"Outback Opal Hunters" Instant Noodles

1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,319 MATHEW: Ooh! This is the life of an opal-miner. 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:10,159 I mean, if we've got no money coming in and no prospects, 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,279 then sometimes you've gotta take a little bit more risk. 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,519 Jesus, right in the entrance. 5 00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:22,159 Okay. Ooh-h-h. 6 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:24,999 Wa-hey! 7 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:27,919 Right. 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,319 COZZA: Oh, man! Get out! 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:39,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,159 COZZA: It's still dropping in there. That's not safe. 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,119 Sorry, man. I just had to check that one slice. 12 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,439 Our lives aren't worth a bit of opal 13 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,039 or in this case a bit of gypsum, mate. 14 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,159 So, we're here at our Lunatic black opal mine. 15 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,279 The last win we know about was $14 million plus. 16 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,599 So that's why we spent all our money last year to open this mine up... 17 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,079 ...to give ourselves the best chance at one big win, 18 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,559 but we've picked one of the worst spots for a tunnel. 19 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,159 Let's get out of here. We'll have to come back with some serious money or some serious machines. 20 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,359 NARRATOR: Andamooka, South Australia. 21 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:31,679 In 1872 this sparse landscape was an outback sheep station. 22 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,079 Then everything changed in 1930 23 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,839 with the discovery of opal. 24 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:47,879 For nearly a century fortune-hunters have braved the scorching outback sun 25 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,519 in search of the rainbow gem. 26 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,159 This season target is $200,000, so hopefully we can hit that target. 27 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,279 Things are getting more and more difficult. 28 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,679 I know there's a big win around the corner. 29 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,039 Just a matter of whether we can make it happen before we go broke. 30 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,279 Struggling to earn a stable income from mining, 31 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,719 brothers Matt and Cozza Kathagen, the Mooka Boys, 32 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,959 have been looking to expand. 33 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,159 Right, here's the old Mobil. 34 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,719 An idea of a one-stop opal-miners' shop has been in my head for years now. 35 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,199 I could see a big Mooka Boys Headquarters sign up top there. 36 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,039 That'd be great. That'd be excellent. 37 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,879 So, I think it's time to get the shop going. 38 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,399 Mate, it's perfect. Look, there's even an old picture of Andamooka sitting right there ready. 39 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,079 What we really want to do is offer a business up that helps new miners. 40 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,239 I mean, we know better than anybody how hard it is to start this industry off. 41 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,519 There's no training. It's hard getting information out of anybody. 42 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,519 They don't want to give up their secrets. 43 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,359 There's an old kitchen out the back with ventilation. 44 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,879 Perfect to turn into a cutting room, bruv.Yeah. 45 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:57,799 So much room for more opal-miners. 46 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,359 We want to set up a shop where people can come 47 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,039 and use the equipment they need to see what they've got. 48 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,999 We've got all this space to put opal and artwork up here. 49 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,359 And then maybe they can work with us so we can all make a profit. 50 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,119 Yeah, so, I don't know what to do now. 51 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,799 Noodler, noodler, noodler. We did not leave that in a good condition. 52 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:18,639 It broke down last time we were there. 53 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:20,839 I can't even remember what happened. 54 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,159 Look, we've got 4.5 grand cash in our pockets. 55 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,199 That's all the kitty we've got right now. 56 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,879 We can spend that in three days on diesel if we want to dig another hole. 57 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,839 Yeah. 58 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:34,559 If we go put this money into the noodler, 59 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:36,599 just hope to God it's all gonna work out. 60 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:42,759 So, a noodler machine is a machine that we use to process pay-dirt, 61 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,199 and then we run all the opal through a dark room with UV lights, 62 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,159 so it's really easy to see the opal. 63 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,639 You just pluck it off the belt as it comes through. 64 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,959 It's a very efficient way of getting through all the old piles here. 65 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:58,279 That's right, the alternator broke off, didn't it? hell. 66 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,399 It's been a while. Look, even the welding's a bit rusty. 67 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,919 All right, so really it's just a weld job. 68 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,039 All right. We'll get this started, and then we can actually power up the plant. 69 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,799 See what other jobs we've got to get done then.Yeah. 70 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:22,319 Hey, Luca. We've got purple over there. 71 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,239 LUCA: Yeah.And we've got green here and green over there. 72 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,719 And green there. What's your favourite colour? 73 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,039 Hah. Right now I'd say it's green. Right. 74 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,319 If you see something, you'll yell out, won't you?Yeah. 75 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,279 Looks like another bit of red on that.I like the sound of that. 76 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,279 At Turner's Rush claim the Cheals - 77 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,359 Chris, his daughter Luca, 78 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,839 son Rory, and mining partner Mark Bressan... 79 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,959 MARK: About there? Yeah, have a crack. 80 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,439 ...are fighting on two fronts 81 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,839 at their open cut and underground mine. 82 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,519 All right to keep going? Yeah, yeah. 83 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,639 So far we've found 225,000. 84 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,239 Oh. Look at this one. 85 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,559 Considering our target's half a mill 86 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,879 we've still got a bit of a ways to go, 87 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,759 so, yeah, we can't quite sit back and put our feet up yet. 88 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,319 We've still got a lot of hard work to do. 89 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,559 It's all well and good when the opal's coming in, 90 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,039 but if the opal stops coming, then quite quickly you can be... 91 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,959 pretty stressed out and going backward. 92 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,239 So, we've got lots of gear. Running generators. 93 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,279 We're digging underground and the open cut at the same time. 94 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,279 You can't run this stuff on thin air. 95 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,719 The longer it goes and you're not getting opal, 96 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,279 or the bigger the breakdowns you've got, yeah, there's some sleepless nights. 97 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,999 Think the colour was coming just a bit higher, wasn't it? Yeah, potentially. 98 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,799 Sort of split, though, 99 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,559 where the head of the digger came over it. 100 00:06:02,840 --> 00:06:06,399 Ooh, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo. Not bad, eh? 101 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,159 That's looking good. It's looking great. 102 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,039 That's it. It's what we're here for. 103 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,039 Erm, I had this, sort of, just hanging out the wall. 104 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,919 It is beautiful green, innit? It is beautiful green. 105 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,679 Yeah, I'm liking that. 106 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,999 You know how we were gonna chuck this in?Yeah. 107 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,039 That trace is better than that. We might... 108 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,119 We're already loading the truck. Okay.Yeah. 109 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,559 We've decided we're gonna wash it, so we've just loaded the truck 110 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,799 and we're about to take it up to the agi. 111 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,119 The Cheals' agitator wash-plant 112 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:51,479 is a converted cement-mixer fed by a conveyor belt. 113 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,159 Tonnes of mined rock is tumbled with water inside the barrel 114 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,399 for 12 hours to wash off the clay and dirt 115 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,919 and expose any opal. 116 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,639 We're hoping to set up multiple machines this year on our new wash-plant site. 117 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,999 So once we get the two rolling... 118 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,239 we should be pretty well underway to try and get this year's target. 119 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,359 You know, the boys are working hard on the jewellery side of stuff. 120 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,119 The kids, they come up with the idea of us going direct to the customer and setting jewellery, 121 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,599 and, yeah, I'm backing 'em 100 per cent. 122 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,039 Quite the contrast, isn't it? You know, we're out here 123 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,999 in the dust and the wind and the mozzies and the blowflies, 124 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,599 and it's funny that all that ends up over there as something so beautiful and elegant. 125 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,999 There's pressure there because we've got to come up with the opal and it's a bit of a worry. 126 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,319 Really good to be able to build the foundations of an opal business, 127 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,479 but to keep an opal business alive we need to keep finding opal. 128 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:01,599 It's just full of all this crap. 129 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,719 Well, that's all, folks. 130 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,159 We got nothing. 131 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,919 Oh, well. Ah, well, it is what it is. 132 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,519 We've just got to cop it on the chin and find a way to keep going. 133 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,679 The plan is to move the excavator from Black Flag out to Digger's Gully. 134 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,519 So, the truck's coming real soon. 135 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,319 It's definitely not easy moving a machine this big. 136 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,519 Um... Problem is it's pretty wide. 137 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,999 Needs oversized gear to make sure we get all the tracks onto the trailer. 138 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:02,919 So specialist transport. 139 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,959 Not that many of them around, certainly coming past Coober Pedy. 140 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:07,919 Dan!Yo! I think the truck's coming. 141 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,199 Yeah, copy, Dave. 142 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,679 Just swing around and you'll see some rubber mats. Wherever suits you. 143 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,639 I need the keys. Have you got the keys? 144 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,559 I haven't got the keys. You're in charge of the keys. 145 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,119 Um...Where did you have them last? 146 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,439 Well, I seen 'em at home. Let me just check. 147 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,799 Dan has lost the keys before. 148 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,159 Nah. They're not in there. They must be in the car. 149 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,199 I found it!Where? In the glove box.What? 150 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,719 In the bloody glove box? I don't leave 'em there. 151 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,759 You're not blaming me for losing the keys. 152 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,119 Apparently I got blamed for that, but, anyway, we found the keys. 153 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,679 Bit of a delay but we're back on track now. 154 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,959 Cheers, bud. I appreciate this. How you going? Nice to meet you. 155 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,519 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 156 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,119 A desolate, sun-scorched landscape 157 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,559 that hides the world's largest deposits of opal. 158 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:09,279 You'll drive it on? Yep. All set to load. 159 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,639 After a huge $55,000 start to their season... 160 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,159 That's what I was hoping. 161 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,519 ...the Opal Lovers, Renee Everest... 162 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,159 Yeah, I'm nervous watching Dan drive the excavator on. 163 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,039 ...and Dan Measey... 164 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:24,719 I can't quite see a line. 165 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,599 ...have exhausted their Black Flag claim 166 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:33,079 and are moving their entire operation 15 kilometres to Digger's Gully. 167 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,759 If Dan gets a little bit to the left or a little bit to the right, 168 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,759 the excavator can fall off the truck. 169 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,519 It's so dangerous. 170 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:55,399 That looks like she's on! 171 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,159 This moving of my machine can make me nervous 172 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,519 'cause of the weight, the height, the width. 173 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,679 It's a very short trip today. We've only got to move it about 15 Ks, 174 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,559 but that's 1,500 bucks, so not cheap. 175 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,559 Copy, Dave. I assume that corrugation's not really good for you, eh? 176 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,679 Thanks, man. 177 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,319 I'll block the road with the car. If anything's coming fast 178 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,959 and hasn't seen you, get off the road. 179 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,839 It's coming a bit fast, actually. I hope it slows down. 180 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,919 Ooh, maybe it isn't. 181 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,199 So excited that we're back. Get some opal-mining happening. 182 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,519 Have you got the key, Dan? Yeah, I got the key this time. 183 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,719 He's easy to stir up. 184 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:14,279 This is Digger's Gully field. We're back here 'cause she's done well for us over the years. 185 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,199 Nice thick ground to dig nice opal. 186 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:21,279 We've found opal here up to $1,500-$1,800 an ounce, so... 187 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,039 The type of crystal that just burns your eyes out, nearly. 188 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,239 Thanks, Dave, mate. Appreciate that. 189 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:34,999 Ah, looks like he's got bogged. 190 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,919 We'll get the excavator. You want to go back or forward? 191 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:47,199 Is he bogged? Yeah. It's another hold-up, but we've got to get him out. 192 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:51,119 Oh! Had the moment of relief we're here 193 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,119 and now there's another hold-up with the truck getting bogged. 194 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,719 COZZA: Here he comes. MATHEW: Oh, here he is, mate. You beauty. 195 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,719 How you going, mate? Thanks for coming.No worries. What seems to be your issue? 196 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:21,759 We've got a bit of a "alternator didn't want to stay on" issue.Oh. 197 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,999 Just snapped off its bracket, man, right here. 198 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,199 Probably be easy enough just to weld it where it is. Yep. Sweet. 199 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,239 That'd be good, bro. If we can get this fired up, 200 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:31,999 we can fire up the noodler.Yep. 201 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,479 We're good with just about everything, but we can't be good at everything. 202 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:39,199 So we called Jarrod here today - he's a much better welder than we are - 203 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,759 to come help us out today and try and weld this alternator back on. 204 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,079 Second cousin to Matty and Cozza. My dad's their cousin. 205 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:47,879 I moved over a few years ago 206 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,359 and just help them out whenever they need some help with the opal. 207 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,319 You won't get paid until we get some stones out of the noodler. Yeah. 208 00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:00,559 Are you happy to do this job if we give you the first few stones? Yeah, that should be all right. 209 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,559 NARRATOR: At their Hallion Hill claim 210 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,479 the Mooka Boys are trying to revive an ancient noodling machine 211 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:15,679 to process the opal-bearing dirt they've stockpiled from three mines. 212 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,639 Cozzie and I decided to take a bit of a detour, 213 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,639 invest what money we've got into this noodler, get it running. 214 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,119 I mean, without this we're down to buckets and and picks again, 215 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,759 so, yeah, it's really valuable to the Mooka Boys right now. 216 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,799 The main components of the machine is basically the hopper end - 217 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,519 that's where we fill up the dirt. 218 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,399 That travels through to a screening process. 219 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:43,359 It's like a big vibrator screen that sorts all the sizes out with a belt in front of it. 220 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,839 It goes into the dark room with UV lights 221 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,679 so it's really easy to see the opal. 222 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,439 You just pluck it off the belt as it comes through. 223 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,599 You ready to roll, bro?Yep. 224 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,239 Let's get ready to rumble. 225 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:59,639 Here goes nothing.Yep. Take the lid off.Rog-gee. 226 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,799 It's an old Kloeckner-Humboldt German diesel engine, 227 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,279 and we've got about a 13-kilovolt generator on the back. 228 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,399 Pretty serious electricity comes out of it. 229 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,959 Could absolutely kill you if you get it earthing through your bodies. 230 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,479 Hey. 231 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,639 Yeah!Ha-ha! 232 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,599 Let's go. 233 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,119 It's been a couple of years since we've fired up this noodler. 234 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,879 We've got a lot of moving parts so we're gonna have to go over it 235 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,439 and make sure everything's running properly before we throw some dirt in. 236 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,119 Off we go. All right, the table's on. 237 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,039 Sweet. 238 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,639 Here comes the material! 239 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,959 Yeah, one of the biggest problems we have, 240 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,679 we've got a sliding door that controls the feed. 241 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,559 If it's too far up, too much will come out 242 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,479 and block everything up at the top end. 243 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,319 If it's too far down, every little rock jams it. 244 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,359 You're constantly trying to dig 'em out. 245 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,079 Yeah, we just had a big rock drop through. 246 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,039 If we let this keep going, it'll burn the belt out up top there in the motor. 247 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,679 Cozzie, shut that feed down, mate. What was that, buddy? 248 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:47,119 Shut the feed belt down, mate. Shut the hopper down. What was that? Turn it on? 249 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,599 Turn it off.Yeah, I have turned that conveyor off. 250 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,919 ...useless. Is it off? Yeah, the conveyor's off.Yeah. 251 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,679 Yeah, originally this machine was built with a hydraulic ram 252 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,639 that Cozzie could control inside the box 253 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,039 but over the years the hydraulic pump has just worn itself out, 254 00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:09,879 so I've got to do everything manually with this bar. 255 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:14,559 Oh, mate, if I don't get this right, 256 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,479 this door could come down and chop my bloody fingers off. 257 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,319 All right. 258 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:25,679 It tries to turn and then it just won't turn. 259 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,239 It's like everything's jammed, but I can't find one thing jammed anywhere. 260 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,839 me! There's too much going on it. 261 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:39,879 Argh! 262 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,639 that. 263 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,879 If we don't get this thing going, then we're kind of out of options, mate. 264 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,039 We don't have much money. 265 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:58,479 Yeah, I don't know, mate. Might be the end for us. 266 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:12,319 Put this hole down here. Nine-inch prospecting hole. 267 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,359 We drilled up a lot of material here. You can see potch in the wall there. 268 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:20,199 Basically it gives you something to dig to underground. It's a guide. 269 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,399 And it gives you a target to work towards. 270 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:27,919 Hey, Luca, can you just spot this for us up here, please?Sure. 271 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,799 Colour in there? Looks like there could be a little, tiny sliver of red. 272 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,679 The tiniest, tiniest bit in there. 273 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:48,119 I don't even know whether you'd call that... It's not gonna feed Buster tonight. 274 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,199 We've had a pretty good run. And the good times don't last for ever, too, 275 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,799 so in the back of my mind I'm always thinking, "Hey, you know, this is... 276 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,359 "This could end, you know, it could end this week." 277 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,439 Rory and I will just continue on digging here in the trench, 278 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,679 see if we can come across a bit more colour. 279 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,599 It's just teasing us at the moment. 280 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,839 Just little bits and pieces. Just little bits and pieces, so... 281 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,199 Hopefully, yeah, we'll come into a big pocket sooner or later, but... 282 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:20,759 ...that's a maybe, so see what happens. 283 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,599 Yeah, there's still potch here. I can see it from here. 284 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,519 So, is that trying to turn green? No, it doesn't look like it. 285 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,159 Yeah, right-o. Oh, there's more potch down here. 286 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,239 It's missing the colour. 287 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,359 I think we will just get all this dirt out. 288 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,479 You haven't driven that bogger for months. 289 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,959 Remember how to drive it? I think I'll work it out. 290 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,039 So, the bogger, yeah, it's pretty much like a toy car, to be honest. 291 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,559 It's like playing a video game. You use these little levers here. 292 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,919 It can have a mind of its own. 293 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,959 She was on that bogger all year last year, and didn't take her long. 294 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:20,199 It's just like riding a bike, eh? Never forget how. 295 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,319 Bit like Buster, it runs all around and can get in the way sometimes. 296 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,559 She's doing a good job, isn't she, Buster? 297 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:44,119 The bogger clears up all the dirt that we dig from the face 298 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:48,679 and then dumps it into the bucket, which then goes up the hoist into the truck. 299 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,039 Having Luca here on the job to help me, 300 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:58,519 it's one of the joys of the job, because I get to work with her and she's learning new skills. 301 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,519 Come over this way a little, Luca. 302 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,319 Nothing fazes Luca. She doesn't get rattled at all. 303 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,079 You know, she lost her right-hand index finger. It got cut off. 304 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:09,919 She was only two years old. 305 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,719 And they flew her to Sydney and they sewed it back on and saved it... 306 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,399 ...and she did not cry once, so she's as tough as they come. 307 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,519 Nothing in that? 308 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,519 No. No colour there. 309 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:42,359 Come on. 310 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,199 All the time the colour just comes and goes. 311 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,519 It's there and then it's just gone, you know.Not ideal. 312 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,599 We're gonna call it a day. 313 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,199 DAN: That'll give us a bit of pulling power. 314 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,359 The truck is bogged. All good to go? 315 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,159 It's really urgent. He's spent all morning helping us and he's running late now. 316 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,119 Starting now to put some tension on. 317 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,559 Nice and slow. 318 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,919 Right-o. Stop, stop. 319 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,479 Looks like it's worked. That's a relief. 320 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,159 I owe you one.Cheers, bud. 321 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:33,959 Should have charged him 1,500 for getting him out of that. 322 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,159 Digger's Gully opal's waiting. Let's get it out. 323 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,239 Back at Digger's! It's great. That's it. Back where Dad and I started. 324 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,999 Mm. 325 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,479 This is where the money is. This will make us. 326 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,919 Digger's Gully is very special to me. 327 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,559 Where Dad and I, working together, found our first reasonable-size money. 328 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:06,999 Dan and his dad had a bit of a go mining this claim about 20 years ago. 329 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,799 They found about $40,000's worth. 330 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,919 Dad was definitely addicted to opal and loved opal. 331 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,599 He mined it on and off for 50 years at least, 332 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,999 so from an early age I caught the bug, 333 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,039 from Dad's experience and also Mum's. 334 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,799 Growing up in Coober Pedy, I guess you could say it was rough and ready 335 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,559 but it was brilliant and I loved it. 336 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,959 Initially my attraction to opal was probably pocket money, 337 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,519 but as I got to find and see more opal 338 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,639 it was just the brilliance and the depth of the opal that really caught me. 339 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,639 The plan is to get the excavator up and going. 340 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,519 Dan's just doing maintenance work on it at the moment. 341 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,639 The flies are really bad this season... 342 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,999 ...and it's only early in the season, as well. 343 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,479 I'm just having a little bit of a prospect, 344 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,439 a bit of a fossick around and see if I can find anything. 345 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:06,559 Oh, look at this. Oh, my God. Dan! 346 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,239 Dan, I reckon I found some opal! Over there? 347 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,199 Yeah! 348 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,359 Where's that from? Just up on the dump there. 349 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,439 So we might have missed a heap of stuff. 350 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,119 Look at that.That's a shell. 351 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:22,999 NARRATOR: Millions of years ago 352 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:27,279 Coober Pedy was covered by the inland Eromanga Sea. 353 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:30,839 Over time, shells decomposed in the sea-bed, 354 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,119 leaving voids for silica-rich water to fill, 355 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,919 eventually hardening to form opal. 356 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,639 We can't leave that sitting there. 357 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:41,759 Look how big the dump is. I can't go to sleep 358 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,079 thinking that there could be shells in there. We've got to try it. 359 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,519 Dan's gonna organise a noodler for us 360 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,039 and we're gonna noodle that whole big pile of dirt. 361 00:24:57,120 --> 00:24:58,999 We've got a lot of dirt to pick up, 362 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:00,959 probably 80 to 100 tonnes. 363 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,359 Ideally we'd like our own noodler, but that's more time and money. 364 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,039 Good to go. 365 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:11,839 The noodling machine is about 15 kilometres from us. 366 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,159 A good friend of ours, Mick and Ron, 367 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,399 they generously said, "If you ever need the noodler, if you get stuck, 368 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,719 "go ahead, use it, chuck a bit of fuel in, 369 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,079 "break it, fix it, go for it." 370 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,319 I've only noodled once before and I did actually get quite sick in there. 371 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:36,559 I do have these. They're like a armband that stops travel sickness.All right. 372 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,519 So hopefully the armband will help and I won't get sick. 373 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,759 There's heaps of buttons there, Dan.Yeah. 374 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,799 This is the important end of the machine. 375 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:48,039 Emergency stop. Anything you get worried about, hit the stop and let me know.Yeah. 376 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:50,639 Pick lots of opal. 377 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,519 Opal shells, depending on the quality of the colour, 378 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,799 they can be worth quite a bit of money. 379 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,079 I've got to be constantly looking at the belt. 380 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,599 I'm not allowed to look away, because if I look away, 381 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,199 I could potentially miss picking out some opal. 382 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:15,159 You're standing in a dark box. There's no light except a blue light. 383 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,399 And then this belt's running past you. 384 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,919 You're not really moving, but that's moving, and it disorientates people. 385 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,359 Some people are fine. Others just can't hack it. 386 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,879 Oh. No. No good. Got to get out. 387 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:38,879 What's going on here? 388 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,319 Oh, just gonna get something else to lever it with. 389 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,679 We're really gonna have to make a go of it this year. 390 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,439 Otherwise, even though our families are supportive of us, 391 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,919 we can't put 'em through this much longer. 392 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,919 At their Hallion Hill claim 393 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:12,279 the Mooka Boys are desperate to fix a conveyor belt on their noodling machine. 394 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:16,279 Any one of these belts comes together with a metal strap joiner. 395 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:18,759 If those belts travel off one way or the other, 396 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,879 that joiner can catch on the edge of all the metal on the side. 397 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,119 Should be right. Go, Coz. 398 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:31,279 All right. Well, it is sitting okay, so we might be all right here now. 399 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:34,159 Seems like the belt's sitting where it should now, 400 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,479 so I'll get some dirt in and hopefully this is gonna work out. 401 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,519 This stuff we're about to put through comes from Horse Paddock. 402 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,239 With a bit of luck it'll run smoothly for Matty out here 403 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,919 and I'll just be picking opal off that belt. 404 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:53,039 So, this material comes from a dig we were finding opal in, which is really good. 405 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:56,319 And hopefully today we'll find some stuff 406 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,999 that we left behind couple of seasons back. 407 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,839 Oh, noodler, noodler, here we go! 408 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:11,159 The idea of the noodler here is to keep your hands hovering over the belt, 409 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,879 so you've got quick access to pick this material. 410 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,239 Sometimes it'll come through and it'll come through really quick. 411 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,519 Yeah, it's really important to have the right bloke in the black room. 412 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,239 Really easy to miss that opal coming past, so... 413 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,079 I'm lucky to have Cozzie with me. 414 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,119 We've been doing this for a long time now, 415 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,239 so you can really trust the bloke in there. 416 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,759 Yeah, so, you're just sitting in the one spot. 417 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:39,639 And I've heard that people can go blind from these blacklights, 418 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:43,799 so, you know, you really don't want to get the UVs shining straight into your eyes. 419 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,439 You only want to be looking down onto the belt. 420 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:50,399 How they looking in there, bro? Yeah, sorry, mate, hands were busy then. 421 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,359 Yeah, actually we're doing all right. 422 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,599 Got opal coming? 423 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:56,759 Yeah, I got one good piece just then, mate. 424 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,599 I've put a few handfuls into that bucket now. 425 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,279 You beauty! Yeah, ha-ha! 426 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,999 Yeah, boy, we've got some opal, man.Yes! 427 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,879 You beauty. Check it out.Oh. 428 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,439 Good colour, mate! 429 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,319 Mate, there's money here.Yee-hoo! 430 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,119 Do you want to pluck a bit from here and there in that pile? 431 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,719 We might hit a honey-hole. MARK: That's the thing. 432 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,279 You don't know. You just don't know. 433 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:37,839 The Cheals' Turner's Rush claim is refusing to give up any opal, 434 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,559 so the team want to test out a new strategy. 435 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:42,799 RORY: We thought we'd try something different. 436 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,679 We've got some dirt that was too hard to wash at the time. 437 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,439 It's been there for a few years and we're hoping it's softened up with the sun. 438 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:53,879 Mark's just gonna run up here with the excavator, 439 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,479 and the weight of the excavator is 50 tonne, so he'll crush this up. 440 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,359 If we see colour, we're gonna pick it up and wash it, 441 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:07,839 but we physically can't wash it all, because we'd be there for ever trying to do that. 442 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,879 It's a little bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. 443 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,039 I'm hoping we come across a big needle. 444 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,679 Yeah. There's potch in here. 445 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:25,599 You know, we've found green. 446 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:30,319 It's only a thin bar, but it shows there's colour in here and I've picked other potch up. 447 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,759 Thin, but it's still colour. I've picked thin stuff up there before. 448 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,079 What do you do? You know, it... 449 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,599 It's a gamble at the end of the day. You can only... 450 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,799 You know, we could wash it and that could have been the only bit 451 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,039 and it can cost you, you know, your fuel and your time. 452 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,159 But then again, you could wash it and pick out a $50,000 stone, too. 453 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,479 You know, it's just how it goes in this sort of country. 454 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,719 My main concern is getting the dirt in there washing, 455 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,679 'cause that's where we make our money, 456 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,279 and while there's no dirt in that agitator we're not making any money. 457 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:31,719 Nice to get a bit of sunshine 458 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,759 and have a tail-out with the boys. Happy days. That's right. 459 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:59,519 Ooh. Oh. That looks promising. 460 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,279 Oh, yeah.Nice work, Mark. I'm happy with that. 461 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:06,319 I was a bit worried for a second. Yeah. So was I. "Well, I can't see anything." 462 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,399 LUCA: Found anything exciting?Yeah. 463 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,679 Not a heap of material but it's all touched with colour. Crazy. 464 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,359 Yeah, very good. Gee, that's beautiful colour. 465 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,799 MARK: Yeah, that's nice, isn't it? 466 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,799 Ooh, that's looking promising too. Oh, beautiful. 467 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:30,839 Oh, yeah.That's lighter. 468 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,399 Shape of Australia.Oh, yeah. 469 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,359 That is cool, eh? 470 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:40,239 Oh, Mark, you're on fire, brother. On fire, brother! 471 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,239 DAN: You all right? I don't feel real good.You sick? 472 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,679 That motion sickness comes back to haunt me. 473 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,199 So where's the armbands I gave you? 474 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,919 I forgot to put 'em on. Ah. I didn't really give you that to look at. 475 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:06,599 We've got a lot of dirt to still go through.Really? 476 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,679 Just put them armbands on. All right, I'll...I'll give it a go. 477 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:11,679 Sorry you're feeling crook. 478 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,399 Sometimes I do feel a little bit down. 479 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,119 I still feel like a bit of a rookie on the team 480 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,319 and I'm still in that learning phase. 481 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:40,959 I'm finding a couple of little bits. Hopefully they've got colour. 482 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,319 Oop, nearly missed that one. 483 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,719 Ah, I reckon that could be a shell. 484 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,599 So maybe we're getting to that cluster of shells 485 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:50,799 that I found yesterday on the dump. 486 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:55,279 Oh, my God, there's a huge piece! Wow. 487 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:58,319 I reckon I might have found a really big piece of opal. 488 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:08,919 Hang on. 489 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,559 Turn it off! 490 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,959 See colour glistening through. Oh, yeah, there's some colour in there, mate. 491 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:33,279 Got some honey.Oh, wow. A bit dirty but, man, it's big. 492 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,879 So, honey opal, it's just like any other opal. 493 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:38,359 It's just got a nice honey-colour base. 494 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,199 Whoo!Look at that piece, bro. 495 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:42,559 Man, that's full of colour, isn't it? 496 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,679 I think that's our king stone, bro. Killer! 497 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,959 All this honey adding up, bro. Boom. Boom. 498 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:52,479 Boom. Boom. Oh, wow. 499 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:54,639 Holy . Man, we done it, bro. 500 00:34:54,720 --> 00:34:57,879 Mate, this piece here is beautiful pattern, man. 501 00:34:57,960 --> 00:34:59,759 Oh, mate, that's killer. 502 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:03,839 Bruv, that is some serious colour right there.Yeah, bro. 503 00:35:05,240 --> 00:35:08,119 The Mooka Boys have a parcel of honey opal, 504 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:12,399 electric-blue seam opal, and dark-based opal 505 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:15,359 featuring blues, greens, and purples. 506 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:19,759 The total haul weighs 283 grams. 507 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:25,039 So, what have we got? We've got seven ounces a grand for honey. Seven grand. 508 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:27,799 Fifteen hundred bucks an ounce for this. We've got three. 509 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:30,239 We've got another 300 bucks of species here. 510 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:34,719 That makes it a good day. What is that? 11,800 bucks for the week. Ooh, yeah! 511 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:40,359 So, bro, we have just found this week 512 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,879 the equivalent of our whole last year, mate.Wow. 513 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:46,599 So I'm feeling more confident now, bruv.Yeah. 514 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,199 So we add that with last week's win, mate, we're... 515 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,359 It takes a bit of a weight off the shoulders. 516 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,079 We're well past last year, mate. 517 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,399 Don't know about you, but I'm getting rather thirsty. 518 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,359 Yep, these lips are dry, bruv. Let's go. 519 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:04,839 You legend. Killer.Yeah.Ooh! 520 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,719 Every bit of colour we find is one step closer to my dreams, 521 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,679 our one-stop Mooka Boys headquarters. 522 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,119 So I'm feeling pretty confident now. If we can keep this pace up, 523 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,839 then we're gonna come really close or we're gonna hit these goals. 524 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:21,519 Oh, well, bruv, here's to some nice colour, eh? 525 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,319 Cheers, bro. You legend, man. 526 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,399 Mooka Boys, yeah. 2024. 527 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,479 Okay, they're not world-beaters, but there's still beautiful stuff. 528 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:45,479 Yeah, nothing to jump up and down about, 529 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:47,799 but still nice, bright colour. 530 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:52,079 Beautiful colour.Yeah. Little earrings or something like that'd be perfect, I reckon. 531 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,319 NARRATOR: After being teased by colour all week 532 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:59,599 the Cheals have finally secured a parcel of crystal opal, 533 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,199 blue-green with flashes of purple. 534 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:06,039 It's in the rough, weighing 150 grams. 535 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,639 They're big pieces, you know, and unique pieces. 536 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:14,319 Let's face it, like, you know, there's no two stones the same. 537 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:16,759 That's right.One of the rarest gemstones on Earth. 538 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,679 What do you reckon this could cut to? 539 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:26,039 I think about five grand. It's gonna be at least five. 540 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:31,199 It paid for fuel and... ...food for the week. 541 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:35,079 That's about it. But it's better than nothing.Yeah. 542 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:36,759 Exactly right, better than nothing. 543 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,319 Certainly five grand's nothing to be sneezed at. 544 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:42,079 We'll take it and we'll use it to keep moving forward 545 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:43,959 and hopefully get some big wins. 546 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:45,839 We've got our map of Australia there. 547 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,639 I'm really shocked that that came out like that. 548 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:52,079 Anzac Day as well. Yeah.It's quite special.Yeah. 549 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,959 It's Anzac Day today. We just pay our respects 550 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:06,559 and remember all of those Australian and New Zealand soldiers that have fought for our country. 551 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:09,159 MAN: We will remember them. 552 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:12,319 CHRIS: My father was big on Anzac Day. 553 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,399 He's since passed but, um... 554 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:17,519 it's just good to step back for a day 555 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,439 and forget about the mining. 556 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:21,999 The opal game's really tough sometimes. 557 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:26,159 I don't want my kids out here working for nothing. I want them to have a future. 558 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:33,119 As the business grows the kids will probably take over one day. 559 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,279 None of us know when we're gonna step off. 560 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,159 You know, none of us live for ever. 561 00:38:38,240 --> 00:38:40,439 It'll be up to them if they want to carry on. 562 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:44,399 There's pressure all the time. It's just part of mining, though. 563 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:46,719 Basically, we're throwing our hat in the ring 564 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:48,599 and we're giving it our best shot. 565 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:50,599 MAN: Lest we forget. 566 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:58,519 Two-up's a game that the soldiers in World War One played with each other, 567 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:00,599 placing a bet, flipping a coin, 568 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:02,719 and whoever picked right wins the bet. 569 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,279 You were close, mate. Missed out on the end. That's all right. 570 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:13,119 Good effort. 571 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:16,839 It's a bit of a gamble, opal-mining, and it's a bit like two-up, I guess. 572 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:20,959 I'll bet my work ethic and knowledge and my time to find opal. 573 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:24,279 There'll be winners and losers, obviously. 574 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:26,719 What are you going? Heads, I suppose, are you? 575 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:29,359 MARK: You know I like heads, mate. I'll go tails. 576 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:32,119 Righty-o.Come on. 577 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:39,279 Yeah, brother!Your shout. 578 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:41,399 My shout. 579 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:48,559 DAN: Hey! Turn it off! Off! Off! 580 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:51,079 Turn it off! Stop, stop! 581 00:39:53,120 --> 00:39:55,039 What's going on? Another blockage. 582 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,359 That's the culprit, there. 583 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:01,399 It's too big for the machine. 584 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:07,519 Go on number three. I think Renee's on top of it there. 585 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,199 Good to go when you are. Okay, great. Thank you. 586 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:15,439 Oh, my God, that's another huge piece. 587 00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:18,999 Wow. I hope this is colour in all of these big pieces. 588 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:24,439 I'm hearing from Renee she's doing well in there. 589 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,599 Hopefully she's doing well with colour. 590 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:28,839 You haven't got any more? No, it's all done. 591 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:32,799 I reckon we're in the money! Hopefully she's got something nice to show us. 592 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:36,399 How did you go?Let's have a look. 593 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:38,239 Is it what you were hoping? Is it good? 594 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:40,439 It's bright out here. How about over here? 595 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:42,639 No, that's nothing. 596 00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:46,159 Ooh, look at this. That is beautiful!Ooh, wow. 597 00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:49,839 That's the money shot there.Yeah. 598 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:52,719 Look at the colours. Jeez, that's nice colour. 599 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,079 That's got reds and blues and greens and yellows. 600 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:57,199 Wow. Worth dragging all that dirt here. 601 00:40:57,280 --> 00:40:58,879 Beautiful colour. 602 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:02,719 Fair few full shells in there still in the host rock, awesome-looking specimens. 603 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,119 Well done. You did well. Oh, thank you. 604 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,479 Brilliant. It's a brilliant result. 605 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,479 Gonna shoot down and see Wayne and Sarah. 606 00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:16,199 I think it's the right sort of thing for their shop. They're friends of mine. 607 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:18,799 When it comes to negotiating for opal, though, 608 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:20,559 that changes things a little bit. 609 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:24,319 We're looking at trying to get $25,000 for the parcel. 610 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:28,559 Wayne. Oh, g'day, mate. How are you? 611 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:31,039 Good. How you going? Haven't seen you for a while. 612 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:32,799 What's going on? Good to see you. 613 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,639 Oh, just a bit of business going on. 614 00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:36,759 Busy-busy in the shop. What are yous up to? 615 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:39,679 We've brought something in for you to have a look at today. 616 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:42,519 What do you think?Very nice. 617 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:44,999 Don't have a lot of fossils. 618 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:49,519 The Opal Lovers have five white crystal opal specimens 619 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:54,199 in sandstone host rock, weighing 500 grams, 620 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:59,479 and ten opalised shells displaying red, pink, and orange. 621 00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:03,359 They're in the rough and weigh 85 grams. 622 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:08,799 Perfect thing for your shop. Yeah. Yep. 623 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:11,039 So you're looking to sell it?Yep. 624 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:12,719 What are we looking at here? 625 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:14,999 We were thinking 25... Yeah....all up. 626 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:20,279 Hey, Sarah. 627 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,639 SARAH: How you going? This is my wife Sarah. 628 00:42:23,720 --> 00:42:25,959 Yeah, you know... Yeah. Nice to meet you. 629 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:29,999 So, what are you thinking, darling? Nice. 630 00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,879 SARAH: Mm-hm. What are you asking?25. 631 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:35,479 A little bit high, I reckon. I don't know. 632 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:38,679 Er, what's 13 sound like? 633 00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:40,919 What, are you serious or what? 634 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:43,319 Oh, well, mate, you know, like... 635 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:45,239 That sounds like a joke. Pretty low. 636 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:47,919 Fifteen all right, or not? 637 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:49,639 Nah, that's way too low. 638 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:52,159 What about if we meet up... I don't know, 18? 639 00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:56,239 Are we there yet? Close, mate, or not? 640 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,159 How about if we meet at 20? 641 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:02,719 What about 20? $20,000? 642 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,039 That's it.20? 643 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:08,119 Yeah. Do 20? Do 20.All right. That's beautiful. 644 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:10,399 Done.Thank you. No worries.That's excellent. 645 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:12,799 Thank you.Cool. 646 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:16,919 75 grand up. That's a good portion to our target. 647 00:43:19,320 --> 00:43:22,559 Probably shows how much we do need a noodler. Big job, though. 648 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:25,599 A lot of time, a lot of working, a lot of welding, so... 649 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,839 How are you going to build a noodler if you can't find the keys? 650 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:31,519 I wouldn't put 'em in the glove box. It wasn't me. 651 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:34,439 I wouldn't put 'em there. No.Not in the glove box. 652 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:37,279 Anyway, good week. Twenty grand. Cheers. 653 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,919 subtitles by Deluxe 653 00:43:41,305 --> 00:44:41,659 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=-