:11,199 Oh, that's a boulder and you see all the potch at the bottom. 340 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:14,059 So, it's just saying it's live and they're still going. 341 00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:16,099 We've gotta chase 'em. 342 00:23:16,140 --> 00:23:19,199 Greg's uncovered a promising section of wall. 343 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,239 I'll just shave it now. 344 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,099 I'll just do it from there to there, I'll just shave it 345 00:23:24,140 --> 00:23:26,179 and we'll look for the next one. BOTH: Yeah. 346 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:30,139 To not break any opal, he needs to go gently. 347 00:23:30,180 --> 00:23:34,379 All eyes are on the tailings. Here's another one, Greg. 348 00:23:34,420 --> 00:23:37,339 Somewhere, these potchy rocks will turn into the best 349 00:23:37,380 --> 00:23:39,379 and beautifulest opal ever. 350 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,439 Just potch.Full of potch, yeah. 351 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,479 But there's no opal, just more potch. 352 00:23:51,020 --> 00:23:53,019 Where's that naughty colour? 353 00:23:53,060 --> 00:23:57,219 If something doesn't change soon, they won't even cover the fuel costs 354 00:23:57,260 --> 00:24:00,139 for the excavator. 355 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:05,379 Back in Coober Pedy... 356 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:10,119 (SOFT SNAPPING)Did you hear that? Sounds like breaking glass. 357 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,119 Justin's still drilling holes into walls 358 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,279 holding up the mine's ceiling. 359 00:24:18,460 --> 00:24:21,019 All right, have a quick little look. 360 00:24:24,340 --> 00:24:28,179 There's a nice little piece there, another piece here. 361 00:24:28,220 --> 00:24:30,319 And his luck is changing. 362 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:35,259 Look at that, only thin but really, really, really classy colour. 363 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:37,359 It's got greens and reds, it's good. 364 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,999 Deeper into the mine, Dan is in a highly dangerous section. 365 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,279 I'm just moving some of these... 366 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:01,399 ..So I don't get a too bad of a surprise. 367 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,299 That was good. 368 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,059 One mistake and he could trigger a cave-in. 369 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,259 Oh, oh, oh. 370 00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:26,019 Look at that. Look at it all reflect at the back there. 371 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:29,219 Look at that.They're really good. 372 00:25:29,260 --> 00:25:31,259 Right, more action. 373 00:25:35,060 --> 00:25:38,339 There we go. Oh, oh. Hang on. 374 00:25:38,380 --> 00:25:41,039 All right, this is my favourite thing to do. 375 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,459 When you don't know there's opal here. 376 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,359 You hear this little crunching sound when you break 377 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,079 that chunk of sandstone off, you know there's opal. Er... 378 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:54,319 Oh, come here. Oh, my God, (BLEEP). 379 00:25:54,360 --> 00:25:57,359 Oh, look at that, look at that, look at that, straight through. 380 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,999 Boom.Ooh, hoo!(BOTH LAUGH) 381 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,439 (DRILL WHIRRS) 382 00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:09,339 Nice.Is this good or what? 383 00:26:09,380 --> 00:26:12,039 Oh, and there's more. 384 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,259 Bloody beautiful!Oh! 385 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:17,019 But to get it all, Dan attacks the wall 386 00:26:17,060 --> 00:26:19,059 from the other side... 387 00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:21,139 Oh.Oh! 388 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:23,419 ..weakening the wall... Look at that...even more. 389 00:26:23,460 --> 00:26:26,099 (CALLS OUT) (LAUGHS) 390 00:26:26,140 --> 00:26:28,399 That makes you get goose bumps, these little pieces. 391 00:26:34,140 --> 00:26:36,139 (RUMBLING)Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. 392 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,019 At their exploration rig... 393 00:26:49,060 --> 00:26:52,099 Hang on. Don't, don't. 394 00:26:52,140 --> 00:26:55,099 ..Kelly and Al are struggling to release the drill. 395 00:26:55,140 --> 00:26:57,439 Without it, their operation is over. 396 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,079 This is sticking when it's sliding across. 397 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:04,039 Right, Al. Let's have a break, hang on. 398 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,039 Not only are you pushing yourself but you're pushing your gear. 399 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,459 It's stress on the machines. It's a stressful environment. 400 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,319 Watch out, we did it again. Yeah, that's all right. 401 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:15,359 Just pull it out a bit. 402 00:27:18,340 --> 00:27:21,319 I can't believe that.Oh, we're having a (BLEEP). 403 00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:25,179 We've gotta climb. You all right? Yeah, one, two, three... 404 00:27:27,460 --> 00:27:30,019 Get off.Done! 405 00:27:32,420 --> 00:27:37,119 So glamorous, look at this. Look at the moustache. 406 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,159 Moustache.Moustache. 407 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,199 Such a glamorous job. 408 00:27:44,220 --> 00:27:46,219 That will move her. 409 00:27:48,180 --> 00:27:50,179 It's been a rocky start 410 00:27:50,220 --> 00:27:55,259 and Kelly's had more than her fair share of frustrations hunting opal. 411 00:27:56,460 --> 00:27:59,079 Sometimes it gets really hard, yeah. 412 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:02,139 They went five-odd years or more without getting a thing. 413 00:28:02,180 --> 00:28:05,139 To help pay the bills and carry on mining, 414 00:28:05,180 --> 00:28:10,119 Kelly sometimes sells stones from her rainy-day supply. 415 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,239 You go through and you have a look, see if you can find, you know, 416 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,339 anything you think is obvious, as far as cutting. 417 00:28:16,380 --> 00:28:18,379 That might be interesting. 418 00:28:18,420 --> 00:28:22,019 Kelly's skilled at cutting and polishing opals. 419 00:28:22,060 --> 00:28:25,419 This can more than double the value of any stone they find. 420 00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:32,239 Grinding away the sand will reveal a fortune or a dud. 421 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:36,079 You get to the wheel and your heart's in your throat. 422 00:28:38,140 --> 00:28:40,139 Ah, it's all stuffed with sand. 423 00:28:40,180 --> 00:28:42,219 Sand. 424 00:28:45,100 --> 00:28:47,099 Ah. 425 00:28:47,140 --> 00:28:52,119 To get rid of the sand, Kelly has to grind off more valuable opal. 426 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,279 But some stones can't be saved. 427 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,319 I hate sand. 428 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,419 No, I didn't ruin it, it ruined itself. 429 00:28:59,460 --> 00:29:02,039 You know, you always try and keep as much... 430 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,079 as much of the stone as you can. 431 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,239 But sometimes if you got sand in it you can't get rid of it. 432 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,999 At the next location, Al believes he can increase their chances 433 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,039 with an ancient technique. 434 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,339 This'll tell me where there's opal. 435 00:29:16,380 --> 00:29:19,079 The wire follows the fault. 436 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,359 He's convinced that dowsing can indicate 437 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,339 opal fault lines below ground. 438 00:29:24,380 --> 00:29:28,239 All right, show me. OK, well, we're not on an area yet. 439 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,459 But we'll go around...Are you doing that or that's doing it itself?It's doing it itself. 440 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,399 Oh, it is not. (LAUGHS) It's on auto-pilot. 441 00:29:37,060 --> 00:29:39,059 Yeah, there's one fault there. 442 00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:42,999 And I'm hoping I'll get another one which will come up through that hole. 443 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,039 Which will come up through here, so... 444 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,239 Right, I reckon we put a hole here? 445 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,279 Mark the spot. 446 00:29:56,460 --> 00:30:00,319 As well as the drill, key to their operation is water. 447 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,199 It's used to wash off the clay and mud, 448 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,119 revealing any opal colour. 449 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,159 It's also critical to the miner's safety. 450 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:15,359 In the summer, temperatures here can hit the high 40s. 451 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:21,219 For miner's, two litres of fluid can be lost every hour, 452 00:30:21,260 --> 00:30:24,259 making dehydration a constant hazard. 453 00:30:25,260 --> 00:30:28,479 The two water tanks carry about 1,200 litres of water. 454 00:30:29,020 --> 00:30:31,259 As well as washing the mud away, 455 00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:33,459 Kelly's been drinking from the water tank. 456 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,279 How much is in it? 457 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,039 It's now time to check on the levels. 458 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,359 That's disgusting. 459 00:30:46,180 --> 00:30:48,179 On the Bald Knob claim... 460 00:30:48,220 --> 00:30:51,199 Still got rock, Col, it's just a bit burned.Yeah. 461 00:30:53,100 --> 00:30:57,019 ..for Col's Crew, there's still no sign of opal. 462 00:31:01,340 --> 00:31:03,339 But suddenly... 463 00:31:03,380 --> 00:31:07,119 Here comes another rock! ..Aaron spotted a promising rock. 464 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:09,479 I'll come round with you. 465 00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:12,099 It's a bit off that other one. 466 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,359 Yeah, yeah. 467 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:20,119 There's one bit of earth. It's probably gone to pieces. 468 00:31:22,060 --> 00:31:24,459 It's more low-value potch. 469 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,259 Potch isn't as valuable as, erm, the beautiful colour of good opal, 470 00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:31,299 but it all adds up, 471 00:31:31,340 --> 00:31:35,259 and they can use it, so, erm, it does have a value. 472 00:31:35,300 --> 00:31:39,279 Potch may be of low value, but they have a truckload of it. 473 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:43,299 It's good quality, and Aaron knows a dealer who might buy it. 474 00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:45,379 We'll talk a bit of turkey to him later on. 475 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,319 And he wants it what? For how much? A thousand a drum. 476 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:52,239 Actually, he wants it for nothing, free. 477 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:54,279 He wants it for free?Yeah. 478 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:58,099 No...(LAUGHS) I'm joking.This is a couple hundred dollars and... 479 00:31:58,140 --> 00:32:00,399 I'll shut this machine down. 480 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,179 The hope is their potch will have a market 481 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:06,079 for a variety of different types of carving. 482 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:08,299 With the contrast of the opal ironstone, 483 00:32:08,340 --> 00:32:11,379 they can do intaglios and cameos. 484 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,479 Too big a words for me today, Col. 485 00:32:15,020 --> 00:32:18,279 That's like inverted carving or external carving.Yeah, I've seen it. 486 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,099 Yeah.Yeah. Caveos - like cavities in. 487 00:32:22,140 --> 00:32:24,179 Cameo.Cappuccino. 488 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:29,159 Yeah.Good caving material.I'm all right to go tomorrow morning. 489 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,359 Tomorrow they'll find out just how much money they've made. 490 00:32:44,180 --> 00:32:46,399 Just grab the strainer, put your hands inside 491 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:50,019 and lift it like that. That's it. 492 00:32:50,060 --> 00:32:54,019 In the water tank, Kelly's discovered more than she bargained for. 493 00:32:54,060 --> 00:32:59,439 I've been drinking that.Won't kill you.Clean your frigging water out. 494 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:02,039 That's disgusting. 495 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,279 I'm gonna have to siphon this out, clean it out. 496 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:08,319 Cos I'll be drinking it and I'm going to end up dying from the shit in here. 497 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:12,019 It could kill a brown dog. Manny. 498 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,159 The father and daughter team 499 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,139 have so far drawn a blank on their test holes. 500 00:33:19,340 --> 00:33:22,339 We'll just check what your little fault meter says. 501 00:33:22,380 --> 00:33:25,239 My little fault meter will say that this is it. 502 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:29,079 Frustrated with Al's old-school dowsing technique, 503 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,999 Kelly turns to more modern methods. 504 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,199 So that's the airstrip?Yep. 505 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:37,479 There's a big fault running... 506 00:33:38,020 --> 00:33:40,299 There you go, straight up the guts of it.Yeah. 507 00:33:40,340 --> 00:33:42,419 She's looking for faults in the earth. 508 00:33:42,460 --> 00:33:46,139 This is where the water from an ancient inland sea collected 509 00:33:46,180 --> 00:33:48,239 and where the opal can form. 510 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,039 Kelly's choice is a lower-lying area, 511 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,339 where water may have gathered underground. 512 00:33:57,340 --> 00:34:00,059 A good sign Kelly is on the right track, 513 00:34:00,100 --> 00:34:02,299 would be if they can find black potch. 514 00:34:02,340 --> 00:34:06,159 But to get it, they need to go through hard silcrete rock, 515 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,119 also known as the steel band. 516 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:15,239 Everything tends to break. You can snap teeth and even augers and... 517 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,059 Yeah, getting through the hard stuff's always a problem. 518 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:22,199 Bad for machinery and bad for miner. 519 00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:24,239 Some holes can take... You know, 520 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,079 if you strike a really, really hard hole on a hard lease, 521 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:32,179 it can take three or four hours just to get through. 522 00:34:32,220 --> 00:34:34,219 Then, usually, it's not too bad 523 00:34:34,260 --> 00:34:38,359 but you have one of them a day, it stuffs you, mentally. 524 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,199 Here. 525 00:34:48,240 --> 00:34:51,259 Finally, their luck is changing. 526 00:34:51,300 --> 00:34:53,339 That's nice. Nice potch. 527 00:34:53,380 --> 00:34:56,119 Yeah, it's not a bad trace, good black potch. 528 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:59,219 No colour.There's no colour 529 00:34:59,260 --> 00:35:02,339 It's a good sign that the real thing could be nearby. 530 00:35:02,380 --> 00:35:04,379 Very good hole, lot of nice... 531 00:35:04,420 --> 00:35:08,059 Lot of material.Nice hole, beautiful conditions. 532 00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:10,479 If this handful of potch was black opal, 533 00:35:11,020 --> 00:35:14,999 it could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. 534 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,299 This is coming up from around about 40ft. 535 00:35:17,340 --> 00:35:21,019 But good black potch if we can find some colour nearby. 536 00:35:21,060 --> 00:35:23,059 Yeah, today one was good. 537 00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:25,279 For your first day on a lease and to bring up 538 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,159 that amount of trace, it's pretty... Yeah, absolutely. 539 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,999 It's got all the good attributes about it. 540 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:36,079 The only thing missing is colour and if we can find some colour, yee-haw. 541 00:35:37,180 --> 00:35:40,179 Their target is $20,000. 542 00:35:40,220 --> 00:35:42,219 They aren't off the starting blocks yet, 543 00:35:42,260 --> 00:35:45,159 but what they have found is promising. 544 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:47,439 Good start. Today's been a good start. 545 00:35:49,060 --> 00:35:51,359 And tomorrow, they hope they may just strike 546 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,139 the legendary black opal. 547 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:02,399 We've got a bit of opal out here, Philip, if you're interested. 548 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:06,099 Aaron's setting up a deal with his opal buyer. 549 00:36:06,140 --> 00:36:08,139 It's good carving stuff. 550 00:36:08,180 --> 00:36:11,079 PHILIP: All right, I'll get to you. 551 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:14,119 That's appreciated. Thank you very much, Philip. 552 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:19,119 They have boulder potch. It has no colour, it's in the rough, 553 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:23,439 but they have a hefty 500kg of it. 554 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,119 The hardest part of the opal game 555 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,079 is selling the stuff for the right amount of money. 556 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,119 Cos lots of people wanna make money on you. 557 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:33,439 At the end of the day, everyone has gotta make money. 558 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:37,139 If you don't make money on it, why would you even bother? 559 00:36:37,180 --> 00:36:38,459 Here's the man. 560 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,399 With the potch coming from Aaron's claim, he'll be doing the deal. 561 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:44,439 I'm gonna have to ask about two grand 562 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,139 cos he's gonna hit me down, but I've gotta try and get $1,500. 563 00:36:48,180 --> 00:36:50,239 Morning, Philip. 564 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,159 Hi. How goes it?Yeah, all right, mate. 565 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:57,179 Opal dealer Philip Stone is an old hand at this game. 566 00:36:57,220 --> 00:37:00,159 Aaron is not. What do you reckon of the camp? 567 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:03,119 Very, very salubrious, isn't it? Yeah. 568 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:07,319 That's the sort of stuff we're on to, Phil, it's potchy but nice rock. 569 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:10,379 Yeah, very nice. Good for carving. Yep.Hm. 570 00:37:10,420 --> 00:37:14,079 I reckon it'd be just what you're looking for, Phil. 571 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:17,999 You wanna have a look at this?Yeah, I wouldn't mind, thanks, Aaron. 572 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,039 Good for carving.Mm-hm. 573 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:29,079 There's some bigger bits up here. (INDISTINCT REPLY) 574 00:37:30,020 --> 00:37:32,019 Mind that side. 575 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:40,459 What do you reckon, that'll be two drums there? 576 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:43,019 Two full drums, yeah. 577 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:49,299 But he knows every trick in the book, Philip. 578 00:37:50,300 --> 00:37:52,299 Look at that nice one.Yeah. 579 00:37:52,340 --> 00:37:55,239 And what are you asking for this, Aaron? 580 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,339 There's gotta be two drums there. $2,500? 581 00:38:00,180 --> 00:38:05,079 Well, it's mainly just stuff I'd use for carving. 582 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:08,179 You know, I'm not looking for stones. 583 00:38:08,220 --> 00:38:11,999 I think you're a bit rich, Aaron, on what you're wanting. 584 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:14,439 There's only the half...the few of them that, er, 585 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:19,159 would be ideal for doing good carvings. 586 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:22,099 What's your best price? 587 00:38:22,140 --> 00:38:24,419 $2,000?No, your best price. 588 00:38:24,460 --> 00:38:26,459 I didn't ask what you're asking for it, 589 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:29,419 I asked, "What was your best price?" 590 00:38:29,460 --> 00:38:33,199 Yeah, $2,000.He wants to screw you down a bit more. 591 00:38:33,240 --> 00:38:37,439 (CHUCKLES)OK.I've had to drive out into this wilderness... 592 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:40,339 Did you bring that carton?Yes. 593 00:38:40,380 --> 00:38:43,039 Gee, you drive a hard bargain, Philip. 594 00:38:45,260 --> 00:38:48,199 The whole lot?The whole lot, yeah, yeah, yeah.Cash? 595 00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:50,399 Yeah, of course.(CHUCKLES) 596 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:57,039 $1,800?I was thinking more, maybe, $1,500. 597 00:39:00,260 --> 00:39:03,419 Cash is king.Well, $1,600 is $800... 598 00:39:03,460 --> 00:39:05,459 $1,600. 599 00:39:08,300 --> 00:39:12,219 All right.No worries. It's a done deal. 600 00:39:12,260 --> 00:39:14,339 With $1,600, 601 00:39:14,380 --> 00:39:18,199 the crew's tally is now up to $3,100. 602 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:22,459 They're well on their way to their season target of $20,000. 603 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:27,059 Well, that's good, it's done and dusted, eh? He's happy, I'm happy. 604 00:39:27,100 --> 00:39:29,239 It's a good little payday 605 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:32,239 for a few drums of fuel or some tucker money, 606 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:34,439 to keep on looking to look for that fortune. 607 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:39,099 Time to celebrate as only Col's Crew know how. 608 00:39:39,140 --> 00:39:41,139 (YELLS) 609 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:03,139 Here we go. All right. 610 00:40:03,180 --> 00:40:05,199 Oh, it's got big. 611 00:40:05,240 --> 00:40:08,159 Look at this.Beautiful colour. 612 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:10,479 30m underground... Bloody hell. 613 00:40:11,020 --> 00:40:14,059 ..Dan and Justin have struck it lucky.Have a look. 614 00:40:14,100 --> 00:40:17,219 Yeah, that's amazing. Bloody hell. 615 00:40:17,260 --> 00:40:20,459 That is so exciting. (SIGHS) 616 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,039 But the supporting walls of the tunnel 617 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:25,099 are now seriously undermined. 618 00:40:25,140 --> 00:40:28,359 (CLATTERING)Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! (BLEEP) 619 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:32,139 Well, I'll be getting outta here, Yeah. Let's do it.Let's go. 620 00:40:32,180 --> 00:40:34,179 That's too dangerous. 621 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:45,039 Out here, there's no hospital, 622 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:48,019 there's no ambulance. Too far away. 623 00:40:48,060 --> 00:40:52,219 So you've gotta have your wits about you, otherwise you're finished. 624 00:40:53,220 --> 00:40:55,339 Took the risk of going down the shaft 625 00:40:55,380 --> 00:40:59,339 and being underground all day, and our plan worked out. 626 00:40:59,380 --> 00:41:03,099 When we finally found this opal, you know, we're elated. 627 00:41:03,140 --> 00:41:06,139 Huge relief, you know, and a good call that we went underground. 628 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:10,179 Desperate for cash, The Rookies are keen to sell. 629 00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:15,259 They take their haul to opal dealer Nick Troisi. 630 00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:18,999 Hey, guys, how are we?G'day, Nick. How are you going?Good. 631 00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:23,219 Dan. Nice to meet you.Nice to meet you. Come in. You got some opal. Beautiful. Come in. 632 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:29,139 They have transparent crystal opal, which is highly prized. 633 00:41:29,180 --> 00:41:32,999 But its colour is blue-green, the most common. 634 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:37,219 And it's in the rough. It has a weight of 25oz. 635 00:41:37,260 --> 00:41:40,459 The goal for today was to pull out $4,000, 636 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:42,999 erm, to cover costs. 637 00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:45,199 If we don't, then we're in strife. 638 00:41:45,240 --> 00:41:47,239 So, what are we looking for? 639 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:50,219 About $5,000.Five, yeah. 640 00:41:50,260 --> 00:41:53,359 Right, mm. 641 00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:56,099 I think five grand is a bit too much. 642 00:41:57,180 --> 00:41:59,439 $3,000.(GROANS) 643 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:02,299 I mean, we think there's some good stuff in here. 644 00:42:02,340 --> 00:42:04,339 There is, there is, yeah. 645 00:42:04,380 --> 00:42:07,059 This is, er... Beautiful stones in there. 646 00:42:08,260 --> 00:42:10,259 What's your best price? 647 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,399 We're hoping for $5,000, but, er... 648 00:42:19,140 --> 00:42:22,259 I tell you, I can use it. 649 00:42:24,420 --> 00:42:27,159 I can see four. I can see four 650 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:29,439 and I don't think I can do much better than four. 651 00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:31,479 $4,500? 652 00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:35,159 I think $4,000 is more than fair. 653 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:38,279 Hm, should we...should we have a chat about it quickly and... 654 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:41,439 Nah, $4,000 is good. $4,000 sounds good to me. 655 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:44,179 If you're happy with $4,000, we'll take the $4,000. 656 00:42:44,220 --> 00:42:47,239 That will cover our costs and the job.Yep. 657 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:49,279 Done. 658 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,459 $4,000, boys. Thank you very much. 659 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,219 Fabulous.Come back and see me with some more opal.Absolutely. 660 00:42:59,380 --> 00:43:02,219 Here you are.Beautiful. 661 00:43:02,260 --> 00:43:07,079 The Rookies have an ambitious season target of $100,000, 662 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:09,419 but with $4,000, they're on the board. 663 00:43:09,460 --> 00:43:13,139 $4,000. That's not too bad for the effort we put in underground. 664 00:43:13,180 --> 00:43:16,059 You know, that's pretty good. I'm pretty stoked with that. 665 00:43:16,100 --> 00:43:19,019 It's fantastic because that puts money in the bank, 666 00:43:19,060 --> 00:43:22,119 that means we can spend more money on our new claim. 667 00:43:23,220 --> 00:43:25,219 There is millions to be found 668 00:43:25,260 --> 00:43:27,259 and we'll bloody well find it. 669 00:43:27,300 --> 00:43:30,099 subtitles by Deluxe E-mail sky.subtitles@sky.uk 670 00:43:31,305 --> 00:44:31,570 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm