"Outback Opal Hunters" Rookies Are the Bomb

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,079 . 2 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,339 NARRATOR: It's back to school for the Rookies... 3 00:00:03,380 --> 00:00:05,999 It's something that can blow your finger off. 4 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,999 ..in the dangerous art of bomb-making. 5 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,419 Once you put them all together, that's when things become real. 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,399 For the Opal Queen... KELLY TISHLER: Ah, where is it? 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,479 ..time's up. Right here. 8 00:00:22,020 --> 00:00:24,199 The 28-day lease is over. 9 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:27,359 We have to make it work because we don't know anything else. 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,039 And Col's Crew... 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,159 Looks like the circus is leaving town. 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,259 ..hit the road. 13 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:36,479 COL DUFF: They should just suck it in. 14 00:00:37,020 --> 00:00:40,279 Getting bogged and getting flogged. 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,074 16 00:01:13,180 --> 00:01:16,059 In Coober Pedy, South Australia... 17 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,399 Nothing. Ah... Jeez. 18 00:01:25,060 --> 00:01:29,419 ..the Rookies are facing their Great Wall of Shell Patch. 19 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,079 This trip, they've been away from their families for a week, 20 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,159 racking up $800 in costs. 21 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,059 JUSTIN LANG: It's nothing. It's gone to absolute shit. 22 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:49,319 Over $50,000 short of their $100,000 target, 23 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,399 Dan and Justin need to shift tonnes of earth, 24 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,079 but with only hand tools, they're fighting a losing battle. 25 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,259 I don't know how many more times we can do this 26 00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:01,039 just by hand. 27 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,319 It's just gonna burn us out. 28 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,019 You know, although these holes would lend themselves 29 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:09,179 to the use of explosives. 30 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:11,479 It could knock off the top, wouldn't it? 31 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:14,139 I wonder if you're allowed to use, erm, 32 00:02:14,180 --> 00:02:16,279 dynamite sticks here or whatever they use. 33 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,439 Yeah. Maybe we should go and find out. 34 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:24,219 Explosives are a tried and tested mining method. 35 00:02:24,260 --> 00:02:28,019 Dangerous, but relatively inexpensive. 36 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,139 Are we gonna regret this? Don't know. 37 00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:38,179 We're here to get our explosive licence.Oh, dear. 38 00:02:38,220 --> 00:02:41,179 Probably a good thing that there's a licence or two involved, 39 00:02:41,220 --> 00:02:43,479 erm, since it's volatile stuff. 40 00:02:44,020 --> 00:02:46,379 So, it could be one of the most dangerous ways to mine. 41 00:02:46,420 --> 00:02:49,179 Er, yes. It would be up there, yeah. 42 00:02:49,220 --> 00:02:52,299 But if you get some experience from another opal miner 43 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:56,119 who uses explosives, then they can show you the ropes. 44 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,259 Who might be able to help us out, do you think? 45 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:00,319 Probably George would be the best person. 46 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,099 He uses explosives on a regular basis. 47 00:03:03,140 --> 00:03:05,139 Erm, yeah, he'd be good. 48 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,319 The bomb kings of Coober Pedy 49 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,019 are Yanni and George Aslamatzis. 50 00:03:12,140 --> 00:03:15,379 For 40 years, George has been blowing things up. 51 00:03:17,020 --> 00:03:19,019 George! 52 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:21,439 How're you doing? Good to see you. 53 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,279 What're you looking for? What you came here for? I know enough of something. 54 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,399 We were thinking maybe explosives is the answer. 55 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,059 Do you get the police clearance, all that stuff? 56 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:35,279 He's a busy man, though. We'll see, you know. 57 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,359 We can only ask him and see what he says. 58 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:44,419 Yes. I do for you because I like you. I teach you. 59 00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:49,259 Time for Dan and Justin to learn how to cook up some bombs. 60 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:51,419 GEORGE: You must learn. The whole bag? 61 00:03:51,460 --> 00:03:53,459 The whole bag, please. 62 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,079 Slowly, slowly. Attaboy. Put it there. 63 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,439 JUSTIN: All right. So, at this stage it's non-volatile. 64 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,999 The individual components, they are safe, you know, individually. 65 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:08,419 Once you put them all together, that's when the things become real. 66 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:14,019 Chuck it in there like, inside, in the middle like that. 67 00:04:14,060 --> 00:04:16,439 In the middle?Yeah, yeah, chuck it in. Don't worry. 68 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,339 It's exciting and a little bit frightening at the same time. 69 00:04:24,380 --> 00:04:27,279 In every man there is a kid still, you know? 70 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,459 A boy who's adventurous and likes to blow shit up. 71 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,479 So, I'm pretty fortunate to be taught how to do that. 72 00:04:35,340 --> 00:04:39,339 Er, George and Yanni have kindly invited us to their mine site 73 00:04:39,380 --> 00:04:43,219 to show us how it's done safely and responsibly. 74 00:04:43,260 --> 00:04:47,119 All right. And on that side, with the team... 75 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,379 DAN: I already see my wife calling me tonight, 76 00:04:49,420 --> 00:04:52,099 "Yeah, honey, how was your day? What did you do?" 77 00:04:52,140 --> 00:04:55,239 "Well, today I learnt how to make bombs." 78 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:57,479 I don't know who else can say that, you know? 79 00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:05,139 Come in, boys. Come in to the Aslamatzis Mahal. 80 00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:08,099 The Rookies are about to get their first lesson 81 00:05:08,140 --> 00:05:10,239 in using explosives. 82 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:15,459 We done the nitro, you know? Yeah.Now we make the bombs. 83 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,039 OK. What you do, you go like that. 84 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,359 While George has been using explosives for 40 years... 85 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,279 And then you tuck it in there. 86 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,119 ..Dan and Justin don't want their first time to be their last. 87 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,419 Take it down. And then you come down like this. Put your body in roll. 88 00:05:33,460 --> 00:05:38,019 Very important. Don't go like that. Don't expose the detonator there. 89 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:41,099 Because if one rock fall down there, the thing will go. 90 00:05:41,140 --> 00:05:44,359 You hold it there. The detonator there, if you hit here, doesn't matter. 91 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,379 You're holding your breath the entire time. And you... 92 00:05:47,420 --> 00:05:50,459 Your stomach's feeling like, it's gonna, you know, sort of, spew. 93 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,439 Bend it in, that's it, boy. Yes, yes, yes. You're doing all right. Yes. That's it. 94 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,259 Bring it in. Beautiful. 95 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:01,279 He's the best teacher you could ask for, so we're quite lucky. 96 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:06,299 I had a friend. He's dead now. He said that... 97 00:06:06,340 --> 00:06:09,079 Yeah, yeah. Jimmy. He's dead. 98 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,999 The tension is about to ramp up. 99 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,059 Next stage, the explosives need to be assembled. 100 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:18,059 Fingers crossed. I've still got all of them 101 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:20,399 and we'll get to work and build some bombs. 102 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,379 Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. 103 00:06:41,460 --> 00:06:43,479 Kelly Tishler and her dad Al 104 00:06:44,020 --> 00:06:47,439 are at the end of their 28-day exploration lease. 105 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,359 It would've been good to have a couple of days, but we don't have it, so this is it. 106 00:06:54,100 --> 00:06:58,359 $5,000 short of the $20,000 they need to break even. 107 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:03,119 Kelly and Al have spent the last month 108 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,159 prospecting on 127-A. 109 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,279 A two-kilometre-square monster drilling area, 110 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,459 hunting black opal 111 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,079 worth up to $35,000 a carat. 112 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,119 Er... Where is it? 113 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,219 But finding opal here... Where is it? 114 00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:22,059 ..is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 115 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:24,099 You start second-guessing yourself. 116 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,299 If I want to pick a spot, then you don't like it, so... 117 00:07:29,340 --> 00:07:32,219 I don't want to go too far away. Well, go over there. 118 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:36,139 Straight ahead. Near that mob. Come on now. 119 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:39,059 Mark the spot for me, Kel. Last one, Dad, come on. 120 00:07:39,100 --> 00:07:41,099 Last hole. The lucky last. 121 00:07:41,140 --> 00:07:43,359 This will be it. This will be the one. 122 00:07:45,020 --> 00:07:46,419 Right here. 123 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,299 That's it. Opal lives here. 124 00:07:56,160 --> 00:08:00,059 It could be the jackpot in the last one, yeah. It could be. 125 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:04,039 It could be jack, that's what it is, just the potch, it'll be jack. 126 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,079 But we'll find out. 127 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,199 The last hole, and its worthless potch. 128 00:08:14,220 --> 00:08:19,179 Ain't good enough, though. It's gonna be no fairytale ending. 129 00:08:19,220 --> 00:08:24,319 It's the end of the lease and the end of the line for Kelly and Al. 130 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,479 That was pretty crappy. 131 00:08:27,020 --> 00:08:30,019 Money is pouring down the drain. 132 00:08:30,060 --> 00:08:32,459 You might as well just go there, and go down the hole. 133 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,079 Cos that's just what's happened. 134 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,199 Remote Central Queensland... 135 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,459 Hey! Who's a good mate? 136 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,159 ..Col Duff is back. 137 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,379 And now it's full steam ahead, we're ready to go to work. 138 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:08,459 Col's had yet another health scare. 139 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,179 Just come back out from Brisbane. Got a bit more cancer chopped out. 140 00:09:12,220 --> 00:09:15,179 I had to wait a couple of weeks and then get it inspected. 141 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:18,259 It was, sort of like, early in the year I got diagnosed, 142 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:23,039 and now we're in October, so I've just blown six months of my life coming and going 143 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,159 from Brisbane and back and recovering from operations. 144 00:09:32,220 --> 00:09:34,219 Sounds like Col. 145 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,019 MAN: Hey, here he is! Hey, Col, how are ya? 146 00:09:38,060 --> 00:09:40,179 How you doing, Col? Oh, I made it. 147 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:42,219 Such a long way. It's so hot. 148 00:09:42,260 --> 00:09:47,039 Finally, partners Greg and Aaron get the news they've been waiting for. 149 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,079 All clear. Yeah, yeah. 150 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,459 We had the inspection and they said all the abnormal cells, they've got 'em all. 151 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,379 They're all healthy now. So, all going well. 152 00:09:55,420 --> 00:09:57,419 I'm a lucky boy. 153 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,099 While Col's been away, finances have been hit hard. 154 00:10:04,140 --> 00:10:07,239 This whole cancer thing has been a drain 155 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,259 mentally, physically, as well as financially. 156 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:13,219 And I'm back down to a couple of hundred bucks in the bank 157 00:10:13,260 --> 00:10:15,259 and half a drum of rocks. 158 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:21,139 Nearly $15,000 short of their $20,000 target, 159 00:10:21,180 --> 00:10:23,419 Col's Crew need a new game plan. 160 00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:27,039 The team has been waiting for over a year 161 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,299 to get permission to dig in on a pocket of land 162 00:10:29,340 --> 00:10:32,219 where the Old Timers used to strike it rich. 163 00:10:32,260 --> 00:10:36,259 In the 1890s there was an opal rush here. 164 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:41,279 The exploration permits take time and money and lot of paperwork. 165 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,379 Col's about to find out if their permits have finally come through. 166 00:10:46,420 --> 00:10:48,479 Heard anything about the Old Timers? 167 00:10:51,420 --> 00:10:54,439 Yeah, she's granted. Ah, it's come through finally! 168 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,179 Yeah, we can go to work tomorrow. Cool! 169 00:10:57,220 --> 00:11:00,319 We can pack up and get ready. We're just seeing what you're doing. 170 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,359 Oh, no. That's great.You OK? 171 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,479 Yeah, no, no. I've got everything with me. 172 00:11:05,020 --> 00:11:08,039 We can hook up the trailer. Yeah, no, that's great. 173 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:11,099 It's all coming together at the right time. 174 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,239 I'm just so glad I'm home. 175 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,359 In Lightning Ridge, Kelly Tishler's hit rock-bottom. 176 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,239 All right. I'll put this in the sun. 177 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:43,119 It's been a frustrating 28 days finding nothing. 178 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,479 With the help of 16-year-old daughter, Xhana, 179 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:49,319 she's forced to tap into her reserve stash of rough stones. 180 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,159 It's a last resort to hit her $20,000 target for the month. 181 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,219 Just go through to see if we can sell anything. 182 00:11:58,260 --> 00:12:00,479 Kelly's racing the clock. 183 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:03,339 A buyer is flying into town later today. 184 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,079 Hopefully he'll like the opal 185 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,419 and give us a good price for it. 186 00:12:10,460 --> 00:12:14,179 She's banking on selling these stones to keep her mining operation 187 00:12:14,220 --> 00:12:16,219 and family going. 188 00:12:16,260 --> 00:12:18,259 But until they're cleaned up for sale, 189 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:21,139 she won't know if they'll fetch enough. 190 00:12:21,180 --> 00:12:24,159 We're running out of time, so we can't spend all day. 191 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:30,099 It's a piece of fossil. 192 00:12:30,140 --> 00:12:32,179 Looks pretty good. 193 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:36,399 Well, just hopefully... That's sand. See, that's sand. 194 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,439 Sand embedded in the opal 195 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,319 can render a stone practically worthless if it can't be removed. 196 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,119 Yeah, it's got a big lump of sand in it. 197 00:12:46,340 --> 00:12:49,379 Mother Nature can be a bit cruel sometimes. 198 00:12:49,420 --> 00:12:53,099 Not much. I don't think there's going to be much in it. 199 00:12:53,140 --> 00:12:55,459 Kelly needs every dollar she can get. 200 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,319 I would like to think that there's $5,000. 201 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:04,399 I might have to do some... creative selling, I think. 202 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:12,319 In her workshop, ten-year-old daughter Indie pitches in. 203 00:13:14,140 --> 00:13:16,359 That one first. Right. 204 00:13:18,140 --> 00:13:20,239 Oh! The colour's pretty. 205 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,399 Kelly will rub and polish the opals using diamond wheels 206 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,439 to grind away the sand and expose the colour. 207 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:33,199 Opal's not perfect, but people strive to have perfect opal. 208 00:13:39,100 --> 00:13:41,439 This process will get her a better price... 209 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,119 ..if the stones are good. 210 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,439 Look at that black mud there. 211 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,139 No, it's not a stone. An epic fail. 212 00:14:06,460 --> 00:14:09,359 Nothing. Yuck. 213 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,999 Urgh! 214 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,319 If all the stones are this bad 215 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,279 there'll be little chance of Kelly reaching her target. 216 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,119 Over a year in the making, it's a big day for Col's Crew. 217 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,279 I'm looking forward to this one. Waited patiently for quite a while. 218 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,039 Yeah, taking the big gear this time, eh? 219 00:14:50,220 --> 00:14:52,419 Finally Col, Aaron and Greg 220 00:14:52,460 --> 00:14:55,459 can head out to the Old Timers lease. 221 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:00,339 "Eellura" means opal in Aboriginal language. 222 00:15:01,420 --> 00:15:05,419 We're doing it. You beauty. That's our mobile home. 223 00:15:05,460 --> 00:15:07,459 Well, we're having an adventure today. 224 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,279 We've waited a year for some grant to come through. 225 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,219 Some old-timers that we know. Hey, hey, stop! Stop! 226 00:15:14,260 --> 00:15:16,339 Little more? Little bit more, inch! 227 00:15:16,380 --> 00:15:19,279 Who knows what we come across? We might be lucky. You know? 228 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,319 Find a fortune sitting there looking at us. 229 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,419 Got it! 230 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,279 Let's go to the land of milk and honey. 231 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,099 The circus is leaving town. 232 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:38,419 20 kilometres out of Opalton, 233 00:15:38,460 --> 00:15:41,319 the boys have secured an exploration permit 234 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,459 for 12 square kilometres of dirt on a vast cattle station. 235 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:51,039 They need to be ready for anything. 236 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,359 Basically you've got to be prepared for everything that you do when you're remote. 237 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,099 If you forget, it's a long way to the shop. 238 00:15:59,140 --> 00:16:01,139 We've got to be totally self-sufficient, 239 00:16:01,180 --> 00:16:03,359 and it's a desert, so we've to take water with us, 240 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,379 The water is the stuff of life, without it we're gonna perish. 241 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,159 Out here all roads lead to dirt. 242 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,459 Navigating this terrain won't be easy. 243 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:26,419 With a fully loaded truck, Aaron has the biggest challenge. 244 00:16:44,180 --> 00:16:46,179 The ground had a little bit of rain 245 00:16:46,220 --> 00:16:49,399 so it's a bit spongy and that backhoe weighs quite a few tonnes. 246 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,459 So if you just suck it in. 247 00:16:54,060 --> 00:16:57,019 It's not real powerful, it just sunk and I couldn't get a... 248 00:16:57,060 --> 00:16:59,139 Should have got a gear a bit earlier but... 249 00:16:59,180 --> 00:17:02,259 GREG: You should've kept your pace up.I tried to, Greg. 250 00:17:04,120 --> 00:17:08,139 Heavy chains are their best hope of getting this out. 251 00:17:08,180 --> 00:17:10,379 It'll be right.It will. 252 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:12,479 Should be right, mate. 253 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,039 Take the slack. Take the slack up. 254 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:22,159 All right, little bit more. Couple of foot. Slow down. 255 00:17:26,380 --> 00:17:28,459 Whoa! 256 00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:39,279 I don't know if you're supposed to strap it around the bull bar. 257 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,039 You go to the big bar behind it. 258 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,239 Nice.Sorry about that. 259 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,379 There goes the truck's bottom lip. 260 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,319 In Coober Pedy, 261 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:57,119 explosive expert George and his son Yanni 262 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:01,339 are teaching The Rookies the finer points of bomb-making. 263 00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:05,319 He's got a fantastic reputation in town. He's very safety-conscious. 264 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:10,259 And George is now gonna show us, erm, how to fill these up 265 00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:13,379 and turn them into proper bombs. 266 00:18:13,420 --> 00:18:17,439 One metre is your three minutes. You make it a little bit like that. 267 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,179 It's a nervous time for the Rookies. 268 00:18:20,220 --> 00:18:24,059 This one stick of explosives could kill them all. 269 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:28,259 People have died because they've either done something wrong, made a mistake. 270 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:30,479 I go there. I go like this. 271 00:18:31,020 --> 00:18:34,259 One. Two. You see there? 272 00:18:35,260 --> 00:18:39,419 If you did cut the end by accident, what would happen? Ah, it will go bang, your finger. 273 00:18:39,460 --> 00:18:43,339 Detonators. That worried me more than the actual bomb for some weird reason. 274 00:18:43,380 --> 00:18:45,399 Cos this can blow your fingers off 275 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,299 and I need my hands for work and to keep mining. 276 00:18:48,340 --> 00:18:51,359 See, I go like that. Look. I go like this. 277 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,159 I go like that. And I go like that. That's plenty done. 278 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,439 I hate the explosives already, but, 279 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,279 I tell you what, I'll do anything to find opal. 280 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,399 Now, I can do the other one. 281 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,079 When George was crimping the detonator, I just... Oh, my God. 282 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:09,459 I still get goose bumps just thinking about it, you know? 283 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,159 Just sitting there, going, "Yeah, then you just, 284 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,299 you know, crimp the detonators." 285 00:19:14,340 --> 00:19:16,439 Don't go too far, because then it'll explode. 286 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,099 And that's when you go, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, 287 00:19:19,140 --> 00:19:21,239 just...just be careful, please." 288 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,999 One, two, three. You see that? 289 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,279 You wanna swap seats? Nah. You stay there. 290 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:31,259 What happens if it goes off too quick? What happens if a rock falls on the detonator 291 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:33,439 and it explodes in your hand, finishes it? 292 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:38,239 OK. Like that. Look how tight it is. 293 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,019 How you feeling?Er... 294 00:19:43,060 --> 00:19:46,179 What're you thinking, Dan? You wanna do this? 295 00:19:46,220 --> 00:19:48,339 Looks like a bomb. Can I hold it? 296 00:19:48,380 --> 00:19:50,399 Once you finish that bomb, erm, 297 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,459 then you have a sense of relief, like if you accomplished it and nothing... 298 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,999 GEORGE: Too good, man. Professional. 299 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,419 That is your first bomb, Dan. That's all right. 300 00:19:59,460 --> 00:20:02,999 That's enough. That's OK. Beautiful. 301 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,219 100%, man. Bravo. 302 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,019 Things are about to get loud. 303 00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:14,059 It's time to test the bombs. 304 00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:28,339 I'll go like that, Col. 305 00:20:28,380 --> 00:20:32,439 Col's Crew's dirt road trip is stuck in the mud. 306 00:20:34,020 --> 00:20:38,039 When you go in slow on this sort of ground, if there's been a bit of rain, it's like a sponge. 307 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,079 It's just sunk down that little bit. 308 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:42,259 Move up, Greg. Move up. 309 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,319 Go! 310 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:51,479 Keep going. Keep going. Righto! 311 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,039 Pull her over now. Good on you, mate. 312 00:21:00,180 --> 00:21:02,439 That was all right. All good. 313 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,279 Finally, they can pull up and set up base camp. 314 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,219 We finally made it. Full steam ahead. 315 00:21:21,260 --> 00:21:23,279 We've got plenty of firewood here. 316 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,339 Tomorrow the boys will go in search of what the Old Timers may have missed 317 00:21:27,380 --> 00:21:30,079 over 100 years ago. 318 00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:34,339 They're looking for pipe opal, which can fetch $1,500 a carat, 319 00:21:34,380 --> 00:21:38,079 and boulder opal, worth up to $4,000 a carat. 320 00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:50,079 Next day, the boys hit the bikes... and the dirt. 321 00:21:56,380 --> 00:22:00,059 One, two, three, four, five. I think we should have a good look around. 322 00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:02,319 Yeah, mate. Oh, that's a potch. 323 00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:07,219 Straightaway, traces of the rainbow rock. 324 00:22:07,260 --> 00:22:09,479 Yeah, well, that's good to see. 325 00:22:11,220 --> 00:22:14,339 So, here we found a lot of potch, which is opal without any colour. 326 00:22:14,380 --> 00:22:16,379 But it's very good-looking potch. 327 00:22:16,420 --> 00:22:20,119 Erm, it can turn to colour in the right place. 328 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:24,019 So, we'd have to build a couple of test trenches a little bit away. 329 00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:26,119 That's pipe trace.Yeah, mate. 330 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:31,259 Now, not only potch, but traces of pure pipe and boulder opal. 331 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:34,399 I like the type of rock. As far as cutting goes, 332 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,199 this will take a really nice polish. 333 00:22:39,180 --> 00:22:43,119 All signs of a potential opal avalanche. 334 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,139 Time to bring out the big guns. 335 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:03,059 Kelly Tishler finally has her shining light. 336 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,419 It's just the preface of opal. 337 00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:10,459 The colours are bright, 338 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,319 but an opal is very rarely perfect. 339 00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:16,459 Ah, is that sand? 340 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,439 Look at that. In the same spot. They won't come out. 341 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,039 But I'm going to leave it as is. 342 00:23:23,120 --> 00:23:25,119 It may not be perfect... 343 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,439 If that was clean, it'd be a $10,000 stone. 344 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:32,399 ..but at an estimated $5,000, it's the best she has. 345 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,439 It'll be the king-stone 346 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:38,199 in her collection of stones, known as a parcel. 347 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,239 Always good to have a king-stone, you know. 348 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,099 Sometimes the king-stone will carry a whole parcel. 349 00:23:43,140 --> 00:23:45,319 There's no time to waste. 350 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:48,019 Heart's racing. I can't go quick enough. 351 00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:51,299 Kelly's opal buyer arrives in two hours. 352 00:23:51,340 --> 00:23:54,299 Got to get it done. Before he gets into town. 353 00:23:54,340 --> 00:23:57,379 Erm, I wanna be the first one in the door to see him. 354 00:23:57,420 --> 00:24:00,139 Someone beats you in and... 355 00:24:00,180 --> 00:24:04,179 they take all their money and get away. 356 00:24:04,220 --> 00:24:06,219 That's not good. 357 00:24:07,340 --> 00:24:10,239 Next. Xhana's choice. 358 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:13,079 I think she should rub this one next. 359 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:17,039 Aw! Why didn't you give me the trickiest piece to start with, girl? 360 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,399 Kelly will need to use all her experience 361 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,059 to get the most out of Xhana's stone. 362 00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:25,319 You get to shape it. 363 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:27,999 Come on, baby. You got it. 364 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,059 A lot of people don't understand that every opal is as unique as 365 00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:33,239 every person wearing it. 366 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,479 Xhana picked this stone, and, yeah, she did really well. 367 00:24:42,020 --> 00:24:44,139 I would have went down a different way, so, 368 00:24:44,180 --> 00:24:47,399 yeah, she's saved a good stone, and it's nice. 369 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,379 INDIE: She's a hero! She's a hero, is she? 370 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,299 Is it nice?Yeah. Yeah. 371 00:24:55,340 --> 00:24:59,099 How much would it sell? Yeah. $1,500. 372 00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:02,379 That's what I'd say so. Yeah. Good job. 373 00:25:02,420 --> 00:25:05,079 Thanks.Here you go. 374 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:11,059 Finally Kelly is happy with the results. 375 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,159 It's better than she expected. 376 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:20,139 Now it's a rush to opal buyer Matt Thompson. 377 00:25:20,180 --> 00:25:24,459 Let's hope he's had a good trip overseas and needs some of mine. 378 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,399 You all right? Yeah, all good. 379 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,159 Well, we had a... Yeah, we had an interesting time. 380 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,219 I've brought these.Oh, OK. 381 00:25:37,260 --> 00:25:40,139 To make a sale, Kelly needs her parcel 382 00:25:40,180 --> 00:25:42,179 to be the best Matt's seen. 383 00:25:42,220 --> 00:25:44,459 If there had been a couple of dark pieces... 384 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,419 Yeah.If that was on black, I'd be a very happy chappie. 385 00:25:47,460 --> 00:25:50,299 It would be another...another nought on the end.Yeah. 386 00:25:53,140 --> 00:25:57,019 Well, it's a nice parcel. 387 00:26:02,140 --> 00:26:05,159 I put on an offer on another bigger parcel earlier on today. 388 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,239 So I'm just waiting to hear back tonight on 389 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,379 whether or not that's a yay or a nay. 390 00:26:09,420 --> 00:26:13,019 Another miner has beaten Kelly to it. 391 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,299 At the Old Timers claim, 392 00:26:26,340 --> 00:26:31,059 Col's Crew have all the signs of an opal bonanza. 393 00:26:33,220 --> 00:26:38,099 With modern technology, they have the edge over the old-time miners. 394 00:26:38,140 --> 00:26:42,359 From the air, Col is looking for promising geological features. 395 00:26:44,060 --> 00:26:46,139 If we were to find where that shaft was, Greg. 396 00:26:46,180 --> 00:26:49,339 Opal usually makes some of the changes of ground and crossings. 397 00:26:49,380 --> 00:26:52,239 And I think there's a little crossing just in here. 398 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,359 But on this dig, their most important piece of kit 399 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,479 will be their good old six-tonne backhoe. 400 00:26:59,020 --> 00:27:02,219 We better sure this guys sticks and we don't do a tyre. 401 00:27:02,260 --> 00:27:04,459 Or we are... 402 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,319 After a tough season so far, 403 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:11,479 Aaron's banking on this claim to pay off. 404 00:27:12,020 --> 00:27:15,439 I've had 20 years working for the boss. There's nothing wrong with that either. 405 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,319 At least you got a wage coming in every week. 406 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:22,239 This sort of job... Yeah, you got to find the opal. 407 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:27,359 If we don't find any in the next month, I'll probably go looking for a job. 408 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,019 That's what I got to do. You can't live on love. 409 00:27:41,020 --> 00:27:43,019 Just let me have a look here. 410 00:27:44,220 --> 00:27:47,119 There are signs the Old Timers were here. 411 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,299 See, that's cap rock up there, but what's this down here? Black soil. 412 00:27:50,340 --> 00:27:53,099 That's Old Timers soil, mate. 413 00:27:55,180 --> 00:27:59,359 Under the topsoil is the cap rock. Hard as nails. 414 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,219 No. They've got it all. 415 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:21,359 Col and the team have just trudged the same path of failure 416 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,999 as the Old Timers over 100 years before them. 417 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,139 Told us a story of why they dug there in the first place 418 00:28:29,180 --> 00:28:31,179 and why they've walked. 419 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,139 Erm, let's go and... go to where we can dig 420 00:28:35,180 --> 00:28:38,039 and have a much better chance and have got better traces. 421 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:54,019 In Coober Pedy, it's time for the Rookies 422 00:28:54,060 --> 00:28:56,399 to set off their very first explosive. 423 00:28:58,180 --> 00:29:01,259 We're just doing a test bomb. We're gonna blow some shit up. 424 00:29:03,380 --> 00:29:07,039 That's it.Let's go. Three minutes? 425 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,259 All right. 426 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:11,419 Any second now. Wait, watch that one... 427 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,339 GEORGE: Anytime now. 428 00:29:15,380 --> 00:29:17,479 hell! 429 00:29:18,020 --> 00:29:21,159 Hey. There's a rock on the top of his head. 430 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,299 A rock just landed on the top of his head.Jesus! 431 00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:27,339 Can we do that again? 432 00:29:32,140 --> 00:29:34,179 Watch it. Stare at the hill. Stare at the hill. 433 00:29:34,220 --> 00:29:36,439 Stare at the hill. Any second. 434 00:29:39,060 --> 00:29:41,259 The suspense is killing me. 435 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:45,399 Jesus! 436 00:29:51,180 --> 00:29:53,299 All right, that's enough for today. 437 00:29:53,340 --> 00:29:55,479 And when you stay underground, it's like this? 438 00:29:56,020 --> 00:29:58,219 Yeah. You hold your ears and open your mouth. 439 00:29:58,260 --> 00:30:00,259 It's...Boom. 440 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:02,319 And wear your nappies. I reckon. 441 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,399 GEORGE: Don't go direct on the... You know? 442 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,259 That's an unreal feeling, you know? It's different. 443 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:10,419 And when you're underneath, you've got more shock wave going through. 444 00:30:10,460 --> 00:30:13,239 Just open your mouth. 445 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,159 And block your ears. And you'll be all right. 446 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,359 So you don't get any internal organs shattered. 447 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:22,239 Tomorrow, the boys will be put to the test... 448 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,279 All right. One foot. Two.Jesus. 449 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,459 ..detonating bombs underground. 450 00:30:31,220 --> 00:30:33,219 In Lightning Ridge... 451 00:30:33,260 --> 00:30:35,459 Haven't heard back from Matthew. I assume that 452 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,999 he's already got another parcel. 453 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,339 ..Kelly's missed a sale. 454 00:30:40,380 --> 00:30:43,299 Stay here, Rockhound. You're not going anywhere. Stay. 455 00:30:45,380 --> 00:30:47,379 She needs a Plan B. 456 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,159 She heads off to see a new buyer. 457 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,199 He's lived here for a long time, 458 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:56,439 and he's, you know, pretty fair. 459 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:59,459 Yeah, I'm just hoping that he's looking for some material. 460 00:31:01,020 --> 00:31:03,459 Kelly has improved her opal parcel. 461 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,479 I've been rubbing this morning, so that little bag has gotten quite big now. 462 00:31:08,020 --> 00:31:10,379 Surprisingly this stuff's rubbing better than normal. 463 00:31:10,420 --> 00:31:12,419 It usually goes the opposite way. 464 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,419 But will it be enough to reach her target? 465 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,099 We're running out of time at the moment. 466 00:31:24,140 --> 00:31:26,239 We've really got to move this opal on. 467 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,399 MAN: Who's that knocking at the door?Hello! 468 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,259 How're you? How you going, Jerry? Come in.How are you? 469 00:31:32,300 --> 00:31:35,019 Not bad. Looks as though you've been doing some work. 470 00:31:35,060 --> 00:31:38,159 Yeah, yeah.Oh, my God. Yeah. It's full of gems.All right. 471 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,479 Let's see what you got. 472 00:31:41,020 --> 00:31:43,019 Jerry Lomax is an old friend, 473 00:31:43,060 --> 00:31:45,139 but this deal is strictly business. 474 00:31:45,180 --> 00:31:48,299 Couple of nice pieces in there. And Kelly's desperate. 475 00:31:48,340 --> 00:31:52,119 I need to get as much out of it and try and get the best price that we can. 476 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,199 Because once all expenses are taken out and everything like that, 477 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:58,019 we won't be on income for six weeks, so... 478 00:31:58,060 --> 00:32:01,259 They're bright. Very bright. Nice. Very bright material, yeah. 479 00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:03,319 It'll make a beautiful pendant. 480 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:09,099 She needs at least $5,000 to hit their $20,000 target and keep mining. 481 00:32:09,140 --> 00:32:12,139 One black piece in the whole lot, innit?Yup. 482 00:32:12,180 --> 00:32:15,079 Bloody marvel, isn't it?Yup. 483 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:18,439 Yeah, but you gotta take what you get, don't you?Yup. 484 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,019 Since when don't you have bills? 485 00:32:21,060 --> 00:32:25,419 This bloody business is breakdowns, bills all the time, isn't it? 486 00:32:25,460 --> 00:32:28,019 Yeah. 487 00:32:28,060 --> 00:32:31,199 Yeah, well. The money's in... 488 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,379 Really that's probably half the money in that stone. 489 00:32:35,460 --> 00:32:40,019 Nothing more than a couple of hundred dollars in any of those, I don't think. 490 00:32:40,060 --> 00:32:42,139 What sort of money you got on it, Kel? 491 00:32:44,220 --> 00:32:46,219 Fifteen. 492 00:32:48,420 --> 00:32:51,299 Hm.And that's with the beautiful bucket. 493 00:32:51,340 --> 00:32:53,359 That's with the bucket as well? 494 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:55,459 That's... No, I want my bucket back. 495 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,259 It's $4. I can't afford to give that away. 496 00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:02,159 Probably a couple of grand in here, isn't there?Yeah. 497 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:05,059 As usual, I don't suppose I'll pay your price. 498 00:33:07,140 --> 00:33:09,279 I'm not gonna pay fifteen for it. All right. 499 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,319 I think that... 500 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:15,479 Five, six...seven. Seven. 501 00:33:16,020 --> 00:33:19,159 Look, I wouldn't get past 12 grand for it, Kel, frankly. 502 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,339 What about 12 and a half? 503 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,179 I'll toss you. 12 or 12 and a half. 504 00:33:29,060 --> 00:33:31,059 Yeah, all right. You gonna call? 505 00:33:31,100 --> 00:33:34,079 Yup. Heads. 506 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:37,239 Oh! I won that! Urgh! 507 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,139 I won that! 508 00:33:40,180 --> 00:33:42,159 Shit.Right, anyway... 509 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:46,259 $12,000 is a great win for Kelly and her dad, Al. 510 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:48,299 There we go, Kel. Thank you. 511 00:33:48,340 --> 00:33:51,059 Thank you very much for the business.All good. 512 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,199 Overall, still very happy. 513 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:58,079 A lot better than what I thought initially. I thought I'd only make five grand. 514 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:00,439 OK, mate. Cheers. Thanks, Jer. 515 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:05,159 Huge relief. Yeah, very happy to move that on and, yeah, be able to pay some bills. 516 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,159 So, yeah. Big relief. Glad it's done. 517 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:11,379 Kelly and Al's target was $20,000. 518 00:34:11,420 --> 00:34:17,019 This last-minute sale has pushed their final total to $27,000. 519 00:34:17,060 --> 00:34:20,039 $7,000 over. 520 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:24,059 We live to fight another day. As long as we've got enough bread and butter, we'll be OK. 521 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:26,159 It's enough to keep them hunting. 522 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:29,079 This has to work. We'll keep going, 523 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,199 and going again to the brink if it has to, but we have to make it work 524 00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:34,239 because we don't know anything else. 525 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:38,479 For the Queen... Get back out there and keep looking for it...the Queen of Gems. 526 00:34:39,020 --> 00:34:41,399 She's out there somewhere. 527 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,439 Just got to find her. 528 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,159 So when we hit the road, see somewhere in here. 529 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,379 Before we get to those creeks. Maybe that there. 530 00:35:06,420 --> 00:35:09,279 Col's desperate to stop the dream of opal 531 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:13,219 at the Old Timers Claim becoming just a pipe dream. 532 00:35:20,260 --> 00:35:23,439 He has other spots he wants to check out. 533 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:28,039 It's very hard to see through the scrub and guess your way through it. 534 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:31,139 Once we've got a GPS point we can go straight to the places. 535 00:35:31,180 --> 00:35:33,239 And, hopefully, we find some opal out there. 536 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,459 Look. Bluey-green.That's good. That's what we're after. 537 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,379 That is what we're after. It's getting richer. 538 00:35:52,420 --> 00:35:56,399 At four of the five spots, there are slim pickings. 539 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,999 The boys are on to their last dig of the day. 540 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:05,319 That's good, mate. Yeah, that's more of that... 541 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:08,479 That one rock there, Greg. You see that? 542 00:36:09,020 --> 00:36:12,419 Oi! Look at this.Oi! 543 00:36:12,460 --> 00:36:15,219 Let's have a look. AARON: Right here in the hole. 544 00:36:15,260 --> 00:36:18,039 GREG: Maybe it's the... AARON: Oi! Col. 545 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,259 How cute is that?Wow! 546 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:23,159 Finally, over a year in the making, 547 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:26,119 the boys have hit their first pocket of opal. 548 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,139 That's colour, boys. Maybe there's more around here. 549 00:36:29,180 --> 00:36:31,379 We just have to break a few pieces and have a look. 550 00:36:31,420 --> 00:36:34,319 Let's check this and we might get a bit more, eh? 551 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,139 Ah, there's a good area that hasn't been touched. 552 00:36:37,180 --> 00:36:41,039 And that nice bit of blue-green gave us a bit of hope. 553 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,999 Nothing like chasing colour. That's the best. 554 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:53,179 After three days of exorcising the opal ghosts of the Old Timers, 555 00:36:53,220 --> 00:36:55,999 it's the moment of truth. 556 00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:59,999 The boys are ready to evaluate their haul. 557 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:07,019 Look at that. There she is. Well, that's it, eh? 558 00:37:07,060 --> 00:37:09,259 At least it's colour, Col. Blue-green! 559 00:37:09,300 --> 00:37:12,219 It's a start. A carton of beer? 560 00:37:12,260 --> 00:37:15,299 Or you might hope you get a carton of beer for it. 561 00:37:15,340 --> 00:37:17,339 GREG: Right. You might. 562 00:37:17,380 --> 00:37:22,079 This one piece of pipe opal could fetch only up to $100. 563 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:24,159 Barely worth getting out of bed for. 564 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,419 Little things, big things grow. Col, you know that. 565 00:37:26,460 --> 00:37:30,119 To sell it as it is, we can all get five bucks each.That's true. 566 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:36,159 Behind the grins, it looks grim for Col and his crew. 567 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:42,359 They've made just over $5,000 of their $20,000 season goal. 568 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,039 Everything costs. So no good spending thousands of dollars if you find hundreds. 569 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:53,079 To hit their target, Col has one final trick up his sleeve... 570 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,239 Oh, yeah. We know we're getting serious now. 571 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,239 ..and the potential for profit is huge. 572 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:01,159 But so is the potential for ruin. 573 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:05,119 Sometimes the more you wanna find it, the harder it is to find. 574 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:08,319 That's how opal is. If it was that easy, everyone would do it. 575 00:38:16,260 --> 00:38:20,119 The bag is full of explosives. We've got four bombs in here. 576 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:23,099 The Rookies supervised by George 577 00:38:23,140 --> 00:38:25,999 are preparing for their first proper experience 578 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:29,219 mining with explosives underground. 579 00:38:29,260 --> 00:38:32,099 DAN: Potentially the rewards are great 580 00:38:32,140 --> 00:38:34,379 because you can move more dirt in the same time, 581 00:38:34,420 --> 00:38:37,359 but, at the same time, it is dangerous stuff. 582 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,259 Always, the first one is hard. I remember myself, all right. 583 00:38:45,300 --> 00:38:49,079 I detonate and I run 100 miles an hour. 584 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,119 So if this guy's upright now... GEORGE: Take it easy, mate. 585 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:56,179 We're going to blast this wall out with four bombs. 586 00:38:56,220 --> 00:38:58,999 All right. Wonderful.Jesus. 587 00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:01,319 One. Two.DAN: Oh, my God. 588 00:39:03,420 --> 00:39:06,159 OK.Is this fine? No, we're good. 589 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,359 Let's get out. I like the smell. That's black powder. 590 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:12,039 We got everything? now. 591 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,419 They have three minutes to get to a safe distance. 592 00:39:17,180 --> 00:39:20,259 I'll stand by the master. Hold your ears and open your mouth. 593 00:39:20,300 --> 00:39:22,439 I hate this. 594 00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:38,479 Four. 595 00:39:39,020 --> 00:39:43,299 Did you, did you, did you feel the vibrations on the floor? 596 00:39:43,340 --> 00:39:47,079 George, you're the man! Man, I love it. 597 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:50,319 It's like I can smell it already. DAN: Wow! 598 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,439 Before they can check if they've struck it lucky, 599 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:01,259 they must wait for deadly carbon monoxide to clear. 600 00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:04,239 If you breathe in...Finish. Carbon monoxide. 601 00:40:06,180 --> 00:40:08,279 Finally, George deems it safe 602 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:10,439 for the boys to re-enter the mine. 603 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:13,379 Look at this!Whoa!Jesus! 604 00:40:13,420 --> 00:40:17,339 Wow. Georgie, that's a lot of material that we've blasted out, eh? 605 00:40:17,380 --> 00:40:21,439 All of this was blasted out. 606 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:24,439 There's no obvious trace of opal in the wall, 607 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:28,199 that's not to say that there's no opal underneath here. 608 00:40:28,240 --> 00:40:30,339 Where do you reckon the opal should be? 609 00:40:30,380 --> 00:40:33,019 GEORGE: In there, where the ground caves down. 610 00:40:33,060 --> 00:40:36,299 Oh, in the ironstone. Yes, above, yes. 611 00:40:36,340 --> 00:40:40,379 Dan and Justin will chip away at the opal-bearing rock. 612 00:40:40,420 --> 00:40:45,219 But for George, the boys also need a lesson in how to dig. 613 00:40:45,260 --> 00:40:48,379 Put it here... 614 00:40:48,420 --> 00:40:50,419 Doesn't work like that. Like this, 615 00:40:50,460 --> 00:40:53,239 because you're taking out away a few. 616 00:40:58,120 --> 00:41:01,179 Under, like here? And in the middle. Bravo. 617 00:41:01,220 --> 00:41:03,439 Bravo. That's it. 618 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,039 What a legend, what an absolute legend, huh? 619 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,259 He is.Unbelievable. True-blue Aussie.Yeah. 620 00:41:08,300 --> 00:41:11,239 Come here, my friend, eh? Thanks, mate.Thank you. 621 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,039 Come for a cup of coffee sometime. Yeah, we'd love to. 622 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:16,999 The Rookies wanted a way to move more dirt 623 00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,419 but explosives might not be their thing. 624 00:41:19,460 --> 00:41:24,119 I feel there's just too many risks involved in explosives. 625 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:28,159 If it was maybe three or four less, 626 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:32,439 er, chances to die, erm, then I'd be keen. 627 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:35,379 You know, I've got obligations to meet with, 628 00:41:35,420 --> 00:41:39,219 in my family, and I can't die up here with the bloody explosives. 629 00:41:39,260 --> 00:41:43,399 If we can avoid it, I'd want to stay well clear of 'em. Too risky. 630 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:49,099 Before they leave, there's one last favour to do. 631 00:41:49,140 --> 00:41:52,099 Here, my boy. That's what I was talking about. 632 00:41:52,140 --> 00:41:55,199 Oh, you found it? Yeah, I found it straight away. 633 00:41:55,240 --> 00:41:57,239 Cuckoo clock-maker Justin 634 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:00,179 has promised to repay George for all his help. 635 00:42:00,220 --> 00:42:03,459 To me that looks like a nice clock. You could've...we'll clean him up. 636 00:42:08,260 --> 00:42:10,419 Only three people in Australia do this. 637 00:42:10,460 --> 00:42:12,459 I get such joy out of repairing these. 638 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:15,359 Are you serious, my boy?Yup. 639 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:17,399 I need to do a full service on it. 640 00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:21,039 First of all I don't remember how I got it. Look at that! 641 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,179 There we go! 642 00:42:23,220 --> 00:42:27,019 50 years after, the cuckoo clock can talk! Uh-huh. 643 00:42:27,060 --> 00:42:30,079 I'm gonna take the movement out and I'm gonna put in a new one in. 644 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:34,219 Are you serious? Yeah. Yeah, we are so privileged to be able to learn from you, 645 00:42:34,260 --> 00:42:37,319 so, something like this, something like this is nothing, you know? 646 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:40,299 Ah, thanks, buddy.This is nothing and we don't mind. 647 00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:43,259 No, you really, you really a good person anyway. Bravo. 648 00:42:43,300 --> 00:42:46,399 I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you so much for your... 649 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:51,059 Their season target is $100,000. 650 00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:53,439 With a total of $48,500, 651 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:56,419 the Rookies are almost halfway there. 652 00:42:56,460 --> 00:43:00,139 But with explosives ruled out, and no excavator, 653 00:43:00,180 --> 00:43:05,119 Dan and Justin can't move enough rock to make their Shell Patch claim pay. 654 00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:09,079 They'll have to find another way to hit pay dirt. 655 00:43:13,020 --> 00:43:16,439 They must head back. Dig below ground. 656 00:43:18,380 --> 00:43:23,199 Ooh. The stakes are a bit higher underground. 657 00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:26,479 Bit more dangerous. Going down these death holes. 658 00:43:27,020 --> 00:43:29,419 But there could be a fortune awaiting. 659 00:43:29,460 --> 00:43:33,479 We know there's some opal down there and hopefully we'll find some. 660 00:43:34,020 --> 00:43:37,079 Ohh! 661 00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:40,359 subtitles by Deluxe 661 00:43:41,305 --> 00:44:41,659