"Outback Opal Hunters" The Legend Returns

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,299 (GROANS) 2 00:00:01,340 --> 00:00:03,299 NARRATOR: It's make or break... 3 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:07,379 as The Rookies race against time... 4 00:00:07,420 --> 00:00:09,219 My wife is nine months pregnant. 5 00:00:09,260 --> 00:00:11,439 ..go big... Oh! Oh, my God. 6 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,319 ..or go broke. (BLEEP) thing! 7 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:18,159 The Cooke brothers 8 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,439 battle setbacks... Oh, that's gonna be (BLEEP) painful. 9 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,119 ..pushing themselves harder and deeper. 10 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:28,359 (EXHALES DEEPLY) 11 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,279 And Col's Crew... (GRUNTS) 12 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,219 ..tackle trouble... Yeah, so it's just gotta go back. 13 00:00:35,260 --> 00:00:37,479 ..overground... (BLEEP) 14 00:00:38,020 --> 00:00:40,199 ..and underground. 15 00:00:41,260 --> 00:00:43,259 That's too dangerous. 16 00:00:47,020 --> 00:00:48,999 # Money 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:54,079 # And fancy clothes 18 00:00:58,100 --> 00:00:59,479 # Telling you what to do 19 00:01:00,020 --> 00:01:01,999 # The right way to live 20 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,299 # And where to go # 21 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:15,299 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 22 00:01:15,340 --> 00:01:19,359 Harsh landscapes, unforgiving conditions, 23 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,359 making this a tough place for a treasure hunt. 24 00:01:25,220 --> 00:01:27,339 33 kilometres north of town, 25 00:01:27,380 --> 00:01:30,319 rookie miners Dan Becker and Justin Lang 26 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,199 are searching for an unclaimed patch of land 27 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,159 at the legendary opal field called Shell Patch. 28 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,199 Jesus. Look at this. 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,299 They're hoping they'll find the fortune reputed to hide beneath it. 30 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,419 The treasures they are hunting are ancient shells 31 00:01:47,460 --> 00:01:50,219 fossilized in pure opal. 32 00:01:50,260 --> 00:01:52,359 If it's good opal, 33 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,279 a $100,000 worth of opal will fit into my hands. 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,159 Shell Patch is where the big opal is so, hopefully, we find something. 35 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,099 I've got a good, good feeling about it. I feel lucky still there. 36 00:02:04,140 --> 00:02:08,159 The rookies have a big target of $100,000. 37 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:12,019 But with no big finds, they're barely covering their costs. 38 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,019 In just five days' time, they must fly home 39 00:02:16,060 --> 00:02:18,159 to jobs and family in Adelaide. 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,199 My wife is nine months pregnant, 41 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,099 and I need to be back for the birth of my baby daughter. 42 00:02:23,140 --> 00:02:25,999 If they don't find opal in the next few days, 43 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,059 they're going home empty-handed. 44 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:30,099 We're doin' it.Gonna have a go? 45 00:02:30,140 --> 00:02:32,159 We're gonna have a go.Why not? 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,239 Friend and mentor, opal mining legend, 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,359 John Dunstan, has come to help. 48 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,399 I love it. Thank you, John. 49 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,059 There could be a chance. You just don't know it.Exactly. 50 00:02:42,100 --> 00:02:44,259 Up there somewhere.OK. 51 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:48,079 I get more excited... (CHUCKLES) ..about them finding opal 52 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,019 than I am about myself finding anything. 53 00:02:51,060 --> 00:02:54,079 (CHUCKLES) I said both of them could be my sons. 54 00:02:57,140 --> 00:02:59,359 Amongst the claims at Shell Patch, 55 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,999 John spotted an area for the boys that's been overlooked 56 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,419 and is the right size for a claim. 57 00:03:05,460 --> 00:03:09,299 "What I can tell, boys," he goes, "this area hasn't been picked." 58 00:03:09,340 --> 00:03:14,019 In a stroke of good luck, it can fit the largest claim possible - 59 00:03:14,060 --> 00:03:17,079 a monster-sized 200 by 100 metres. 60 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,019 XL. Extra-large. 61 00:03:21,060 --> 00:03:23,059 Bloody beautiful. 62 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,319 Double the normal claim size 63 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,359 could double their chances of striking opal. 64 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,159 With only five days to mine, it's time to get hunting. 65 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,019 Is that all right?Yeah. Perfect. 66 00:03:40,060 --> 00:03:44,019 Once again, Dan and Justin are hiring an investigator drill 67 00:03:44,060 --> 00:03:48,359 to bore 20-metres down, in search of traces of opal treasure. 68 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,159 (ENGINE WHIRRING) 69 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,359 To lighten the load, Justin's dad, Rob, has flown in to help. 70 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,279 He can be digging all day, finds a little bit of opal 71 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,299 and, oh, his eyes light up and he's into it. 72 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,039 Hour after hour. Nothing! 73 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,179 Day after day. 74 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:16,099 Sifting rocks, eyes straining for the slightest hint of opal. 75 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,399 It's so hit-and-miss. Needle in the haystack. 76 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,439 One, two, three, four, five... 77 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,999 Spent maybe four or five grand, erm, on digging holes. 78 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:31,279 We are burning cash. 79 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,139 Is it all worth it? That's the sad truth. 80 00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:40,199 After three days, there's only enough money for one more hole. 81 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,479 Hole no.63 has to do it. 82 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:50,074 83 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:54,119 The last sieve. 84 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,239 (FRUSTRATED GROAN) 85 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,019 This is (BLEEP). 86 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:28,179 Opalton, central Queensland. 87 00:05:31,420 --> 00:05:34,179 Population - 64. 88 00:05:35,260 --> 00:05:38,379 A vast, sprawling landscape. 89 00:05:38,420 --> 00:05:43,459 Home of Queensland matrix opal, its colour veined through the rocks, 90 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:49,039 and boulder opal worth up to $4,000 a carat. 91 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,359 Mining out here is tough. 92 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,459 Temperatures can reach over 45 degrees. 93 00:05:57,020 --> 00:06:01,339 There's no town, just a scattered collection of makeshift camps - 94 00:06:02,380 --> 00:06:05,179 many long abandoned. 95 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,019 This is mining claim Bald Knob... 96 00:06:12,060 --> 00:06:15,239 Col should be there soon, Greg. He should be, eh?Yeah. 97 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:17,279 ..home base for Col Duff 98 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,039 and partners, Greg Geran and Aaron Grotjahn. 99 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,139 Hang onto it, Col. 100 00:06:22,180 --> 00:06:24,319 (BOTH LAUGH) 101 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,359 Hang onto it, brother. 102 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,239 Another lovely day on the Knob. 103 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:33,239 This is living off the grid. 104 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:36,179 Once you got a good shower, a good toilet, a kitchen, 105 00:06:36,220 --> 00:06:39,239 somewhere to sleep out of the rain and the sun, 106 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:42,339 well then, it's just like being in the big smoke. 107 00:06:43,460 --> 00:06:47,319 But this outback camp's in desperate need of an extension. 108 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,339 120km away in Winton... 109 00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:55,379 Is that working properly? 110 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,399 ..Col and his crew are picking up 111 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,419 a 50-year-old mobile home known as a donga, 112 00:07:01,460 --> 00:07:06,079 and is prepping it for the long trek back to their mining camp. 113 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,319 It was a good score. I got it for 600 bucks. 114 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,359 Keeps you out of the sun and the rain. 115 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:15,239 Two-man accommodation. Got a kitchen, couple of beds, wardrobe. 116 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,019 So, yeah, it's our luxury Taj Mahal. 117 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,279 How far? Straight back? Yeah, straight back. 118 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,199 But getting this antique across the rough outback in one piece 119 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,079 is going to be a challenge. 120 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,479 Yeah, we got 120Ks and it's about 100Ks of dirt. 121 00:07:32,020 --> 00:07:35,479 I think it'll be a slow trip but... what do you do? 122 00:07:36,020 --> 00:07:38,259 Hopefully, we won't have any flat. Hope so. 123 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:41,039 That's the only thing I'm really worried about. 124 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,119 Hey, big wheels, have you got me? 125 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,139 Yeah, Col.How's it travelling? 126 00:07:51,180 --> 00:07:53,239 A bit wobbly, but nothing wrong. 127 00:07:56,220 --> 00:07:59,379 We're on the Opalton Road now, so it's dirt all the way. 128 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:06,079 Up ahead, 100km of bone-jarring, corrugated dust track. 129 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,399 50 kilometres from camp... 130 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,219 Bad luck, eh? ..Col's worst fears are realised. 131 00:08:19,260 --> 00:08:21,279 We were trucking along nicely. 132 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,019 So, we need a jack under there. 133 00:08:24,060 --> 00:08:26,179 All right, there we go. 134 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:30,159 Has it gone in? Yeah, close. 135 00:08:32,380 --> 00:08:36,159 It's not gonna do it, eh? I don't think so.No. 136 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,099 The spare tyre's rim doesn't fit the axle. 137 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:42,379 So close, but it's not gonna do it. Not gonna do it.Bastard. 138 00:08:42,420 --> 00:08:46,279 Without a spare for the spare, they're stranded. 139 00:09:00,220 --> 00:09:02,279 In Lightning Ridge... 140 00:09:03,340 --> 00:09:06,299 ..brothers Mick and Pete Cooke are hot on the trail 141 00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:09,359 of one of the most prized gemstones on the planet, 142 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,439 black opal, worth up to $35,000 a carat. 143 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,379 Black opal is absolutely beautiful. 144 00:09:18,420 --> 00:09:21,439 It's better than a diamond. Diamond's just a hard bit of glass. 145 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:25,019 An opal's got plenty of colour, it's got character to it. 146 00:09:27,260 --> 00:09:31,079 When it comes to mining opal, these boys do it big. 147 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,119 The machinery is very important. 148 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,359 Your chances of finding opal increase as you mechanize. 149 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,399 But all this hardware results in some very big bills. 150 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,319 Er, I guess you'd spend 1,000 bucks a week...Yeah. 151 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,359 if you were fair dinkum mining. 152 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,279 Test drilling at their claim on Aloa Field 153 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,359 has so far yielded nothing, and it's hitting Mick hard. 154 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,219 Well, he's probably in a bit more debt than me 155 00:09:58,260 --> 00:10:00,279 so he's still got to go away to work. 156 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,039 So he'd like to find opal a bit more so he doesn't have to go away. 157 00:10:05,420 --> 00:10:07,419 To make ends meet, Mick's taken 158 00:10:07,460 --> 00:10:10,019 a paid drilling job out of town, 159 00:10:11,460 --> 00:10:15,119 putting a halt to the brothers' own drilling operation. 160 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,319 While Mick parks up Megatron, Pete has the last 161 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,459 of their tailings to wash through and search for opal. 162 00:10:27,220 --> 00:10:29,399 To do this, he needs the agitator - 163 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,239 a big washing-machine of rocks, 164 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,039 vital to the brothers' opal-hunting operation. 165 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,319 From the truck, a conveyor belt 166 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:44,199 takes tons of mud-covered rocks into the mouth of the agi. 167 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,359 where they are washed with thousands of litres of water. 168 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,119 That's how we like it. It's nice and steady. 169 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,479 (MACHINE STOPS) 170 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,179 So, that'll be the end of that. 171 00:11:01,340 --> 00:11:04,099 The operation grinds to a halt. 172 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,439 Time for Pete to break the bad news to Mick. 173 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,139 Hello.Brother.Yes, brother. 174 00:11:13,180 --> 00:11:15,179 We got a slight hiccup with the agi. 175 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,999 Er, bloody conveyor belt's broken. 176 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,039 The joys of opal mining. 177 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,179 50 kilometres out of Opalton... Bastard. 178 00:11:29,220 --> 00:11:31,479 ..Col's crew's having a bad day. 179 00:11:32,020 --> 00:11:35,139 It's not gonna do it, eh? I don't think so.No. 180 00:11:35,180 --> 00:11:38,179 The spare tyre's rim doesn't fit the axle. 181 00:11:38,220 --> 00:11:42,379 It's a real pain in the arse. So we'll see if we can do a tyre change here on the road. 182 00:11:42,420 --> 00:11:46,379 They need to swap rims, putting the spare tyre on the old rim. 183 00:11:47,420 --> 00:11:51,259 But in 30-degree heat, this ain't going to be easy. 184 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:53,419 This is where we need an outback trucker. 185 00:11:58,260 --> 00:12:00,259 (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) 186 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:02,239 Beautiful. 187 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,259 Fixing the flat... Ah, just like a bought one. 188 00:12:05,300 --> 00:12:09,399 ..has taken its toll on their mining schedule and on Col. 189 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,259 I'm physically exhausted, my hands are hurting. 190 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:14,299 I'm dirty, I need a shower. 191 00:12:16,220 --> 00:12:18,239 I just want to get home. 192 00:12:19,460 --> 00:12:21,439 On the road again. 193 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:31,239 Back at camp, finally the crew can relax. 194 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,319 But in the remote outback, they have to make their own creature comforts. 195 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,119 People around here, they call it, like, a donkey shower. 196 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,119 I better get my boots off. It's tub time. 197 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,139 Here, mate. Have a bit of laundry... 198 00:12:51,260 --> 00:12:55,019 You see it coming? Don't be a (BLEEP) idiot. 199 00:12:55,060 --> 00:12:57,479 Piss off, Aaron. It's all (BLEEP) fun and games 200 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:00,079 till someone loses an eye, eh? 201 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,119 Don't stir him up. He's having a shower. 202 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,239 Hey, Greg. Could you please get my thongs? 203 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,099 On my bed, mate.On your bed? 204 00:13:12,140 --> 00:13:14,159 Over here, Greg. That bed. 205 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:18,099 Thanks, mate. 206 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,399 Here are your thongs, Aaron. 207 00:13:30,460 --> 00:13:32,299 Thanks, mate. 208 00:13:32,340 --> 00:13:34,319 (BLEEP) What the hell? 209 00:13:35,220 --> 00:13:37,059 (BLEEP) 210 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:39,279 (LAUGHS) (BLEEP) 211 00:13:40,340 --> 00:13:42,459 (BOTH LAUGH) 212 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,139 Soon, the fun will be over. 213 00:13:45,180 --> 00:13:50,039 Already a day behind, tomorrow they'll have to hit the mine hard. 214 00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:09,319 I miss you, darling. 215 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,099 Dan and Justin's hopes of finding 216 00:14:12,140 --> 00:14:15,299 more than just scraps of opal are fading fast. 217 00:14:15,340 --> 00:14:20,179 All right, darling. Love you. Bye. Bye. 218 00:14:20,220 --> 00:14:23,099 Dan's feeling the pressure even more. 219 00:14:23,140 --> 00:14:26,359 Any day now, his baby is due to arrive. 220 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,239 If you don't find anything, if you burn through cash, 221 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,179 if you're away from home, it just sucks, you know. 222 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:35,279 We've got a couple of days left here now. 223 00:14:42,020 --> 00:14:44,259 Next morning, the boys and dad, Rob, 224 00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:46,479 are back at their Shell Patch claim. 225 00:14:47,020 --> 00:14:51,059 One last ditch effort to find clues for opal. 226 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,159 Oh. Oh, oh! Oh, my God. 227 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,399 Look at this. Colour. Green colour. You wouldn't believe it. There. 228 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,439 (BOTH LAUGH) 229 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,379 Oi, check it out. It's thick. 230 00:15:14,420 --> 00:15:17,459 Beautiful top green. I see a big bit here. 231 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,099 Whoa, whoa, whoa. We dropped a bit. There it is.There. 232 00:15:22,140 --> 00:15:25,059 Look...at that green. 233 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:28,039 How good's that? (LAUGHS) 234 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,239 A minute's work... (LAUGHS) ..and there she is. 235 00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:41,099 A couple of swings of the pick produces some beautiful colour. 236 00:15:41,140 --> 00:15:45,079 Small, which is what we call trace, but that's exactly what we're after. 237 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,479 Where you find trace you find the big stuff, too. 238 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,319 After several hours... 239 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,039 Nothing. Unbelievable. 240 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:11,199 Isn't it amazing how we just chip-chip at the wall, found those beautiful stones 241 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,199 and then now we spend hours and we can't find shit. 242 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,299 (EXHALES HEAVILY) 243 00:16:16,340 --> 00:16:18,339 And now... It's stopped. 244 00:16:18,380 --> 00:16:21,179 ..more problems... Piece of shit machine.Whoa. 245 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:23,219 (ELECTRICAL CRACKLING)Bloody hell. 246 00:16:23,260 --> 00:16:26,339 Ooh.Whoa, whoa, whoa! 247 00:16:26,380 --> 00:16:29,439 Stay away.Whoa!That's it. 248 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:34,119 It might only... (BLEEP) You might be able to rewire it.That's it. Bloody hell. 249 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,279 For Dan, it's the last straw. 250 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,319 (BLEEP) 251 00:16:40,020 --> 00:16:42,179 (LAUGHS) 252 00:16:42,220 --> 00:16:44,359 You (BLEEP) thing! 253 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,399 (GRUNTS) 254 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,039 (LAUGHS) That felt so good. (CHUCKLES) 255 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,439 That felt so good. Finished. (LAUGHS) 256 00:16:56,220 --> 00:16:59,359 The Rookies' search for opal is at a dead end. 257 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,159 Johnny. 258 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,339 The boys are keen to get some advice 259 00:17:08,380 --> 00:17:11,239 from experienced miner and friend, John Dunstan. 260 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:16,199 John, how's things?You know, we found a couple of really nice stones, 261 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,279 only very small, but beautiful colour...Right. 262 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,479 ..right in there.What, in the cut? Yeah. 263 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,159 All right, well, I'll tell you something. 264 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,419 How about if I bring the excavator out 265 00:17:28,460 --> 00:17:31,179 come down into the cut, clean all that down for you, 266 00:17:31,220 --> 00:17:34,039 scrape it all down so you can have a look? 267 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,359 How is that?Really? Really.Oh, wow. 268 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,399 What are bloody legend you are. 269 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:43,059 Thanks, John.Always like to help you guys out.Thank you. 270 00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:46,299 For The Rookies, it's a last chance. 271 00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:50,019 This could be good. This could be excellent. 272 00:17:50,060 --> 00:17:53,159 John's excavator will move a mountain of earth. 273 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:57,099 That could potentially save us, erm, days and days of work. 274 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,099 I'm just going to get my hard hat! 275 00:18:08,140 --> 00:18:11,099 Col's crew badly need an opal pay day. 276 00:18:11,140 --> 00:18:14,359 A precious day has been lost with the busted tyre. 277 00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:20,219 They head back to the Batcave where they've had some luck. 278 00:18:20,260 --> 00:18:23,039 Getting back underground. I've always loved that. 279 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,179 It always puts a tingle up my spine. 280 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,479 (DRILL WHIRRS) 281 00:18:31,020 --> 00:18:34,219 Col thinks he knows where the best boulder opal lies. 282 00:18:34,260 --> 00:18:37,119 We got a big rock. You can't see it in the darkness there, 283 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,159 but we wanna get behind it. 284 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,219 It's the end of the patch that's the loaded end. 285 00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:45,259 Somewhere in there, it will turn on and we'll get a nice rock 286 00:18:45,300 --> 00:18:49,079 with good colour that's boulder and that's really worth something. 287 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:51,059 (DRILL WHIRRS) 288 00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:53,179 While Col hunts for opal... 289 00:18:54,260 --> 00:18:57,099 ..Aaron and Greg remove the mined rocks. 290 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:00,359 (GRUNTS) 291 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,219 But there are problems. 292 00:19:12,420 --> 00:19:15,019 Nah. It's Col's bucket hoist, 293 00:19:15,060 --> 00:19:18,259 and it is behaving erratically, refusing to lift. 294 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:22,179 I think we're gonna have to fix this, Greg.Well, we'll have to. 295 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,159 Gonna end up (BLEEP).Well... 296 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,199 Last time I had to pull it here but it's too dangerous.It's too dangerous. 297 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,319 Its trigger cable's come loose. 298 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:37,159 They need it working. If they can't get the dirt out, 299 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,439 they'll quickly run out of space and be forced to stop mining. 300 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,279 Why not bring it down here? Do whatever you want. 301 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,479 Aaron decides to fix it himself. 302 00:19:47,020 --> 00:19:50,299 Undo all that, Greg. Pull that all the way through. 303 00:19:50,340 --> 00:19:53,259 Pull it. 304 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:55,399 Pull it. Pull it. 305 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,459 And things immediately start to go wrong. 306 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,039 Early teething problems. 307 00:20:13,060 --> 00:20:17,059 At the Cooke brothers' $16,000 opal agitator... 308 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:19,279 We had a bit of a belt malfunction. 309 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,319 (MACHINE STOPS) 310 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:24,279 The busted conveyor belt needs a quick fix. 311 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,419 Poor old belt's had enough. Gave up the ghost. 312 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,419 Now we're just gonna shorten up all this adjustment here. 313 00:20:36,460 --> 00:20:40,439 It's just part of mining. There's always something you gotta fix. 314 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,999 First, Pete needs to loosen this bolt. 315 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,119 Well, there's a design flaw. 316 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,159 Whoever built this, 317 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,099 has put this...here... 318 00:20:54,140 --> 00:20:56,999 with no clearance to adjust it back. 319 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,999 Once more, he is stopped in his tracks. 320 00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:07,099 Pete needs his brother's help. 321 00:21:09,340 --> 00:21:13,299 Mick arrives, but his paid drilling job won't wait. 322 00:21:13,340 --> 00:21:16,019 The head of the bolt hits that cross member. 323 00:21:17,380 --> 00:21:19,999 The clock is ticking. 324 00:21:26,460 --> 00:21:28,459 Try that. 325 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,999 (WHIRRS) 326 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:39,119 Using a massive stapler, steel staples clip the belt together. 327 00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:44,079 But halfway through, the stapler is jammed. 328 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:45,419 (BLEEP) 329 00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:48,219 It's stuck to the belt like a vice. 330 00:21:48,260 --> 00:21:50,319 Oh, that's gonna be (BLEEP) painful. 331 00:21:52,140 --> 00:21:54,139 (FRUSTRATED SIGH) 332 00:21:56,460 --> 00:21:58,459 Beautiful. 333 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,159 What's it hitting?Doesn't seem to be hitting anything here. 334 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:09,119 That arm's not still down, is it? Yeah.It's off the rod. 335 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,159 It was going well. 336 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,399 I think I've overpressed 'em. 337 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,219 That should give us enough to rejoin it and get back into it. 338 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,359 Three hours later, the boys have a fix. 339 00:22:44,060 --> 00:22:47,079 (GRUNTS)That'll do it. 340 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:49,219 Now to test it. 341 00:22:49,260 --> 00:22:51,279 (MOTOR REVS) 342 00:22:59,380 --> 00:23:02,359 Yeah, mission successful. It's all good, back and running. 343 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,239 There's noting we can't fix. 344 00:23:10,460 --> 00:23:13,179 Time for Mick to get to his paying job. 345 00:23:15,180 --> 00:23:18,259 The brothers' mining operation is back in business. 346 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:20,419 Processing the dirt from the drill, yeah. 347 00:23:20,460 --> 00:23:23,339 Finish off that load. Yeah, it's looking good. 348 00:23:23,380 --> 00:23:25,379 Working a treat. 349 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:42,439 Push back there. I'll see if I can get 'em out. 350 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,359 At the Batcave... 351 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,399 Pull that back out there, Greg.OK. 352 00:23:47,220 --> 00:23:49,379 ..Aaron and Greg are still trying to fix 353 00:23:49,420 --> 00:23:52,019 Col's temperamental bucket hoist. 354 00:23:52,060 --> 00:23:55,199 Without the hoist, they can't move any dirt. 355 00:24:02,460 --> 00:24:05,339 Nah.She's still (BLEEP), eh? 356 00:24:08,020 --> 00:24:10,019 With the dirt piling up, 357 00:24:10,060 --> 00:24:12,079 Col wants to know what the hold-up is. 358 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,079 A dismantled hoist isn't what he wanted to see. 359 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:22,039 Yeah, that's what (BLEEP). Yeah, so it's just gotta go back. 360 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,379 And then pull it. That's how I had it and it was working, 361 00:24:24,420 --> 00:24:27,119 but what happened is you weren't paying attention. 362 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,999 Yeah, this grabbed it.Yeah, and it's got loose. 363 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:32,379 You gotta keep hammering it in every couple of goes.Yeah. 364 00:24:32,420 --> 00:24:37,099 And it's just cos I wasn't here doing it and yous have got no idea. 365 00:24:37,140 --> 00:24:40,199 You're learning the hard way. At least we're learning. 366 00:24:41,180 --> 00:24:44,079 The basic hoist needs a basic fix. 367 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:47,099 Yeah, you made it too tight. 368 00:24:47,140 --> 00:24:50,079 Right, if you pull it back in, it's far enough away.Yeah. 369 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:53,379 Righto, it's that simple, eh? Or so they think. 370 00:24:53,420 --> 00:24:55,419 I'll hold that, you tie a knot, mate. 371 00:24:58,180 --> 00:25:00,179 Yeah, that's no good either. 372 00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:02,999 Why is it coming back? No, I just pulled too much. 373 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,339 It just pulled straight out. Now, there.Yeah. 374 00:25:05,380 --> 00:25:07,039 Yeah, down there. 375 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,119 Yeah, I think you need to give it a bit more slack.Righto. 376 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,159 I said don't do it tight. 377 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,299 Yeah, just leave a little bit of slack. Tie it off... 378 00:25:16,340 --> 00:25:19,039 Yeah...but just don't do it tight, mate. 379 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:23,019 That's good. Yeah, we're gonna get it right, mate. 380 00:25:23,060 --> 00:25:26,219 We'll see. If it's good like that we'll just leave it like that. 381 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,199 You beauty. 382 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:36,319 Hours have been wasted. 383 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,239 It's now a race against time 384 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,379 to find the opal before the day's out. 385 00:25:48,140 --> 00:25:52,199 At Shell Patch, The Rookies' failed opal mining mission 386 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,419 has received a last-minute lifeline 387 00:25:54,460 --> 00:25:57,099 from their mentor, John Dunstan. 388 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,299 A tremendous, tremendous help. 389 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:05,459 He's been sort of looking after us a little bit, and taken us under his wing. 390 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,399 I think he genuinely wants us to succeed because 391 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,039 he known that if we find something, 392 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,479 we'll never get rid of this opal fever, you know. 393 00:26:14,020 --> 00:26:16,219 And that what Coober Pedy as a town needs. 394 00:26:16,260 --> 00:26:19,299 John's 290-horsepower excavator 395 00:26:19,340 --> 00:26:24,239 can move more earth in one minute than Dan and Justin can in a day. 396 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:29,079 Skims it all nice and clean. And you can see every little detail. 397 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:31,139 You're a rocking legend, John. 398 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:33,359 It's a good day to find some opal. 399 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,999 Hiring a machine like this for just 24 hours 400 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,259 would cost them over $4,000. 401 00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:43,179 You know, we've spent all week looking for opal and this is the best chance 402 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:45,219 that we've had so far. 403 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,339 Look at that.Yeah, it won't be long 404 00:26:48,380 --> 00:26:50,439 and you can go down there and start checking. 405 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,319 The Rookies are due to fly back home in just 15 hours. 406 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:57,319 They have to make this moment count. 407 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:00,199 The ground looks good. We've got a bit of ironstone. 408 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,439 We've got a bit of alunite. And that's usually the areas where you find the opal. 409 00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:10,139 Thrown a lifeline. We've gotta take that opportunity and work hard. 410 00:27:10,180 --> 00:27:13,259 We've come up here, risked our lives to the underground. 411 00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:15,379 We've spent plenty of money. 412 00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:20,039 Found nothing substantial, so I want it. 413 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,119 We need the opal. 414 00:27:23,340 --> 00:27:26,079 In the scorching heat, the boys have been 415 00:27:26,120 --> 00:27:28,119 digging by hand for hours. 416 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:37,439 Here it is, here it is. We have opal. 417 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:42,159 (LAUGHS) Yes!Have we found some? 418 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,339 Ho-ho! We've got opal.No way! 419 00:27:45,380 --> 00:27:48,039 We've got green opal. Look at the trace in here. 420 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,399 Look at the trace. Look at that, all up here. 421 00:27:52,460 --> 00:27:55,379 Yeah!(BOTH LAUGH) 422 00:27:56,140 --> 00:27:59,439 Let me try and lift you up, my friend. (GRUNTS) 423 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,479 Oh, my God! 424 00:28:02,020 --> 00:28:04,019 Oh, my God! 425 00:28:04,060 --> 00:28:07,279 Oh, my God!Oh... (LAUGHS) 426 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,999 OK, now we're cooking with gas. 427 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,039 Oh, my gosh! It's thick enough material 428 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,299 and it's got colour in it. 429 00:28:14,340 --> 00:28:17,299 So, it's possible you might have a pocket here. 430 00:28:17,340 --> 00:28:19,339 Oh, my gosh! Look at this. Ooh. 431 00:28:19,380 --> 00:28:21,379 (LAUGHS EXCITEDLY) 432 00:28:21,420 --> 00:28:24,019 This is finally pay dirt. 433 00:28:24,060 --> 00:28:28,019 These guys are hooked now. That's it.Whoo-hoo!(CHUCKLES) 434 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,199 In Lightning Ridge... 435 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,479 ..with brother Mick gone... 436 00:28:37,020 --> 00:28:39,339 How's it going, mate? ..Pete's called in old mates 437 00:28:39,380 --> 00:28:41,379 Rowie and Bruce to lend a hand. 438 00:28:41,420 --> 00:28:44,179 The more eyes looking at it, the better. 439 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:48,479 I go through it, I could miss... I could miss half of it, who knows? 440 00:28:49,020 --> 00:28:51,399 I don't care who finds it. Don't care who finds it, 441 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,179 as long as someone finds it. It doesn't matter. 442 00:28:57,380 --> 00:29:00,199 Oh, how about this then? Chunk of opal there. 443 00:29:01,220 --> 00:29:04,359 This single stone is worth about $300. 444 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:08,359 It's not the big money, but it's the sign Pete's been looking for. 445 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:12,459 That's the biggest chunk of opal we've found out of the drill hole, for sure. 446 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,179 This hole here would be the one we'd put down on and go to work on. 447 00:29:16,220 --> 00:29:19,459 We'll fill it out. It's showing the most colour, that's hole. 448 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,399 Then it'd be worth sending a photo to Mick. 449 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,419 Show him what he's missing out on. (CHUCKLES) 450 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,199 Where it came from, there should be more. 451 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:38,279 Time to go underground to look for any more opal. 452 00:29:41,380 --> 00:29:44,159 This hole here, we've drilled up a bit of colour. 453 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,439 It's an 80ft-deep hole. I'm gonna go down there on some ladders 454 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,179 and see if I can find where that opal came from, 455 00:29:50,220 --> 00:29:52,219 whereabouts the level is. 456 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,219 The mine shaft is lined with loose earth. 457 00:29:58,060 --> 00:30:02,359 A large steel collar is needed to prevent the top of the hole from caving in. 458 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,339 We put this in to make it safe to go down. 459 00:30:10,220 --> 00:30:13,459 It is dangerous, no matter what you do, around the mining hole. 460 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,219 You could fall. You gotta have someone here all the time. 461 00:30:17,260 --> 00:30:21,139 Next, 15 metres of ladder suspended from above. 462 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:28,139 A single vertical mineshaft has little ventilation. 463 00:30:28,180 --> 00:30:30,359 Possibility of bad air can accumulate down there. 464 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,239 You'd start getting dizzy and perhaps pass out. 465 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,359 Pumping air into hole is vital. 466 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,399 Blast a bit of fresh air down there. 467 00:30:44,220 --> 00:30:46,259 Pete's ready to take the plunge. 468 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:49,239 It's a 25-metre sheer drop. 469 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:55,019 I'll be just happy to find a couple of nobbies there. That'd be nice. 470 00:30:55,060 --> 00:30:57,479 And if he does... We'll probably start mining 471 00:30:58,020 --> 00:31:00,179 on this hole. Pull in truckloads of dirt 472 00:31:00,220 --> 00:31:02,219 and, hopefully, truckloads of opal. 473 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,099 You don't need much opal to make a million dollars. 474 00:31:06,140 --> 00:31:08,359 But the price Pete may have to pay 475 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,399 could be the ultimate. 476 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,319 At the Batcave... 477 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:20,059 There's a little bat. A little cave berry. 478 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:23,379 (CHIRRUPS SOFTLY) 479 00:31:23,420 --> 00:31:26,299 It's a tiny vesper bat. 480 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:29,079 Hello. Like prawns. 481 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:31,299 Yeah, they are like prawns.(LAUGHS) Yum. 482 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:35,279 I'm gonna go and put him in another drive, Col. 483 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:39,279 Put him with his mates. Get him away from all this commotion.That's it. 484 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:44,099 With the day nearly over, Col's crew pick up the pace. 485 00:31:52,260 --> 00:31:55,119 That's it. All right.Oh! 486 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:57,159 Let's have a look through it. 487 00:32:00,460 --> 00:32:02,459 Yeah, a bit dry. 488 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:07,179 Take that top corner up. 489 00:32:18,260 --> 00:32:21,019 Ah! 490 00:32:21,060 --> 00:32:23,059 Ah, look, that's nice, mate. 491 00:32:23,100 --> 00:32:25,239 Yeah, that's green and purple. 492 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:27,439 Yeah.Oh, yah. 493 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,199 It's matrix opal. And it keeps coming. 494 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:33,259 BOTH: Oh! 495 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:36,239 Here we go.Here we go.It's only matrix but 496 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,219 it'll probably look a bit once we clean it up. 497 00:32:41,020 --> 00:32:43,019 Another one, Col. 498 00:32:43,060 --> 00:32:45,279 Oh, I've got him.All right. 499 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,479 All right.That's nice. Green. 500 00:32:48,020 --> 00:32:50,019 Let's have a look. 501 00:32:52,340 --> 00:32:54,219 Can you see that?Yeah, nice. 502 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,159 Well, we're getting some colour. 503 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:03,179 Next target is a 50-kilo stone that could be hiding a jackpot. 504 00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:10,079 But to get it, the crew need to dig away the supporting rock. 505 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:19,199 Here we go! 506 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:21,419 Ah! 507 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,359 On the hunt for the illusive black opal, 508 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:41,999 Pete Cooke's on a dangerous mission... 509 00:33:44,020 --> 00:33:47,419 ..heading down a 25-metre mineshaft, alone. 510 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:55,099 The hole is freshly sunk, narrow, and with very little ventilation. 511 00:33:56,420 --> 00:33:58,419 Is it steady?Steady. 512 00:34:01,060 --> 00:34:03,219 Right, I gotcha. 513 00:34:03,260 --> 00:34:05,139 Whoo. 514 00:34:05,180 --> 00:34:08,279 Pete's trying to reach a platform 15 metres down. 515 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:09,459 OK. 516 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:11,419 If his calculations are right, 517 00:34:11,460 --> 00:34:15,059 it should be the same level as the opal-bearing dirt. 518 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:22,079 (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) 519 00:34:23,020 --> 00:34:24,359 (EXHALES HEAVILY) 520 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,359 Yeah, yeah, it's OK. 521 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:28,359 Oh, he's found it. 522 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,259 Safely on the platform. 523 00:34:30,300 --> 00:34:32,139 30ft from the bottom. 524 00:34:32,180 --> 00:34:36,179 So, that makes me about 50ft here. Yeah. 525 00:34:36,220 --> 00:34:38,219 I'm working on the level, 526 00:34:38,260 --> 00:34:41,479 at the top of it, where the opal should be. 527 00:34:42,020 --> 00:34:44,219 So I'm just gauging the walls, just trying to... 528 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:48,999 ..see if I can see anything. 529 00:34:51,340 --> 00:34:54,219 I can't see any gems hanging out of the wall. 530 00:34:56,060 --> 00:34:57,279 (EXHALES HEAVILY) 531 00:34:57,320 --> 00:34:59,239 It's suffocatingly hot. 532 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,279 A bit muggy down here. 533 00:35:04,260 --> 00:35:07,339 It's too hot down there to stay there all the time. 534 00:35:09,260 --> 00:35:12,199 Pete's listening for the sound of opal. 535 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:14,459 When you scrape it, it sounds like a bit of glass. 536 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,319 But there's just the scrape of bare rock. 537 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:23,239 The temperature's over 40 degrees. 538 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:25,419 Humidity's rising fast. 539 00:35:28,100 --> 00:35:30,159 Pete needs to get out. 540 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,119 I'm gonna come back up, Rowie. Righto. 541 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,199 (EXHALES HEAVILY) 542 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:54,279 Whoo! 543 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,999 Not really enough air. Being a blind hole, 544 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,019 there's just not much circulation. This certainly helped a bit. 545 00:36:01,060 --> 00:36:03,059 Didn't find any opal, unfortunately. 546 00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:05,399 Would've like to see some gems sitting in the wall. 547 00:36:08,060 --> 00:36:10,059 It's worthwhile opening up 548 00:36:10,100 --> 00:36:13,399 so we can get the gear down there and having another look. 549 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,299 With a target of $200,000, 550 00:36:16,340 --> 00:36:21,139 today's small stone makes their total just $550. 551 00:36:21,180 --> 00:36:23,199 The brothers are far from their goal. 552 00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:26,399 Really you've to got to just get in there and start moving the dirt. 553 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:28,439 Pull out truckloads at a time. 554 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:33,339 Wash it and process it. And then you'll know. 555 00:36:33,380 --> 00:36:36,359 But opal can deliver a fortune overnight. 556 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,019 Looking for buried treasure, that's what it is. 557 00:36:39,060 --> 00:36:42,439 It's like someone hunting for a shipwreck full of Spanish gold, you know. 558 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:44,479 Soon, Mick will return 559 00:36:45,020 --> 00:36:49,399 and the brothers can start excavating this promising test hole large scale. 560 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,239 Just a chance of making it big. 561 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:56,219 And tomorrow, you could be a millionaire...just like that. 562 00:37:00,180 --> 00:37:01,299 In the Batcave... 563 00:37:01,340 --> 00:37:03,139 Here we go! 564 00:37:04,300 --> 00:37:08,219 Ah!Are you all right there?Yeah, mate. She got me, eh? 565 00:37:08,260 --> 00:37:11,259 ..Aaron's copped a 50-kilogram rock to the shin. 566 00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:13,019 Just got me. 567 00:37:13,060 --> 00:37:16,139 What's worse, there's no opal. 568 00:37:16,180 --> 00:37:18,479 If that fell on your toes, you'd know about it. 569 00:37:19,020 --> 00:37:22,119 It's a reminder of the risks all miners face. 570 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,339 Be real careful, Rick. Could've busted your leg. 571 00:37:24,380 --> 00:37:27,199 For Aaron, it's not the only near miss. 572 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:30,159 For 20 years, he worked in a coal mine. 573 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:33,299 Yeah, I've had the wall's come three or four ton bit of coal. 574 00:37:33,340 --> 00:37:37,339 Just slipped on a 45. Just hit the machine. Jusshhh! 575 00:37:37,380 --> 00:37:41,219 If it would have hit me, I probably would have been like a pancake. 576 00:37:41,260 --> 00:37:45,339 With two buckets of matrix opal, it's a good day's work. 577 00:37:45,380 --> 00:37:48,279 Little patches of nice ones. 578 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:51,119 If only you knew where the best ones were. 579 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,379 But we'll just keep plugging away. That'll do. 580 00:37:53,420 --> 00:37:56,419 We're gonna have to make some more room and get this dirt out. 581 00:38:12,060 --> 00:38:14,059 (THUNDERCLAP) 582 00:38:16,020 --> 00:38:19,019 The tropical Queensland weather is starting to turn. 583 00:38:19,060 --> 00:38:21,099 It's good to see some rain.Yeah. 584 00:38:21,140 --> 00:38:23,439 It's been a few months. Time to get under cover 585 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,059 and assess their haul. 586 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:28,099 They're a bit muddy. 587 00:38:28,140 --> 00:38:30,399 Bit of colour through there. Good solid stuff, eh? 588 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,439 Bits of green hanging out. 589 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,399 Yeah, good colour there. 590 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:37,439 Green and purple. 591 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:40,019 Nice big chunks though, eh? BOTH: Yeah. 592 00:38:41,460 --> 00:38:44,219 They've found some stunning opal colour. 593 00:38:50,460 --> 00:38:54,179 Well, we've got about, I don't know, ten kilos of matrix. 594 00:38:54,220 --> 00:38:57,059 Two hundred a kilo, Col, for this stuff. 595 00:38:57,100 --> 00:38:59,419 Maybe a couple of hundred bucks a kilo.Yeah. 596 00:38:59,460 --> 00:39:02,319 Their haul is ironstone matrix. 597 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:06,219 Its colour is varied, with some sought-after reds. 598 00:39:06,260 --> 00:39:10,459 It's only in the rough. But they have a hefty ten kilograms. 599 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:15,039 At $200 a kilo, that makes their haul $2,000. 600 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:18,059 Some beautiful bits. Some of the harder stuff, that's lovely. 601 00:39:18,100 --> 00:39:21,299 Cut beautiful stones and nice big stones.You gotta ask two grand for it. 602 00:39:21,340 --> 00:39:24,239 With a season target of $20,000, 603 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:28,179 Col's crew are now at $5,100. 604 00:39:28,220 --> 00:39:32,299 Cheers, man. It's enough to keep their operation running for another few weeks. 605 00:39:32,340 --> 00:39:35,999 Cheers.Here's to opal.To the opal. Cheers, big ears. 606 00:39:36,380 --> 00:39:39,039 For these off-the-grid opal hunters, 607 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:41,079 it's all they need. 608 00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,439 Dan and Justin are working through the night. 609 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:01,159 In just ten hours, they must catch a plane back home. 610 00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:08,139 Oh, my God. Please tell me this is a solid shell. 611 00:40:08,180 --> 00:40:12,079 It looks like a bloody shell to me. Solid as a (BLEEP). 612 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:15,479 They've unearthed the very thing Shell Patch is famous for - 613 00:40:16,020 --> 00:40:18,099 opalised shell. 614 00:40:18,140 --> 00:40:21,219 Yeah, yeah, yeah!Really? 615 00:40:21,260 --> 00:40:23,079 Yes!(BOTH LAUGH) 616 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:26,039 This thing is solid, like a nugget. 617 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:28,079 These prized shell fossils, 618 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:31,419 could have been here for over 100 million years, 619 00:40:31,460 --> 00:40:35,459 when this ground was the ocean bed of an ancient inland sea. 620 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:41,079 Look at the colour. That is some of the best colour I have ever seen. 621 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:43,319 Cleaned and polished, the right specimen 622 00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:46,199 can be worth in the tens of thousands. 623 00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:49,299 Need to clean it up. But you can see, there's colour in here, 624 00:40:49,340 --> 00:40:51,339 and then it goes on the other side. 625 00:40:51,380 --> 00:40:55,399 This is what Shell Patch is known for. This is fantastic. 626 00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:59,339 This is destined to be the biggest find of their lives. 627 00:41:00,460 --> 00:41:03,099 But leaving tomorrow comes with a risk. 628 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:07,439 While they're away, thieves, known as night shifters, 629 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:10,479 could empty Justin and Dan's claim of opal. 630 00:41:11,020 --> 00:41:13,219 They need to extract all they can. 631 00:41:14,140 --> 00:41:17,379 Oh, my God!(BOTH LAUGH) 632 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:22,179 What a bloody fluke!Oh, my God! Look at all the shells. 633 00:41:22,220 --> 00:41:24,219 I know.Look at them all. 634 00:41:24,260 --> 00:41:27,359 The shells, I think are really top quality. 635 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:31,339 I'd love to run it past John and see what his view on it is. 636 00:41:38,140 --> 00:41:42,139 Next morning, the boys are exhausted, but on a high. 637 00:41:42,180 --> 00:41:47,019 They need the Godfather of Coober Pedy to do them one last favour. 638 00:41:47,060 --> 00:41:50,079 Have John cast his knowledgeable eye over it. 639 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:52,119 He's an opal valuer as well, 640 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:54,399 so he can give us a pretty good idea. 641 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:59,199 Some of these shells, you know, they're so rare 642 00:41:59,240 --> 00:42:02,179 because a lot of the opal fields that had the shells on 'em, 643 00:42:02,220 --> 00:42:04,219 they've been worked out years ago. 644 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:08,179 These guys have been doing all right. 645 00:42:08,220 --> 00:42:10,219 (CHUCKLES) 646 00:42:10,260 --> 00:42:13,359 Well, you got some nice stuff here. 647 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:15,399 Quick glance over it. 648 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:18,059 I think you got probably about ten grand here. 649 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:20,239 (BOTH LAUGH) 650 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:24,399 That's good.But I've got a bit of a surprise for yous, guys. 651 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:27,119 I just spotted this piece here. Yeah? 652 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,279 And I think this is a special bit. 653 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:32,259 Looks like it's clean right through it. 654 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:34,299 And it's heavy. 655 00:42:34,340 --> 00:42:38,399 And I've got a feeling retail could be worth 20, 30 grand, 656 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:41,339 cut and polished.(BOTH LAUGH) 657 00:42:41,380 --> 00:42:45,379 Yeah!(BOTH LAUGH)Whoo! 658 00:42:45,420 --> 00:42:49,379 Justin and Dan's efforts have finally paid off. 659 00:42:49,420 --> 00:42:51,419 Thanks, John.OK.We're out. 660 00:42:51,460 --> 00:42:55,039 Thanks, John. Catch you, mate. See you. 661 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:57,299 With a target 100,000, 662 00:42:57,340 --> 00:43:02,319 these $40,000 haul brings The Rookies' tally up to $44,000. 663 00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:04,399 We gotta go and we gotta go, quickly. 664 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:07,279 All right, see you.See you, John. Thank you. 665 00:43:11,380 --> 00:43:13,379 Shell Patch. 666 00:43:13,420 --> 00:43:15,999 See you next time. 667 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:19,179 We catch a plane. Go home, see the family. I'm excited. 668 00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:26,099 Can't wait to see my lovely wife and my kids. 669 00:43:26,140 --> 00:43:28,299 Two of them, and one on the way. 670 00:43:28,340 --> 00:43:31,239 subtitles by Deluxe E-mail sky.subtitles@sky.uk 671 00:43:32,305 --> 00:44:32,483 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org