"Outback Opal Hunters" Risky Business

1 00:00:01,758 --> 00:00:04,137 Narrator: ON "OUTBACK OPAL HUNTERS," 2 00:00:04,172 --> 00:00:06,689 ROOKIE JUSTIN GAMBLES THOUSANDS 3 00:00:06,724 --> 00:00:08,655 ON BUYING HIS WAY OUT OF TROUBLE. 4 00:00:08,689 --> 00:00:10,413 Justin: IF I CAN'T FIND OPAL IN COOBER PEDY, 5 00:00:10,448 --> 00:00:11,413 I MAY AS WELL BUY SOME. 6 00:00:11,448 --> 00:00:13,103 I'M GONNA BUY ANYTHING I CAN GET. 7 00:00:13,137 --> 00:00:17,000 Narrator: OPAL QUEEN KELLY NEEDS A BIG FIND UNDERGROUND... 8 00:00:17,034 --> 00:00:19,655 WE'VE BITTEN OFF A FAIR BIT, MAYBE MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW. 9 00:00:19,689 --> 00:00:21,517 Narrator: ...OR RISK GOING BROKE. 10 00:00:21,551 --> 00:00:23,068 Kelly: PRESSURE IS ON. 11 00:00:23,103 --> 00:00:25,551 Narrator: AND AARON AND GREG'S DRAGONFLY CLAIM 12 00:00:25,586 --> 00:00:27,206 MIGHT FINALLY PAY OFF. 13 00:00:27,241 --> 00:00:28,310 OH. 14 00:00:28,344 --> 00:00:29,344 HAVE A LOOK AT THIS, AARON! 15 00:00:29,379 --> 00:00:31,517 WHAT? 16 00:00:31,551 --> 00:00:33,172 OH! 17 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:41,074 -== [ www.OpenSubtitles.com ] ==- 18 00:00:53,517 --> 00:00:56,482 --Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com 19 00:00:56,517 --> 00:00:59,862 CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS 20 00:00:59,896 --> 00:01:02,379 Narrator: COOBER PEDY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 21 00:01:02,413 --> 00:01:04,724 A BONE-DRY LANDSCAPE 22 00:01:04,758 --> 00:01:08,551 WHERE TEMPERATURES CAN HIT 47 DEGREES CELSIUS. 23 00:01:11,586 --> 00:01:14,896 AT HIS 5-MILE CLAIM, ROOKIE JUSTIN LANG 24 00:01:14,931 --> 00:01:18,103 IS CHASING COOBER PEDY'S SPECIALTY -- 25 00:01:18,137 --> 00:01:24,034 WHITE OPAL WORTH UP TO $7,500 A GRAM. 26 00:01:24,068 --> 00:01:27,482 Man: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S STUNNING. 27 00:01:27,517 --> 00:01:28,551 OH, WOW. 28 00:01:28,586 --> 00:01:31,551 OH, MY GOD. 29 00:01:31,586 --> 00:01:33,655 Narrator: BUT THE HARSH REALITY 30 00:01:33,689 --> 00:01:36,344 OF RECENTLY BECOMING A FULL-TIME OPAL MINER 31 00:01:36,379 --> 00:01:38,068 IS STARTING TO SINK IN. 32 00:01:38,103 --> 00:01:41,758 Justin: TO TRY AND FIND OPAL UNDER THE GROUND IS A TOUGH GIG, 33 00:01:41,793 --> 00:01:45,000 AND I'VE GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE RESPECT FOR MINERS NOW. 34 00:01:45,034 --> 00:01:46,827 IT'S NOT EASY. 35 00:01:46,862 --> 00:01:50,137 Narrator: AND JUSTIN'S MINING PARTNER DAN BECKER IS BACK 36 00:01:50,172 --> 00:01:54,793 WITH HIS FAMILY OVER 700 KILOMETERS AWAY. 37 00:01:54,827 --> 00:01:57,344 THIS IS THE FIRST CLAIM I'VE MINED WITHOUT DAN. 38 00:01:57,379 --> 00:01:59,551 IT'S BEEN A REALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. 39 00:01:59,586 --> 00:02:01,517 YOU DON'T GET TO LAUGH WITH ANYONE, 40 00:02:01,551 --> 00:02:03,034 AND YOU DON'T GET TO JOKE WITH ANYONE. 41 00:02:03,068 --> 00:02:04,827 YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE BY YOURSELF, 42 00:02:04,862 --> 00:02:06,655 TALKING TO YOURSELF ALL DAY. 43 00:02:06,689 --> 00:02:09,413 IT DOES BECOME A BIT LONELY. 44 00:02:09,448 --> 00:02:13,206 Narrator: WITH A SOLO TARGET OF $75,000 45 00:02:13,241 --> 00:02:14,896 AND NOT A CENT IN PROFIT, 46 00:02:14,931 --> 00:02:18,379 JUSTIN IS LOSING MONEY WITH EVERY PASSING DAY. 47 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,034 MAKING MATTERS WORSE, JUSTIN HAS INVESTED OVER $35,000 48 00:02:25,068 --> 00:02:30,241 ON BUYING A SECONDHAND EXCAVATOR AND CLEARING HIS CLAIM. 49 00:02:30,275 --> 00:02:31,758 Justin: MY AIM FOR THIS CLAIM 50 00:02:31,793 --> 00:02:34,034 WAS TO PAY OFF THE EXCAVATOR STRAIGHT AWAY, 51 00:02:34,068 --> 00:02:38,379 BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, SO I'M $35,000 IN THE RED. 52 00:02:38,413 --> 00:02:41,103 ALL IN ALL, I'M MOSTLY DISAPPOINTED 53 00:02:41,137 --> 00:02:43,758 IN HOW IT'S ALL TURNED OUT. 54 00:02:43,793 --> 00:02:46,448 WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING OUT HERE? 55 00:02:46,482 --> 00:02:48,689 HAVE I GONE CRAZY? 56 00:02:48,724 --> 00:02:51,517 I'M ALL THIS WAY FROM FAMILY, SITTING OUT HERE 57 00:02:51,551 --> 00:02:54,965 SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY, NOT FINDING ANYTHING. 58 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,586 THERE'S NO RETURN. 59 00:02:56,620 --> 00:02:58,862 DAN IS NOT HERE TO TALK TO. 60 00:02:58,896 --> 00:03:00,586 WHAT HAVE I DONE? 61 00:03:03,758 --> 00:03:07,482 Narrator: TO GET BACK ON TRACK, JUSTIN HAS A NEW PLAN. 62 00:03:07,517 --> 00:03:08,655 20, 21, 22, 23... 63 00:03:08,689 --> 00:03:11,068 SO IF I DON'T FIND OPAL, I'LL BUY IT. 64 00:03:11,103 --> 00:03:14,172 Narrator: HE'S GOING TO RISK $13,000 65 00:03:14,206 --> 00:03:16,275 BUYING SOME ROUGH OPAL IN THE HOPE 66 00:03:16,310 --> 00:03:18,103 HE CAN MAKE A PROFIT POLISHING IT 67 00:03:18,137 --> 00:03:20,241 AND SELLING IT ON TO A JEWELER. 68 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,517 MOST MINERS SELL THEIR OPAL ROUGH 69 00:03:24,551 --> 00:03:27,655 AS IT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND FOR A QUICK PROFIT, 70 00:03:27,689 --> 00:03:30,517 BUT IF A MINER HAS THE SKILL AND PATIENCE TO POLISH 71 00:03:30,551 --> 00:03:32,413 AND CUT THEIR OWN STONES, 72 00:03:32,448 --> 00:03:36,793 THEY CAN POTENTIALLY TRIPLE THEIR MONEY. 73 00:03:36,827 --> 00:03:39,206 FOR SKILLED CLOCKMAKER JUSTIN, 74 00:03:39,241 --> 00:03:43,862 THIS COULD BE A SAFE WAY OF TURNING A PROFIT. 75 00:03:43,896 --> 00:03:47,413 CASH IS KING, SO I'M GONNA TAKE THIS 76 00:03:47,448 --> 00:03:52,068 AND SEE IF I CAN TURN THIS INTO A NICE BIG BAG OF OPAL. 77 00:03:52,103 --> 00:03:54,310 Narrator: CASH IN HAND, JUSTIN HEADS 78 00:03:54,344 --> 00:03:57,344 TO THE REMOTE TOWN OF MINTABIE. 79 00:03:57,379 --> 00:04:00,758 NEARLY 300 KILOMETERS NORTH OF COOBER PEDY, 80 00:04:00,793 --> 00:04:03,724 MINTABIE PRODUCES A UNIQUE OPAL, 81 00:04:03,758 --> 00:04:06,103 HIGHLY PRIZED FOR ITS RICH COLOR. 82 00:04:06,137 --> 00:04:09,862 WITH ITS BLACK BACKING, IT CAN BE WORTH UP TO $3,000 83 00:04:09,896 --> 00:04:12,275 A CARAT OR A FIFTH OF A GRAM. 84 00:04:15,172 --> 00:04:17,862 JUSTIN IS HOPING TO PICK UP A BARGAIN FROM A MINER 85 00:04:17,896 --> 00:04:22,448 KEEN TO OFFLOAD SOME STONES BEFORE HE QUITS THE BUSINESS. 86 00:04:22,482 --> 00:04:25,413 I'M GONNA BUY ANYTHING I CAN GET 87 00:04:25,448 --> 00:04:26,827 BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN FLIP IT 88 00:04:26,862 --> 00:04:29,551 AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE MY MONEY BACK AND SOME. 89 00:04:34,827 --> 00:04:38,655 Narrator: JUSTIN IS DRIVING INTO THIS REMOTE DESERT OUTPOST 90 00:04:38,689 --> 00:04:43,206 WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH AND NO BACKUP. 91 00:04:53,965 --> 00:04:56,034 Kelly: WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE OPAL IS FAULTS. 92 00:04:58,482 --> 00:05:01,965 SO YOU NEED QUITE A BIG MOVEMENT IN THE EARTH. 93 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,965 Narrator: IN LIGHTNING RIDGE, 94 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,482 OUTBACK, NEW SOUTH WALES, KELLY TISHLER 95 00:05:06,517 --> 00:05:10,068 IS BATTLING A DRY RUN OF LUCK 8 METERS UNDERGROUND. 96 00:05:11,793 --> 00:05:13,620 WE STILL HAVE TO TRY AND MOVE ENOUGH DIRT, 97 00:05:13,655 --> 00:05:14,793 WHICH HAS HOPEFULLY GOT OPAL, 98 00:05:14,827 --> 00:05:16,034 AND ACTUALLY TRY AND TRACK IT DOWN. 99 00:05:16,068 --> 00:05:18,206 WHERE IS IT? IT COULD BE JUST THERE. 100 00:05:18,241 --> 00:05:20,758 Narrator: THIS SEASON, KELLY IS TEAMING UP 101 00:05:20,793 --> 00:05:24,275 WITH BROTHER-IN-LAW MARK AND MINING PARTNER DWAYNE. 102 00:05:24,310 --> 00:05:28,206 SO FAR, THEY'VE CHIPPED AWAY $22,000 103 00:05:28,241 --> 00:05:33,517 OF THEIR $150,000 TARGET. 104 00:05:33,551 --> 00:05:35,896 THEY ARE HUNTING BLACK OPAL, 105 00:05:35,931 --> 00:05:38,068 THE MOST PRIZED OPAL ON THE PLANET, 106 00:05:38,103 --> 00:05:41,931 WORTH UP TO $35,000 FOR A FIFTH OF A GRAM. 107 00:05:41,965 --> 00:05:45,206 IT'S RARER THAN DIAMONDS. 108 00:05:45,241 --> 00:05:46,758 Dwayne: THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. 109 00:05:46,793 --> 00:05:48,379 THE EXCITEMENT YOU GET, THE FEELING YOU GET, 110 00:05:48,413 --> 00:05:50,310 IT MAKES YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING, 111 00:05:50,344 --> 00:05:53,103 GO THAT EXTRA MILE AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME MORE. 112 00:05:57,137 --> 00:05:59,275 Narrator: HOPING TO REPEAT THEIR SUCCESS, 113 00:05:59,310 --> 00:06:01,758 THE TEAM HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE DIGGING 114 00:06:01,793 --> 00:06:06,068 WHERE THEY RIPPED OUT THEIR $22,000 HAUL. 115 00:06:06,103 --> 00:06:07,206 Mark: LOOK. THERE IS NO RULES. 116 00:06:07,241 --> 00:06:08,620 NO ONE CAN SEE THROUGH THE GROUND, 117 00:06:08,655 --> 00:06:12,517 SO JUST GOT TO FOLLOW THE TRACE, REALLY. 118 00:06:12,551 --> 00:06:14,758 Kelly: SOMEBODY MIGHT THINK, "OH, YOU'RE JUST DOWN HERE 119 00:06:14,793 --> 00:06:16,482 BURROWING AWAY AIMLESSLY." 120 00:06:16,517 --> 00:06:17,896 NO, THERE'S A METHOD TO THE MADNESS. 121 00:06:17,931 --> 00:06:19,586 WE'VE GOT A TECHNIQUE. 122 00:06:19,620 --> 00:06:22,344 Narrator: KEY TO THEIR TECHNIQUE 123 00:06:22,379 --> 00:06:25,551 IS THEIR 800-KILOGRAM DIGGING MACHINE. 124 00:06:25,586 --> 00:06:29,000 RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS RIP THROUGH THE CLAY SOIL, 125 00:06:29,034 --> 00:06:31,586 SHIFTING 10 TONS OF EARTH IN AN HOUR. 126 00:06:35,310 --> 00:06:37,655 BUT OPAL IS FRAGILE. 127 00:06:37,689 --> 00:06:42,793 FINDING THIS PRIZE TAKES SKILL, PATIENCE AND A BIT OF LUCK. 128 00:06:42,827 --> 00:06:45,586 Mark: ONE MISTAKE WILL COST YOU 100 GRAND. 129 00:06:45,620 --> 00:06:47,482 YOU CAN SHATTER A STONE. 130 00:06:47,517 --> 00:06:50,482 Narrator: THE MINED EARTH IS FED INTO A SERIES OF PIPES 131 00:06:50,517 --> 00:06:53,068 THAT FORM PART OF AN IMMENSE VACUUM... 132 00:06:55,793 --> 00:06:58,448 ...POWERED BY WHAT IS KNOWN AS A BLOWER. 133 00:06:58,482 --> 00:07:00,310 Mark: EVERY BLOWER IS SORT OF PUT TOGETHER 134 00:07:00,344 --> 00:07:01,862 BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. 135 00:07:01,896 --> 00:07:04,482 MOST OF THEM ARE MADE UP OF A COMPLETE SORT OF MIX OF PARTS 136 00:07:04,517 --> 00:07:05,655 LIKE OLD TRUCK PARTS, 137 00:07:05,689 --> 00:07:08,241 TRUCK MOTORS AND DIFFERENT BITS AND PIECES, 138 00:07:08,275 --> 00:07:11,482 SO THIS IS A TWO-SPEED OFF AN OLD BEDFORD TRUCK, 139 00:07:11,517 --> 00:07:14,241 SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY 50 YEARS OLD. 140 00:07:14,275 --> 00:07:16,172 SO THIS MACHINE IS CALLED A BLOWER, 141 00:07:16,206 --> 00:07:18,551 BUT IT SHOULD BE CALLED A SUCKER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. 142 00:07:18,586 --> 00:07:21,137 IT SUCKS THE DIRT FROM OFF THE FLOOR OF THE MINE 143 00:07:21,172 --> 00:07:25,724 AND SUCKS IT UP THE PIPES INTO THIS CYLINDER WE CALL A HOPPER. 144 00:07:25,758 --> 00:07:28,034 WHEN THAT GETS FILLED UP WITH THE OPAL CLAY, 145 00:07:28,068 --> 00:07:29,862 WE'LL JUST DROP IT INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. 146 00:07:29,896 --> 00:07:31,620 Narrator: THE DIRT IS THEN WASHED OFF 147 00:07:31,655 --> 00:07:34,862 IN A CONVERTED CEMENT MIXER CALLED AN AGITATOR, 148 00:07:34,896 --> 00:07:38,517 AND THE STONES THAT ARE LEFT ARE THEN CHECKED FOR ANY OPAL. 149 00:07:40,931 --> 00:07:42,206 IN OPAL MINING, 150 00:07:42,241 --> 00:07:47,379 SUCCESS CAN QUICKLY TURN INTO FINANCIAL FAILURE. 151 00:07:47,413 --> 00:07:52,724 THE FACE THAT EARNED THE TEAM A COOL $22,000 HAS DRIED UP. 152 00:07:52,758 --> 00:07:54,206 YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING? 153 00:07:54,241 --> 00:07:55,655 IT HAS TO BE THE SAME. 154 00:07:55,689 --> 00:07:58,379 YEAH, NOT MUCH TO THE STORY TO TELL HERE, NO TRACE, 155 00:07:58,413 --> 00:08:01,896 NO ANYTHING REALLY, JUST A FEW SORT OF HARD BALLS, 156 00:08:01,931 --> 00:08:04,172 ACTUALLY WHAT WE CALL DOG STONES. 157 00:08:04,206 --> 00:08:08,655 YEAH, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA PAY. 158 00:08:08,689 --> 00:08:10,758 Narrator: AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DIGGING, 159 00:08:10,793 --> 00:08:15,517 THEY FOUND JUST ONE PROMISING PIECE OF DIRT. 160 00:08:15,551 --> 00:08:18,379 KELLY NOW HAS A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE, 161 00:08:18,413 --> 00:08:21,655 WHETHER TO KEEP THE TEAM DIGGING IN THE SAME PLACE 162 00:08:21,689 --> 00:08:27,206 OR WASTE VALUABLE TIME MOVING THE DIGGER TO A NEW SPOT. 163 00:08:27,241 --> 00:08:30,241 Kelly: YOU CAN HEAR THE BLOWER GOING, 164 00:08:30,275 --> 00:08:32,344 SO THAT'S $100 NOTES GOING. 165 00:08:32,379 --> 00:08:35,931 SO WHILE THAT'S GOING, IT MAKES ME INCREDIBLY NERVOUS. 166 00:08:47,620 --> 00:08:51,379 Narrator: AT DRAGONFLY OPEN-CUT MINE, OPALTON, 167 00:08:51,413 --> 00:08:55,000 LONG-TIME PARTNERS AARON GROTJAHN AND GREG GERAN 168 00:08:55,034 --> 00:08:57,827 ARE STRUGGLING TO HIT PAY DIRT. 169 00:08:57,862 --> 00:08:59,413 YOU KNOW, WE'LL KIND OF JUST DIG A LITTLE HOLE, 170 00:08:59,448 --> 00:09:00,551 AND IT'S JUST THERE. 171 00:09:00,586 --> 00:09:02,275 BECAUSE IT'S ROCK AND ALL 172 00:09:02,310 --> 00:09:04,724 THEY'RE HUNTING QUEENSLAND BOULDER OPAL... 173 00:09:04,758 --> 00:09:07,655 THAT'S THAT PIECE, YEAH....WORTH UP TO $20,000 A GRAM. 174 00:09:07,689 --> 00:09:09,172 OH. THAT'S A NICE COLOR, EH? 175 00:09:09,206 --> 00:09:10,689 PRETTY HARD TO GET THE SMILE OFF YOUR FACE 176 00:09:10,724 --> 00:09:12,137 WHEN YOU BREAK SOMETHING NICE 177 00:09:12,172 --> 00:09:15,482 BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YEARS FOR THIS STUFF. 178 00:09:15,517 --> 00:09:17,310 Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON, 179 00:09:17,344 --> 00:09:23,379 THEY HAVE JUST $10,000 OF THEIR $120,000 TARGET. 180 00:09:23,413 --> 00:09:27,724 TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY'RE ALSO A MAN DOWN. 181 00:09:27,758 --> 00:09:31,000 Greg: YEAH, IT'S A PITY COL CAN'T BE HERE. 182 00:09:31,034 --> 00:09:35,551 COL IS VERY SICK, SO HE'S GOT TO STAY IN TOWN AND GET BETTER. 183 00:09:35,586 --> 00:09:39,172 UNTIL THEN, WE'LL KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING. 184 00:09:39,206 --> 00:09:42,344 Narrator: AARON AND GREG LIVE SIMPLY OFF THE GRID, 185 00:09:42,379 --> 00:09:45,793 BUT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. 186 00:09:45,827 --> 00:09:47,655 OH, WE'VE BEEN BATTLING OUT HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, 187 00:09:47,689 --> 00:09:50,137 AND WE'VE BEEN JUST SHORT OF MAKING PROBABLY WAGES. 188 00:09:50,172 --> 00:09:52,862 IT'S ENOUGH TO EAT AND SORT OF KEEP TRUCKING. 189 00:09:54,896 --> 00:09:57,137 THAT'S NOT A LINE. IT'S A PULLOUT. 190 00:09:57,172 --> 00:09:58,137 EVERY ROCK IS ONE STEP CLOSER... 191 00:09:58,172 --> 00:09:59,241 THAT'S RIGHT. 192 00:09:59,275 --> 00:10:01,310 ...TO PAYING THE BILLS, GETTING AHEAD. 193 00:10:03,413 --> 00:10:09,137 Narrator: FOR AARON, DRAGONFLY IS MORE THAN JUST A CLAIM. 194 00:10:09,172 --> 00:10:15,931 IN THE 1980s AND '90s, IT WAS OWNED BY HIS DAD, ARNO. 195 00:10:15,965 --> 00:10:19,344 YEAH, HE MISSED A HOLE FULL OF HEAPS. 196 00:10:19,379 --> 00:10:20,655 HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE RIGHT NOW PLAYING 197 00:10:20,689 --> 00:10:25,344 HIS SQUEEZE-BOX AND DIDGERIDOO AND TAKING IT EASY. 198 00:10:25,379 --> 00:10:27,931 Narrator: AARON AND GREG ARE DIGGING 199 00:10:27,965 --> 00:10:31,758 THE LAST UNTOUCHED SECTION, HOPING IT CONTAINS A FORTUNE. 200 00:10:33,689 --> 00:10:36,482 Aaron: MY DAD LEFT US A BIT OF OPAL TO DIG UP. 201 00:10:36,517 --> 00:10:37,758 Greg: THIS MIGHT JUST BE THE TRACE. 202 00:10:37,793 --> 00:10:40,206 A BIT OF LUCK, THE POCKET CAN COME. 203 00:10:40,241 --> 00:10:41,793 WE NEVER KNOW, MATE.YOU NEVER KNOW. 204 00:10:41,827 --> 00:10:43,310 WANT TO LOCK THAT UP, MATE? LET'S GO. 205 00:10:43,344 --> 00:10:44,379 LET'S GO AND DO SOME DIGGING. 206 00:10:44,413 --> 00:10:46,793 YEAH, AND DO SOME FACING. 207 00:10:46,827 --> 00:10:49,655 IT'S GOOD TO GET SOMETHING IN THE DRUM. 208 00:10:49,689 --> 00:10:52,172 LET'S GO AND DIG. 209 00:10:52,206 --> 00:10:54,482 Aaron: "THERE'S ONLY 10% LEFT," DAD USED TO SAY, 210 00:10:54,517 --> 00:10:55,344 AND HE'S RIGHT, 211 00:10:55,379 --> 00:10:57,448 BUT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD 10%. 212 00:11:02,310 --> 00:11:04,275 Greg: WE HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND A POCKET YET, 213 00:11:04,310 --> 00:11:06,896 BUT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP BATTLING ON 214 00:11:06,931 --> 00:11:08,793 AND HOPE THAT WE STUMBLE 215 00:11:08,827 --> 00:11:12,931 INTO A POCKET OF DECENT ROCK OR WHATEVER. 216 00:11:20,586 --> 00:11:22,827 USUALLY, WHEN YOU'RE JUST ABOUT TO GIVE UP 217 00:11:22,862 --> 00:11:27,103 OR TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE, THERE IT'LL BE. 218 00:11:27,137 --> 00:11:28,931 YOU'VE GOT TO BE DETERMINED TO FIND THIS STUFF. 219 00:11:32,896 --> 00:11:35,068 HEY, YOU'VE GOT IT. OY, BLAST THAT ONE OUT. 220 00:11:35,103 --> 00:11:36,206 Greg: OKAY. 221 00:11:36,241 --> 00:11:38,103 Narrator: BOULDER OPAL EXISTS 222 00:11:38,137 --> 00:11:40,482 IN THE HARD, DARK IRONSTONE ROCKS 223 00:11:40,517 --> 00:11:43,137 AMONG THE LIGHTLY COLORED SANDSTONE. 224 00:11:47,172 --> 00:11:51,103 IT'S FORMED WHEN SILICA-RICH WATER SEEPING UNDERGROUND 225 00:11:51,137 --> 00:11:53,793 POOLS IN CRACKS IN THE IMPERVIOUS ROCKS 226 00:11:53,827 --> 00:11:57,827 AND OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS HARDENS INTO OPAL. 227 00:12:00,896 --> 00:12:02,758 THE MORE DIRT YOU SHIFT, 228 00:12:02,793 --> 00:12:05,793 THE MORE CHANCE YOU HAVE OF FINDING IT. 229 00:12:16,379 --> 00:12:17,965 COME ON. 230 00:12:26,034 --> 00:12:29,137 I'M GONNA TAKE A GAMBLE ON THIS AND KEEP DIGGING. 231 00:12:29,172 --> 00:12:31,793 Narrator: IF THE GAMBLE DOESN'T PAY OFF SOON, 232 00:12:31,827 --> 00:12:36,482 AARON AND GREG WILL RUN OUT OF CASH TO KEEP THE CLAIM GOING. 233 00:12:40,379 --> 00:12:43,896 Justin: OPAL COUNTRY, I LOVE IT. 234 00:12:43,931 --> 00:12:45,620 YOU KNOW, I GET REALLY EXCITED COMING OUT HERE 235 00:12:45,655 --> 00:12:48,586 BECAUSE I CAN FEEL THE OPAL. 236 00:12:48,620 --> 00:12:49,655 I CAN... 237 00:12:49,689 --> 00:12:51,586 YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT IN YOUR VEINS. 238 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:54,482 Narrator: JUSTIN IS HEADING TO THE REMOTE TOWN OF MINTABIE, 239 00:12:54,517 --> 00:12:56,689 HOPING TO PICK UP SOME ROUGH OPAL 240 00:12:56,724 --> 00:12:59,655 HE CAN THEN SELL ON AT A PROFIT. 241 00:12:59,689 --> 00:13:02,448 Justin: IN ITS HEYDAY, WHEN IT WAS FIRST DISCOVERED, 242 00:13:02,482 --> 00:13:05,896 MINTABIE PRODUCED MORE OPAL THAN COOBER PEDY, 243 00:13:05,931 --> 00:13:07,482 SO THAT SAYS SOMETHING IF COOBER PEDY 244 00:13:07,517 --> 00:13:10,827 IS THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. 245 00:13:10,862 --> 00:13:14,931 Narrator: BUT MINTABIE WILL SOON BE A TOWN NO LONGER. 246 00:13:14,965 --> 00:13:18,275 THE LAND IT STANDS ON HAS BEEN HANDED BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL 247 00:13:18,310 --> 00:13:21,034 ABORIGINAL OWNERS. 248 00:13:21,068 --> 00:13:24,310 IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, IT'S DUE TO CLOSE. 249 00:13:24,344 --> 00:13:26,379 MINERS ARE FAST DISAPPEARING, 250 00:13:26,413 --> 00:13:30,413 AND MINTABIE OPAL IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SOUGHT AFTER. 251 00:13:30,448 --> 00:13:33,034 THEY'RE SHUTTING THE TOWN DOWN UNFORTUNATELY, 252 00:13:33,068 --> 00:13:35,379 SO ALL THE MINING WILL EVENTUALLY STOP, 253 00:13:35,413 --> 00:13:39,758 AND THE PRODUCTION OF THAT OPAL WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE. 254 00:13:39,793 --> 00:13:41,448 Narrator: JUSTIN HAS ARRANGED TO MEET 255 00:13:41,482 --> 00:13:44,379 ONE OF THE LAST OPAL MINERS IN MINTABIE -- 256 00:13:44,413 --> 00:13:46,103 JAMIE WILSON. 257 00:13:50,275 --> 00:13:51,655 I WANT TO MAKE THIS TRIP WORTHWHILE, 258 00:13:51,689 --> 00:13:53,000 ALL THIS WAY TO COME TO MINTABIE. 259 00:13:53,034 --> 00:13:55,103 YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE COST INVOLVED 260 00:13:55,137 --> 00:13:56,344 IN BEING UP HERE FOR A DAY 261 00:13:56,379 --> 00:13:57,827 AND THEN ALSO THE FUEL TO GET UP HERE, 262 00:13:57,862 --> 00:14:00,137 SO I'VE GOT TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THIS PARCEL. 263 00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:02,586 OTHERWISE, IT'S ANOTHER LOSS. 264 00:14:02,620 --> 00:14:03,931 GAME ON, HERE WE GO. 265 00:14:03,965 --> 00:14:07,241 WE'RE AT HIS CAMP UP ON TOP OF THE RIDGE. 266 00:14:15,103 --> 00:14:18,379 Narrator: IF JUSTIN CAN BUY GOOD-QUALITY ROUGH OPAL, 267 00:14:18,413 --> 00:14:21,137 FLIPPING IT COULD TRIPLE HIS MONEY. 268 00:14:27,137 --> 00:14:29,862 OVER 1,000 KILOMETERS TO THE EAST... 269 00:14:29,896 --> 00:14:33,000 THE TRACE HAS SORT OF LEANED RIGHT OFF, HASN'T IT? 270 00:14:33,034 --> 00:14:34,103 YEAH. 271 00:14:34,137 --> 00:14:36,413 EIGHT METERS BELOW THE SURFACE, 272 00:14:36,448 --> 00:14:40,482 KELLY'S TEAM HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR THEIR HARD WORK. 273 00:14:40,517 --> 00:14:42,689 Kelly: OPAL MINING IS A CONSTANT ROLLER COASTER. 274 00:14:42,724 --> 00:14:43,931 HOUSE IN THE MORNING, PENTHOUSE AT NIGHT 275 00:14:43,965 --> 00:14:45,448 AND BACK TO THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY. 276 00:14:45,482 --> 00:14:47,172 THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES. 277 00:14:47,206 --> 00:14:50,620 Narrator: THEY NEED TO KEEP MOVING AS MUCH DIRT AS THEY CAN. 278 00:14:52,137 --> 00:14:53,896 TIME IS RUNNING OUT. 279 00:14:53,931 --> 00:14:56,482 MARK AND DWAYNE SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME 280 00:14:56,517 --> 00:14:58,448 BY WORKING IN COAL MINES, 281 00:14:58,482 --> 00:15:02,103 AND THEIR SHIFTS START IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. 282 00:15:05,275 --> 00:15:08,793 ON THE SURFACE, A PROBLEM -- 283 00:15:08,827 --> 00:15:12,241 THE BLOWER SUCKING OUT THE DIRT HAS STOPPED WORKING. 284 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,620 Kelly: BECAUSE WE'RE A SMALL-SCALE OPERATION, 285 00:15:23,655 --> 00:15:27,517 WE DON'T HAVE LOADS OF EQUIPMENT OR LOADS OF DOLLARS, 286 00:15:27,551 --> 00:15:28,965 AND WHEN YOU GET A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, 287 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,448 EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. 288 00:15:30,482 --> 00:15:33,310 SO IS THAT ON OR OFF? 289 00:15:33,344 --> 00:15:36,551 OFF. 290 00:15:36,586 --> 00:15:38,724 Mark: IT'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH THE TWO-SPEED ON THE MOTOR 291 00:15:38,758 --> 00:15:40,896 THAT PUTS THE THROTTLE UP AND DOWN, 292 00:15:40,931 --> 00:15:43,137 SO IT'S FALLEN TO PIECES AT THE MOMENT. 293 00:15:43,172 --> 00:15:46,586 IF THE MOTOR STAYS REVVED UP, THE HOPPER WON'T DROP, 294 00:15:46,620 --> 00:15:49,724 SO YOU'LL START FEEDING DIRT THROUGH YOUR FANS, 295 00:15:49,758 --> 00:15:50,965 WHICH WILL WEAR YOUR FANS OUT, 296 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,793 AND YOU'LL NEVER GET ANY DIRT ON THE TRUCK. 297 00:15:52,827 --> 00:15:55,103 WE CAN'T WORK WITHOUT THIS. 298 00:15:58,931 --> 00:16:00,206 Narrator: WITHOUT THE BLOWER, 299 00:16:00,241 --> 00:16:03,310 KELLY'S OPERATION GRINDS TO A HALT. 300 00:16:10,655 --> 00:16:12,482 IF THEY CAN'T FIX THE BLOWER, 301 00:16:12,517 --> 00:16:15,827 THEIR OPAL MINING WILL STOP FOR OVER A WEEK. 302 00:16:15,862 --> 00:16:19,068 -THIS IS THE LAST DAY. -LAST DAY. 303 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,034 TODAY IS OUR LAST DAY BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO OUR REAL JOB, 304 00:16:25,068 --> 00:16:26,724 SO IT NEEDS TO GET FIXED. 305 00:16:29,379 --> 00:16:30,586 Dwayne: AHH! 306 00:16:37,586 --> 00:16:39,655 Narrator: MINTABIE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 307 00:16:39,689 --> 00:16:41,724 LET'S GO AND HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OPAL. 308 00:16:43,310 --> 00:16:45,103 JEFF! 309 00:16:45,137 --> 00:16:48,551 ROOKIE JUSTIN IS HOPING TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK, 310 00:16:48,586 --> 00:16:52,689 BUYING AND SELLING ROUGH OPAL FROM VETERAN MINER JAMIE. 311 00:16:52,724 --> 00:16:55,586 SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT. 312 00:16:58,103 --> 00:16:59,448 ALRIGHT. WHAT'S IN HERE? 313 00:16:59,482 --> 00:17:00,793 POTCH. 314 00:17:00,827 --> 00:17:02,482 28 OUNCES OF POTCH.A LARGE POTCH. 315 00:17:02,517 --> 00:17:06,103 Narrator: MOST MINERS GRADE THEIR ROUGH OPAL FOR SALE 316 00:17:06,137 --> 00:17:11,034 WITH "A" BEING THE BEST-QUALITY OPAL AND "C" THE LOWEST. 317 00:17:11,068 --> 00:17:15,172 SO THIS IS WHAT YOU FOUND IN THE LAST TRIP OR THIS LAST WEEK? 318 00:17:15,206 --> 00:17:19,068 YEP, THAT'S THE LAST SESSION WE'VE DONE. 319 00:17:19,103 --> 00:17:21,620 ALRIGHT. 320 00:17:21,655 --> 00:17:24,413 OKAY, SO YOU'VE GOT "A," "B" AND "C," 321 00:17:24,448 --> 00:17:28,275 SO YOU'VE GOT 8 OUNCES OF "A," 12 OF "B" AND 28 OF "C." 322 00:17:28,310 --> 00:17:30,551 LET'S LOOK AT "A" FIRST. 323 00:17:30,586 --> 00:17:35,000 THERE ARE LOTS OF LITTLE TRICKS IN THE OPAL-BUYING TRADE. 324 00:17:35,034 --> 00:17:38,758 SOME PEOPLE WILL MIX REALLY GOOD OPAL WITH CRAP OPAL 325 00:17:38,793 --> 00:17:40,448 AND THEN TRY AND ASK FOR A PREMIUM 326 00:17:40,482 --> 00:17:42,551 BECAUSE THERE'S SOME GOOD STONES IN THERE. 327 00:17:42,586 --> 00:17:46,103 THEY WILL NOT SORT THE OPAL OR CLASS THE OPAL PROPERLY, 328 00:17:46,137 --> 00:17:47,862 SO IT MAKES IT A BIT MORE CONFUSING. 329 00:17:47,896 --> 00:17:49,758 SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT, THE TOTAL? 330 00:17:49,793 --> 00:17:50,827 WE WORK OUT THE PRICE. 331 00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:53,655 WHEN I'M HOLDING THAT BAG OF OPAL, 332 00:17:53,689 --> 00:17:56,896 I PUT THE PRICE THAT I WOULD LET IT GO FOR. 333 00:17:56,931 --> 00:17:58,275 YEP. 334 00:17:58,310 --> 00:17:59,896 YOU KNOW, ANY LESS THAN THAT, 335 00:17:59,931 --> 00:18:01,413 I'D RATHER JUST KEEP IT. 336 00:18:01,448 --> 00:18:03,551 THE OPAL BUYERS ALL DO THE HEDGING 337 00:18:03,586 --> 00:18:06,344 BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BARTER WITH ME, AND I DON'T BARTER. 338 00:18:06,379 --> 00:18:08,137 I JUST GO, "NO, IT'S COOL." 339 00:18:08,172 --> 00:18:10,172 I THINK HE'S A REALLY NICE BLOKE, 340 00:18:10,206 --> 00:18:11,689 BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, 341 00:18:11,724 --> 00:18:14,758 HE'S GONNA GET THE MOST FOR HIM SO HE CAN KEEP MINING. 342 00:18:14,793 --> 00:18:16,206 YOU'VE GOT TO BE ON YOUR GAME. 343 00:18:16,241 --> 00:18:17,344 YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE 344 00:18:17,379 --> 00:18:18,482 THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET RIPPED OFF. 345 00:18:18,517 --> 00:18:21,344 YOU'VE GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW, CLUED UP ENOUGH, 346 00:18:21,379 --> 00:18:22,586 AND UNFORTUNATELY, 347 00:18:22,620 --> 00:18:25,379 I'M RIGHT AT THE ROOKIE STAGE OF THINGS 348 00:18:25,413 --> 00:18:27,965 WHERE I DON'T REALLY KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY. 349 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,724 WHAT ARE YOU THINKING FOR THE PRICE, 350 00:18:29,758 --> 00:18:31,206 AND WHAT HAVE YOU GOT ON IT? 351 00:18:31,241 --> 00:18:33,103 THAT'S WHAT IT COMES TO.$14,000? 352 00:18:33,137 --> 00:18:34,655 YEP. WHEW. 353 00:18:34,689 --> 00:18:37,896 WE CAN ROUND THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. 354 00:18:37,931 --> 00:18:41,862 IT IS QUITE -- IT IS QUITE STEEP. 355 00:18:45,965 --> 00:18:47,827 I'M NOT SURE IF I REALLY WANT TO GET IT. 356 00:18:59,896 --> 00:19:00,965 WHERE WE'RE DIGGING, 357 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,206 IF IT HAD DIPS, IT WOULD BE NICE. 358 00:19:02,241 --> 00:19:04,689 YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING MORE WOULD HAPPEN. 359 00:19:04,724 --> 00:19:06,034 YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE MONEY DOING THIS STUFF, GREG. 360 00:19:06,068 --> 00:19:08,689 WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT. 361 00:19:08,724 --> 00:19:10,862 Greg: THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. 362 00:19:10,896 --> 00:19:13,931 Narrator: WITH THEIR DRAGONFLY CLAIM NOT PAYING OFF, 363 00:19:13,965 --> 00:19:18,275 AARON AND GREG HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR OFF-GRID CAMP FOR HELP. 364 00:19:20,137 --> 00:19:25,241 TESLA CEDRIC HAS MINED IN THESE PARTS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. 365 00:19:25,275 --> 00:19:27,827 Aaron: TESLA. 366 00:19:27,862 --> 00:19:30,379 Aaron: TESLA, WE CALL HIM THE MIGHTY TESLA. 367 00:19:30,413 --> 00:19:31,931 HE'S BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME. 368 00:19:31,965 --> 00:19:33,896 TESLA. G'DAY. 369 00:19:33,931 --> 00:19:36,206 Aaron: I'VE KNOWN HIM EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. 370 00:19:36,241 --> 00:19:37,620 HE WORKED AT THE DRAGONFLY WITH DAD. 371 00:19:37,655 --> 00:19:39,379 THAT'S WHERE THEY PULLED THAT MONEY OUT, 372 00:19:39,413 --> 00:19:42,000 300,000 OR 400,000. 373 00:19:42,034 --> 00:19:43,137 A BIT OF A LEGEND. 374 00:19:43,172 --> 00:19:44,275 AH, SIT DOWN. 375 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:45,551 Narrator: AARON AND GREG 376 00:19:45,586 --> 00:19:48,379 HOPE HE CAN TELL THEM WHERE TO DIG NEXT. 377 00:19:48,413 --> 00:19:50,275 Aaron: WE'RE DOING A JOB OFF THE TOP. 378 00:19:50,310 --> 00:19:51,965 THEY'RE GETTING A BIT OF COLOR. 379 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,206 Man #2: ALRIGHT. UP AT DRAGONFLY? 380 00:19:54,241 --> 00:19:55,965 -YEAH. -OH, YEAH, YEAH. 381 00:19:58,862 --> 00:20:00,379 YOU DUG THERE A FEW TIMES, EH? 382 00:20:03,068 --> 00:20:04,655 YEAH. 383 00:20:04,689 --> 00:20:07,344 WHERE DID YOU DIG UP THERE? 384 00:20:07,379 --> 00:20:09,172 YEAH, YEAH. 385 00:20:09,206 --> 00:20:10,482 YEP. 386 00:20:13,931 --> 00:20:15,172 YEAH. 387 00:20:26,724 --> 00:20:28,068 YEAH. 388 00:20:40,103 --> 00:20:41,965 THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF STILL THERE, TOO, I RECKON. 389 00:20:45,344 --> 00:20:47,137 SEE YOU, TESLA. 390 00:20:47,172 --> 00:20:48,965 THANKS FOR POPPING IN, MATE. 391 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:50,724 SEE YOU LATER, HENRY. SEE YOU, ZAZE. 392 00:20:50,758 --> 00:20:51,896 -SEE YOU. -SEE YOU LATER. 393 00:20:51,931 --> 00:20:53,413 GOOD LUCK. 394 00:20:53,448 --> 00:20:55,275 TESLA WAS TELLING ME NO ONE HAS DUG 395 00:20:55,310 --> 00:20:56,517 THE DEEP LEVEL OUT THE FRONT. 396 00:20:56,551 --> 00:20:58,241 IT'S NEVER BEEN TOUCHED. 397 00:20:58,275 --> 00:21:00,344 THEY JUST TOOK THE SHALLOW LEVEL. 398 00:21:00,379 --> 00:21:02,758 THE DEEP LEVEL IS ALL STILL THERE, 399 00:21:02,793 --> 00:21:05,206 AND WE'RE DIGGING IT NOW. 400 00:21:05,241 --> 00:21:07,275 I'LL DRIVE. YEP. 401 00:21:07,310 --> 00:21:09,000 Narrator: WITH THE ENCOURAGING NEWS 402 00:21:09,034 --> 00:21:10,551 THAT THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT SPOT, 403 00:21:10,586 --> 00:21:13,068 THE BOYS WASTE NO TIME GETTING BACK OUT 404 00:21:13,103 --> 00:21:16,034 TO THE CLAIM AND BACK TO WORK. 405 00:21:22,068 --> 00:21:23,137 OH! 406 00:21:23,172 --> 00:21:26,344 GOLLY, LOOK, COLOR, COLOR IN THE SKIN! 407 00:21:26,379 --> 00:21:27,862 OH, LOOK AT THAT BIG DENT, 408 00:21:27,896 --> 00:21:30,137 BUT HE'S IN THE SKIN. 409 00:21:30,172 --> 00:21:32,275 NICE COLOR, TOO. 410 00:21:32,310 --> 00:21:34,275 GOOD JOB, MATE. 411 00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:35,344 IMAGINE ONE OF THEM BUILDING OUT. 412 00:21:35,379 --> 00:21:36,586 LET'S GO. 413 00:21:36,620 --> 00:21:38,034 TRYING, MATE, SHE'S TRYING. 414 00:21:38,068 --> 00:21:41,413 IS ONE OF THEM LOADED, MATE? 415 00:21:41,448 --> 00:21:43,655 PAY DAY. 416 00:21:45,620 --> 00:21:47,482 OH. 417 00:21:50,965 --> 00:21:52,344 YEAH. 418 00:21:52,379 --> 00:21:54,000 OPAL IS TRYING TO GET INTO THEM BIGGER, HARDER ROCKS. 419 00:21:54,034 --> 00:21:55,551 THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. 420 00:21:55,586 --> 00:21:56,896 HERE, MATE.KNOCK HER OUT, MATE. 421 00:21:56,931 --> 00:22:00,103 KNOCK HER OUT. 422 00:22:04,034 --> 00:22:05,793 Aaron: THAT'S OPAL MINING. 423 00:22:05,827 --> 00:22:08,275 THE GROUND HAS GOT TO MAKE A MISTAKE. 424 00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:10,172 BOULDERS, EVERYTHING HAS GOT TO BE IN THE RIGHT SPOT, 425 00:22:10,206 --> 00:22:12,551 AND THEN YOU GET ONE LOADED UP. 426 00:22:18,620 --> 00:22:19,758 YEAH. 427 00:22:34,413 --> 00:22:36,344 THESE ROCKS HERE ARE GETTING A BIT HARDER, AREN'T THEY? 428 00:22:36,379 --> 00:22:37,965 THEY ARE. 429 00:22:44,103 --> 00:22:46,034 HAVE A LOOK AT THIS, AARON! 430 00:22:46,068 --> 00:22:48,758 WHAT? OH! 431 00:22:48,793 --> 00:22:50,310 NOW THAT'S OPAL, EH? 432 00:22:51,172 --> 00:22:52,000 WOW! 433 00:22:52,034 --> 00:22:53,586 HAVE A LOOK AT THAT! 434 00:22:53,620 --> 00:22:55,482 WOW. 435 00:23:04,103 --> 00:23:05,068 HAVE A LOOK AT THIS, AARON! 436 00:23:05,103 --> 00:23:07,586 WHOA, WHAT? OH! 437 00:23:10,586 --> 00:23:12,172 HAVE A LOOK AT THAT! 438 00:23:12,206 --> 00:23:13,586 WOW. 439 00:23:14,965 --> 00:23:16,517 THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. 440 00:23:16,551 --> 00:23:19,344 LOOK AT THIS! LOOK AT THAT. 441 00:23:19,379 --> 00:23:21,000 THAT'S PROPER OPAL, MATE. 442 00:23:21,034 --> 00:23:23,241 THAT MIGHT BE THE KING STONE, EH? 443 00:23:23,275 --> 00:23:25,068 HEY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, GREG. 444 00:23:25,103 --> 00:23:26,517 YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, EH? 445 00:23:26,551 --> 00:23:28,965 PINFIRE. YOU'RE BEAUTY. 446 00:23:31,034 --> 00:23:32,344 THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL ROCK, ISN'T IT? 447 00:23:32,379 --> 00:23:34,000 LOOK AT THE PATTERN IN IT. 448 00:23:34,034 --> 00:23:35,620 NOW, THAT IS OPAL, MATE. 449 00:23:35,655 --> 00:23:36,896 THAT JUST MADE OUR DAY. 450 00:23:36,931 --> 00:23:38,862 THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. 451 00:23:38,896 --> 00:23:42,034 YOU MIGHT MOVE 100 TON OR A MILLION TONS OF SOIL, BUT... 452 00:23:42,068 --> 00:23:45,655 IT COULD BE WORTH LOADS. 453 00:23:45,689 --> 00:23:47,103 A BEAUTIFUL COLOR, ISN'T IT? 454 00:23:47,137 --> 00:23:48,655 THERE'S NO SUN, EH?THERE'S NO SUN. 455 00:23:48,689 --> 00:23:50,103 THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS OPAL IS. 456 00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:51,413 GOOD OPAL LOOKS AT YOU. 457 00:23:51,448 --> 00:23:53,655 YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT IT. BEAUTIFUL OPAL. 458 00:23:53,689 --> 00:23:56,310 WE'LL GIVE HER A SLICE LATER. 459 00:23:56,344 --> 00:23:57,724 DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU SMILE? 460 00:23:57,758 --> 00:24:00,896 THAT MAKES YOU SMILE, GREG. 461 00:24:00,931 --> 00:24:02,172 I TOLD YOU. 462 00:24:02,206 --> 00:24:04,827 YOU NEED GOOD OPAL TO MAKE ME SMILE, MATE. 463 00:24:06,827 --> 00:24:08,551 WHO'S THE LOSERS NOW? 464 00:24:08,586 --> 00:24:11,103 Greg: THAT'S RIGHT. WINNERS ARE GRINNERS. 465 00:24:14,413 --> 00:24:15,896 -HEY! -HEY! 466 00:24:20,172 --> 00:24:23,724 OH, DAD WOULD BE HAPPY NOW. HE'D BE VERY HAPPY. 467 00:24:23,758 --> 00:24:26,965 THAT'S WHERE HE WANTED US TO DIG. 468 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,862 HE'D BE PROUD OF ME, PROUD OF US. 469 00:24:30,896 --> 00:24:32,862 Narrator: KEEN TO SEE IF THE OPAL 470 00:24:32,896 --> 00:24:34,482 RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THE STONE, 471 00:24:34,517 --> 00:24:37,517 THEY HEAD BACK TO CAMP TO CUT IT OPEN. 472 00:24:37,551 --> 00:24:39,620 -YOU'RE A DREAMER. -A DREAMER. 473 00:24:42,034 --> 00:24:44,275 Aaron: IT'S GOOD TO SEE. 474 00:24:44,310 --> 00:24:45,896 IT TAKES A BURDEN OFF EVERYTHING, TOO. 475 00:24:45,931 --> 00:24:48,103 YOU GOT ONE. YOU KNOW YOU CAN KEEP GOING. 476 00:24:50,137 --> 00:24:52,724 WHEN YOU SEE THINGS LIKE THAT, IT PICKS YOU UP A BIT, EH? 477 00:24:52,758 --> 00:24:55,586 IT'S A NICE BOULDER, AND WE'RE GONNA SAW IT UP IN A MINUTE, 478 00:24:55,620 --> 00:24:58,517 AND HOPEFULLY, IT'S GOT A LOT MORE IN IT. 479 00:25:00,551 --> 00:25:03,586 I'M GONNA HAVE TO FIND MY THIN BLADE. 480 00:25:06,551 --> 00:25:08,551 AH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL COLOR, AARON. 481 00:25:08,586 --> 00:25:11,172 Narrator: THE BOYS WILL HAVE TO CUT THEIR PRECIOUS ROCKS 482 00:25:11,206 --> 00:25:14,896 USING A MASONRY CUTTER AND DIAMOND-TIPPED BLADE. 483 00:25:16,931 --> 00:25:19,931 IF THE OPAL RUNS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE STONE, 484 00:25:19,965 --> 00:25:22,551 IT COULD MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS VALUE. 485 00:25:29,517 --> 00:25:30,724 Mark: THE PROBLEM IS, 486 00:25:30,758 --> 00:25:33,103 IT'S NOT PICKING THAT UP TO LIFT THAT OFF. 487 00:25:33,137 --> 00:25:34,379 Dwayne: YEAH. 488 00:25:34,413 --> 00:25:38,068 Narrator: KELLY, MARK AND DWAYNE ARE MAROONED ABOVEGROUND 489 00:25:38,103 --> 00:25:40,793 TRYING TO FIX A HOMEMADE BLOWER 490 00:25:40,827 --> 00:25:42,862 VITAL TO SHIFT THEIR MINED EARTH. 491 00:25:42,896 --> 00:25:44,724 Kelly: YOU'VE JUST GOT TO BE A BIT OF A BUSH MECHANIC. 492 00:25:44,758 --> 00:25:46,103 YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO FIX ANYTHING, 493 00:25:46,137 --> 00:25:47,517 PATCH EVERYTHING UP AND, YOU KNOW, 494 00:25:47,551 --> 00:25:49,310 JUST KEEP IT GOING JUST TO GET IT THROUGH A BIT FURTHER. 495 00:25:49,344 --> 00:25:53,103 IF ONE THING DOESN'T GO, THEN YOU DON'T GO. 496 00:25:53,137 --> 00:25:55,931 Narrator: IT'S THE BOYS' LAST DAY ON THE OPAL HUNT 497 00:25:55,965 --> 00:25:59,758 BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR SHIFT WORK AS COAL MINERS. 498 00:26:01,862 --> 00:26:04,310 IF THEY CAN'T GET THE MACHINE REPAIRED, 499 00:26:04,344 --> 00:26:07,586 THEIR SEASON WILL STALL FOR ANOTHER WEEK. 500 00:26:07,620 --> 00:26:09,241 OH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A RUN. 501 00:26:09,275 --> 00:26:12,896 IT'S NOT RIGHT, BUT WE'LL JUST SEE HOW IT GOES. 502 00:26:29,310 --> 00:26:31,068 I THINK WE'RE ALRIGHT. 503 00:26:31,103 --> 00:26:34,034 JUST GOT TO BE A DELICATE OPERATOR. 504 00:26:34,068 --> 00:26:36,448 Narrator: THE BLOWER IS WORKING, 505 00:26:36,482 --> 00:26:38,551 BUT THEY'VE LOST VALUABLE TIME. 506 00:26:38,586 --> 00:26:41,517 THERE ARE NOW ONLY A FEW HOURS LEFT IN THE DAY. 507 00:26:41,551 --> 00:26:42,655 Kelly: PRESSURE IS ON. 508 00:26:42,689 --> 00:26:46,000 WE HAVE TO FIND IT IN HERE. 509 00:26:58,965 --> 00:27:01,379 Narrator: FINALLY, A GLIMMER OF HOPE. 510 00:27:01,413 --> 00:27:03,482 LOOK AT THE COLOR IN THAT. 511 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,275 -OH -LOOK AT THAT COLOR. 512 00:27:12,413 --> 00:27:13,413 Kelly: WHEN YOU'RE UNDERGROUND 513 00:27:13,448 --> 00:27:14,793 AND YOU GET A LITTLE FLICKER OF COLOR, 514 00:27:14,827 --> 00:27:17,655 IT'S LIKE, "HEY, HEY, HEY, HERE WE GO." 515 00:27:17,689 --> 00:27:18,931 MAN, THAT'S SOME NICE COLOR. 516 00:27:18,965 --> 00:27:21,103 SOME BEAUTIFUL COLOR. 517 00:27:21,137 --> 00:27:23,827 THAT'S WHEN YOU GET THAT LITTLE SHOT OF ADRENALINE. 518 00:27:23,862 --> 00:27:25,344 YOU THINK, "HERE SHE GOES. 519 00:27:25,379 --> 00:27:26,448 THIS IS BRILLIANT. 520 00:27:26,482 --> 00:27:27,689 I DON'T CARE IF IT TURNS TO CRAP. 521 00:27:27,724 --> 00:27:29,034 RIGHT NOW, IT'S PRETTY GOOD." 522 00:27:29,068 --> 00:27:32,793 YOO-HOO, BLOODY BEAUTIFUL. 523 00:27:32,827 --> 00:27:35,068 WILL WE GET PAID TODAY? 524 00:27:39,206 --> 00:27:41,896 Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE GOOD BLACK OPAL, 525 00:27:41,931 --> 00:27:44,689 THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE, 526 00:27:44,724 --> 00:27:49,965 WORTH AS MUCH AS $35,000 FOR A FIFTH OF A GRAM RETAIL. 527 00:27:52,172 --> 00:27:55,344 BUT ROUGH LIKE THIS, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND, 528 00:27:55,379 --> 00:27:58,275 IT COULD BE WORTH JUST 1/10 OF THAT, 529 00:27:58,310 --> 00:28:00,413 AND KELLY WILL NEED ALL HER CUTTING 530 00:28:00,448 --> 00:28:04,241 AND POLISHING SKILLS TO INCREASE THE STONE'S VALUE. 531 00:28:06,068 --> 00:28:07,448 Kelly: GOOD DAY AT THE OFFICE. 532 00:28:07,482 --> 00:28:08,413 LET'S GO. 533 00:28:08,448 --> 00:28:10,896 ALRIGHT. 534 00:28:10,931 --> 00:28:14,344 Narrator: BUT FIRST, THEY NEED TO WASH THE 20 TONS OF ROCK 535 00:28:14,379 --> 00:28:16,862 THEY'VE SUCKED UP TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPAL 536 00:28:16,896 --> 00:28:18,758 THEY'VE MISSED UNDERGROUND. 537 00:28:21,379 --> 00:28:24,862 IT COULD BE AN OPAL BONANZA 538 00:28:24,896 --> 00:28:28,000 OR JUST A WORTHLESS PILE OF ROCKS. 539 00:28:35,482 --> 00:28:39,931 IT'S A MAKE-OR-BREAK MOMENT FOR GREG AND AARON. 540 00:28:39,965 --> 00:28:41,793 WITH A DIAMOND-EDGED BLADE, 541 00:28:41,827 --> 00:28:44,103 GREG IS CUTTING THROUGH THEIR BEST ROCK 542 00:28:44,137 --> 00:28:47,517 TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE OPAL INSIDE. 543 00:28:47,551 --> 00:28:49,896 IF YOU FACE A STONE, YOU'VE GOT ONE STONE. 544 00:28:49,931 --> 00:28:52,586 IF YOU POP IT OPEN, YOU GET TO DOUBLE IT UP. 545 00:28:52,620 --> 00:28:54,206 YOU CAN GET TWICE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY. 546 00:29:01,034 --> 00:29:03,586 WATCH YOUR HAND, MAN.YEAH. 547 00:29:11,724 --> 00:29:12,965 I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A RUN. 548 00:29:15,965 --> 00:29:18,724 WOW. OH! 549 00:29:18,758 --> 00:29:22,137 OH! 550 00:29:22,172 --> 00:29:23,551 THAT'S GEM. THAT'S GEM, MATE. 551 00:29:23,586 --> 00:29:25,068 THAT'S GEM. THAT'S GEM. 552 00:29:25,103 --> 00:29:27,379 IT'S GOT A BIT OF CARAMEL POTCH, 553 00:29:27,413 --> 00:29:28,896 BUT THAT DON'T MATTER. 554 00:29:28,931 --> 00:29:31,000 THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL COLOR THOUGH. 555 00:29:31,034 --> 00:29:34,068 ISN'T IT? EVERY COLOR. 556 00:29:34,103 --> 00:29:35,482 LOOK AT THAT THERE. 557 00:29:35,517 --> 00:29:37,413 IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S RUNNING SO FAR. 558 00:29:37,448 --> 00:29:39,896 GOT A LITTLE BIT OF POTCH HERE AND THERE, 559 00:29:39,931 --> 00:29:42,482 BUT GOT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE STONES OUT OF IT. 560 00:29:42,517 --> 00:29:45,827 Narrator: THIS COULD BE THE BOYS' BIGGEST FIND FOR YEARS, 561 00:29:45,862 --> 00:29:47,275 AND THEY'RE KEEN TO GET IT VALUED. 562 00:29:47,310 --> 00:29:48,275 OH, WOW. 563 00:29:48,310 --> 00:29:49,862 THANKS, DAD. 564 00:29:49,896 --> 00:29:51,482 LEFT US 10%. 565 00:29:55,517 --> 00:29:58,862 Narrator: MARGARET GERAN IS AN OPAL CUTTER AND WHOLESALER 566 00:29:58,896 --> 00:30:01,655 WITH A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO GREG. 567 00:30:01,689 --> 00:30:03,862 MARGARET IS MY SISTER. 568 00:30:03,896 --> 00:30:07,413 Narrator: SHE'S COME TO VALUE THE BOYS' FIND. 569 00:30:07,448 --> 00:30:10,482 Greg: SHE CUTS OPAL AND SELLS IT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OR MORE. 570 00:30:10,517 --> 00:30:11,482 Margaret: THERE'S MONEY THERE. 571 00:30:11,517 --> 00:30:12,862 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CHASING. 572 00:30:12,896 --> 00:30:14,137 BEAUTIFUL. LOOK AT THAT. 573 00:30:14,172 --> 00:30:15,896 HOW MANY CARATS THERE, MY GOD? 574 00:30:15,931 --> 00:30:18,344 YOU'RE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THIS BIT? 575 00:30:18,379 --> 00:30:19,793 YEP. 576 00:30:19,827 --> 00:30:22,655 IT'S BEAUTIFUL STONE. 577 00:30:22,689 --> 00:30:25,793 I SEE TOP-QUALITY GEM CRYSTAL OPAL. 578 00:30:25,827 --> 00:30:27,586 BEAUTIFUL, BIG FACES. 579 00:30:27,620 --> 00:30:30,034 WHAT ARE YOU THINKING POTENTIALLY WE'VE GOT HERE? 580 00:30:43,758 --> 00:30:44,965 I THINK IT'S PERFECT. 581 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,448 Narrator: $80,000. 582 00:30:47,482 --> 00:30:48,758 FOR AARON AND GREG, 583 00:30:48,793 --> 00:30:50,827 IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST SINGLE FINDS 584 00:30:50,862 --> 00:30:53,206 THE BOYS HAVE MADE IN YEARS. 585 00:30:53,241 --> 00:30:54,793 IT'S A HUGE RESULT, 586 00:30:54,827 --> 00:31:00,241 BRINGING THEIR TOTAL SO FAR TO $90,000. 587 00:31:00,275 --> 00:31:01,482 Margaret: THE PATTERNS ARE THERE. 588 00:31:01,517 --> 00:31:02,965 YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE IT. YOU DON'T NEED THE SUN. 589 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:04,931 IT'S GEM. IT'S CRYSTAL. 590 00:31:04,965 --> 00:31:09,137 THIS IS WHY QUEENSLAND BOULDER OPAL IS THE BEST OPAL. 591 00:31:09,172 --> 00:31:10,551 GOOD ON YOU, GREG. NO WORRIES. 592 00:31:10,586 --> 00:31:12,517 GOOD ON YOU, MARG.NO WORRIES. 593 00:31:12,551 --> 00:31:13,517 THANK YOU, BOYS. 594 00:31:13,551 --> 00:31:16,000 IT PICKED ME UP A LITTLE BIT TODAY. 595 00:31:16,034 --> 00:31:18,689 IT PICKED ME RIGHT UP ACTUALLY. 596 00:31:18,724 --> 00:31:20,793 ONE BEER, MATE. 597 00:31:20,827 --> 00:31:22,758 ONE BEER FOR THE OPAL.ONLY ONE BEER FOR THE OPAL. 598 00:31:22,793 --> 00:31:24,206 PRETTY COLD ONE HERE WITH US, BUT... 599 00:31:24,241 --> 00:31:25,586 RIGHT, WELL DONE. 600 00:31:25,620 --> 00:31:27,689 WELL DONE, GREG.CHEERS, BIGGIE. 601 00:31:27,724 --> 00:31:29,551 THAT'S IT, CHEERS TO THE OPAL. 602 00:31:37,862 --> 00:31:39,103 Narrator: KELLY IS ON HER WAY 603 00:31:39,137 --> 00:31:43,068 TO MEET MARK AND DWAYNE AT THEIR AGITATOR. 604 00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:44,758 Kelly: WE JUST NEED SOMETHING IN THIS TAIL-OUT, 605 00:31:44,793 --> 00:31:46,379 LIKE EVEN A COUPLE THOUSAND. 606 00:31:46,413 --> 00:31:49,586 EVEN JUST TO COVER SOME FUEL WOULD BE GREAT. 607 00:31:49,620 --> 00:31:50,896 ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. 608 00:31:50,931 --> 00:31:54,413 IF THE OPAL GOD GIVES US SOMETHING, WE'LL BE HAPPY. 609 00:31:54,448 --> 00:31:56,310 Narrator: LIKE A BIG WASHING MACHINE, 610 00:31:56,344 --> 00:31:59,827 THE AGITATOR WASHES THE CLAY DIRT OFF THE STONES, 611 00:31:59,862 --> 00:32:02,068 MAKING IT EASIER TO SPOT ANY OPAL 612 00:32:02,103 --> 00:32:05,275 THEY MAY HAVE MISSED UNDERGROUND. 613 00:32:05,310 --> 00:32:08,275 Kelly: THERE'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT GOES INTO A TAIL-OUT. 614 00:32:08,310 --> 00:32:09,655 IF YOU'RE BLESSED, YOU'VE GOT OPAL, 615 00:32:09,689 --> 00:32:13,379 AND IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'VE GOT NOTHING, NADA. 616 00:32:13,413 --> 00:32:16,000 Narrator: NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. 617 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,172 Kelly: IF IT GOES DOWN THE CHUTE AND GOES OVER THE SIDE, 618 00:32:21,206 --> 00:32:22,620 IT'S GONE FOREVER, 619 00:32:22,655 --> 00:32:25,103 SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS ANYTHING. 620 00:32:27,275 --> 00:32:28,931 WE HAVE HAD TAIL-OUTS, 621 00:32:28,965 --> 00:32:31,827 3-, 4-HOUR-LONG TAIL-OUTS, NO COLOR. 622 00:32:31,862 --> 00:32:35,551 THAT'S A PRETTY HARD PILL TO SWALLOW BECAUSE YOU GET NOTHING. 623 00:32:38,103 --> 00:32:41,517 Narrator: THE TEAM ARE DOWN TO THE LAST PILE OF STONES. 624 00:32:43,724 --> 00:32:45,862 IF THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING HERE, 625 00:32:45,896 --> 00:32:49,965 THEY'LL JUST HAVE THE HALF A DOZEN STONES FOUND UNDERGROUND. 626 00:32:54,827 --> 00:32:57,034 -WHOA, WHOA. -WHOA, THAT'S AN OPAL. 627 00:32:57,068 --> 00:32:59,241 THERE'S COLOR IN HERE, NICE COLOR. 628 00:33:02,310 --> 00:33:03,448 Mark: YEAH, DEFINITELY MORE OF THEM. 629 00:33:03,482 --> 00:33:07,310 OH, OH, A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED. 630 00:33:15,896 --> 00:33:18,275 Kelly: AS SOON AS YOU SEE A BIT OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, 631 00:33:18,310 --> 00:33:20,551 INITIALLY YOU GO, "OH WOW." 632 00:33:20,586 --> 00:33:23,137 THEN YOU GET THAT LITTLE BUTTERFLIES, AND YOU THINK, 633 00:33:23,172 --> 00:33:24,827 "OH, YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT." 634 00:33:24,862 --> 00:33:28,068 AND THEN ON CLOSER INSPECTION, IT MIGHT BE FULL OF SAND, 635 00:33:28,103 --> 00:33:30,965 OR THE COLOR BAR MIGHT RUN ALL THE WAY AROUND. 636 00:33:32,862 --> 00:33:35,172 IT'S A PROBLEM I'D RATHER HAVE THAN NOT, 637 00:33:35,206 --> 00:33:37,137 IS HAVING OPAL IN A BUCKET, 638 00:33:37,172 --> 00:33:38,586 BUT THEN I LOOK AT IT, AND I THINK, 639 00:33:38,620 --> 00:33:40,862 "WELL, WHAT'S IT REALLY GONNA CUT OUT OF IT?" 640 00:33:40,896 --> 00:33:43,758 Narrator: 20 TONS OF DIRT HAS BEEN REDUCED 641 00:33:43,793 --> 00:33:46,827 TO JUST A HANDFUL OF STONES. 642 00:33:46,862 --> 00:33:49,206 KELLY HAS ONE LAST PLAY 643 00:33:49,241 --> 00:33:51,965 TO BOOST THEIR TALLY FOR THE WEEK. 644 00:33:54,482 --> 00:33:56,965 IN MINTABIE, ROOKIE MINER JUSTIN 645 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,793 IS TRYING TO BUY A PACKET OF ROUGH OPAL, 646 00:33:59,827 --> 00:34:03,448 HOPING HE CAN POLISH IT AND SELL IT ON AT A PROFIT. 647 00:34:06,344 --> 00:34:09,172 BUT JAMIE IS DRIVING A HARD BARGAIN. 648 00:34:09,206 --> 00:34:13,551 HE'S ASKED FOR $14,000 FOR 3 PARCELS. 649 00:34:16,620 --> 00:34:18,862 IF YOU CAN TAKE $12,000, I'LL DO IT. 650 00:34:23,689 --> 00:34:24,862 Jamie: I CAN'T REALLY, MAN. 651 00:34:24,896 --> 00:34:27,379 I CAN'T GO ANY LESS THAN $13,000. 652 00:34:29,413 --> 00:34:33,655 I'VE ALREADY DROPPED A LOAD OFF OF THESE. 653 00:34:33,689 --> 00:34:35,275 I WOULD LOVE IT FOR LESS. 654 00:34:37,862 --> 00:34:39,551 ALRIGHT. I'LL MEET YOU IN THE MIDDLE... 655 00:34:43,034 --> 00:34:45,172 ...$12,500. 656 00:34:45,206 --> 00:34:48,689 12.5? YEP. 657 00:34:48,724 --> 00:34:50,448 ALRIGHT. I THINK WE'VE GOT A DEAL. 658 00:34:50,482 --> 00:34:52,000 ALRIGHT. $12,500. 659 00:34:52,034 --> 00:34:53,379 DEAL. SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU. 660 00:34:53,413 --> 00:34:54,793 THANK YOU. THANKS, JEFF. 661 00:34:54,827 --> 00:34:57,034 Narrator: $12,500 662 00:34:57,068 --> 00:35:00,137 FOR THREE PARCELS OF RARE MINTABIE OPAL 663 00:35:00,172 --> 00:35:03,413 WEIGHING 48 OUNCES. 664 00:35:03,448 --> 00:35:05,068 UNICORN 665 00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:06,551 UNICORN? 666 00:35:06,586 --> 00:35:08,620 RARE, MATE, RARE AS. 667 00:35:08,655 --> 00:35:10,172 Justin: I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK HOME 668 00:35:10,206 --> 00:35:11,448 AND GET IT ON THE CUTTING WHEELS 669 00:35:11,482 --> 00:35:13,310 AND JUST TO START SEEING WHAT THESE STONES 670 00:35:13,344 --> 00:35:15,931 ARE GONNA SHOW UP AS. 671 00:35:15,965 --> 00:35:17,896 EARLY ESTIMATES, I THINK, I DEFINITELY 672 00:35:17,931 --> 00:35:20,482 WILL MAKE MY MONEY BACK, SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE A LOSS. 673 00:35:20,517 --> 00:35:22,862 IT COST ME $12,500, AND I'M GONNA TRY 674 00:35:22,896 --> 00:35:24,862 AND TURN IT INTO $40,000 AS A MINIMUM. 675 00:35:32,758 --> 00:35:34,586 Narrator: BACK IN COOBER PEDY, 676 00:35:34,620 --> 00:35:36,896 JUSTIN IS KEEN TO SHOW OFF HIS STASH 677 00:35:36,931 --> 00:35:39,310 TO MENTOR JOHN DUNSTAN. 678 00:35:41,310 --> 00:35:43,827 Justin: TWO C's AND TWO B's. 679 00:35:50,172 --> 00:35:52,413 OH, I SEE. 680 00:35:52,448 --> 00:35:54,310 HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THIS? 681 00:35:54,344 --> 00:35:56,000 $12,500. 682 00:35:58,655 --> 00:35:59,862 BIT TOO DEEP? 683 00:35:59,896 --> 00:36:02,965 OH, MATE, 684 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,931 IF YOU BOUGHT THIS OPAL TO RESELL IT 685 00:36:04,965 --> 00:36:08,517 AND MAKE A QUICK TURNOVER, YOU'D LOSE MONEY. 686 00:36:08,551 --> 00:36:11,103 OH, REALLY? WOW. 687 00:36:11,137 --> 00:36:14,758 THERE'S NOTHING JUMPING OUT AT ME HERE. 688 00:36:14,793 --> 00:36:18,034 IT'S ALL LOW-GRADE STUFF. 689 00:36:18,068 --> 00:36:19,758 Justin: NO, I DIDN'T FEEL VERY GOOD HEARING 690 00:36:19,793 --> 00:36:22,793 THAT THE PARCEL WASN'T WORTH AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT, 691 00:36:22,827 --> 00:36:24,413 BUT I FELT UNDER PRESSURE 692 00:36:24,448 --> 00:36:27,551 BECAUSE I DROVE ALL THAT WAY UP THERE TO GET THE OPAL. 693 00:36:27,586 --> 00:36:29,310 A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF 694 00:36:29,344 --> 00:36:31,827 THAT I PROBABLY DIDN'T SEE THE SIGNS. 695 00:36:31,862 --> 00:36:34,586 John: IF YOU BUY THREE OR FOUR OPAL PARCELS, 696 00:36:34,620 --> 00:36:36,413 ONE WILL BE A DUD, 697 00:36:36,448 --> 00:36:38,551 SO THE OTHERS HAVE TO COVER FOR IT. 698 00:36:38,586 --> 00:36:40,620 THAT'S NORMALLY HOW IT GOES, 699 00:36:40,655 --> 00:36:43,034 SO JUSTIN HAS JUST BOUGHT A DUD. 700 00:36:43,068 --> 00:36:45,689 YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE BUYING OPAL, 701 00:36:45,724 --> 00:36:48,310 YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF WINNERS, 702 00:36:48,344 --> 00:36:50,137 AND YOU HAVE A LOSER. 703 00:36:50,172 --> 00:36:51,793 THEY'RE NOT ALL WINNERS. YEAH. 704 00:36:51,827 --> 00:36:55,586 SO THIS ONE IS... I'D CLASS IT AS A LOSER. 705 00:36:55,620 --> 00:36:58,068 PERSONALLY WITH JAMIE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WOULD GO, 706 00:36:58,103 --> 00:37:00,344 "OH, I DON'T TRUST HIM ANYMORE," BUT, NO, I THINK FOR ME 707 00:37:00,379 --> 00:37:02,896 TO BE ABLE TO LEARN THE ROPES OF THIS INDUSTRY, 708 00:37:02,931 --> 00:37:05,137 I'VE GOT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF BLUES NOW AND AGAIN. 709 00:37:05,172 --> 00:37:07,275 I HAD TO MAKE A QUICK SPLIT-SECOND DECISION, 710 00:37:07,310 --> 00:37:10,517 SAY YES OR NO, AND I SAID YES, AND IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH, 711 00:37:10,551 --> 00:37:11,896 BUT I WANTED THAT OPAL, 712 00:37:11,931 --> 00:37:14,551 AND I WASN'T GONNA LEAVE MINTABIE WITHOUT IT. 713 00:37:14,586 --> 00:37:17,724 Narrator: JUSTIN'S FIRST FORAY INTO OPAL BUYING 714 00:37:17,758 --> 00:37:19,517 WILL BRING IN ZERO PROFIT, 715 00:37:19,551 --> 00:37:25,758 AND HE'S NO CLOSER TO THIS SEASON'S SOLO TARGET OF $75,000. 716 00:37:25,793 --> 00:37:28,689 Justin: EVEN IF I WAS BROKE ON THE BONES OF MY ASS 717 00:37:28,724 --> 00:37:30,689 AND I COULD JUST AFFORD A PICK AND A SHOVEL, 718 00:37:30,724 --> 00:37:32,310 WELL, I'D DIG HOLES BY HAND. 719 00:37:40,034 --> 00:37:42,827 Kelly: JUST GONNA TRIM HIM UP AND MAKE HIM A BIT BETTER SHAPE, 720 00:37:42,862 --> 00:37:44,482 MAXIMIZE THE PROFIT, 721 00:37:44,517 --> 00:37:47,827 THE LESS YOU GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE TO WHINGE ABOUT IT 722 00:37:47,862 --> 00:37:49,344 AND REVEAL HOW... LOOK AT THAT. 723 00:37:49,379 --> 00:37:50,551 IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN. 724 00:37:50,586 --> 00:37:53,206 ...HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS, THE BETTER PRICE, 725 00:37:53,241 --> 00:37:55,551 IN THEORY, YOU SHOULD GET. 726 00:37:55,586 --> 00:37:57,275 Narrator: IN LIGHTNING RIDGE, 727 00:37:57,310 --> 00:38:01,275 KELLY'S HARD WORK HAS PRODUCED SOME PROMISING OPAL. 728 00:38:03,206 --> 00:38:04,793 Kelly: THERE'S ANOTHER NICE LITTLE CRYSTAL IN HERE 729 00:38:04,827 --> 00:38:06,448 I'VE GOT TO FIND. 730 00:38:09,241 --> 00:38:11,034 I'M QUITE SURPRISED AT THIS. IT'S QUITE NICE. 731 00:38:11,068 --> 00:38:14,413 THAT'S A NICE STONE, GOT A NICE ROLL COLOR-WISE. 732 00:38:14,448 --> 00:38:15,862 THIS ONE HAD A BIT OF SAND IN IT, 733 00:38:15,896 --> 00:38:17,413 AND I THOUGHT IT WASN'T GONNA COME OUT, 734 00:38:17,448 --> 00:38:19,344 BUT IT'S, YEAH, COME OUT NOT TOO BAD. 735 00:38:19,379 --> 00:38:22,827 JELLYBEAN, DEFORMED JELLYBEAN. 736 00:38:22,862 --> 00:38:24,655 ALRIGHT. I'VE GOT TO BAG IT UP. 737 00:38:26,965 --> 00:38:29,000 RIGHT, COLE, YOU BETTER PAY FOR THIS PARCEL 738 00:38:29,034 --> 00:38:30,655 BECAUSE I'M COMING TO GET YOU. 739 00:38:33,206 --> 00:38:35,793 Narrator: KELLY'S PARCEL OF 21 STONES 740 00:38:35,827 --> 00:38:38,827 IS MAINLY MEDIUM-VALUE CRYSTAL OPAL 741 00:38:38,862 --> 00:38:43,586 OF VARYING COLOR WITH A FEW EXPENSIVE BLACK OPALS. 742 00:38:43,620 --> 00:38:46,724 THEY'RE RUBBED CLEAN, BUT THEY'RE SMALL. 743 00:38:46,758 --> 00:38:50,827 FOR KELLY'S HAUL THIS WEEK, SHE'S HOPING TO GET $7,000 744 00:38:50,862 --> 00:38:54,310 FOR THE LOT FROM LOCAL BUYER COLE BABBAGE. 745 00:38:55,827 --> 00:38:57,137 THERE'S A COUPLE OF NICE RUBS THERE. 746 00:38:57,172 --> 00:39:00,275 THEY'RE REASONABLY CLEAN, TOO. 747 00:39:00,310 --> 00:39:02,310 I'M NOT FEELING BIG DOLLARS YET. 748 00:39:09,931 --> 00:39:11,344 I DON'T KNOW. 749 00:39:11,379 --> 00:39:12,551 THERE'S SOME NICE COLOR. 750 00:39:12,586 --> 00:39:15,896 I'M NOT SEEING A LOT OF MEAT IN THERE THOUGH. 751 00:39:15,931 --> 00:39:17,965 I RECKON 5,000 BUCKS PULLS IT UP. 752 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:19,034 THAT'S WHAT I RECKON. 753 00:39:19,068 --> 00:39:21,172 ALRIGHT. 754 00:39:21,206 --> 00:39:23,034 WE WERE HOPING FOR $7,000. 755 00:39:23,068 --> 00:39:27,103 YEAH, $7,000 IS GOING, UNFORTUNATELY, 756 00:39:27,137 --> 00:39:29,896 A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHAT I WAS THINKING. 757 00:39:29,931 --> 00:39:33,000 YEAH, THROW ME OUT YOUR BEST PRICE. 758 00:39:33,034 --> 00:39:35,344 $5,500, $6,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 759 00:39:35,379 --> 00:39:38,862 IS THAT A $5,500 OR A $6,000? 760 00:39:38,896 --> 00:39:41,000 I'LL GO $6,000. 761 00:39:43,137 --> 00:39:45,068 YEAH. ALRIGHT. OKAY. 762 00:39:45,103 --> 00:39:47,758 ALRIGHT, 6 GRAND. PUT IT THERE. 763 00:39:47,793 --> 00:39:49,758 THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. 764 00:39:49,793 --> 00:39:56,103 Narrator: KELLY'S SALE BRINGS HER TOTAL SO FAR UP TO $28,000. 765 00:39:56,137 --> 00:39:58,482 YEAH, WELL, WE'VE MOVED IT ON. 766 00:39:58,517 --> 00:40:00,551 PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WOULD HAVE LIKED A LITTLE BIT MORE, 767 00:40:00,586 --> 00:40:03,068 BUT HE'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT AND BEEN BUYING 768 00:40:03,103 --> 00:40:04,517 AND COMING CLOSE TO OUR MARK, 769 00:40:04,551 --> 00:40:07,448 SO HAD TO TURN IT OVER, SO, YEAH, DONE. 770 00:40:07,482 --> 00:40:10,896 WE'VE COVERED COSTS, SO THAT'S THE MAIN THING. 771 00:40:10,931 --> 00:40:13,931 OPAL MINING TO ME IS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. 772 00:40:13,965 --> 00:40:16,413 WHILE IT SHOWS YOU THAT LITTLE BIT OF BEAUTIFUL COLOR 773 00:40:16,448 --> 00:40:18,206 AND EXPOSES ITSELF TO YOU, YOU JUST GO, 774 00:40:18,241 --> 00:40:19,793 "YEAH, THIS IS BRILLIANT. 775 00:40:19,827 --> 00:40:21,034 I DON'T CARE IF IT TURNS TO CRAP. 776 00:40:21,068 --> 00:40:24,034 RIGHT NOW, IT'S PRETTY GOOD." 776 00:40:25,305 --> 00:41:25,854 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm