"Outback Opal Hunters" Bench Marks

1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,759 Looking pretty good down here, bro. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,159 You put a fair bit of effort in while I was gone. 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,159 Yeah, it's hard digging, man. Yeah, bloody hell. 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:12,999 But you've opened up a lot. 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,959 I think main level is still underneath us, though.Yeah. 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,039 Is that what you've been trying to do here?That's what I reckon. 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,319 Trying to bring that down so we can take this down another good chunk. 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,999 Yeah.We'll see in the walls exactly where the level is. 9 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,719 Bloody oath. I suppose we just get into it. You want me to do the digger work? 10 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,039 You jump in the digger, I just jump in that dozer, 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:32,799 start pushing some of that pile out. 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,519 Get this material out. I want to see this level so bad. 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,159 It's a really big challenge we've taken on. 14 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,599 I was hoping to be down on this ramp two weeks ago 15 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,279 because we don't have a lot longer left and we really need 16 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,479 to get down to level to have any sort of chance 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,159 of making this season a success. 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,079 Bloody hell, this ground is hard. 19 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,719 It's gonna take a long time to get it down. 20 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:09,079 If I can just get this ramp back another five metres or so, 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,759 then I think we're gonna have the distance we need. 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,959 So, I just put the ripper on. 23 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,319 Seem to have come across a really hard block here. 24 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,479 Whoa! Man! 25 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,599 It rattles the hell out of your teeth, doing that. 26 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,399 It's not good for this poor old little machine 27 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,599 to be bashing around like this. 28 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,759 And you got to be careful not to pick your tracks up too much 29 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,919 because at the moment, it's literally just hanging on. 30 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,039 Oh, like that! 31 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,399 Oh, man, that is not good. 32 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:04,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 33 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,679 Righty-o, I'm going to call up Cozzy, I think. We need a new plan. 34 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,199 Hey, Cozzy! COZZA: What's going on, bro? 35 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,039 A bit of rock ledge. I ain't getting through anywhere, bruv. 36 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,439 So come have a look, man, cos we need a new plan. 37 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,079 I'm going to ruin this digger if I keep going like I am. 38 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,159 Look at it.Wow, yeah. 39 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,839 And that's just solid, like... That's solid limestone. 40 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:38,719 What are we going to do, man? 41 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,479 Um, I'm thinking maybe give the dozer a crack.Yeah. 42 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,399 You reckon you'll be able to get the dozer ripper over that? 43 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,879 See if that's gonna be good enough to break it?Yeah. 44 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,359 NARRATOR: On the brutal Lunatic opal fields 45 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,559 in Andamooka, South Australia, 46 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:57,639 the Mooka Boys, brothers Matt and Cozza Kathagen, 47 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,879 are desperate to penetrate an ultra-hard layer of limestone. 48 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,119 We've got to be really careful because we've got these rock walls 49 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,959 and if we catch that rock wall with the side of the blade, 50 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,839 it's going to bend those dozer push arms 51 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:11,639 and maybe break off the ball joint. 52 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,199 The brothers are on the trail 53 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,559 of a rare and highly valuable pocket of black opal. 54 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:25,439 But recent events have threatened their progress. 55 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,839 Last week was a bit of a kerfuffle. 56 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:31,039 My poor little baby got really sick and I had to take off. 57 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,279 Ended up in Adelaide. Uh, Royal Adelaide Hospital. 58 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,039 So we had to leave Cozzy by himself. 59 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,959 And once again, they're without team leader Leif. 60 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,519 Yeah, so, Leif's left me and Matty up to it again. 61 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,359 He's out being a mechanic making a bit more money to keep the operation flowing. 62 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,919 Our target for this season is going to be $200,000. 63 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,639 We're well into our season now. Summer's creeping in fast. 64 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,879 To be honest, it's not looking like we're going to achieve that. 65 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,999 But we're going for black opal and it only takes a handful of opal 66 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:02,919 to turn everything around. 67 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,079 Mooka boys' biggest mentor would be Paul, Leif's dad. 68 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,159 Yeah. Before, uh, Paul passed away, 69 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,959 uh, Leif and his father found some black opal 70 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:13,999 right on the end of where we're digging. 71 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,359 And they also found the end of the big rock cap. 72 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,079 What we picked up on is two big long slips 73 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,719 that run the whole way northeast-southwest here. 74 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,159 Every huge find in Andamooka 75 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,319 had these two slips facing each other, 76 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,159 which is why we're getting really excited about this dig. 77 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,279 So, the black opal we're looking for, 78 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,959 like, you know, something the size of our thumbnail could be $10,000 79 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,039 so it's not gonna take a whole lot to turn the season around, 80 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,919 but we've gone three quarters of the way through the season 81 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:43,919 and we're not even looking at a level yet, 82 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,199 so we're just going to keep chipping away and hope we can get there. 83 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,159 Come this way. 84 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,159 Take them down. 85 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,439 Whoa, whoa! 86 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,479 Come back again and try. 87 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Ugh, it's bloody frustrating. 88 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,599 One bit of rock. We got this far and this little rock's 89 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,879 just stopping us in our tracks. 90 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,239 Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa, stop, stop! 91 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,559 It's running up the wall! 92 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,319 Just chunky gypsum under the allanite. 93 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,839 It's a thinner level, isn't it? Yeah. 94 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,119 What are you saying? You should have steel caps on? 95 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,639 Should be in a robot suit. I'm going over here. 96 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,919 Just watch out. That corner might come off. 97 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,039 Whoa! 98 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,839 Did I get you in the shin? 99 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,039 , that hurt. 100 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,359 Oh, took my breath away, that one. 101 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,159 Ooh! Right on the point! Oh, yeah! 102 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,239 You've got to be close to look for the colour 103 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,679 but you can't get too close or you get hurt. 104 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,959 Yeah, I just got hurt and it's still bloody hurting. 105 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,319 I'll go that way.Yep. 106 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,479 After weeks of clearing thousands of tonnes of dirt 107 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,199 at their Servo claim, 108 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:08,759 the Blacklighters, Mark I'Anson and Paul Coon, 109 00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:11,519 have finally reached a 100-metre-long wall 110 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,879 of virgin opal-bearing ground, nine metres down. 111 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,599 The end of the season is racing towards us. 112 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,719 Opal mining is a tough game. It's bloody hard and very expensive. 113 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,359 Well, I paid $2.11 a litre for fuel today. 114 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,679 So money just... whoo! Up the exhaust pipe. 115 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,839 It's really stressful so we need to get some more opal. 116 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:35,999 It's, like, teasing us at the moment. 117 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,319 We haven't got enough. There's no way we've got enough for the summer. 118 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,279 I reckon you fire it up and push this up the hill. 119 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,039 Right-o. 120 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,279 To work the opal level safely, 121 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,079 Mark must continually clear the waste dirt above 122 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:51,759 with the bulldozer 123 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,279 to create a series of giant steps 124 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,799 in a process known as benching. 125 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,639 Moving the overburden, you can't just keep chomping through the level 126 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,079 or you'll end up with a big thing above your head and you end up dead. 127 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,279 So we've got to move the top off and then chomp through the level. 128 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,239 Move the top off, chomp through the level. 129 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:10,919 So it's very tedious. 130 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,039 As Mark and Paul bench Servo, 131 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,039 John Nassar is 200 metres away, 132 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:20,799 at 12 Mile Claim, 133 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,999 working their 10-tonne opal processing plant, Opalzilla. 134 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,119 JOHN: The boys are there doing their thing, which is fine, but they're not bringing opal in. 135 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,439 So Opalzilla is the only thing that's bringing money in at the moment. 136 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,279 Opalzilla, yeah, to run it on your own is not the easiest. 137 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,199 So you've got to fill the hopper, stay in the dark room 138 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,319 for, who knows, maybe, like, half hour, three-quarters of an hour 139 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,919 and catch all the opal on the belt. 140 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,279 By yourself, it is frustrating, it is hard. 141 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:52,639 Started out, this mound was 142 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,359 pretty well out near the front of the loader. I mean... 143 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,799 Moved a lot of dirt, so... 144 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,159 I mean, I've got through most of this over the last day and a bit. 145 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,319 It's getting a bit harder because all the dirt 146 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,879 we've been getting opal out of is coming from here, 147 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,719 but there's another claim behind us that's not ours to, you know, touch. 148 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,119 With the claim, pretty well as long as you keep registering it, 149 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,919 you can have the pegs there for as long as you want. 150 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,599 So with your dirt you've just got to make sure 151 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,399 it's, you know, on your claim, within your boundaries. 152 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:25,639 It puts us at a bit of a standstill because there's not much dirt left here to go, 153 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,559 so just gonna have a look and try and find something out, 154 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,159 if they're still valid claims or if they've expired. 155 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:37,679 It was pegged in 2019, 156 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,479 so I might just take these numbers down, 157 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:42,439 find out what's going on. 158 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,119 Got all the info we need to know off the peg. 159 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,119 So we'll just see. Fingers crossed that, 160 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,639 you know, it's an expired claim and we can peg it, so we'll see how we go. 161 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,919 Back at Servo, Mark and Paul's efforts 162 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,599 to make the mine wall safe are drowning in a sea of dirt. 163 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,239 It's just not easy to sort this wall out and get rid of the dirt. 164 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,879 It's starting to get pretty hard. 165 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:13,919 All is we do is move dirt. 166 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,439 Today, I'll probably move 20,000 tonne, probably. 167 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:20,759 I didn't plan on moving this much dirt. 168 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,759 Is this gonna go on for ever with this job 169 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,839 or we going to actually finally get a run? 170 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,639 Once this is done, we'll be all right. 171 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,719 One more big-Then everything can just go underneath me and I can drive on top of it. 172 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,159 Yeah, I thought we'd be looking for opal today, but no. 173 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:35,839 We still haven't got room. 174 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,159 We need more room, like, Paul's just hemmed in, 175 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,799 to be able to rip, so we've got to widen the whole thing 176 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,839 and basically move more dirt, 177 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:47,919 which really sucks. 178 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,439 We've got to get some opal. This is ridiculous.Yes. 179 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,759 I've had enough of this, man. Like, all we've done is move dirt, 180 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,799 move dirt, we've moved overburden, we've moved this level. 181 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,519 Just want to look for some opal. 182 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,919 Right.It's just a nightmare, mate. 183 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,119 MARK: These wouldn't have been off in years. 184 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,519 RORY: Feels like it.Yeah. 185 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,039 CHRIS: Just got to move the power pack for the digger. 186 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,039 So, they've run out of hose underground, we've run out of length. 187 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,039 That's one.Right. 188 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,079 We're really trying to look after the hoses 189 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,439 because they cost a lot to replace, plus, yeah, 190 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,439 you don't want them blowing. You know, there's a risk of injury. 191 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,159 Right-o, get here, mate. 192 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,639 We'll have to drop the hoses down 193 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,079 and then I'll pick the power pack up with the crane. 194 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,559 Put it in here, nice and close to this hole. 195 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,919 And then we'll lift the hoses back up and plug them in. 196 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,919 Plug the power pack into the generator, we're right to go, 197 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,919 to allow us to keep digging. 198 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,079 It's over halfway through the mining season 199 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,439 and Chris Cheal, son Rory 200 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,679 and mine partner Mark Bressan 201 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,919 are racing to keep their operation running...Keep going, mate. 202 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,799 ..before crippling summer temperatures and drought 203 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,119 shut down all work.Perfect. 204 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:13,999 Season target was a million dollars. 205 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,359 It's frustrating we're a long way behind where we want to be this year. 206 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,039 Right-o. 207 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,719 What's affected our season 208 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,279 is the lack of water and the breakdowns. 209 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,879 It'll cost us some money, there's no doubt about that. 210 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,559 But how much yet, we don't know. 211 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,239 Plug them in and then we should be right to run the cord over and get into it. 212 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,839 I've been away. This will be my first time 213 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,079 digging out here so it'll be interesting. 214 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,799 I've got, uh, Mark to guide me, which is good. 215 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,879 So he'll give me some pointers and hopefully 216 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:42,559 we can dig some gems out. 217 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,039 24-year-old Rory is stepping up 218 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,439 now that his sister Luca has returned to university 219 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,559 and brother Oscar is running 220 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,159 the Cheal opal business from Sydney. 221 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,199 These are our hoses that are controlling the digger. 222 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,639 Now that we've got them disattached and lowered, 223 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,879 we're going to move them over back to this hole, 224 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,559 pull them back out 225 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,759 so that we can hook it back up and get going. 226 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:11,639 All right. 227 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,159 There's such a high pressure of hydraulic oil in these lines 228 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,239 that, you know, if you do get a split, like, a small split, 229 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,039 if you're standing really close to it, 230 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,079 it can actually pierce your skin. 231 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:31,759 You know, there has been cases 232 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,239 where people have got it under their skin and they've had to amputate. 233 00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:39,519 Right, that's plugged in. 234 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,919 We should be all right, won't we? Sweet. 235 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,999 Ready to get digging, eh?Yeah. 236 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,199 All right, so you're going to head out there and dig and I'll head up to the agi.Yeah. 237 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,319 Sounds good. It's Oscar. 238 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,199 Hey, Oscie.Hey, buddy. 239 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,119 OSCAR: Yeah, boys, so, we've had an inquiry through the website. 240 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,959 There's a bloke looking for a particular sort of stone. 241 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,719 So I was hoping you guys might be able to dig it out. 242 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,519 We can only try, I suppose. What's he looking for, mate? 243 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,119 Green-orange stone. Um, it is for a necklace. 244 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,879 So a...a fairly decent size. 245 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:17,559 Try and come good.Yes. 246 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,599 I'm meant to have another call with him at the end of the week 247 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:24,359 so, um, yeah, if you can have a few stones by then, that'd be great. 248 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,159 Okay, mate.See you, bub. Bye. 249 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,519 You get into it and I'll call if I need you. 250 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,199 Righto. Green-orange, eh? 251 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:31,879 Yeah.Right, all right.Mm. 252 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,319 The boys'll be all right to get digging, 253 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,679 and I'll get into this agitator, see if I can get it 254 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,079 NARRATOR: To process more dirt, 255 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,759 Chris is removing the frame of an agitator 256 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,999 so he can install a larger barrel taken from a cement truck. 257 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,239 Yeah, look, it's been a bit of a battle with machines breaking down. 258 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,159 We've got the gear to dig the ground out, 259 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,999 there's no problem there, but washing it's been our problem. 260 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:57,839 We need more machines. 261 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,079 We've got to get the machines up and running. 262 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,799 You know, this old one I've got to fix. 263 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,359 I've ground all the welds I can see with the grinder 264 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,719 and then just try and work out 265 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,599 where it's still hanging on with the welds and cut them. 266 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,959 There's a bit of pressure there for me to get more barrels spinning. 267 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,159 More barrels we've got spinning, the more money we're gonna make. 268 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,159 Hold on here. 269 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,479 Any colour come with it? 270 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,159 Can't see any. It's just black potch by the looks of it. 271 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,279 At the mine face, seven metres underground, 272 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,039 Rory operates the 2.5-tonne super digger 273 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,479 as Mark spots for green-orange opal. 274 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,159 Yeah, obviously, it's a, you know, pretty big bit of machinery. 275 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,159 Got to be careful of it toppling over. 276 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,439 It does happen. It's been a while since I've, um, used one of these. 277 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,559 I think it's been about a year or so. 278 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,519 So just take it nice and slow and get back in the swing of it. 279 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,719 Come on.Ooh! 280 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,599 Looking good. 281 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,639 That is getting thick.Very close. 282 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,399 Black centre.Yep.Come on. 283 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,199 Call me the bloody potch man. 284 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:18,879 I just want that colour. 285 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:24,599 Potch is opal but there's... there's no colour in it 286 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,279 so it's worthless to us. 287 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:29,879 We'll have another swipe 288 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,759 and hopefully colour will come into it 289 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,759 but it's not looking very likely... but we'll have to see. 290 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,799 Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! 291 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:47,799 Get it out of here? 292 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:49,679 Yeah, it's gonna snap a tine for sure. 293 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,359 All right, bro.We can't get this ramp back as far as we'd like. 294 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,319 I think our only real option is to just go down on the face anyway, 295 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,919 see how deep this level is actually going to come up. 296 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,199 Maybe we'll still have enough room 297 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,039 for a ramp here that's not too steep. 298 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,599 In Andamooka, brothers Matt and Cozza 299 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:15,559 are attempting to rip out an ultra-hard layer of limestone. 300 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,399 They want to create a ramp for their machinery 301 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,599 and expose rare black opal 302 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:23,679 they believe lies beneath. 303 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,519 Just over behind this wall, 304 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,079 there was a $14 million black opal find. 305 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,119 This is what's really giving us hope here. 306 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,519 At this pace, we might not see it till next season. 307 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,879 Where you tackling? This side or that side? 308 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,719 I think I'll keep going this side till we get, like, a... 309 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,399 A ledge, eh? Sweet. 310 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,639 Yeah. Try to shore it up a bit. 311 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,439 Wa-hey!Oh, you found something? 312 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,799 Yeah, get out. I'll need you down here with a pick too. We'll have a look through this. 313 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,599 Not colour, mate, but it's all potch. 314 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,399 Same sort of material that we've already pulled out of here. 315 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,959 That's opal grain. You can't deny that. 316 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,119 God, there is a huge blob hanging about somewhere, eh? 317 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,439 It's got to be, brother. Got to be! 318 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,999 Like, opal chips just lying in this bloody... 319 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,039 It's almost like a concrete mixture sitting on top of this sandstone. 320 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:16,959 That's why Lunatic's so frustrating. 321 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,359 Like, you can't just go to the level and go for it. 322 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,599 It just pops up anywhere. 323 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,199 There's hard ground really making this go slow 324 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:25,919 but that might be a good thing. 325 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,119 Ah, he's cracked that tooth, bro. 326 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,199 Oh, that's not good. 327 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,399 That's gonna rip that whole boot off. 328 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,999 Oh, bloody hell. 329 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,239 Yeah, this ground is not letting up for us right now. 330 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,639 The only way to get around it is kinda keep going 331 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,639 or we've got to wait for Leif to come back 332 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,919 with all his welding gear. Hopefully, it's gonna hang on long enough 333 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,799 that we can find some bloody colour. 334 00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:08,159 Tiniest piece of opal here. Any colour?No. 335 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:10,799 So all the signs are here. 336 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,079 We just got to find that one patch of colour. 337 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:17,559 Right-o, drag all this back now. 338 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,239 Take it out.Yeah. 339 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,399 Right back. All right, what's the plan? 340 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,239 It's a bit messy up top of that ramp. 341 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:32,239 Would you mind bringing that dozer down, 342 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,719 just give it a quick clean-out for us?I can do that. 343 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,679 Yeah, it'll be a lot quicker than this. 344 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,679 Temperature's touching on near 40 at the moment. 345 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,039 It's really hot in the hole here for the machines, 346 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:43,999 so you can't run them for too long. 347 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,799 Use a bit of mix of the both of them 348 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,719 just to get everything cleaned up. 349 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,399 Oh, what's going on? 350 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,759 I stalled it, bro. I can't get it started. 351 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:01,759 What do you mean, you can't get it started? 352 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,799 Starter motor's just spinning, bro. 353 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,079 It's like the solenoid is not getting engaged. 354 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,719 Oh, look, every time a machine goes down it just costs us time. 355 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,279 Generally, money as well. Two things we just don't have this season. 356 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:17,639 It is a bloody pain in the arse when this happens. 357 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:25,919 So, what do you want to actually do? 358 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,719 We're going to set up this... this side here, right? 359 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,239 Dig this all the way along so I can get down there 360 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,279 and track up and back along there, right? 361 00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:35,679 We've got a big arvo ahead of us by the looks of it, 362 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:37,359 which we weren't planning on. 363 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,079 We need to find opal really bad. 364 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,159 Everything's at stake. Our whole life, our living. 365 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,039 Our cars, our house. 366 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,359 If we don't find opal, kiss it all goodbye, you know? 367 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,319 That's the sort of game we're playing. 368 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,799 NARRATOR: As season end draws near, 369 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,559 the Blacklighters still have a mountain of dirt to move 370 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,719 to make safe the opal-bearing wall they want to mine. 371 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,999 Meanwhile, John, who's working their other claim, 372 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:05,799 has the opposite problem. 373 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,719 Hey, what's up? What's going on, man? What are you doing? 374 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,759 I've run out of dirt now, eh? 375 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,679 Where all that stuff I've been getting is coming from... 376 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:15,359 Where the colour is. 377 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,639 It's now in someone else's claim. 378 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,519 I rang them up, spoke to them. 379 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,119 They reckon it's been about a month 380 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,919 since it was expired, so it's not a valid claim. 381 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,759 We can extend and get a large claim. 382 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,879 We've got to wait for him to pull the pegs. 383 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,719 As soon as those pegs go, I reckon we can extend it then. 384 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,119 Yeah, it is what it is, man. That's all we can do. 385 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,479 While John waits for the old owners to remove their pegs 386 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,159 from the neighbouring claim, 387 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:47,439 he will process the last of the waste dumps at 12 Mile. 388 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,919 Pretty crappy start to it all. I mean, 389 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,559 yeah, it's not looking the best 390 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,439 but...I don't know, hopefully it changes 391 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,959 because I can see it being a long day if it doesn't. 392 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,359 Them pegs are gone. 393 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,279 Well, at least we can peg it now. 394 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:11,879 Yeah, they must have snuck in while I was working. 395 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,119 Um, there's some tyre tracks around the machine 396 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,159 and no-one came to say hello. 397 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,039 So, um, I think our mate took his pegs and ran. 398 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:20,759 For us, that's a win. 399 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,799 We'll just have to noodle his dirt now. You bloody beauty. 400 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:31,399 Now John can peg the area, register it as a new claim for $350 401 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,359 and continue looking for opal that's been missed by old-timers. 402 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,359 Extend the claim by 50 metres 403 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,359 and that should get us most of that dirt. 404 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:48,639 Oh, finally. 405 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:50,519 A tiny bit of colour. 406 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,279 Well, that's a start. 407 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:54,879 In Opalzilla, ultraviolet black light 408 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,479 causes all quality of opal to fluoresce. 409 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,599 Oh, there we go. It's starting to get a bit bigger. 410 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,119 Beauty! 411 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,919 So John must grab everything that glows. 412 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:10,839 It's starting to look up. 413 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,319 It's...yeah, it's been a slow-ish sort of time but... 414 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,199 with noodling, you just never know when it's going to turn up. 415 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,079 Yeah, I think I was playing the waiting game for a while. 416 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,399 They all rocked up late by the looks of it. 417 00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:31,359 At Servo...Start here! Just a nice shallow one. 418 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:38,319 ..Mark and Paul have finally benched enough ground above the wall 419 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,319 to mine it safely. 420 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:42,999 This is why we bench it, 421 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:44,759 so you can actually see. 422 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,279 When you do it in benches, we can be at the eye level. 423 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,039 What are we looking at? Look at this, man! Look! 424 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:06,999 Look at it. It's going in the wall! You freaking beauty! 425 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,399 We got some material, though, eh? Finally. Finally! 426 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,559 All right, let's get this out, man. 427 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,239 All right, let's fire this up. 428 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,879 Just bloody potch at this stage with a few bars of red. 429 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,519 Could turn at any minute, though. 430 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,279 Oh, colour.There's colour in this too, man. 431 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:39,079 There is colour bars in it, so... 432 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,319 If it goes bang... It's trying. 433 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,399 Oh, my God! 434 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:58,479 I went straight into it. Get it out of there! 435 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,359 Look at that!Yes! 436 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,159 Have a look?RORY: Yep. 437 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:27,519 Oh. 438 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,119 Call me the bloody potch-detector. Mm. 439 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,599 The opal seems to have dried up a little bit. 440 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,519 We haven't found anything for a while now 441 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,399 so, yeah, we're a little bit desperate to find some 442 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,559 because, you know, the bills keep coming in. 443 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,199 That's opal mining. You don't find it all the time. 444 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,679 This is why the stone is so, you know, a valuable stone, 445 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,479 because it's so bloody hard to find. 446 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,839 In Grawin, Rory and Mark 447 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,559 are on the hunt for green-orange opal 448 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,199 requested by a client for the centrepiece 449 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:01,999 of a bespoke necklace. 450 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,519 I've dug the face and now we've got to bog it out. 451 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,959 So I've moved the digger over to get the bogger in. 452 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,359 We'll take this dirt, put it up in the truck. 453 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,559 Having a request for a stone before we've even 454 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,719 dug it out of the ground is quite daunting. 455 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,559 It does add a little bit of pressure. 456 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,639 We've just got to put ourselves in the best situation and that's 457 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,079 get as much dirt out of the mine into the agi 458 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,599 so hopefully something rolls out that they want. 459 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,119 As Rory and Mark continue their search for opal... 460 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:35,079 ..Chris is still removing an agitator frame 461 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,079 to replace it with a larger one 462 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,319 to accommodate a wider-diameter wash-plant barrel. 463 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,759 I guess I've kind of been a bit down because I've... 464 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,159 I've got a mile of work on agitators I've got to do 465 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,119 and the more barrels we've got spinning, 466 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,359 the more opal we're going to be able to process, 467 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,279 the more ground we can process, 468 00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:54,839 and the more opal we're gonna find, as simple as that. 469 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,559 Ground all the welds I can see with the grinder. 470 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,159 We'll have to crank the oxyacetylene up. 471 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,319 So just, yeah, just basically, I want to break these welds 472 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,599 and then I just got two cuts to do up the front 473 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,399 and she should come off. 474 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:18,919 Yeah, boy. That's it. 475 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,879 Time to ring the boys and get 'em to come give me a hand. 476 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:26,919 You all right?Yeah, mate. 477 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,159 The old agitator frame needs to be craned onto a truck 478 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:31,839 and taken offsite. 479 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:33,599 Pull your end, Mark.Yep. 480 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,879 Do you want me to chuck that sling over to you? 481 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:37,999 You want to go around the other side?Yep. 482 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,399 But its 2-tonne weight and awkward shape 483 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,359 means Rory and Mark need to man ropes 484 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,959 to stop it building up a deadly swing. 485 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,839 All right to go down? Yeah, mate. 486 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,239 Good stuff, Dad. 487 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:01,079 It's about a third of the job done. 488 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,759 With 20 tonnes dug from the mine, 489 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,919 the team begin the wash of the opal-bearing dirt 490 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,999 in their one working agitator. 491 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,039 It will remove the clay, 492 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:18,839 and hopefully after 24 hours 493 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,759 expose a green-orange gemstone. 494 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,559 All we can do is do our best. That's it, mate. 495 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,439 There's always pressure to find opal, you know, 496 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,599 whether you've got a client or not, I guess. 497 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:41,159 But yeah, a bit of a... bit of an added pressure, I guess, 498 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,759 especially when you're looking for a particular type. 499 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,279 Come on, gem. 500 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,079 I stalled it, bro. I can't get it started! 501 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,759 Now, give it a bang and see if we can't bang it in, eh? 502 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,639 Yeah, gotta try something. Ready? 503 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,919 Yeah, yeah.Go. 504 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:11,959 Eh, it's not working, man. 505 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,159 At their Lunatic Claim, 506 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,559 brothers Matt and Cozza Kathagen 507 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:20,599 are battling a broken starter solenoid on their bulldozer. 508 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,159 It's just spinning. 509 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,079 Done a bloody solenoid in on the starter, man. Go. 510 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,039 Normally, when the ignition is turned, 511 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,399 current passes through the solenoid, 512 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:36,959 which clicks into position, turning over the starter motor 513 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,679 and firing up the engine. 514 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:40,399 It's really frustrating, you know. 515 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,799 We've got to not only impress our family with what we're doing out here 516 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,479 because we make a lot of sacrifices, you know. 517 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,079 We just need money to be able to keep going as well. 518 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,159 Come on, one little bit. 519 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:55,599 So, what we're going to do is hook this wire 520 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,999 up to the back of the pull lever on the starter 521 00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,679 and we're going to try and rig it 522 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,399 so it comes through the engine bay up into the cab. 523 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,399 We'll put a handle on it so you can engage the starter 524 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,119 with your pull rope and then hopefully 525 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,999 that's going to work enough just to turn that starter over, 526 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,159 get this thing started. 527 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,759 Get it out of our bloody way, get back to digging. 528 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,399 Beauty. Hold on to that. 529 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,359 There's no other way of moving it except for starting it. 530 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,119 If this doesn't work, our only option is to wait for Leif 531 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,919 and spend more money on parts which we don't, you know... 532 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,359 we don't have time or the money for either. 533 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:33,759 All right. 534 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,119 Nothing like a good bush fix, so let's just hope it bloody works. 535 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,279 Oh, come on. Come on! Fingers crossed. 536 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,759 Come on.All right, here we go. 537 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,719 Oh, yeah! 538 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,359 Yeah! bro! 539 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:53,599 All right, let's get this thing out the way, park it up, bro. 540 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:55,639 I'll do the rest with the digger for now. 541 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,959 Having a quick look for these chunks, 542 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,759 because they all just come out in one big section. 543 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:18,879 Have another scrape.Yep. 544 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,199 Uh, flies are friendly today. 545 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,999 Put my fly net on 546 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,959 but makes too much shadows over my eyes 547 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,639 so I'm just going to have to put up with them. 548 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,239 Nothing yet, bro. Nah, that looks to me. 549 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:41,919 Come on and turn. 550 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,559 Yeah, pretty much solid as a matrix. 551 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,519 Yeah, right.Just gotta find some colour in them now, bro. 552 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,399 Cozza's going through the floor down there, 553 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:54,799 you know, find little patches of interesting stuff. 554 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,239 All kind of relates to opal. Not quite opal. 555 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:03,359 It's bloody hard ground still. It's not letting up for a second. 556 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:06,959 Whoa, hold it there, bro. 557 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,079 You got something? 558 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:10,999 I don't know, man, a bit of potch. 559 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,159 What?Hold on. 560 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,159 I think this might have some colour, man. 561 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,639 Oh, wait. I just seen it from here! It's got colour play, man. 562 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,559 Can I have a look at that? I'm gonna have a look at it here. 563 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,759 Oh, yeah! That's colour! Yeah, bro! 564 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,919 Yeah!It's what we're looking for, bro! 565 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,239 Look at that!Yes! 566 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,719 Wait up. 567 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:50,119 Look, that's one big chunk, man. We've found chunks. 568 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:51,959 Oh, dude, you've got no idea! 569 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,079 It is getting huge! 570 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,479 There's colour in them. 571 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,159 Wait up, wait up. We've got movement. 572 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,359 Oh, look at the size of that. 573 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,119 Still going, blocks of opal, coated, man. 574 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,599 This bit here is the same as this 575 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:12,239 but see where it's broken inside? That's a stain. 576 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:14,999 So this piece here that's coated 577 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,999 will break up like that once it's through the tumbler. 578 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,559 Keep going down so it comes out without breaking. That's it. 579 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,199 Oh, that's big! Oh, they're big! 580 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:31,039 No way! 581 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,599 Oh, my God. 582 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,519 Oi, there's a... there's a $10,000 stone. 583 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:38,239 Look at the crystal in there. 584 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:39,919 Look at it there. 585 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,039 Look at it back here, see how it's coated. 586 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,759 Look at that, man. And look at that. 587 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,959 And look at that! 588 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:48,879 We've got a bucket of it! 589 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,359 There's still chunks of it! Yes! Oh, yeah, baby! 590 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,839 Probably one of the funnest days I've ever had mining. 591 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,759 We've found a bloody beautiful pocket. 592 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,719 With mates. You can't ask for more, man. 593 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:04,919 Hey, John, you there? 594 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,079 Yeah, there, Mark. 595 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:08,759 We've got bloody crystal! 596 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:10,639 Just pulled out about a $10,000 stone! 597 00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:12,799 I think today's gonna be a good day, mate. 598 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:14,759 We've got half a bucket full, man. 599 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,999 That was well done, mate. Give us .Yeah, I've had fun. 600 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,759 To get a bucket like this full's just an amazing feeling. 601 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:25,439 Just so pumped, so stoked. 602 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,879 Can't wait to get it into the tumbler and see what we've really got. 603 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,359 It's a bit noisy but, eh... 604 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,919 We put the, like, all the opal in the tumbler when we get back 605 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,079 cos it washes all the dirt off. 606 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:42,999 We need to get all the rock off 607 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,479 so then, you know, the opal's saleable 608 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,599 and we can get it on the market. 609 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,119 At the Blacklighters' home base... 610 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,559 A bloody lot of nice opal this week. Uh... 611 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,999 Mark's wife and finance manager Rachel 612 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,599 will value both the haul from Servo claim 613 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:04,199 and what John found in Opalzilla. 614 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:06,279 Well, Paul, I'm pretty happy with it. 615 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,959 What do you think, mate? Look at what we've found, mate. 616 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,319 This is unreal.John, you've done exceptional, man. 617 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:14,239 I know. That's how I roll. Amazing effort, mate. 618 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,639 But you know what the best thing is? He's been outdoing us for a bit now. 619 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:21,199 I think we've smoked him this week. We've caught you this week, man. 620 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,679 The Blacklighters have white and crystal seam opal. 621 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:30,919 Predominantly blue-green with flashes of rare red, 622 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:35,039 it's been tumbled and weighs two kilograms. 623 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:37,719 Well, what do you think, Rach? 624 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,679 RACHEL: What you boys found in the wall, you and Mark, 625 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:42,559 I've had a really good look at it all. 626 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,719 I think we're up around 45 grand there. 627 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,639 Yeah, awesome, man. I reckon, too.And, John... 628 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,319 ..I reckon you're up around 20 grand, so...yeah.Nice. 629 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:03,919 Well done, John. Well done. 65 grand for the week, boys. 630 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,839 I couldn't be prouder.Well done. Yes! 631 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:07,599 I honestly couldn't be. Well done. 632 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:13,319 That's unreal.Well done, man. 633 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:15,599 Super impressed. Well done, mate. Well done. 634 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,319 Well done, boys.Good stuff. Mwah. Well done, man. 635 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,319 Yeah! Is there more? There's got to be more. 636 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,679 Think it's come up out of here somewhere. 637 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:35,399 Let's have a look in your bucket, eh? 638 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:37,919 Yeah, all right. I'll stick my bucket in the sun, eh? 639 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,959 That looks like a decent seam to me. There has to be more. 640 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,319 What have we got, Cozza? I can see colour in here! 641 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,079 We need that bucket, man! Yeah! 642 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:48,759 Here you go, bucket. 643 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:52,919 Yeah! 644 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:54,719 The first bit of colour. 645 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,879 Oh, man, look at this!Yeah, bro. It's like you hit a pocket up here. 646 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:03,759 Oh, we've got a little seam. It's only bloody jelly, but... 647 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:06,839 It's bloody colour. 648 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:10,679 Oh, yes. This is awesome. 649 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,999 Look at that. Oh, that's bright. 650 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:16,199 Yeah, that'll cut a stone. 651 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:18,679 Oh, we've hit a little seam. 652 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:21,399 What we're calling jelly opal out here. 653 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:23,439 It's kind of like crystal opal. 654 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:26,799 It's just the colour doesn't really make as much as a crystal opal. 655 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,839 It's a little bit more scattered and see-through. 656 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,719 But there's some good stuff here. There's definitely stone. 657 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,439 Yeah, that'll cut into a $100 stone all day. 658 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,119 Bloody oath. 659 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:39,439 This is what we call blue-green jelly out here. 660 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:41,959 This one's a little bit more blue. Yeah. This is... 661 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:44,959 At least these colours are quite bright, which is really good. 662 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,039 Now we've actually got money. Money in the bank. 663 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,359 Money for diesel, money for food. 664 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:52,919 Maybe even money for this new set of teeth. 665 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,439 How about we go wash it up and call it a day? 666 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:57,959 See what we've got. Let's go. See what we've got. 667 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:02,559 Oh, we got some red. 668 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,959 We got blues, we've got greens. 669 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:08,519 Yeah, man, that's good. We've got colours. 670 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,519 That's sweet, man. 671 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:15,519 The Mooka boys have jelly opal. 672 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:19,319 Blue-green in colour, it's in the rough 673 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:22,319 and weighs 311 grams. 674 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:25,519 What would you put a price on this at? 675 00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:34,039 Reckon an easy 400 bucks an ounce I can get for this. 676 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:36,919 There's a good ten ounces here, bro.That's all right. 677 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,119 That's four grand.Four grand, man. Four grand. 678 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,679 Yes, bro.Good week. 679 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,559 Good week, mate. We've done it. 680 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:52,119 MATT: Oh, she looks happy. 681 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:53,959 Back home again. 682 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:57,999 Yes, buddy. Great to have the girls back home. 683 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:01,999 Now we're all back here, we can concentrate on what's important. Family and opal. 684 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,359 Mwah. Yeah. 685 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:10,239 Oh, happy baby. 686 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:22,319 It's . 687 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:26,919 I didn't see any colour at all sort of going up, up the conveyor. 688 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,359 Halfway through their 20-tonne tail-out, 689 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:33,559 the Cheals are desperately hunting 690 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,759 for a green-orange opal requested by a client. 691 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:40,279 Quiet piece here. Another bit, is it? 692 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:44,719 Look at that.Oh, very close. 693 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:48,919 Nice and bright, eh? That is real bright. 694 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,519 A few dollars there, boys. Yeah, brother. 695 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:07,519 I got the rest of it, boys. 696 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:12,039 Yeah, mate.That's cool. That was that middle piece. 697 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:14,679 I thought there must have been a middle piece to it.Wow. 698 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:21,439 Look at that. Jeez, I hope that faces... 699 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:23,799 Wow. That one came out too. 700 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:33,399 It just shows you how important washing dirt is.Oh, yeah. 701 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,079 If this bar faces up from the side, Dad, this could be 702 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,159 the one we've been looking for, for Oscar. It's a cracker. 703 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:42,559 Nice-looking piece, isn't it?Yeah. 704 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:44,359 That it, I think. 705 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:47,279 What do you reckon? We'll have a look at better stuff. 706 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:49,479 Let's do it. 707 00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:54,559 There's a lot of material in there. 708 00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:00,199 Yeah, they're the pick of the crop for sure. 709 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,839 That red bar there is what we're looking at. 710 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:05,999 If that faces, it's gonna be worth a lot of money. 711 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:10,399 The Cheals have crystal seam opal, 712 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:12,119 predominantly blue-green 713 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:15,359 and featuring a green-orange king stone. 714 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:19,159 It's been washed and weighs 400 grams. 715 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:24,719 There's got to be a few dollars there.Mm. 716 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:30,199 What's your thoughts, Mark? 717 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,439 Yeah, 70-plus, yeah. 718 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:38,839 Good job, brother. Let's go! All right. 719 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:42,679 There's got to be something there that might fit the bill 720 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:45,119 for what Oscar's looking for. Oh, for sure. 721 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,479 One of these better ones, I reckon. 722 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:50,159 Good stuff, boys.Well done.Yeah. 723 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:53,399 From their opal haul, 724 00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:56,559 the team have cut and polished five of the stones 725 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:58,319 showing green-orange 726 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:01,279 for Oscar to negotiate a deal with the client, 727 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:02,959 Chris Zauner. 728 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:10,719 All right, here we go. OSCAR: Hey, Chris.Hey, Oscar. 729 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:12,879 How are you?Hey, boys. How are you? 730 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,679 Good. So, you've... you've seen the stones. 731 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,839 Yeah, it looks really beautiful. Both of them looked unreal. 732 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:20,799 Oh, that's...that's awesome, Chris. 733 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:23,679 So you're interested in the stones? 734 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:26,479 Yeah, yeah, both of them. Yeah. 735 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:29,159 For the oval stone in that necklace design 736 00:42:29,240 --> 00:42:31,119 we're looking at $6,500, 737 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:35,039 and then for the big circle stone in your design, 738 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:38,119 that's a bespoke piece looking at $8,700. 739 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:41,319 So, yeah, if you're interested in either of the stones, 740 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:42,999 we can get together 741 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:46,039 and start putting, yeah, a nice bespoke piece together for you. 742 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:51,159 Look, um, I really like the, uh, the circle one. 743 00:42:51,240 --> 00:42:53,119 I think my girlfriend would love that one. 744 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:57,239 Awesome, mate. It's the green-orange you're looking for 745 00:42:57,320 --> 00:43:00,079 and it's a beautiful pattern and a nice bright colour. 746 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:02,719 Yeah, yeah. My girl's gonna love that. It really pops. 747 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,319 You got a really lucky girlfriend, Chris. 748 00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:07,599 Yeah.MARK: Yeah. 749 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:10,359 Thanks for being involved, really. It's awesome. 750 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,799 And it's what we love. We like it to be personal, mate. 751 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:18,079 So I appreciate your business. Good luck with it and thanks, Oscar. 752 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:22,399 We'll let you boys talk business and designs and we'll go from there. 753 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:24,079 Yeah, no worries. Thanks, boys. 754 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:26,079 Thanks, Chris.Thanks, Chris. 755 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:27,879 Cheers, mate. Thanks, Oscar. 756 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:30,959 RORY: How good's that, mate? That's a good result, isn't it? 757 00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:33,119 Good one, mate. Good one. Good stuff. 758 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:35,759 Direct off the field. How good is that? 759 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:37,439 Sale went good. 760 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:40,519 To know where our stones are going is...is unreal. 761 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:43,319 You know, we're selling opal all over the world. 762 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:45,039 Sometimes, I gotta pinch myself. 763 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:47,119 Really. It's just happened so quick. 764 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:53,679 Subtitles by Deluxe 764 00:43:54,305 --> 00:44:54,555 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org