"Outback Opal Hunters" Unidentified Fluorescing Opal

1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,880 Alright, you ready, Luca, I'm gonna give it a go. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,200 Yeah, go on. 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,120 BLEEP. 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,280 I'm trying to reverse out. 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,560 Me and Rory just went to reverse back the rig. 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:19,680 We've got bogged. 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,040 The dirt's just too loose and the tyres just spinning. 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:23,440 Gonna have to get more sticks. 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,040 See if I can get the tyres to grip. 10 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,320 Do you want to try this big one? 11 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:27,800 Thank you. 12 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,040 So the tyres are pretty much bald. 13 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:32,800 Just trying to create enough traction 14 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,360 for it to, to grip and take off. 15 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,800 Hopefully that's enough grip for the tyres to reverse back. 16 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,160 Ah, if not, we might have to get Dad and Mark 17 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,040 and I don't really want to disturb them 18 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,640 in what they're doing, so really hoping this works. 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:02,600 BLEEP. 20 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:10,074 21 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,120 Ah, well, we'll have to call Dad and Mark, I'd say. 22 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:21,720 Can you give you Dad a ring? Sure. 23 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,680 Hey Dad. How you going? 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,960 Little problems like this take up minutes then hours 25 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,680 and then yeah, all of a sudden, your whole day's spent trying 26 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,640 to get out of a bog so, ah yeah, a bit annoyed at this point. 27 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,120 Could not believe that. 28 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,760 Like, it wasn't even wet. 29 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:48,080 Got Mark on his loader. 30 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,600 Gonna chain it up to this old rig and he's gonna pull it out. 31 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,160 Grawin, New South Wales. 32 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,400 For over 30 years, opal miners in the region 33 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,920 have relied on auger drills to fathom the rocky depths. 34 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,840 Now the Cheals, Chris, son Rory, daughter Luca, 35 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:12,960 and mine partner Mark Bressan 36 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,240 are attempting to find a new opal level 37 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,600 at their Turner's Rush Claim. 38 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,400 Yeah, sorry for taking up your afternoon, mate. 39 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,960 You're all good, mate. We're all here to help each other, buddy. 40 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,920 They're prospect drilling virgin ground. 41 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,760 We'll put the first hole about here. 42 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,720 To decide if they extend their open cut mine 43 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,560 or abandon the claim. 44 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,560 You know, if we don't drill anything up at all 45 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:43,480 then there's not much point coming out here 46 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,240 and digging it with the excavator. 47 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,880 In Sydney, Chris's youngest son Oscar is in charge of sales. 48 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,040 Right, you know the business is growing so quickly. 49 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:55,920 You know, we've got that new collection. 50 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,000 And needs new opal to satisfy demanding clients. 51 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,040 Oscar's given us this big task. 52 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,600 Our big goal this year is, you know, 53 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,200 to do a Cheal Opal summer collection. 54 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:07,920 I know he believes in us but I can imagine 55 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,040 he's probably stressing out a little bit. 56 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,640 And we want probably around a hundred 57 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,440 like really high quality, beautiful stones 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,040 to set into jewellery and give to our customers so... 59 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,480 There's a lot of work that goes behind that. 60 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,600 How we go with the drill over the next few days 61 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,960 will sort of dictate the rest of our season really. 62 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,200 Essentially, we've got two to three feet of gravel. 63 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,480 And we're looking at everything underneath the two foot of gravel. 64 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,600 So as the drill's going down, 65 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,520 it sends the sample up through this rumbler. 66 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,200 Comes through the rumbler. 67 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,400 All the fines drop out on the ground 68 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,360 and you're left with your sample at the back. 69 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:51,400 If we find colour, all well and good, 70 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,040 but if not, we're gonna have to find somewhere else to mine. 71 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,280 So, fingers crossed we get onto some colour over the next couple days. 72 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,920 The truck is the same age as me. 73 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,040 She's a 1970 model. 74 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,840 But mechanically, she's a great old truck. 75 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,000 Never lets me down. 76 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:10,400 I've had it for 15 years now. 77 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,640 We need some productive ground to keep up with our jewellery line 78 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,280 and all the rest of it. 79 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,000 And obviously, we need opal to cover costs 80 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,200 and make a living out of it, so it's important 81 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:23,680 that you know we can drill some colour up here 82 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:25,680 and if we don't, then yeah, 83 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,280 it's gonna be a pretty, pretty lean looking year. 84 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,520 You could spend months digging somewhere and not find anything. 85 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,840 But with this rig, pretty much a week on a claim, 86 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,200 you'll know whether it's worth going underground there and digging. 87 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,280 We've got potch there straight away. 88 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:46,920 That's a very good sign. 89 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,600 Potch is essentially colourless opal. 90 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,480 So it's not worth as much as the coloured stuff. 91 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,120 That's potch. 92 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,640 So that's what we're looking for but now we want the colour. 93 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,600 Geez, I tell you what, you drill colour up out here. 94 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,280 It'll set our season up here. 95 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,440 Here's another bit, look. 96 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:03,720 We need colour. 97 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,280 We're not gonna come out here 98 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,040 and dig all this out if we don't drill colour. 99 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,480 Pressure's on and we need to come up with some opal. 100 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,800 Hey Joe. 101 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,600 Hey, you're out and about. 102 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,400 The sun's coming out and I'm sitting in the shade. 103 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:34,760 What a BLEEP. 104 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,520 Yous look guilty. 105 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,040 We've been moving a hell a lot of dirt. 106 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:41,720 But you're not finding opal. 107 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,440 Jack BLEEP. 108 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,760 So that's why you look guilty. 109 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:47,640 Maybe. 110 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,200 So what that's cost us that cut so far, 35, 40? 111 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:53,120 A lot of money, yeah. 112 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:54,720 And it should be producing more. 113 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,520 What so you think we're missing it? 114 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,000 Yeah, obviously. 115 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,440 I don't think we are. 116 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,120 So who, whose fault is it we got no money then? 117 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,160 I guess me. 118 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,960 You. This is how it's gonna work. 119 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,560 You've got to keep digging. 120 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:11,920 And you need to work at night. 121 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,440 You need to get some money in. 122 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:14,840 Ah, night shift it is. 123 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,360 Alright. Yeah. 124 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,440 So you know, BLEEP off and get to work. 125 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,640 Oh dear. 126 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,400 Yeah, I thought one of us was gonna go, Issy. 127 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,560 Yeah, well, I thought it was gonna be me to be quite honest. 128 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:28,800 Yeah. 129 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,280 I'm the newest one on the team 130 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,880 and I'm thinking god, he's gonna fire me for sure. 131 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,560 We've got to bring opal back so let's get to it. 132 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:35,760 Let's do it. 133 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,360 Put the iron over the shaft. 134 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,880 Yep. 135 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,520 'Cause we're meant to be getting a heap of rain tomorrow. 136 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,160 At their Lunatic Claim, 137 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,280 the Misfits, mining partners Angel Dempsey... 138 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,160 Just watch out for snakes too. 139 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:57,880 ..and Issy Glen are struggling to keep their opal operation alive. 140 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:04,440 Joe's the boss and our orders are to be out here at night 141 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,720 and find opal. 142 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:11,640 After a strong start to the season in their open cut mine... 143 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,200 Angel! 144 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:14,680 Have you got something? 145 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,000 Look! 146 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,800 Holy crikey! 147 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,280 ..the team are now spending more money than they make. 148 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,680 Their cut so far, you know, has cost us 40 grand, 149 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,480 close damn close if not a bit over it. 150 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,280 There's a lot of money gone into it. 151 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,000 While their mentor and financier Opal Joe Kalmar 152 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,080 is battling illness... 153 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,200 I've been out of the picture for nearly three months. 154 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,800 ..it's down to Angel and Issy alone to uncover any opal they can. 155 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,640 Our season target is 300 grand. It's a big ask. 156 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,840 But hopefully Lunatic will produce for us 157 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,920 and yeah we'll get there. Smash it out. 158 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,440 To survive mining in today's world, 159 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:01,840 where the economy is, 160 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:03,840 you have to be in that top one percent. 161 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,440 Angel's been massively increasing her efforts. 162 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,480 Maybe I'm laying it on a bit hard for her, you know, 163 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:12,760 but I think she'll be fine. 164 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,840 The first thing I need to do 165 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,880 is create a face with the excavator so we can work it. 166 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Nice, clean, virgin dirt. 167 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:24,760 Issy is my eyes. 168 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,440 You know I'm relying on her to spot the opal. 169 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,480 'Cause worst case scenario, we accidentally, you know, 170 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,160 dig it out of the ground and accidentally bury it again. 171 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,400 Looks like a good spot for the night. 172 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,440 Looking pretty good, Issy. 173 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,320 I'm just getting our blacklight torches ready. 174 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,120 They're ultraviolet. 175 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,320 And there's only a couple of places 176 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,120 in South Australia, which is Andamooka 177 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,800 and Coober Pedy, 178 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,960 where opal actually fluoresces under ultraviolet light. 179 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,560 So anything down there, we're not gonna miss it. 180 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,600 And we're gonna make Joe very, very happy. 181 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,440 We're gonna be able to see anything 182 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,680 and everything that is glowing in that ground. 183 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,400 I'll get you to go in, Issy, have a bit of a look there. 184 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:17,760 No worries. 185 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:22,760 Go the scoop, you reckon? 186 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,080 Hang on! 187 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,280 You on something? Woo-hoo! 188 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:30,560 I'm turning the machine off. 189 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:35,920 Come and have a look at this. 190 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,480 Oops. 191 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,560 Ooh. See if that one's got colour. 192 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,800 Nah. From what I'm seeing, it's just potch, goddamn it. 193 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,200 Potch glows just like opal. 194 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,960 But yeah, you don't know if it's got colour or not 195 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,280 until you put like a white light or a normal torchlight on it. 196 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,280 It can be quite pretty but, you know, 197 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,440 the world wants blue, purples, greens, reds. 198 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,440 Ooh. Hello. 199 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,120 Found one? 200 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,840 It might be potch though but... Ooh. So thin. 201 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,680 It's looking like it's leading us on a little bit. 202 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,240 It's teasing. Just give us something. 203 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:23,920 How you feeling, Issy? 204 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,760 I'm getting a little tired. 205 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:27,080 Yeah, this ground's getting a bit hard, Issy. 206 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:28,880 I'll have to get a pick in my spot. 207 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,800 Hey, Issy! Mm. 208 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,560 Is that a big star? 209 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,200 It's moving. 210 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,800 Wow! That is, what the hell is that! 211 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,720 Let's get up and have a look. 212 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,240 Oh my god. 213 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:43,640 Can you see it? 214 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,120 That's definitely not human. I don't know what that is. 215 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,840 The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. 216 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,680 Well, it's definitely not a shooting star. 217 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,440 That is freaky as hell. Like, what is that? 218 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,840 It looks like it's coming towards us. 219 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:08,080 Back to Digger's Gully. 220 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,360 Yep, back to Digger's. 221 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,160 Let's prove Dad right. Yeah. 222 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,520 He always said there was lots more there and we left a lot. 223 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:15,920 We just didn't quite have the gear. 224 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,160 I don't think we've got an excuse now. 225 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,480 We've got all the gear. 226 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:21,960 Yeah, well you've got your big excavator, got the tip truck. 227 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:23,200 Yeah. Loader. 228 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:24,400 Yeah. 229 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:25,960 It's a bloody good combo. 230 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,840 You can come down in the tip truck and we'll get into it. 231 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,520 Alright, cool. I'll go up the hill. 232 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:32,760 Go do it. 233 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,800 (ENGINE WINDING OVER) 234 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,800 Ooh. That's not good. 235 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:46,960 (ENGINE WINDING OVER) 236 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,520 Ooh, that was not a good noise. 237 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:49,960 It's a real pain in the butt. 238 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,440 Because we've got so much work to do and we need to be moving dirt. 239 00:11:56,560 --> 00:11:59,800 What's up? (ENGINE WINDING OVER) 240 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,800 Ergh. Argh! 241 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,840 What do you reckon it could be? 242 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,840 I'm gonna have to have a crawl round and see what we can see. 243 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,040 I'm gonna have to jack this cab up 244 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,480 and have a look at what's, ah, what's gone wrong. 245 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,960 Hopefully it's not something too serious. 246 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,360 In Coober Pedy, South Australia, 247 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,680 the Opal Lovers Dan Measey and Renee Everest... 248 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:26,960 Grab onto me. 249 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,160 ..have returned to Digger's Gully, 250 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,760 a claim first explored by Dan's father in 2002. 251 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,440 Digger's Gully is where Dad and I 252 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,040 working together found our first reasonable size money. 253 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,160 It's really important that we get the tip truck back up and going. 254 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,600 We really want to prove Dan's Dad right, 255 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:47,480 that there is more opal here in Digger's Gully. 256 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,000 It definitely is this turbo. I'm thinking two, three grand. 257 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,280 A few weeks as well out of action. 258 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,040 Probably, yeah, a couple of weeks. 259 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,640 Our target this year is 300,000. 260 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,680 We had the same target last year but we didn't make it. 261 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:06,960 I've had enough of this BLEEP. 262 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:08,480 We have to make it this year, 263 00:13:08,560 --> 00:13:10,480 otherwise I'll have to go back to Adelaide. 264 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:12,600 Can't seem to keep anything going. 265 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:16,280 I was thinking why don't you go for a bike ride with your mates? 266 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,160 Yeah, that could be a good idea. 267 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:19,960 Go for a bike ride and have a bit of fun. 268 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:21,200 Yeah. Good idea. 269 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,680 Look, it's pretty stressful having another machine go down. 270 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,960 But I'm gonna go for a ride, try and work out 271 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,280 some of the frustration and have some fun. 272 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,360 OK guys, so I'm thinking today we're gonna go from here, 273 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,680 and go down to ah Old 17 Mile Road, 274 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,440 go through all Jock's old tunnels. 275 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,040 We'll go through the drives there. Make a little loop. 276 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,080 Have some fun out there. What do you reckon? 277 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:51,320 Beautiful. 278 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,720 Let's go, hey. 279 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,040 Wagons roll! 280 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:05,520 Coober Pedy Adventure Riders 281 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:06,800 is a group that I go riding with now and again. 282 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,720 It's a great way to blast off some steam, 283 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,000 get rid of some frustration when things don't go right in mining. 284 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,000 I grew up in Coober Pedy 285 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:17,920 riding motor bikes all around the desert. 286 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,280 Pretty awesome place to ride. 287 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,280 Beautiful scenery, 288 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,600 then we've got the mine sites and the big dozer cuts. 289 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,360 Mate of mine, Jock, he's got a big claim at 17 Mile. 290 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,040 Two K's of tunnels and drives in it. 291 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,920 So definitely good opal come out of here. 292 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,160 What a ride. 293 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:57,600 Bloody brilliant, mate. 294 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,120 Fantastic. Bit of a breather. 295 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,600 It's crazy, hey. 296 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,880 I reckon I'm gonna have to have a little look around 297 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,760 with a blacklight. That's not like you, is it? 298 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,040 There's some nice looking ground over here. 299 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:07,320 No worries. We'll catch you later. 300 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:11,880 See yous. 301 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,920 Ah, just can't help myself. It's good looking ground. 302 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,240 I've really got to. Down here's looking pretty interesting. 303 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:29,560 Looks like a bit of a dip in the level. 304 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,720 Geez, look at that. That's good trace. 305 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,000 I think we've got to come back and have a look at that. 306 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,880 Go get Renee. Bring the jack pick back. 307 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,080 At least knock some of that level down with the dipping, um... 308 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,800 Jock's claim, but um, I'll give Jock a ring, 309 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,080 and just see if we can't do a deal. 310 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,440 Yeah, that's nice blue material so... 311 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,800 Not quite colour but that's worth a look at. 312 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,800 Busted through that hard bit which is good. 313 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,000 Mm. 314 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,000 At Turner's Rush, 315 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:19,120 Rory and Luca Cheal are drilling for new opal bearing ground 316 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,160 to determine if they should extend the team's open cut mine. 317 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,480 So we've dug up to there. 318 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,520 We want to know for sure it's worth 319 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,560 digging the rest of this, this corner. 320 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,520 If there's no colour, it's not worth digging up. 321 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,520 So hopefully over the next few holes, 322 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:38,960 we can start to see a bit of colour. 323 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,520 At the team's wash plant site, Chris and Mark 324 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,200 are upgrading a second agitator, 325 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:50,480 a converted cement mixer that washes the clay and dirt 326 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,920 from mined rock to expose any opal. 327 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,520 An agitator makes life a little bit easier 328 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,640 being out here, using these machines, um, 329 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:03,240 because you just don't know what opal you miss 330 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:04,320 when you're digging. 331 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:05,640 You know, especially when you're using machinery 332 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,320 like ours, you know like big excavator, 333 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,320 and especially, you know, super digger and stuff like that. 334 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:11,680 You know, you can see bits of stuff 335 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,680 but there's so much you can miss also. 336 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,360 So these are a real asset to what we do in the industry. 337 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,360 We need to put a skin of concrete over this mesh. 338 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,320 And that'll protect the barrel. 339 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,320 And this barrel will see me out. 340 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,400 I'll be long gone and they'll still be using it. 341 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,600 Pain in the butt job to do, 342 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,920 so you know, I feel sorry for Chris in there. 343 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,920 It's, it's not the most comfortable of conditions to be working in. 344 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,600 So hopefully in a week's time, when we finish rendering 345 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,480 this barrel, um, we'll have the two up and running. 346 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,160 I feel good actually, because once it's done, 347 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,360 I'll never have to get back inside it ever again. 348 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,080 And it's gonna double our production. 349 00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:57,320 Potch on the first hole, that's pretty extraordinary luck, 350 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:58,760 but... Really! 351 00:17:58,840 --> 00:17:59,920 Yeah. Yeah. 352 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,480 People go hundreds and hundreds of holes without finding any potch. 353 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,320 But, you know, if we find, find some colour out here, 354 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,760 that, that pretty much sets us up for the rest of the season. 355 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:10,840 I reckon that'll do on that hole, sis. 356 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,800 Yeah, I reckon. Pack it up. Move it over. 357 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,200 All good. Lift up. 358 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:17,400 Mm-hm. 359 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,320 I've done five already. 360 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,120 If I can get another 10 to 12 out, I'll be happy. 361 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,040 So just anywhere around that area. I think that's pretty good. 362 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:35,960 Just tell me when to stop. 363 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,720 What's it stuck on? 364 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:44,960 Water. 365 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,480 For BLEEP sake. 366 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,720 Ah, I've put it in a bog hole again so... 367 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,840 Just gonna have to give me a few minutes to calm down. 368 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,520 Just feeling a bit frustrated at the moment. 369 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,560 We just went to move the rig again, 370 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,160 and, ah, yeah, got bogged, 371 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,040 and not too far away from where we did last time. 372 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:11,560 Hey mate, I've bloody bogged this thing again. 373 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,560 I'm gonna need you guys to pull me out. 374 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,840 Rightio, mate. I'll come back up. Thanks mate. Sorry about that. 375 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,560 I'm just getting the chain ready 376 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,320 for the um, for the loader to pull this out. 377 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,760 Just watch yourself, darling, around that chain. 378 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:39,960 Yeah. 379 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,040 Ooh! Stop! Stop! 380 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,120 It's not moving now. 381 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,640 Ooh! Oh! 382 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:55,920 That's moving, right? That's moving. 383 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,600 What is that? 384 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,480 Have you ever see anything like that before, Izzy? 385 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,960 No, I have not. Oh, I just got the goosebumps. 386 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,920 There's a military airbase not far from here. 387 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,560 Who knows, they could be doing something. 388 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,520 But you know, we're in the middle of nowhere, 389 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,600 you expect to see wildlife and shooting stars 390 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,320 but nothing moving like that in the sky. 391 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,200 That's, I don't know even know what that was. 392 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,680 Oh, let's get back to it. Yeah, let's get back to it. 393 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,160 I can't be worried about that. 394 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,640 With their mining operation losing money fast, 395 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,600 the Misfits are working through the night 396 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:37,720 to increase their chance of finding opal. 397 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,720 It is gone. Come back. 398 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:02,440 Nothing. 399 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,200 You there? 400 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:20,520 Oh. 401 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,240 You home? Ha-hah! 402 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,480 Crikeys, what are you doing here? 403 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,040 Bringing you hot tea. 404 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:28,760 Oh, very kind but... 405 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,880 Issy, are you sleeping as well? 406 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,440 Well, we was digging all night and we're just following trace. 407 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,120 It was mostly jackhammer and pick work. 408 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,160 We were hoping it would produce something but... 409 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,080 So my arms are about ready to fall off. 410 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,520 Oh well, I mean, you know, you're starting to smell off a bit. 411 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,400 So, you know might want to think about getting a shower or something. 412 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,080 Go back to mining tonight. 413 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,640 Tonight could be the night. 414 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,880 Well fingers crossed you hit a bigger pocket, hey. 415 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,480 We need it. Alright. 416 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,400 Oh yeah, this is my kitchen, um. It's embarrassing. 417 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,640 Kitchen slash work zone. 418 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,480 You know I've got my bread, butter and vegemite 419 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,000 that I have for breakfast. Bit of toast. 420 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:20,040 But you know, I'm surrounded by bits and bobs of opal as well. 421 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:23,680 Got a lot of pressure. No knock off. 422 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,680 Live, eat and breathe opal. 423 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,760 So what's our plan tonight? 424 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,040 We need the opal as big possible. 425 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:40,360 Yep. 426 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,320 We don't want to be smashing it with the excavator. 427 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,800 Basically slow and steady. But don't miss nothing. 428 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,520 Oh, where are you, opal? 429 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,560 I'm on a nice little trace trail. 430 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,200 We've got a bit of a fault happening here, Issy. 431 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:05,560 We've got a little red fault here. 432 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:06,760 I'm finding stuff down here. 433 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:08,920 See there's some trace there right now so... 434 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,080 Hopefully you're on a fault and we meet and... 435 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:12,320 So am I. Yeah. 436 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:13,600 Right there. Yeah. 437 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,720 So hopefully, if we meet together in the middle, 438 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:16,840 that's where the pocket should be. 439 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:18,280 So it might be deeper. 440 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:19,520 Ah. 441 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:22,520 Just take some out of there. 442 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:23,720 Alright. 443 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,440 Where I am right now, I can just see the bucket. 444 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,360 I'll light it up for ya. 445 00:23:30,360 --> 00:23:32,720 I'm gonna need you to go back just a little bit more 446 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,080 with that bucket. 447 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,400 Ah, Angel! Stop! Stop! You alright, Issy! 448 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,520 You need to get down here, mate! Look! 449 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,080 Oh! 450 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,200 Here I am, here I am thinking you've just collapsed 451 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,000 in front of the bucket. 452 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,240 And boy, you found a BLEEP boulder! 453 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:54,800 Oh! I thought you were gonna hit it! 454 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,120 Lot of mixed emotions there. 455 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,600 Thinking I just frigging crushed ya. Let's see if we've got colour, hey. 456 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,880 Come on! Oh! 457 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,480 It's even got a bit of blue opal through it. 458 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,200 Oh my god, look at it. Oh, look at that purple line. 459 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,400 OK, I'm grateful that you just dive bombed 460 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,240 in front of the bucket for this stone. 461 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,680 A lot of people say it's not worth dying for opal. 462 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,800 But I couldn't risk Angel breaking that rock. 463 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,040 And we desperately need this find. 464 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:30,680 This is a type of opal. It's only found in Andamooka. 465 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,280 It's called hard matrix. 466 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:34,440 It's been such a long time between finds 467 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,720 and we just found a beauty so very happy. 468 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:38,040 Wooh! 469 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:41,160 Oh, this is gonna save us. This is worth some money. 470 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,760 It's gonna make Joe frigging smile. 471 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:45,240 And we're not gonna get fired. 472 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:46,920 Yeah. We're on it. 473 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,160 Good job! Woo-hoo! 474 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,280 Hopefully there's more where that come from. 475 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:52,800 Let's keep digging. 476 00:24:56,040 --> 00:25:01,160 Oh Issy! With the blacklight, it glows pretty damn bright. 477 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,360 God! Look at this. 478 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:04,680 Look at the glow! 479 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:06,680 Let's see if it's got colour. 480 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,120 Oh! Look at that! 481 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,560 All the bits of colour there. 482 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,880 There's little micro dots of crystal opal in there, 483 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:16,520 so that's gonna help pay the bills. 484 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,200 And that's gonna make Joe smile. 485 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,400 You know it might not be a full grin yet, but um, 486 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:23,520 it's definitely gonna take the pressure off us 487 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,320 a little bit finding this little gem. 488 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,560 Finding opal has just made my night. 489 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,240 I'm sure it's made Angel's night. 490 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,680 And we're gonna just keep searching until we find more. 491 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:38,120 Oh, Angel! 492 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:39,760 Ho-ho-ah! 493 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,200 Look at that! Oh my god! 494 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:43,960 Look at the size of it! 495 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,400 Hey. How'd your ride go? 496 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,640 Yeah, pretty good. We've got to go digging. 497 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:55,880 What do you mean? 498 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:57,160 I found a spot. 499 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:58,800 In Jock's claim down in the drives. 500 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,040 So do you reckon he'll let us go digging? 501 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:04,080 Well, I'll give him a ring. We've got to dig it. 502 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:05,600 It's too good. 503 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,120 (PHONE RINGS) Yep. 504 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:10,720 Hey Jock, how you going? 505 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,360 Good, mate. 506 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:14,840 Hey, um, listen, mate, I went for a ride this morning 507 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:16,400 with the Coober Pedy Adventure Riders. 508 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,880 Ah, want to thank you again for letting us ride through there. 509 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,880 Um, I actually, ah, stopped for a little bit of a break 510 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,880 and found a little corner I wouldn't mind having a dig in 511 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:26,840 with Renee if we could come up with a deal. 512 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:28,840 Maybe 50/50's fair. 513 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,600 Hopefully, we do alright for both us. 514 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,360 It's a win-win for Jock and us. Perfect for everyone. 515 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:48,800 He can't dig the whole claim out. 516 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:50,400 He's only got limited time. 517 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,640 Let us go in there, have a find, share the win. 518 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,360 Perfect. 519 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,080 It's pretty rough going down in here. 520 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:06,560 That's it. It's a bit of a rabbit warren. 521 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,680 I think there's a couple of k's of tunnels here. 522 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,880 Can you remember where you were this morning? 523 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:14,600 No. It was ah... 524 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,920 Pretty scary in here though. 525 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:18,720 Like we don't want to get lost. 526 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,160 I think we're just driving round in circles, Dan. 527 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,560 Yeah, it does feel like it. 528 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,120 I think we come here before. 529 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:27,600 This is looking about right. 530 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:28,920 Alright. 531 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,840 I reckon this is it. Oh. 532 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,440 Was right there. 533 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,720 See this here. See that dark mark. 534 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,240 I reckon this is our best option here. 535 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:47,960 I like how it's dipping there. 536 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:49,800 And then we'll jack pick him out. 537 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,720 Alright, well, I might have a bit more of a look around. 538 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,040 Yeah, if you like. I think this is the spot though. 539 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,960 Dan and I, we're spending quite a lot of time together 540 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,960 now that I'm living up here full-time. 541 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,160 It's definitely a tricky balance, 542 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,480 you know, romantic life together and working life together. 543 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,920 Both are important. I think we're doing quite well. 544 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,640 A few bumps here and there but, um, yeah, 545 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,600 we're learning how to deal with it and doing quite well. 546 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,760 Hey Dan, I reckon I've found, um, some opal. 547 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,480 Yeah. Well, this is the spot though. 548 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,080 Nah, I reckon my spot's better than your spot. 549 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:25,640 Ah. Righto. Come and have a look. 550 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:27,840 Look at that. 551 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,000 Ooh! 552 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:34,720 That's got a bit of green in it. 553 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:36,560 Yeah. I reckon we should dig here. 554 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:37,920 Alright, I'll concede that. 555 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,800 Renee's learnt a huge amount. 556 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,640 From somebody who come from the Adeliade Hills, 557 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:43,800 who used to ride horses, 558 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:45,600 never seen opal mining in the desert, 559 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,120 she's done amazingly well. 560 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:48,560 Look at that. We'll jack pick this down. 561 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:50,480 I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere it hits this, 562 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,080 maybe there's a pocket. Yeah. 563 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:53,680 Well spotted. 564 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:05,760 Yeah righto, mate. Start start going now, nice and slow. 565 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:17,520 It just uncoupled. 566 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:27,720 Righto. Easy as that. 567 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,040 I've got you, mate. 568 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:31,280 Oh, well, thanks for that, mate. 569 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:32,480 That's alright. 570 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,360 Sorry I had to get you out here. That's alright. 571 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,600 At Turner's Rush, 572 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,360 the Cheals are drilling for traces of opal 573 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,800 to decide if they should extend their open cut mine 574 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,000 or abandon the claim. 575 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:49,840 We're good to go now. 576 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:51,640 And we'll punch out a few a few more holes 577 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:53,800 and it's still, ah, very early on in the day, 578 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:55,560 so ah, hopefully we'll have a good afternoon. 579 00:29:58,320 --> 00:29:59,640 No potch? 580 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:02,480 Keep your eyes peeled. 581 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:03,840 Yeah. 582 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:16,840 Some potch. 583 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,320 Wonder how they're going. 584 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,160 And colour, mate. 585 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:22,640 How you going, Ror? 586 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:23,960 Going good, mate. Yeah? 587 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:25,040 Yeah. 588 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:26,840 Just got onto colour actually, just as you guys were coming down. 589 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,000 Yeah. 590 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:29,880 Little flicker of green in there. Can you see it? 591 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:31,320 Or there. Oh. 592 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,040 Ho-haw. Where is it? Oh. 593 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,520 Aw, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what we're talking about. 594 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:36,880 Nice. 595 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:38,840 The drill's pulled up some really nice colour, 596 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,080 so we're gonna follow the direction of that colour now. 597 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,840 And ah yeah, crossed fingers, yeah, eh, it's ah, we get, 598 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,520 we get it, and um, yeah, get this summer collection rocking. 599 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,120 I think the best chance we've got 600 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,040 for the rest of the season is probably that direction. 601 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,560 We know we've got colour ahead of us. 602 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,600 We did finish up on colour, um, at the face. 603 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,600 So you never know, we could hit a pretty good pocket in between. 604 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,880 So we'll we'll have to wait and see, but I think the signs are there. 605 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:13,880 Out of that hole that the green come out of, 606 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:15,640 we've now got blue and purple. 607 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,280 And see how it's starting to go on black. 608 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:20,520 So that's a really, really good hole. 609 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,760 So we're just loading this truck. 610 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:27,760 We're doing it with a sieve bucket. 611 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,400 As you can see, the hard lumps are just left in the sieve bucket. 612 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:37,520 Filled one. 613 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:38,600 Just got to get another truckload 614 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,560 and then take it up to the aggy to wash. 615 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,640 We need to get onto opal soon to hit our season target 616 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:47,800 and to be able to knock it out of the park 617 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:49,000 with this summer collection. 618 00:31:57,480 --> 00:31:59,600 I'm just gonna undercut under that level where it's dipping. 619 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:00,800 Yeah. 620 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,280 Back into this slip back here. Yeah. 621 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:03,920 And then we'll knock that level down. 622 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,280 Knock the opal out. 623 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:06,480 I'll get you to spot in a sec, yeah. 624 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,000 The stakes this season are higher than ever really. 625 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,000 With Renee having to come into the team and prove herself 626 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,440 as an opal miner and us get the target so she can stay here. 627 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:21,560 Alright, let's go black light. 628 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,160 Yeah. 629 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,280 Careful! 630 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,000 There's definitely material dropping. 631 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:30,360 Yeah. Careful. 632 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:32,040 Look. Look at this. 633 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,680 Ooh, I hope that's colour. Ooh! 634 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:37,040 Oh, look that! Look that! 635 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:38,480 That's got pink. That's got red. 636 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,720 Purple in there too. Yeah, bit of purple. Blue green. 637 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,080 Ooh, this big chunk here. 638 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,680 That's good for a mouth tumble. 639 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,400 Oh, Dan! Stop doing that. 640 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,680 Look how much better it looks! That's gross. Ergh. 641 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:50,880 Oh! 642 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:52,680 Oh, I mean, the colour's beautiful. 643 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:53,920 Ah how much better is it now? 644 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:55,280 But the old mouth tumble's disgusting. 645 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:56,480 You've got to have a go at it. No way. 646 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:57,680 It's lovely. That is gross. 647 00:32:57,760 --> 00:32:59,680 Who cares when it's opal that good? 648 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,320 Let's load you up with that half a tonne. 649 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,560 We've spent quite a bit of money renovating the cutting room. 650 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:24,400 So we really want to make use of it. 651 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:26,360 Um, so I've been doing quite a bit cutting. 652 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,280 And I'm really enjoying it. 653 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:36,720 We've just been out to Jock's claim and we found some beautiful opal. 654 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:41,960 Um, so I'm gonna surprise Dan and cut and polish a piece of opal. 655 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,360 I'm gonna cut this one free form 656 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:50,600 and try and follow the natural lines of the opal. 657 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,320 I'm just adding a bit more wax onto the stick. 658 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,760 Start to see the pretty colours coming through now. 659 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:09,640 Got green, purples. Got oranges. 660 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:19,280 Alright, so what have we got there, Dan? 661 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:23,200 Well, I reckon I've classed that up. Tops here. Second. 662 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:24,880 Third. Yeah. 663 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:28,280 I do have a little surprise for you. 664 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:29,680 An empty box? 665 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:31,280 No. Ooh. 666 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:32,600 Cut and polished it. Wow! 667 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:35,480 Nice polish. 668 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:37,480 I did spend ages on it. 669 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:40,080 It certainly value adds to our find. 670 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:42,080 Ah, we just sell it rough, we get a certain price. 671 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,960 When Renee cuts it, makes it into something better, it's worth more. 672 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,040 And what about selling it? 673 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,680 Darryl mentioned the other day he's looking for some bright crystal. 674 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:54,200 Ah, it's a bit of a mixed parcel but I think Darryl could be into it. 675 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:05,440 You on channel there, Rory? 676 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:07,080 Sure am, Dad. 677 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:08,280 We'll put your truck in first. 678 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:10,240 Alright, I'll see you up at the aggy. 679 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:13,960 We need to get this aggy spinning. 680 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:15,720 That's the moneymaker for us. 681 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,400 If we're gonna make any money this week, it'll be here. 682 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,720 Barrel's full so we'll just let that wash down. 683 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,240 Hopefully we've got some nice gems in there. Cross fingers. 684 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:36,440 Here we go. 685 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:44,680 Buster, get out of it. You're gonna get hit. 686 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,760 Well, it's showing potential but we still haven't got a... 687 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:52,960 No. 688 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:54,880 ..a woo-hoo stone, have we? No, we haven't, mate. 689 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:57,600 Close to a woo-hoo one. 690 00:35:57,680 --> 00:35:58,920 Just a little crystal. 691 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:09,400 Few dollars in that one. Yeah. 692 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:14,280 There's a stone there. 693 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,320 See there's red, red right around there. 694 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:17,560 Yeah. Red there. 695 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:18,720 Yeah. 696 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:20,120 All adds up. 697 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:21,720 Righto. 698 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:25,160 A few rocks in there. 699 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:30,840 The Cheals have black and crystal opal. 700 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:34,640 Blue green in colour with flashes of purple and yellow. 701 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:39,040 It's in the rough and weighs 250 grams. 702 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:42,800 No yah-hoo stones but... 703 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,200 No, no yah-hoo stones. 704 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,120 Yeah, nothing to jump up and down about, 705 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:52,080 but still nice, bright colour. 706 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,200 What are you thinking dollar value there? 707 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,320 Oh, it's tough to say in the rough, isn't it? 708 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:04,400 I don't know what your thoughts are, Mark, 709 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,080 but I reckon potentially what's there, 710 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:09,960 it could easily rub up to 10 to 12 thousand. 711 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:11,800 Yeah, I was thinking around that too, mate, yeah. 712 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,200 $12,000 find, it's certainly good. 713 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,560 But you know, for the size of the operation, 714 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:23,120 you kind of want a bit more than that. 715 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:24,920 Well done, big fella. 716 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:26,560 It's enough to keep us going, 717 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,120 big machinery, maintenance and fuel, and put a little bit of food 718 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:30,680 on the table for our families at the same time. 719 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,080 Oh, well, cheers to a good week, guys. 720 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:56,480 Morning. Hey Joe. 721 00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:57,640 What brings yous up? 722 00:37:57,720 --> 00:37:59,640 Basically the rain. 723 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:03,080 Yeah, I know. There's no more mining now for a while. 724 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,640 So we've got something to show ya. 725 00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:08,080 Yeah. 726 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:10,320 From our efforts of last night. 727 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:19,520 Oh! She's a boulder. 728 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:23,320 Matrix. And opal seams. 729 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:24,840 It's pretty cool. 730 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:28,960 Yeah, that's a beautiful specimen. There's a bit of dollars there. 731 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:31,240 There's some good colour in here. 732 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,480 A lot of golds and greens in it. 733 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:43,520 Eh, this is really pretty. Lots of golds, yellows, blues. 734 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,360 Well, I'm feeling a lot better. So am I. 735 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:47,960 That's strong colours. 736 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:54,240 The Misfits have a large specimen of Andamooka hard matrix 737 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:56,840 and a collection of smaller stones 738 00:38:56,920 --> 00:39:00,040 featuring gold, green and purple, 739 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,280 with a total weight of four kilograms. 740 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:06,280 What do you think it's worth? 741 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:08,200 Maybe 10. 742 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:10,720 We could get a few stones out of that big chunk. 743 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:13,640 I think it's an easier sell as a specimen. 744 00:39:13,720 --> 00:39:14,880 So you know, there are all these people 745 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:16,400 that collects rocks and stuff. Yep. 746 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:18,120 You know, 'cause they'll pay good money for that. 747 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:21,560 Extreme bottom dollar value would be around say seven. 748 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:24,240 As a specimen believe it or not. 749 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:29,560 This one here, that's gonna cut some stunning stones out of it. 750 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:32,400 I think it's worth a bit more than 10, Angel. 751 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:34,000 That's good. 752 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:39,720 Oh, I'd say the whole lot probably around 14, you know. 753 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:41,240 That's awesome. Awesome. 754 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:42,960 You know, so that's not bad. 755 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:44,680 Night work with the UV light paid off. 756 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:51,760 I, I'm happy with this. 757 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:53,520 So have a hot cuppa. Let's celebrate. 758 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:54,840 Awesome. 759 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:56,280 The girls have been doing really good. 760 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:59,080 Angel's way better than what she was when she first started. 761 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:01,200 And Issy's, over the last couple of years, 762 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,040 really coming online, you know 763 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:05,880 like really becoming, you know, reliable and dependable. 764 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:07,400 Hot chocolate. 765 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:08,520 Ooh, awesome. 766 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:10,280 Yeah, well, you mose well celebrate. Cheers. 767 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:11,600 Here's cheers. Awesome hunting. 768 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:13,240 I think we're extremely lucky 769 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:15,680 that we found that hard matrix when we did. 770 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:17,680 You know, one more day, 771 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:19,760 and, and this is what we would have ended up with. 772 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,440 And we would have come back with nothing to show, Joe. 773 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:26,120 When he said it's a good 14 grand there, I was happy. 774 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,400 We get to live another week out here. 775 00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:30,360 You know, living the dream, opal mining. 776 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:42,560 There's the parcel, Darryl. 777 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:46,760 We've got tops here, two ounces. Ah one ounce of second. 778 00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:48,520 Three ounces of third. 779 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,000 Yeah. 780 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:51,320 And this actually is one of the stones 781 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:52,640 Renee cut from that exact parcel. 782 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:54,320 Yeah, so I cut that one. 783 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:56,120 That's actually, that's, that's nice isn't it. 784 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:57,880 My cutting's getting better, isn't it? 785 00:40:57,960 --> 00:40:59,400 You surpass me by a long shot. 786 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:03,920 It's eight carats for that cut stone. 787 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:08,440 Darryl, the thing about that is obviously no risk in that stone. 788 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:10,400 No, that's right. And, and if that's come from that, 789 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:12,360 so there's, yeah, nah, I hear you. 790 00:41:14,320 --> 00:41:17,880 Darryl's actually a mate of ours and and also a fellow opal miner. 791 00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:19,680 But he's got a fair network of buyers. 792 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,120 Ah, I think he can move it fairly fast. 793 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:24,240 And sometimes for us, us selling to miners 794 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:25,920 for them to move on is quicker for us too. 795 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,360 Just get in and get out, keep going. 796 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:32,480 Have a good look, see what you think. 797 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:34,280 Yeah. 798 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:39,800 The Opal Lovers have crystal and white based opal 799 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:42,920 with vivid hues of blue and purple. 800 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:47,280 They're in the rough, except for a single rubbed stone. 801 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:51,400 The whole parcel weighs 170 grams. 802 00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:55,880 So how much are you gonna try and squeeze me for? 803 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:58,320 So we were thinking nine, nine thousand. 804 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:08,280 You'll probably kick me 805 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:11,040 but I reckon I'd probably say five and a half. 806 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:13,400 Is that all, five and a half? 807 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:15,280 Yeah, five, well. 808 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:17,280 I know this one's no risk 'cause you can sell it. 809 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:20,200 But you start playing with this and whatnot 810 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:21,560 and do-do-do, could end up with nothing too, 811 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:23,160 you know what I mean, so it's just... 812 00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:28,920 It's probably a bit low, I know, 813 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:30,560 but still, we're got to start somewhere. 814 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:32,600 But that, that's way too low. 815 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:33,880 Mm. 816 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:37,160 Well, we'd come down to seven. 817 00:42:37,240 --> 00:42:38,920 Six. 818 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:44,360 Six. What do you reckon about six, Dan? 819 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:47,560 Nuh. Too low. 820 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:49,200 Bestest is six and a half. 821 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:55,400 Six and a half. Six and a half. 822 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:57,760 Alright. Yeah. I think you've done well out of that. 823 00:42:57,840 --> 00:42:58,840 Yeah, we'll do six and a half. Thanks, Darryl. 824 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:00,280 That's excellent. Yeah. Yeah no worries. 825 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:01,520 Cheers bro. 826 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:02,800 Yeah look, we did OK. 827 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:04,240 We got six and a half grand there 828 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,280 so obviously Jock gets half of that for his deal, um... 829 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:08,720 Still, we come out of it alright. 830 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:10,880 It puts it towards the tip truck repairs 831 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:13,600 and really, 3,250 bucks for a a bike ride 832 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:15,440 in the desert's pretty cool. 833 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:21,880 Your cut stone there really brought that up. 834 00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:23,160 He was keen on that stone. It was risk free. 835 00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:24,560 Buy it and sell it. 836 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:26,480 Yeah. It came up really well with my cutting 837 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:27,880 and polishing skills I've got now. 838 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:29,840 You're doing a lot better, yeah. Yeah. Well, cheers. 839 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:31,080 Cheers. 840 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:35,840 Captioned by AI-Media ai-media.tv 840 00:43:36,305 --> 00:44:36,613 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org