"Outback Opal Hunters" Water You Waiting For?

1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,839 Hey, Rog. More black potch. 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,239 ROGER: Nice. That's where we got that red-on-black down in that corner. 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,919 Yeah, man. We basically pulled out a couple of cracking little red-on-blacks. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,199 Just watch the bund wall. Yeah, definitely, man. 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,719 The base of your bund wall is just a wall that we put up. 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,159 It separates the water and the silt from the dry side. 7 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:25,759 We don't want it breaching and coming on the dry side, 8 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,359 cos this is the pay dirt. This is what we wanna take. 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,879 Once it gets wet, it turns into mud, and it's a lot harder to process. 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:33,799 Getting out of your way right now, man. 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:41,074 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,799 These hydraulics are playing up especially when I reach right out. 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,159 Oh, yeah. 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,199 Oh.Oy, oy.Bloody hell, mate. 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,359 We've got a bund-wall breach here, man. 16 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,519 Oh, dude, it's coming in hard. 17 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,119 Get that digger out of there. Get it out, get it out. 18 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,399 Oh, mate, she's coming in hard, bro. 19 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:33,359 Yeah, put that bund wall up. We gotta stop this bloody water 20 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,159 from coming in and going over the back. 21 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,239 It's gonna fill this hole up, man. We're pretty much screwed here. 22 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,399 It looks like we won't be digging here any time soon. 23 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,679 ROGER: These hydraulics, it's probably running a little low. 24 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,959 Man, as soon as I reached out, she just dropped. 25 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,559 I couldn't help it, man. Yeah, I know, man. 26 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,319 It's been doing that a little bit lately, but it's just getting worse today. 27 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,239 Not good, mate. Not good. 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,639 NARRATOR: In drought-stricken Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, 29 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,639 water is a precious commodity. 30 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,879 There's been no significant rain for 41 days, 31 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,679 and for Lee Hobden and Roger Williams, 32 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,439 AKA Slim Pickings, 33 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,759 it's vital for their pioneering mining technique... 34 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,999 What we're doing right now at the moment is totally different. 35 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,959 It's something that's never really been done. 36 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,559 ..reprocessing waste silt 37 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:30,639 from old-timers' opal traps known as puddlers 38 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,799 and rescuing the smaller gemstones 39 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,199 that escaped through the mesh into the surrounding earth. 40 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,199 This is one of these old puddlers here. 41 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,279 So as they're feeding it, putting water in, 42 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,639 spinning it around like a big washing machine, spewing all the mud out, 43 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,199 all the silt and slurry would push through these gaps, through these holes. 44 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,279 That would still spit out up to a one-carat stone, really. 45 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,399 And that's what we're getting at the moment. 46 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,879 Water's going, Rog. Let's start feeding it in. 47 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:57,719 Let's go, boy, let's go.Do it. 48 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,559 Roger and Lee use water from Government Dam, 49 00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:09,599 and they're responsible for recycling it, 50 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,479 removing the silt before feeding the water back into the reservoir. 51 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,039 I've done all types of mining, but this is a different venture. 52 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,279 I invested a lot of money into it. 53 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,959 Season target is $100,000. 54 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,279 We need to bloody hit our target. 55 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,439 But we're not even getting anywhere near it at the moment. 56 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,759 Mined opal for a living for 17 years. 57 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,079 That's really good. Good sign. 58 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,759 But I got in with Lee, and this is totally different. 59 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:39,719 I was a little bit sceptical at the start, 60 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:41,399 and, yeah, working silt. 61 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,039 Bit of potch going in. 62 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,279 Bit of colour would be better. 63 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,919 I haven't succeeded in too many ideas in my life. 64 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,719 I'm still single, and I don't have any children. 65 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,639 I haven't really got too many trophies on my wall. 66 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,639 And this is one trophy I wanna succeed in. That's for sure. 67 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,639 That's hard as. Don't want that going in. 68 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,679 We don't want any big pieces going up here. 69 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,439 Rocks.Whoa.Rocks. Rocks. Yeah, I can see. 70 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,079 Take a look, man. 71 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,639 Honestly, you can definitely hear that shin-cracker rumbling, man. I tell ya. 72 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,679 I can hear it from here. 73 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,559 We let a couple of pieces go, mate. 74 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,119 No good? Yeah, it's not good at all, man. 75 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:33,119 Shin-crackers are ultra-hard silicified stones, 76 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,439 such as porcellanite, and are much tougher than the opal. 77 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,119 Tumbling inside an agitator barrel, 78 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:45,159 a shin-cracker can shatter any opal it comes into contact with. 79 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,199 Our opal pieces are small enough as they are when we do get them. 80 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:54,359 But beautiful as they are, we don't wanna smash any of them. 81 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,319 That's exactly right, mate. 82 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,639 We missed a few big pieces by the sounds of it. 83 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,479 It's something we don't bloody need. 84 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,559 Bad, eh?OSCAR: Wow. 85 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,599 Yeah. 86 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,479 I didn't think you were meant to walk down into the dam this far. 87 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,279 MARK: I know. It's pretty bad, eh? 88 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,519 Getting worse by the day. Yeah, mate. 89 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,839 I reckon there's probably a week left in it, tops. 90 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,759 It looks like a large volume of water, 91 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:31,799 but it's only probably ankle-deep. 92 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,159 We've had nothing but trouble, and now we're nearly out of water. 93 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,519 Dad and Mark, I think, are a little bit worried. 94 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,359 We've definitely bitten off more than we can chew this year. 95 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,399 We're trying to run a massive operation. We can move a lot of dirt. 96 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,159 We got plenty of country to go through, and the key to that is wash plants. 97 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,519 And at the moment, that's been a nightmare this year. 98 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,479 You know, barrels breaking down. 99 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,359 And, yeah, different problems throughout the whole year, 100 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,639 and then now a lack of water. 101 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,399 Erm, yeah, you can't have a wash plant without water. 102 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,959 We should be under water here where we're standing. 103 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,679 Yeah, we should be. It's going down quick. 104 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,359 You've got other miners. 105 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,719 They're gonna access this water too. It's a bit of a race against time. 106 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,959 Soon as we can get trucks back up in here 107 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,919 and up on the agi site, we'll be bringing them in and washing. 108 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,679 Kids are gonna dig underground and try and pick and choose 109 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,199 the dirt we put in to try and maximise our dollar. 110 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,559 We'll try and make it happen. LUCA: Yeah.Righto. Good luck, boys. 111 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,919 Yeah.Keep in touch. 112 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,999 The Cheal family and mine partner Mark Bressan 113 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,639 are halfway through the opal-mining season, 114 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,679 and a crippling drought that's lingered for months 115 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,119 across the east coast of Australia 116 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,799 is threatening to shut down their entire operation. 117 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,359 Well, let's get into it, eh, sis? 118 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,479 MARK: Can you hold that? To reach the receding waterline, 119 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,879 Mark and Chris need to extend the pump hose. 120 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:04,599 Without water, we can't wash, 121 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,839 and it's very hard to find the opal without it. 122 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,039 We're going backwards at a big rate. 123 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,799 Chris and I, we got our families we gotta support, 124 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,319 and this is a major thing for us to support our families. 125 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,559 Yep. Yeah, perfect. 126 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,759 We set our target at a million dollars. 127 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,239 A million dollars' worth of opal, it's a lot of opal. 128 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,599 The kids are our best shot for opal this week. 129 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,679 That's underground. That's a lot of pressure. 130 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,719 I might even go in there and pull back 131 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,199 and hit that a bit squarer if we're gonna do that. 132 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,199 Turn in to that side.Right. 133 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,279 6km from the dwindling dam, 134 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,119 Chris's children Oscar and Luca 135 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:53,639 are working 7m underground at Turner's Rush claim. 136 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,639 They're gouging away on an opal level 137 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,959 they've been following for weeks with the 2.5-tonne super digger. 138 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,719 We've only got one or two truckloads to wash before that water runs out, 139 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,519 so we're gonna make them our best truckloads.Mm. 140 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,199 I really want nothing more than to just find a pocket 141 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,919 for Mark and Dad. 142 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,039 Just to deliver them some good news. 143 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,759 Just say, 'Hey, lads, don't worry about it. 144 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,919 We've got it here. Just relax. It's all good.' 145 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,959 Pit bogger for probably a month or two now. 146 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,319 Erm, still kind of getting used to it a bit. 147 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,639 Had a few problems with it which have mostly been fixed. 148 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,199 Erm, so, yeah, I think I'm going all right. 149 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,839 I'm just putting the dirt into this bucket, 150 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,439 which will go up the hoist and then into the truck. 151 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,999 So once the truck's full, we can take it to the agi. 152 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:11,279 Oh. 153 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,959 Hard down in that corner, eh?Yeah. 154 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:28,839 Look at that. Beautiful. It's dark too.Yeah, beautiful. 155 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,559 Bits of colour. We're finally coming onto some kind of colour, so who knows? 156 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,799 Holy , Luca. Oh, my God. 157 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,719 Oh.We got red. 158 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,199 That is so... Wow, look at the flash. 159 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,919 That is beautiful. Oh, my God. 160 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,039 I've just taken a swipe up the top, 161 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,639 and we've just got a big red flashy piece out of there and potch that thick. 162 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,879 Red's the rarest type of colour you can get, 163 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,599 and black's the rarest type of opal you can get. 164 00:09:57,680 --> 00:09:59,919 So we got black like that and red like that. 165 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,239 If they join, it's a lot of money really quickly. 166 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,719 Oh. Come here, come here, come here. 167 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,239 What is it?Look at this. What have you got? 168 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,279 Red on black. Look. Oh, my God, look at that. 169 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:17,039 Look at it.Oh, my God, there's a full red plate there. Yeah, look at that. 170 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,959 Oh, my God. Oh, we hit it. 171 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,239 Beautiful, beautiful red on black up here. 172 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,919 Yeah, exactly what we needed. I'm very happy. 173 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,959 Oh, we did it. Yes. 174 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,239 Yeah, we've hit a pocket. And could be huge. 175 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,479 Could be absolutely huge. Could be lifechanging. 176 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:39,599 Honestly, we've got red on black up there. 177 00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:41,279 Top-quality red on black. 178 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,359 And then about a metre away, we've got red on black and orange and stuff down here. 179 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,639 So we've got money everywhere. 180 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,919 Oh, this is what we do it for, sis. 181 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,959 Guys, honestly, I can't wait to see the boys' reaction. 182 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,159 Those two blokes give up so much for the people around them, 183 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,799 and they work so hard, and they get out of bed every single day. 184 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,199 And they just invest so much into their passion. 185 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,959 And this is the news I wanted, and here we are. 186 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,479 Now we finally get to give those boys a hug and say, 187 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:11,799 'Don't worry. You don't have to worry any more.' 188 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:16,159 That's sick. Yes. 189 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:36,879 Oy! 190 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,479 That's it, man! 191 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:44,119 What's your problem? That's too close.To what? 192 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,999 You're gonna go over the edge, mate. Nah. 193 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,279 Look at that track. 194 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,279 Yeah, there's heaps of room, mate. 195 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,439 If that gives way, the whole thing's gonna go over. 196 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:57,559 I know you're trying your guts out. 197 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,319 You're pushing hard, but it's not worth dying. 198 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,359 Calm your farm, Mark. Pull it back a bit, man. 199 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,919 Oy, I've got skill. I'll be right. Pull it back. I don't care.Righto. 200 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,759 The Blacklighters, team leader Mark I'Anson 201 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,279 and Paul Coon, have a massive job ahead. 202 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,039 High on their new claim Servo, 203 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,559 they're clearing thousands of tonnes of worthless surface dirt 204 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,439 known as overburden with excavator and dozer 205 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,519 to reach an opal level 9m down. 206 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,679 We can't have it near the edge of the cliff, 207 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,199 or we could end up in a lot of strife. 208 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,399 Cliff could crumble, over we go, everyone's dead, basically. 209 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,519 I've got pretty close. 210 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,239 I had fair trust in my skill of operating the machine 211 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,839 so I wasn't really too worried at all. 212 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,479 We're right at the beginning of the journey with this mining expedition. 213 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:54,919 We're standing on a lot of dirt that's got to go. 214 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,439 There's a lot of work to do. There's a lot of hours 215 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,239 and a lot of fuel to be pumped into this spot. 216 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,919 With buying machinery, we're spending so much at the Servo. It's unbelievable. 217 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,599 So, yeah, we need to find some opal. We really badly need to find some opal. 218 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:10,439 Hopefully we can find some and solve all our problems. 219 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,399 We've got a target of 350,000 again this year. 220 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,919 At the moment, it's not looking too good. 221 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,279 We've been out here for a few weeks now, 222 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,079 and nothing much is happening. 223 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,759 As Mark and Paul clear the overburden on Servo claim, 224 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:33,079 third Blacklighter John Nassar is working the team's 12 Mile claim 225 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,679 200m away alone. 226 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,999 Opalzilla, to run it on your own, it's not the easiest. 227 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,119 So, you've got to fill the hopper. Hope that nothing goes wrong. 228 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,479 Get it running properly without breaking stuff. 229 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:48,719 Stay in the dark room for, who knows, 230 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,439 maybe half-hour, three-quarters of an hour all by yourself. 231 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,999 And you don't, sort of, really wanna waste much time. 232 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,759 It's vital he finds opal to fund the dig at Servo. 233 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,919 Feels like the ignition barrel's threaded off its little locknut, 234 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,839 and it's just spinning the barrel around without actually starting it. 235 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,119 Without this, I'm unable to load the hopper, 236 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,479 so pretty well screwed if this doesn't come good. 237 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,639 And then it's just come off. 238 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,119 Well, day doesn't look like it's getting any easier. 239 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,479 You can hear that shin-cracker rumbling around in here, eh? 240 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,159 I can hear it as well, man. 241 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,959 You've got to be real careful what goes in the agitator. 242 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,599 If you've got a big rock, and it comes out, 243 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,319 and it hits another one, there's an opal in between it, 244 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,119 you pretty much will turn your chips into more bloody chips. 245 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,599 Or if you've got any opal in decent-size stones, 246 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,079 you'll smash them into small chips themselves. 247 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,319 Hey, Lee, what about those old grizzlies 248 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,959 that you've got over the back there? They should work. 249 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,639 Separate the bloody shin-cracker and the silt. 250 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,159 We'll go and take a look at them or what? 251 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,719 So this is the great idea, Lee? Sure is. 252 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,119 Slim Pickings are hoping a 50-year-old, 253 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,759 homemade piece of equipment known as grizzly bars 254 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,599 rusting 100m from their wash plant 255 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,839 can stop the shin-crackers entering their agitator. 256 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,719 Good old grizzly bars. It's mobile. 257 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,159 Well, some thereof. 258 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,879 Well, as long as it gets them shin-crackers out, mate. Whatever it takes. 259 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:42,919 Well, there's only one way to find out, 260 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,919 and that's put it into motion. 261 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,239 These are what we call grizzly bars. 262 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:52,199 They're evenly spaced grader blades off an old grader. 263 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,639 How it works is when you pick the dirt up, those bigger pieces, 264 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,319 once you dump it, all that smaller stuff 265 00:15:58,400 --> 00:15:59,999 goes in between the gaps. 266 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,919 The bigger pieces, they roll off and go off the side. 267 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,479 We wanna do that with the shin-cracker and ironstone. 268 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,199 We're coming around now, mate. 269 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,839 To move the grizzly bars to the dig site, 270 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,919 Roger needs to traverse a cratered dirt track 271 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,599 with the 1.2-tonne machine chained to the excavator arm. 272 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,599 Probably a little over a tonne in it. 273 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,639 If that thing hits you, it would literally take your head off. 274 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,599 Oy, oy. 275 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:40,359 Come on, find the sweet spot. Come on. 276 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,159 A broken loader ignition barrel has shut down 277 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,519 the Blacklighters' operation at 12 Mile claim. 278 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,239 She's spinning. Oh. It almost feels tight. 279 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,399 Come on, baby. Just get going. 280 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,839 Oh, yes. 281 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,079 We might have to go order ourselves a new ignition for this thing, 282 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,639 but at the moment, I might keep these handy 283 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,399 just down here and hope for the best. 284 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,079 At the moment, I'm happy cos I can move some more dirt. 285 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,479 Just turns out the nut that holds it in 286 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,679 just was a bit crappy and probably threaded. 287 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,959 Yeah, I was sort of glad it was sort of easy fix, 288 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,799 but, yeah, I would have been stuffed without it. 289 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,519 As John processes waste dirt in Opalzilla, 290 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:31,199 Mark and Paul are struggling to clear tons of overburden 291 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,999 to reach a virgin opal level 9m down. 292 00:17:38,360 --> 00:17:40,839 PAUL: Shit. 293 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,719 Get out of my way! That's not gonna work. 294 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,079 We need more room. We're boxed in, man. 295 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,239 We need another claim.Yeah, I know. 296 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,519 Too hard. Too hard. 297 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:57,479 That was a pretty scary moment. 298 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,399 We were just too close. We needed a bit more room. 299 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,319 Needed to be able to do big pushes, get the dirt out of there. 300 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,119 That's where that extra claim makes it a lot easier for us. 301 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:12,199 Mark wants to register a 50x100m claim 302 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,239 adjacent to Servo to dump the overburden on. 303 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,119 All right, that will do, man. 304 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,439 It comes with a $350 price tag, 305 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,399 and the Blacklighters must peg the land 306 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,439 to exact Mines Department specifications. 307 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:34,359 What's written on there, Mark? DM 19.Yeah. 308 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,759 Department of Mines 19. 309 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,159 DM 19. That's all that was on there? 310 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,119 That's all that's on there, man. Cool. 311 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:43,999 Just using my compass from my phone. 312 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:45,919 Just getting a bearing to the mine's peg, 313 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,319 and then from the mine's peg back to our main peg here. 314 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,759 So when the Mines Department come out, they know. 315 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,319 They'll go to that peg over there and they'll know 316 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,279 we're 50m away, 178 degrees south. 317 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:00,319 So that's all they need to know. 318 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,119 What a bloody good day to peg a claim, eh? 319 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,799 Northwest.Could be loaded out here. 320 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,839 Righto, man. Claim's all pegged. Yeah, sweet. Let's get into this dozer, eh?Yeah. 321 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,799 I'm so pumped to get this done. Heaps of stuff to do, eh?I know. 322 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,639 You just got to take it easy, I reckon. 323 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,519 Oy.What?Looks like we've been losing water, man. 324 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,159 There's brown stains coming out the overflow. 325 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,199 Whether it was too full or got too hot... 326 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,319 It's got no hose on it, does it? 327 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,319 Does it? Nah?Nah. 328 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,359 There should be a hose. Look at all this. So it's got hot, man. 329 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,199 Look at it all in there.Yeah. 330 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,999 Did you feel that on your back?Nah. 331 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,519 It's pretty brown.Huh? 332 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,999 That looks gross. Look at that lid. 333 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,559 There's no way I wanna go back to town again, man. 334 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,399 I've been there twice today. 335 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,479 We've only got our drinking water. 336 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:52,239 You thirsty?A little bit. 337 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,839 There won't be enough.Nah? Nah. 338 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,479 Dozer keeps overheating. Cost us 18 grand. 339 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,359 That's a lot of opal. 340 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,279 If we stuff that engine up, it's game over for us. 341 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:18,199 CHRIS: Here he is now. 342 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,599 MARK: Here's my boy. Hey, Dad.Hey, son. 343 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,679 How are you? How you going, mate?I'm good. 344 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,879 NARRATOR: In drought-stricken Grawin, Chris and mine partner Mark 345 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:39,439 desperately want to get a second agitator wash plant operational at a backup dam 346 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:43,799 to cope with the massive volumes of opal-bearing dirt they're mining. 347 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,719 We'll get this other agi site up and rolling, eh?Yeah, sounds good. 348 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,439 Are we right?Ready, mate. 349 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,959 They've enlisted Mark's 18-year-old son Beau, 350 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,999 who has driven over nine hours from Queensland's Gold Coast 351 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,639 with replacement parts for the plant. 352 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,839 That water's gonna run out pretty quick now. 353 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,559 And we've got this part. And it's great to see my son too. 354 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,959 So awesome job, mate, coming out. 355 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,799 We can keep going, mate, so awesome job, bud. 356 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,039 All right.Yeah. Love you. Love you, mate. 357 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,359 As Mark heads to the underground mine 358 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,039 to check on Oscar and Luca's progress... 359 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,839 Are you right?Yep. Are you good?Yep. 360 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,239 ..Chris and Beau will install the clutch and gearbox 361 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,079 on their second agitator. 362 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,199 Right-o. 363 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,279 MARK: Hey, bro.We've got him, bro. We got it. 364 00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:48,399 Have a look.No way. Have a look at it. 365 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,799 Oh.Hey, we got red on black. Far out, man. 366 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,319 Well done. Well done. Bro, there's a full plate of it up there.Really? 367 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,919 See it? Oh, man. 368 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,039 I'll go back down.Yeah. 369 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:03,359 And when Dad gets here, you bring him down?Yeah. 370 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,039 I can't wait to tell him, man. 371 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:07,959 The expression on his face is just gonna be priceless.Oh. 372 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,039 Hello. Yeah, good. How you going? 373 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,879 We've got a bit to do here. Is it urgent, is it? 374 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,159 Yeah, it's pretty urgent, mate, yeah.Right-o. All right. 375 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,839 Got to get up to the claim. It's pretty urgent. 376 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,799 I don't know what it's about. Just hope everyone's all right. 377 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,159 How does it feel being rich? 378 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,879 Go away. Don't you shit me. 379 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:52,159 We got red on black, bro. No way. 380 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,439 Look at that. We've got a full plate of it up there!Ooh, yeah. 381 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,759 We've got a full plate of it hanging out of the face.Yeah. 382 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,759 I knew you'd do it.Oh. 383 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,159 I knew you'd do it. Come here, darl. Thank you. 384 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,439 Good material. 385 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,639 It's red on black, and it's so rare. 386 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,079 And when you get it, you get top dollar for it. 387 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:15,759 It's just the best rush ever. 388 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,399 It's really hard to describe the rush of it to anyone. 389 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,199 A lot of hard work goes into it. It's not like winning Lotto. 390 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:26,759 Oh, . 391 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,959 We've got a full plate of it up there, brother. 392 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,319 And then we had a swipe here, we got red on black there, 393 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,159 orange, more red through here. 394 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,559 And then we just stopped. 395 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,239 Wow. 396 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,159 Today's life-changing. 397 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,559 I'm stoked for Oscar and Luca. 398 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,479 They're the ones that nutted it out. They've come across it. 399 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,319 It's pretty special. No-one can take that away from them. 400 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,759 Just put the mattress there. We'll just drop a little bit out. 401 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,639 We're just trying to limit any breakage. 402 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,839 You can hit a piece and just shatter it. 403 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,639 Here it comes. Oscar, give it a little nudge, mate. 404 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,319 Opal is notoriously fragile, 405 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:13,679 and the colour they've spotted may only run millimetres deep before disappearing. 406 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:17,319 Oop. Got him. 407 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,519 The red's gone. 408 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,839 Any big colour bars there yet or what? 409 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,599 Youse are making me nervous. 410 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,719 No colour, eh?Black. 411 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,159 Right, where do you want me to go? Right over the top in the middle? 412 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,279 May as well get her out in one go. Come on. 413 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,359 Yeah, there's potch there. 414 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,439 Keep going?Yeah, mate. 415 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,239 Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. 416 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,399 Any more colour?Come on. 417 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,799 Got colour or not?Nah. 418 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,439 Do you just wanna see where you wanna put that one, Lee? 419 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,959 LEE: Just straight ahead of you. Just to your right. 420 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:16,639 I'll point out exactly. 421 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,519 All right, lay him down, mate. Nice and gentle. 422 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,439 Wanna see how it sits on level ground. 423 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,439 Roger and Lee have finally moved their grizzly bars 424 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,319 near old-timers' waste rock and silt 425 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,639 in the hope that the DIY contraption can separate 426 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,439 opal-breaking shin-cracker from paydirt. 427 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,519 Look at that. That's old tailings there. That's really old stuff. 428 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,159 That's what we need to take, Rog. Really? 429 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,439 Cos that is good colour.Yeah. 430 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,759 Well, do you wanna dig this out? And we'll test it with the grizzly bars. 431 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,999 Set up over the other side, you mean?Yep. 432 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:00,839 See here, these are the old tailings. 433 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,159 These already been processed. 434 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,759 The old-timers already gone through it and thrown it out. 435 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,239 So there's a big, thick band of it here. 436 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,599 There's a possibility something might be in it. 437 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,239 But also underneath that is the silt runs as well, 438 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:19,559 which Roger's just pulled out a beautiful bit of colour out of. 439 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,439 It's basically got everything we need. 440 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,039 Yeah, give them a bit of a shake if you can. 441 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,999 So, it looks like it's doing its job. 442 00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:48,559 You can see here, there are some of those bigger rocks... 443 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:52,679 ..yeah, stuck up there. 444 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,719 What we see here is what's gone in through the gaps. 445 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:58,599 Pretty happy, man. 446 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,639 Hell, yeah. Look at all them pieces that we're isolating. 447 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:03,359 Yeah, man.That's awesome. 448 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,199 Shin-cracker. Shin-cracker, be gone. 449 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,479 Chuck it over here out of the way so we can get the truck up here. 450 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,319 Oh, well, we'll get this out on the table, eh? 451 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,559 Yeah, mate. After using those bloody grizzlies, 452 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,719 hopefully, we ain't got no more of those big shin-crackers. 453 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,439 We'll get it on the table and hopefully no smashed opal. 454 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,519 Yeah.Let's do it, man. 455 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:38,959 The largest shin-crackers have been screened out by the grizzly bars, 456 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,959 but Lee and Roger will need to remove by hand 457 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,919 any large stones that slipped through the grille 458 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,839 as they travel up the conveyor belt into the wash-plant barrel. 459 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,719 Dust is a goer. 460 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:54,999 Hopefully there's some gems in this one. 461 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,119 PAUL: Hope you haven't cooked it. 462 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,279 The Blacklighters' 50-year-old dozer, 463 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:11,519 needed to clear overburden on their new claim, 464 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:16,279 is losing water from its 129 L radiator. 465 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:20,759 Oh, man, that's the last thing we need to do, is blow this thing up. 466 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,119 No.We can't spend 18 grand on something 467 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:25,799 and blow it up straight away. 468 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,359 We were about to get going again this arvie, 469 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,999 and Mark noticed some water coming out 470 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,639 the overflow of the dozer and the radiator there. 471 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,119 So, we don't need to cook that cos it's a lot of money 472 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,879 and it's gonna make us a lot of money in the future. 473 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,919 Far out, man. So, what, we've only got drinking water here? 474 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:47,039 We got nothing-I'm not driving back to town again, man. That really sucks, eh? 475 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,679 Well, I don't feel like it. 476 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,119 We've got some Esky juice water. 477 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,759 Well, it can't be any dirtier than this. 478 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,799 No, well, let's see how much water we can get and if it's gonna be enough. 479 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,839 Yeah, good thinking, Paul. That's a bloody good idea.Maybe. 480 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,119 There's a bit of juice in there. 481 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,119 Bloody hell. 482 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:11,719 That's it.That's it? 483 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,119 That's better than blowing the bloody engine up, man. Stoked. 484 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,079 Righto, rock and roll. 485 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,639 If we didn't have the dozer, progress, it just will slow right down. 486 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,479 At the moment, we don't need that. We need this top off, 487 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,919 so we can get down the bottom and find some opal. 488 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,599 At the end of the day, that's what we're out here to do. 489 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:33,879 While Paul and Mark get back to work on Servo claim... 490 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:39,919 ..200m away, John is hunting for opal 491 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,519 to keep the Blacklighters' operation running. 492 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:48,679 It's only just me down here working Opalzilla, so... 493 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:53,239 Yeah, it's not the easiest, but I'm trying to fill the bucket. 494 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,959 In the dark room at the back of Opalzilla, 495 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:05,839 ultraviolet light causes all opal to fluoresce, 496 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:10,839 from low-value colourless potch to rare red gemstones. 497 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,439 So John must snatch anything off the belt that glows. 498 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,479 I've got bit No.2. 499 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,159 You got a copy there, Paul or Mark? Either of youse over there? 500 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,839 Roger that, John. Yeah, what's up? 501 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,359 It's starting to get a little bit exciting in here. 502 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,759 Just had a few bits and pieces come through. A couple of tilings. 503 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:35,679 Joking. You're on it. 504 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:39,359 I don't know. I'll still be a millionaire until I put it in the light. 505 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,159 Roger, roger. We're about to shut down, anyway. 506 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,199 I'm getting low on juice, so... 507 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,399 Righty-o, mate. I'll just keep going in here 508 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,559 until youse come and say g'day. 509 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,159 Roger that. We'll see ya in 15. 510 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:54,239 Roger, roger. 511 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,639 Finished the day's work, so, yeah, I've got the bucket full of goodies. 512 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:01,959 But, yeah, until you actually wash it up, 513 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:03,759 you don't really know what you've got. 514 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,839 At the moment, it just looks like pretty well rocks and dust. 515 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:14,799 Let's roll him out.ROGER: Go on, roll him out. See what we got. Bring on the gembos. 516 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:21,399 Slim Pickings, Roger and Lee, are desperate to find opal 517 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:26,999 washed down from 15 tonnes of old-timers' waste silt and rock. 518 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:32,719 We pulled them bloody big pieces out, but it hasn't made the colours brighter. 519 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:34,559 Not the best start so far. 520 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:42,279 That goes in the chip bucket. 521 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:44,919 Even though it's got beautiful, looks like a lime colour, 522 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:46,679 the sand beats it, so... 523 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,599 Whatever we don't think is gonna cut 524 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:52,199 goes in the chip bucket. 525 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,119 Here, gemmy, gemmy, gemmy, gemmy, gemmy. 526 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,239 Oh, there you go, Lee. 527 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,279 Damn. Oh, that's nice. 528 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:08,239 That's gonna be a nice crystal, man. Beautiful crystal. 529 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,639 Cracking bit of colour.Oh, yeah. 530 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:12,559 Yeah. 531 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,599 That's definitely looking up on this bloody tail, I tell you. 532 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,599 100%.Near gonna bloody start crying there 533 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:20,399 a second ago, to tell you the truth. 534 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,319 Hey, hey. That is nice. 535 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,719 It looks like it's got two bars in it. 536 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:31,759 That's what we're after, man. 537 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,879 That's a nice little crystal right there. 538 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,359 Yeah, boy. I can see that from here. 539 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,359 That's a beautiful stone. Happier than a kid in a candy shop, really. 540 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,679 How are you, buddy? EDMUND: Good to see you. Very well. 541 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:54,759 You've been busy, eh? You all right?Come in. 542 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,359 Lee and Roger want to sell their haul 543 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:00,199 to opal dealer Edmond Lahoud, 544 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:04,399 an industry veteran who's been mining for over 30 years. 545 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,439 So, we've come up with a parcel for you, mate. 546 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,359 That's good, mate. Let's have a look. 547 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,439 We hope you like it.I hope so too. 548 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,319 Would be nice to get the bigger chunks of this. 549 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,039 Yeah.Oh, yes. 550 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:22,959 These are beautiful, fellas. Nice. 551 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,599 Yeah, some nice little black bases in there, isn't it? 552 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,679 That would make nice little ring stones.Yeah, yeah.Yeah. 553 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,759 Slim Pickings have small chips of crystal opal 554 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:37,399 featuring the full spectrum of colours, 555 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,879 including rare red on a black base. 556 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,319 There's a mix of cut and washed stones 557 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,799 with the most precious weighing 12g. 558 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,319 What are you asking for this parcel? 559 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,519 We have sold to you before. We don't wanna go that tit for tat. 560 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:59,759 You know I don't make far offers. Yeah, mate, look.No, exactly right. 561 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,799 Please.We've priced it at about $20,000 mark. 562 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,239 The last parcel was a bit better for me.Yeah. 563 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:12,239 Honestly, I probably would offer $15,000 normally and maybe go up to $16,000, 564 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,959 but I'm willing to go up to $18,000...Yeah. 565 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:18,759 ..erm, just because I need to continue doing business with you, 566 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:22,439 and you're being reasonable by not being too greedy. 567 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,439 Yeah.So I appreciate that. 568 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:27,639 All right, so... I hope you would accept 18 grand? 569 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,999 You know what? Yeah.Yeah, I reckon. 570 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:37,959 Was around about that price, anyway. 571 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:40,279 Yeah.I reckon that's probably about fair, mate. 572 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,799 If you're happy, we're happy. 18 grand it is, bud. 573 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,679 Too easy. Thanks, Edmond.Thank you. 574 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,839 Season's coming back on track. 575 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:52,799 Decent sale. 576 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:54,959 We wanna keep a good rapport with Edmond. 577 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,439 You wanna make sure you get the best deal, 578 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:00,199 and they get the best deal so they keep on coming back. 579 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:04,759 Pretty impressive day.Oh, yeah. 580 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,319 We had a great sale. Mate, we got what we wanted. 581 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:10,559 Cheers, man. Cheers, man. Bloody oath, bro. 582 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,559 Marcus, Rach, Paulie, come and have looksies. 583 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:28,279 MARK: You got it ready?Yeah. 584 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:32,159 In Coober Pedy, after working singlehandedly 585 00:35:32,240 --> 00:35:34,799 to find opal for the Blacklighters, 586 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,639 John Nassar has washed his parcel of stones 587 00:35:37,720 --> 00:35:41,359 in preparation for valuation by Mark's wife 588 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:44,479 and team finance manager Rachel. 589 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,199 That is beautiful, mate. 590 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:50,239 PAUL: Yoo-hoo.Look at those. 591 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:52,399 Hey, where's those big chunks?Yeah. 592 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:54,799 Little bit of a surprise for you, guys and girls. 593 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,319 Ooh, hello. 594 00:35:57,400 --> 00:35:59,239 Look at that, man. 595 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,839 That is just so beautiful. Wow. 596 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:07,759 The Blacklighters have crystal opal, 597 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:13,359 predominantly blue and green with flashes of purple and red. 598 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:17,239 It's been washed and weighs 600g. 599 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:22,879 Who's thinking numbers? 600 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:25,719 I'm thinking, after having a bit of a look at it, 601 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:29,919 we've got quite a few ounces of really nice top-grade stuff here. 602 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,839 MARK: Tops, tops. Yeah. Beautiful tops. 603 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,199 Erm, a few lower grades. 604 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,999 These guys here are great for the everyday person to be able to purchase. 605 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:41,799 I reckon... 606 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:47,439 ..we're up around the 30 grand mark. 607 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,039 Awesome, man.Yeah. Yes.Well done, guys. 608 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:53,319 PAUL: Yay, Johnny. JOHN: That's not bad. 609 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,839 MARK: Well done. PAUL: Back it up again next week. 610 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:58,359 Well done, eh? Excellent. That's the best, man. 611 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,799 There's diesel. There's money for the dozer. 612 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,879 And off we can go again. Bloody proud of you, John. 613 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,919 Well done, mate.Bloody hard, but it's good when you get results 614 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,839 for your work. You get some reward, eh? 615 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:14,679 PAUL: Thirty grand this week, eh? 616 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:17,999 I think John will be pretty bloody proud of himself, eh? 617 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:21,239 MARK: That's a bloody good week. When you're working as hard we were, 618 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:23,159 and there was two operations going, 619 00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:25,399 to have one of them pull through for us... 620 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:28,119 Oh, I love Opalzilla. At the moment, she's my favourite. 621 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,999 MARK: It's gotta make colour in there somewhere. OSCAR: It will. Look at it. 622 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:43,799 We're out.Go around a little bit more, Dad. Yeah, a bit more, bro. 623 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,479 The Cheals' and Mark Bressan's hopes 624 00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:50,919 of unearthing a massive rare red-on-black opal haul 625 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,319 from their underground mine are fading fast. 626 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,159 I'd be lying if I said you don't think about failing 627 00:37:57,240 --> 00:37:59,719 or think about losing everything. 628 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:04,039 It's a big thing to take responsibility of where to dig and how to dig 629 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:05,919 and what to do and the whole operation. 630 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,559 I'd also like to find something 631 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:10,959 for Mark and Dad putting the faith in us to do that. 632 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:18,519 Oh.Come on. Come on. 633 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,439 Oh.Oh, green, green. Hold on, mate. Hold on. 634 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:43,199 Starting to turn, mate. Starting to form?Yes. 635 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:45,199 That green, look in that corner there. 636 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,319 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. CHRIS: Is it gem or...? 637 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,999 It's starting to turn green on the thick stuff.Righto. 638 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,239 Bit of red on that too. Bit of red?Red. 639 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:56,439 Grey or black?Look at that. 640 00:38:56,520 --> 00:38:59,519 He's right.That's opal, bro. It's opal. 641 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,119 There's a bit of colour coming up on the potch now. 642 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,599 And it's getting thicker. Pretty nervous at the moment. 643 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,439 Couldn't shove a toothpick up my arse. 644 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:09,119 It's puckered up that tight. 645 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:12,279 Agh. I just don't want that vision in my head. 646 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:20,599 Ooh, ooh, look at it. 647 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,279 Yeah, blue.Blues, green.Green. 648 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:25,159 Oh, wow, that's beautiful colour there. 649 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,639 Got natural fractures in it, which is just normal. 650 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,399 Green in the top of that.Oh, yeah. Green. Bro, at least wash... 651 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:38,479 Oh. Who knows what's gonna come in the wash? 652 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:41,919 We don't know. The wheels will tell the story. 653 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,759 Sometimes you don't see it till it comes out of the wash. 654 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:47,839 We'll call it a day. It's pretty late, so... 655 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:51,359 I'm happy with what I've seen. Dollar factor, we don't know yet. 656 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:53,279 We have to wash and see what we missed. 657 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:59,039 We'll see how good youse really are. Yeah. 658 00:39:59,120 --> 00:40:03,439 Probably last tail-out for the year here, too, eh?Could well be. 659 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:07,159 At Ned's Dam, the team have washed the mine dirt 660 00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:10,159 in their agitator, a converted cement mixer, 661 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:13,879 for 24 hours to remove clay from the opal. 662 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:18,039 They still need thousands of litres of water 663 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:22,159 for the final rinse as they search for opal in the tail-out. 664 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:26,079 We're just racing time now. 665 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:28,599 We'll get this last lot of dirt through that agitator 666 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:31,119 and hopefully tail out some gems. 667 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:36,719 The Cheals aren't the only miners 668 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,599 using the rapidly dwindling water supply. 669 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:43,759 In the drought season, we put a trench right through 670 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:47,559 on the whole length there to cater for this sort of thing 671 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:52,559 so that it just could hold a little bit more water in that trench. 672 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:56,799 We've got one, two, three, four agies running all up. 673 00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:02,199 So each agi's using anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 L plus. 674 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:05,959 They're doing the same as what we're doing. They're trying to feed their families. 675 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:09,239 Unfortunately, it's gonna use up this water in this dam pretty quickly. 676 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:13,279 All right, let's do it, eh? 677 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:20,559 Green-orange. Little crystal.Mm. 678 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:27,679 Wow. That'd be a nice stone there. 679 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,359 You never know, eh? You never know with this opal stuff. 680 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:33,319 Nice colour.Yeah. 681 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:39,639 That had a little go too. Look.Oh. 682 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:43,639 Oh, yeah. Beautiful. 683 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:47,319 Righto, are we all happy with that? 684 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,119 LUCA: OSCAR: At least he's had a good time. 685 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:55,399 He's had a great time, hasn't he? Come on, mate, let's go. Come on. 686 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:01,439 Let's look at what we got for the week. 687 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:06,399 I think it might rub up pretty good. MARK: Yeah. 688 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,039 That's electric, eh? OSCAR: Yeah.Yeah. 689 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:13,119 Yeah, there's some high-quality stuff here.Hm. 690 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:15,359 Some of that red's stunning, eh? 691 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:18,799 This red stuff, you can see that 692 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:20,839 a lot of it's gonna face really well. 693 00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:24,839 The Cheals have crystal seam opal 694 00:42:24,920 --> 00:42:28,479 discovered at the mine face and in the tail-out. 695 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,599 The haul features the full colour spectrum 696 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:36,319 with the best stones showcasing rare red on a black base. 697 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:40,439 It's been washed and weighs 110g. 698 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:45,879 We'd actually have to have an absolute shocker 699 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,359 for there not to be at least 60K there. 700 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:50,879 60K, you reckon?Yeah.Really?Easy. 701 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:53,559 I think so. With the quality, polished up, 702 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:55,839 on the website, should easily have 60 grand. 703 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,479 Well done, sis.Well done. Well done, guys. 704 00:43:03,080 --> 00:43:05,879 I'm really pumped with the quality that we found this week. 705 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:09,919 Red-on-black opal is the hardest thing to find. 706 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:12,559 It was a pretty extraordinary experience, 707 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:14,919 and, yeah, very glad to have done it with Luca. 708 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:16,599 Yeah, it was an unreal week. 709 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,079 Well done. 710 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,839 Another good week. Well done, Luca.Thank you, Mark. 711 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:23,519 It's been a crazy week. 712 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:27,679 The mood was a bit low with the agi site water running out. 713 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:30,479 We were all a bit worried. And with the pressure 714 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:33,519 of really, really needing opal, the outcome's been fantastic. 715 00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:36,239 CHRIS: They've been wanting to prove themselves, 716 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:39,599 and those two have done that, and I'm extremely proud of them. 717 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,599 To find opal, that doesn't happen every day. 718 00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:45,879 That's through hard work, determination, and not giving up. 719 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:48,839 Well done, sis. Good spotting, sis. 720 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:50,519 Thanks, man. Good digging. 721 00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:53,879 Subtitles by Deluxe 721 00:43:54,305 --> 00:44:54,555 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm