"Outback Opal Hunters" The Bushmen

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,159 Hey, mate, how are you going? 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,399 Yeah, I'm good. What, just now? 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,439 Hey, Amanda. 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,719 Les just saw some lights. I better go and have a look. 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,159 I'll pick him up. All right. Be careful. I'm always careful. 6 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,839 These ratters, they're just scum. 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,279 You've gotta check these things out. 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,639 Here you are, Les. 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,719 Yes, I think we're in for a bit of trouble out there tonight. All right to go? Yeah. 10 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:50,639 If we do find someone down there, they're gonna get a bloody shock. Oh, definitely. 11 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,039 Well, no-one's here. Are you sure this is where you saw the lights? 12 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,559 Yeah. Right around here. 13 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:04,759 Oh. Hey, Les, this has been cut. The bastards have been into it. 14 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,399 Hey, Les! There they are! There they are! Come on! 15 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,159 Turn your spottie on, mate. See if you can find him. 16 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,079 There he is! There he is! Get up him! 17 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,439 Just watch out he doesn't go down one of these side tracks, Les. Yeah. Yeah. 18 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,999 Which way did he go here? Which way did he go here? 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,919 The dust just stopped, Les. Hang on a sec. 20 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,119 I'll turn off, see if I can hear him. Right. 21 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:37,159 I can hear him, Les. Here come lights now. Where? Lights coming out through here. 22 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,239 Is he coming down this road? He's coming down that track, mate. Hey! You... Hey! 23 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:45,119 Hey! Idiot! 24 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,359 Yeah, you wit! 25 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,879 Come on, let's get them. 26 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,679 Where the did they go, Les? I'm not sure. He just shot through bloody quickly. 27 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,719 There's no dust, no nothing, mate. I think we've lost him, mate. 28 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,079 Oh, yeah. Looks like it. We'll just go a little bit further. 29 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,479 Hey! Look at this! Oh! 30 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,719 We better make sure they're not in it. 31 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,639 Jesus Christ! Look at this! 32 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,439 # Money 33 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,479 # And fancy clothes # 34 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,439 I'll look in the car, you look around the scrub. Do you wanna take the bat with you? 35 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,639 No, they'll be crook. 36 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,759 No-one's in it, Les. Look around the scrub. 37 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,279 It's got no plates on it. It's not registered. 38 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,439 'Deep in the Outback, opal hunters Rod Manning and Les Walsh 39 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:55,919 are chasing opal thieves, or ratters, who have raided one of their mines.' 40 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,919 Oh, a pick, a shovel. 41 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,919 Here, we've got ourselves a bit of gear at worst. 42 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,159 Hello, hello, hello. 43 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,159 Oh, a bit of colour in that. 44 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,439 I don't know what you reckon, Les, but I reckon it's ours now, mate. 45 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,759 It is. Nobody else around here to claim it. I'm getting out. My back's sore. 46 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,759 All the miners are absolutely sick of them. 47 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:26,879 They cost us a fortune, they make our mines unsafe. What do you do? 48 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,039 Spotlight on the way home, see if we can see these bastards walking. 49 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,879 Then we'll come back and get this in the morning. Yeah, righto. Yeah. 50 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,119 We'll come back in the morning and take the car. I'm not gonna leave it here. 51 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,479 'The world's ultimate fortune hunters...' Let's do it! 52 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,519 '..risking their lives...' Stop. Stop. There's a snake. Where? 53 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,159 '..to find a legendary treasure... 54 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,239 opal.' 55 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,359 It's just such a beautiful thing. 56 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,559 Every colour in the rainbow is just popping out at you. 57 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,839 'Worth 500 times more than gold, 58 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,359 a single piece can fetch millions of dollars. 59 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,999 And over 90 percent of it comes from just one place. 60 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,599 The brutal Australian Outback. 61 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,199 First mined in the 1880s, and increasingly rare, 62 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:27,479 world prices are spiralling high, 63 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,319 starting a new race to find it. 64 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,839 Battling the unforgiving Outback, 65 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,999 tackling extreme conditions...' Whoa! Whoa! 66 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,479 '..hunting the treasure 67 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,279 that can change their lives... forever.' 68 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,159 That's what this is all about. 69 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,639 'Sheepyards Opal Field, Grawin. 70 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,199 So remote, there's no town, no power, 71 00:04:56,280 --> 00:05:00,599 no water, and just a handful of mining camps, 72 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,999 where temperatures can hit almost 50 degrees Celsius.' 73 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,119 Living out here, in these fields out here, 74 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,599 the Grawin, Glengarry Sheepyard Fields, 75 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,519 it's like going back in time probably 60, 70 years. 76 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,239 'Former bouncer Rod Manning and his partner Les Walsh 77 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,839 have been mining together for ten years...' 78 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,399 Just coming up into old Les's now. 79 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,199 '..battling the heat and the ratters.' 80 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:30,199 This is our spare parts yard. 81 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,959 How are you going, Les? Good, mate. 82 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,679 Someone else's junk, it's gold to me. 83 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,479 We need bits of good stuff so we can fix things up when we break down. 84 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,439 'Out here, ratters steal more than just opal.' 85 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,879 I've probably lost $7,000 or $8,000 worth of stuff from people knocking gear off. 86 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,119 'With thieves making their tough existence even harder, 87 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:00,359 Rod and Les are desperate to hit opal this season.' 88 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:06,199 We're struggling to pay the diesel bill to keep on mining at the moment. 89 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:10,559 'The Bushmen are hunting black opal. 90 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,439 Named after its black base material, 91 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,239 blue and green are the most common colours. 92 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,759 But the most sought-after colour is red, 93 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,439 with the best stones fetching up to $43,000 a gram. 94 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,839 But all opal is incredibly rare.' 95 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:33,079 I reckon if we can get 60 grand, 96 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,239 that's 30 grand each, we're gonna be real happy. 97 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,279 'After being raided by opal thieves the previous night, 98 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:50,439 the Bushmen are about to discover what damage has been done to their mine.' 99 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,919 I'll go down and give you a yell when I get to the bottom. Right, mate. Not a problem. 100 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,279 Well, Les, let's have a look what's happened down here. 101 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,079 Hello. They've been in here. Oh, yeah. 102 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,279 All these little holes in the walls, they're from the ratters. 103 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:12,119 If they chew the tops of your columns out, which that's what they generally do, 104 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,799 it weakens your column, or take it out completely, so there's nothing holding your roof up. 105 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,999 I don't know what you reckon, Les, 106 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,079 but after seeing what the ratters have done here, I don't think this is safe. 107 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,959 No. It's getting pretty bloody dodgy. 108 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,399 We won't be able to work that mine any more. 109 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,839 Ratters are real scummy bastards. 110 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,439 They don't have to have all the machinery or do all the safety stuff. 111 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:39,559 They make our mines unsafe. They steal our money. It just totally gives you the . 112 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,559 And I would really like to catch one of the bastards. 113 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,839 If you caught one down there, you'd have to have a serious talk to him, I'd think. 114 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,519 You'd have to make them see the error of their ways. 115 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:53,319 'Forced to abandon their mine, Rod and Les have lost 116 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,999 the four years of time and money they've invested in it, 117 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,599 putting them under even more pressure. 118 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,119 70km northeast, 119 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:10,879 the mining town of Lightning Ridge is famous for the elusive black opal. 120 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,079 Maverick mechanics Mick and Pete Cooke 121 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,599 have been hunting opal together for two decades.' 122 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,759 Mick buys anything yellow and rusty. 123 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,959 Collector. A collector. Not a hoarder. 124 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:28,439 'They'll build any machine they think will give them the edge finding an opal jackpot.' 125 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,479 We never do it the standard way. We always try and invent. 126 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:36,919 'With apprentice Sam Westra joining their treasure-hunting team last season, 127 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,559 there's now extra pressure to hit pay dirt.' 128 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,319 We get out what we put in. The more you put in, the more you get out. 129 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,999 At the end of the day, 50 grand would cover our costs 130 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,719 and we'd be able to keep going. 131 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,919 For the last couple of seasons opal mining here, 132 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,399 we haven't made a hell of a lot of money. 133 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,239 It is hard to survive. You might get fuel money, 134 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,719 but running the big gear, you've got big expenses. 135 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:07,319 If you're not getting a return, you can't just keep pouring money in. 136 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:15,159 I've rung up Sam and Pete and asked them to come round. I've got news. I don't know how they'll take it. 137 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,679 Sam, Pete. Bro. 138 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,759 How are we? Oh, yeah, not bad. What's going on? 139 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,759 I'm gonna have to pull out for a while, go and earn some money. 140 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,239 Not making enough with this opal mining. 141 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:33,159 So when's all this kicking off? When are you taking off? Tomorrow. 142 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,839 Mick asked us round, he dropped a little bit of a bombshell on us, 143 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,319 that he's gonna give up mining for a year. 144 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,599 If you're gonna go mining, you've gotta be here. You can't just flitter in and out 145 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:50,639 and expect to find opal or to even have a share of it. You've gotta be here working to get it. 146 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,519 It's part of life, isn't it? You've gotta make sacrifices. 147 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,759 It'll make it a bit harder with just me and Pete around. 148 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,479 Sam will just have to pull his weight a bit more. 149 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,879 'With money tight, Mick's taken a year-long drilling contract 150 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,599 and taken all his mining machinery with him. 151 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,279 Leaving Pete and Sam to start the season 152 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,759 with nothing but a yard full of spare parts. 153 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,519 Over 2,000km west... 154 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:28,559 ..last season, the Fire Crew gambled their $30,000 life savings 155 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,799 on finding a new opal... 156 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,439 ..Australian fire opal.' 157 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,999 I want a house. I want a home. I want a family. 158 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,839 I wanna go on nice holidays and I wanna do all of that. 159 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:44,759 But that's all on hold. 'Cassidy Ricketts and firefighter Adam Piromanski 160 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:48,719 hope this new fire opal will change their lives.' 161 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,399 We wanna start a family. We wanna start a business. 162 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,559 And we're putting all that on hold to try and hit it big. 163 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,079 'Rounding off the team are Adam's dad, 164 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,399 prospector and Vietnam vet Pete.' I was forward scout. 165 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,399 I've got two wounds through the right leg, one in the hip. 166 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,119 'And mum, accountant Vikki.' 167 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,279 It's gonna cost us about minimal five grand to go out there. 168 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,999 'Together, they dug up a massive haul of rough stones.' 169 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,119 Look at that! Oh! You beauty! 170 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,239 It's just amazing. Just the rich Australian colours. 171 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,639 You know, the orange, the deep red. I thought, "Wow, that's something special." 172 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,719 'But it's a relatively unknown gem, and if they can't sell it, 173 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,439 they could lose everything they've invested. 174 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:42,639 Every year, the Singapore jewellery and gem fair attracts buyers from all around the world. 175 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:48,239 It's vital Adam and Cassidy make a big impact with their fire opal here 176 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,999 if they're to make their investment pay off.' 177 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,839 The minimum we can go is 500 per carat. 178 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,919 When we started the business, that was our sort of benchmark to keep the business going. 179 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,479 'But they're novice sellers in a ruthless industry.' 180 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:10,559 So, this is our fire opal. We dig it out of the ground. OK. 181 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,159 Is this something you'd be interested in buying? 182 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,559 Er, not really. Not really? 183 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,999 'Adam and Cassidy spot a similar stone, Mexican fire opal.' 184 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,399 Oh, wow! How much per carat for these? 185 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,319 That's $60? Yeah. 186 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,359 Oh, wow! 187 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:38,319 'It's a tenth of the price Adam and Cassidy are seeking.' 188 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:43,559 I'm not gonna go and tell them that our stone is $500 a carat when they're selling it for $50 a carat. 189 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,799 Yeah. It's... You know what I mean? Yeah. 190 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,959 They're gonna look at you and go, "You're nuts." The quality isn't the best. 191 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,999 'If they can't find a buyer who'll pay $500 a carat, 192 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,959 they won't make back their investment.' 193 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:05,279 'Bushmen Rod Manning and partner Les Walsh 194 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,999 have just been hit by opal thieves, or ratters.' 195 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,999 You always have ratters on opal fields. It's just a fact of life. 196 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:18,639 They just get you that angry. We're not gonna put up with it. 197 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,559 If we find them in or around our holes, we're gonna do something about it. 198 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,039 'To cover some of their losses, 199 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,839 they're salvaging the ratters' abandoned vehicle.' 200 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:36,359 How's that? Close enough? Yep. Right? 201 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,559 Yep. 202 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,959 There you go. Good one. 203 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:49,959 The way I see it, they've been in our mine, so we're gonna take something of theirs. 204 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,439 If they want it back, they can have it back, they just gotta come and see me, that's all. 205 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:59,719 What we've done last night is the best deterrent. Cos them ratters, they all bloody talk. 206 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,239 What if we pull it back onto level ground? 207 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,239 No problem. All right. 208 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,559 If they rat our holes, there's gonna be consequences. 209 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:11,239 If she tips, hold on, OK? I'll do that. 210 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:16,599 It could tip but, you know, Les is old and he's had a good life. He'll be all right. 211 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:19,279 Are you all right, old fella? Righto! 212 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:27,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 213 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,999 Give her a pump? Give her a pump and just see what happens. 214 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,239 Hey-hey-hey! We're away! 215 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,399 She did start. She mightn't be a bad car. 216 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,119 Turn her around, mate. Come back this direction. Righto. 217 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,919 The car's ours now, so if he wants it, he can come and get it. 218 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,519 'Rod lives in an off-the-grid camp 219 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,959 28km from the nearest road 220 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,679 with wife Amanda. They've been here for ten years.' 221 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,559 It's a beautiful photo. 222 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,239 With my wife, you know, 223 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,039 she probably sacrifices far more than I do to live out here. 224 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,639 'The opal mining life has been hard on the family. 225 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,519 And their six children have left to start families of their own, 226 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,919 hundreds of kilometres away.' 227 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,719 One of the hardest things, especially for Amanda, 228 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:28,399 is living ten hours away from our kids and our grandkids. 229 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,679 The only part I don't like about living here is I miss the kids. 230 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:37,199 If we find opal, that's what makes the difference. Amanda doesn't have to stay here all the time. 231 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:42,199 She can go over and see the kids. Yeah. Especially when they're having babies. 232 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,839 That's how important opal is. 233 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:51,679 We don't do anything else but opal. Our life sort of revolves around colour. 234 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,399 And no colour, no life. 235 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,839 There it is, in amongst all the other junk. 236 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,359 It's not junk. It's all treasure, mate. 237 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,839 'With brother Mick and his heavy machinery out of the picture this season, 238 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,079 Pete Cooke and rookie apprentice Sam 239 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,199 are left with just one broken-down piece of mining equipment. 240 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,399 The decades-old Steam Machine is a one-off, 241 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,919 designed to bell out the bottom of a mine shaft 242 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,959 and collect the dirt to be checked for traces of opal.' 243 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,199 You can do it the old-fashioned way with a blower and jackhammer, 244 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,879 or we're trying this crazy homemade Steam Machine. 245 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,319 But it's dangerous as. 246 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:50,759 Old Steam, you'd stand up here, working the hydraulics... Yeah, right! ..going down the hole. 247 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,279 Jump up there. Right. So you used to stand up here? 248 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,479 No, sorry, you won't get me going down on this. Not a chance. 249 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,279 We can come up with a better plan than that, I reckon. 250 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,159 'So Sam doesn't have to ride the dangerous machine down the mine shaft, 251 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,039 Pete's plan is to control it from the surface. 252 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:12,119 To do this, they'll need to extend the hydraulics, 253 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,079 add two lights and a camera, 254 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,999 at a cost of nearly $4,000.' 255 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,919 OK, so we've got a little TV monitor there. 256 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,159 A little camera we just put on up there 257 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,079 will transmit a signal wirelessly to this TV. 258 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,719 But that'll work like that. 259 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,319 So, yeah, we've got our joysticks here. 260 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,399 And these just mimic the hand controls. 261 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:40,919 So it's just the same as what he would've been doing standing on it, except I do it here. 262 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,599 Ah, look at that. That's working just fine. 263 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,399 That should just chew through the dirt, mate. 264 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,519 'If the Steam Machine digs the dirt as planned, 265 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,919 Pete and Sam could be back in business.' 266 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,239 Oh! There we go! 267 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,799 Look at that. Oh! You beauty! 268 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:08,719 'Recently-engaged opal hunters Adam Piromanski and Cassidy Ricketts 269 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:13,599 have invested all their savings hunting little-known Australian fire opal.' 270 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,599 Adam and I have invested a lot of money in this. 271 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:21,759 We're a young couple starting out. I think we've thrown about 30 grand easily into all of this. 272 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:27,599 'At the regional gem hub of Singapore, they're trying to sell this stunning new stone. 273 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,639 But so far, they've had no luck.' 274 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:35,639 We need to start moving some of the product because if we can't sell one stone here, 275 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:40,879 are we gonna be able to sell anything anywhere to anybody else? That's my question mark. 276 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,679 Thank you. Hello again. 277 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:51,079 'Adam and Cassidy have a minimum price per carat they need to hit in order to break even.' 278 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,879 I guess we're starting to get a little bit desperate. The minimum we can go is 500 per carat. 279 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,239 All right. So this is Western Australian fire opal. 280 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:03,719 These are the opals that we dig out. OK. Family business. 281 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,879 Prices? 282 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,959 Yeah. Of course. Of course. 283 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:19,039 Well, we're sort of, we're aiming at $500 a carat. 284 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,279 Yeah. 285 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,559 All right. Thank you. Thanks, mate. Thank you. 286 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,159 I'm just dealing with it all internally. It's been a rollercoaster. 287 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:48,119 'With this serious setback, Adam and Cassidy will need a new game plan 288 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,679 if they're to make back their $30,000 investment. 289 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,719 After two catastrophic seasons with barely any opal, 290 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,559 Pete Cooke and apprentice Sam Westra 291 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,759 are pinning their hopes on a decades-old digging machine.' 292 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,879 I reckon this'll work. 'In only his second season as an opal hunter, 293 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:19,119 and with barely any savings, rookie Sam is feeling the pinch.' 294 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,119 There's a lot of people I'd love to prove wrong when I pull out some opal. 295 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:32,759 So, yeah, my parents are coming up to come and see my place 296 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,399 and come and see the base that I've built up here. 297 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,559 Hey, Mum. You all right? Hi! 298 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:44,399 They take a little bit of convincing, cos it's not the sort of lifestyle that a lot of people live. 299 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,839 How are you, Dad? Is this it, mate? This is it. 300 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:52,879 There's the pad, mate. Nothing too exciting. It's not for everyone. Let's have a look, eh? 301 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:55,919 Bedroom. Bathroom. 302 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,159 Most people come here for a month or two during the year 303 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,879 and have a real job on the side. That's what I tried to convince him to do. 304 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,239 Comfy enough for me. It's better than a tent, I guess. 305 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,679 Yeah, well, I'd say so myself. 306 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,239 I'm too busy opal mining to be working on my house painting. 307 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,479 When you call it mining, you should be finding stones, though. 308 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,199 You're prospecting. Whether there's opal in it or not is irrelevant. 309 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:24,839 Opal mining's not a consistent income, you know? He'd probably rather me get an 8-till-5 job. 310 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,999 Not coming back to the real world, then? No. Why would you do that? 311 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,359 I'll find some one day. Yeah? You watch. What a life. 312 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:38,559 Whether you just keep putting holes in the ground and hoping that you find that elusive stone, 313 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,839 I don't think there's a future in that. 314 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,719 To pull out some good money and some good gems and to show everyone and say, 315 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,839 "This is what it can be like," it would mean so much to me. 316 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,279 'Down to his last few dollars, 317 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:53,679 if Sam doesn't find opal soon, 318 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,639 he may have no choice but to quit and return home.' 319 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,439 All right, let's go. 320 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,519 OK, so we've got a good claim here at Allawah. 321 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,719 We've drilled several holes on the claim before Mick took the machine. 322 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,639 So the project now is to bell these holes out. 323 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,599 'But before any digging can begin, 324 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:22,599 they must first locate how deep the opal level lies below the surface. 325 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,159 Opal forms over millions of years 326 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,519 by silica-rich water seeping into underground cracks. 327 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,079 In Lightning Ridge, the opal is found in a layer 328 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,319 between impervious clay and porous sandstone, 329 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,879 10 to 30 metres down.' 330 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,439 The level we think is around 50 feet. 331 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,879 We'll put Sam down there with a torch and a pick 332 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,319 and he can find exactly where the level is. 333 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:54,359 'Sam has to descend a 70-foot mineshaft, 334 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,399 as deep as a seven-storey building. 335 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,999 A fall from this height would be fatal.' 336 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:04,839 I'm insisting that Sam puts a safety harness on. 337 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:08,039 And it has a thumb-locking rope brake. 338 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:11,039 If the worst happens and the ladder fails, 339 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:15,239 this lock automatically goes on if you release your thumb off it 340 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,759 and he'll be there dangling safe in a harness. 341 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:22,079 Oh, yeah, a can of paint, pick, should be right. 342 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,159 'Sam needs to find the opal level, 343 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,879 a layer of grey in the brown clay, and mark is with spray paint 344 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,879 so Pete can see it clearly on the Steam Machine's remote camera.' 345 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,319 It's a long way down. 346 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,599 Mark the level there, so... 347 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,239 What do you see? That's the level there. 348 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,519 OK, that's where the gems are. 349 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,719 How you going there, Sam? I'm coming up. 350 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,199 'On the climb back to the surface, 351 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,999 rookie Sam forgets his safety rope.' 352 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:39,119 That's the dodgy way to do it, because how's it gonna save you? 353 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,039 Sam! 354 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,359 We put a safety rope there in place 355 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,999 and when he got close to the surface, 356 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,119 he decided not to keep travelling the thing up, 357 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,879 so if he had had to use it, he would've fallen. 358 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,239 He knows now. 359 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:10,519 I tell you what, Les, we need to find some bloody colour at Hell's Corner. 360 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,319 Oh, yeah. Things are getting a bit desperate. 361 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:18,799 'Rod and Les are under siege from ratters. 362 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,719 The opal thieves have decimated one of their best mines, 363 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,239 leaving it too unsafe to work.' 364 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:27,359 It's a dangerous claim as it is, 365 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,959 so it's even worse now that the bastards have eaten them pillars out. 366 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,399 'With no money in the kitty and no food in the cupboard, 367 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,839 they've been forced to return to their only remaining mine, 368 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,519 a site called Hell's Corner.' 369 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:48,479 We call it Hell's Corner cos we've had nothing but breakdowns. 370 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:54,639 I haven't found opal for a while and we need to find some opal pretty bloody quick. 371 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:59,079 If you don't find opal, sooner or later, you run out of food. 372 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:03,919 You're resorting to going out in the scrub, shooting wild goats to eat. 373 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:09,159 And we've done that, don't worry. Me and Les, we've eaten goat more than once. 374 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,439 'If the ratters hit this mine, too, 375 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,039 Rod and Les will be left with nothing. 376 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,239 18 metres underground, 377 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,039 Rod and Les use a two-ton hydraulic digger 378 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:37,479 to rip into the rock face as they check it for opal.' 379 00:26:41,120 --> 00:26:44,079 It's just gone to the half-formed stuff in there. 380 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,519 'A giant vacuum pipe sucks the discarded rubble 381 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,999 up and out of the mine.' 382 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,759 We hope there's no opal in it. 383 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,719 We're fairly confident we get most of the stuff, 384 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:02,159 but you never get it all, there's always gonna be one rock that might block us up. 385 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,679 That rock there, just watch him. 386 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,679 Hang on, Les. That one might block, Les. 387 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:15,359 That was a big one. Jesus, it's jammed in there, Les. 388 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,199 Like the vacuum does at home when you suck up something too big, 389 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,079 it blocks the pipe. That's what's happened. We've got a big rock go in, 390 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,199 it's sitting there and it's just blocked everything. 391 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,279 We need to find something pretty bloody soon 392 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:32,559 so we need to be digging, not unblocking. 393 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,399 blow a pipe. 394 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:44,239 Maiden voyage for the Steam Machine. 395 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:49,079 'With Mick Cooke and his heavy machinery away for the mining season, 396 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:53,039 brother Pete and his apprentice Sam are starting their season 397 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:56,679 with just one working digger, the ancient Steam Machine. 398 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,879 The Steam Machine has an extendable digging arm 399 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,999 and a bucket to collect the dirt so it can be checked for gems. 400 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,039 They've spent $4,000 upgrading it. 401 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:13,559 If it doesn't work, their season will come to a halt 402 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,919 and they'll be $4,000 in the red.' 403 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,719 Yeah, moment of truth. We've had it working in the yard in the workshop 404 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:25,559 and now the test is put it down the hole and see what it does. 405 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,159 Up? Down? Which way? Down. 406 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,199 Well, it's stuck. 407 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,839 It doesn't wanna fit. 408 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:48,919 So it's definitely jamming on this. This is down there at the dirt and it's jamming. Yeah. 409 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,799 What am I gonna do about that? This has gotta be made smaller or taken off. 410 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,199 I did happen to bring the angle grinder. 411 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,239 Ah, wow! A bit of surgery might be needed. 412 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:03,279 You measure twice and cut once and still get it wrong. That's no good. 413 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,239 What I'm gonna do is I'll just trim that off and that off 414 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,599 and that 10 mil might make the difference. 415 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:14,159 Bit dodgy, but never mind. We'll come up with a plan. We will make it work. 416 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,479 'Part of the ram that braces the machine against the mine wall. 417 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,879 Losing it is a gamble.' 418 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,799 Just trimmed it back, given it a haircut, we'll see how it goes. 419 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:48,279 Going down OK? Seems to be going fine. 420 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,199 I've seen $250,000 on a tail out out of one truck. 421 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,639 I know it can happen so you've just gotta keep trying till it happens to you. 422 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:01,959 We'll just keep going down. 423 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:06,479 I can see from the TV screen that it's not getting stuck and it's still going down. 424 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,239 We can see this red line that Sam went down earlier and painted on. 425 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,319 We're down at the level. Once the cutter head's spinning round, 426 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,919 I'll use these remote-control joysticks and feed the machine out. 427 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:28,759 'If the Steam Machine can't tackle the clay 15 metres down, 428 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,239 they'll have wasted $4,000.' 429 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:33,839 See if it works. Oh, yeah, it's chewing the dirt. 430 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:40,559 It's working. Look at that. It's working just fine, yeah. The teeth are chewing it away. 431 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,919 Yeah, look at that. 432 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,799 Robot mining. It's not bad! 433 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:49,839 Not bad to be able to sit up here and watch it move earth. 434 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,479 This isn't a conversation I'm looking forward to having. No. 435 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,959 We flew all that way and spent all that money. 436 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:02,639 It sucks because we've got a lot of stones. Yep. 437 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:08,759 They're gorgeous stones. Yeah. But we just can't keep digging it out for fun. No. 438 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:13,319 'After their disastrous trip to Singapore without selling a single gem, 439 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,959 Adam and Cassidy must break the bad news to their partners, 440 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:19,639 Adam's parents, Pete and Vikki.' 441 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,599 We are not giving up on fire opal. It's rare, it's beautiful. 442 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,999 People just don't know about it yet. 443 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,439 The problem at the moment is that we're outlaying a lot of cash and not bringing a lot in. 444 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:38,079 We've got a lot of bills so we need something now in the short-term to bring in some cash flow. 445 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:43,559 Hello! Oh, hello! Welcome back! How was the trip? Yeah, lots to tell you. 446 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:46,959 We didn't sell any stones. 447 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,319 While we're still pushing fire opal, 448 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,679 what can we do to keep money coming in? 449 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:58,919 'Adam's dad Pete is a veteran prospector with decades of old leads.' 450 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:03,999 See, this is a ring. Your granddad came to me and he said 451 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:06,599 his original stone fell out, right? Yep. 452 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:11,359 So he says, "Have you got a stone?" So I found one with a few flashes in it. 453 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,719 That's black, black potch, with flashes in it. 454 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,959 So, are you saying black opal? Yes. 455 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,919 Hang on. What do you mean there's black opal out there? 456 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,759 'Worth 500 times more than gold, 457 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:31,159 black opal has only ever been found in eastern Australia. 458 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:35,799 A new source over 2,000km away in the west 459 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,119 would create a new opal rush 460 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,879 and could make Adam and Cassidy millionaires... 461 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,039 if Pete is right.' 462 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:46,279 I wasn't totally convinced on the ring, 463 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:50,999 but if it works... Mm. ..it could be a game-changer for us. 464 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,759 It's a bit insane. It is a bit insane. But it would equally be insane not to go. Exactly. 465 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,439 We'll go out there for a quick trip, but we need to see some colour. Yeah. 466 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,519 All right, I'm excited. Let's do it. Let's do it. 467 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,359 Hello. So what have you decided? 468 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:09,119 I think we'd be mad not to, er... Give it a go? ..give it a go. 469 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:14,159 But what we need... is to see colour. 470 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:18,759 All right. Awesome. We've all decided? Yeah. We're family committed. 471 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,119 Bring on the colour! Whoo! 472 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,879 'The Fire Crew are going for broke, 473 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,959 hunting the most valuable opal on the planet.' 474 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:37,519 So far, so good. We've got a load of dirt in the bucket, ready to pull out, put in the truck. 475 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:42,319 And then we get that into town and wash it, do a tail out and see if there's any opal in it. 476 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:48,599 'After gambling $4,000 reconditioning their only remaining digger, 477 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:50,599 the decades-old Steam Machine, 478 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:55,599 Pete and Sam are hoping there's opal in their first load of the season.' 479 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,719 At the end of the day, we're here to find opal. 480 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:07,679 I'm not here just to muck around, I'm here to find some beautiful gems 481 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:12,959 that I can show off and that we can sell and make a bit of money for and that's the reason we do it. 482 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,119 'Their agitator wash plant is a converted cement mixer 483 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:20,639 that washes the mud and dirt from their five-ton load, 484 00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:24,399 leaving just the rocks that might contain opal.' 485 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:30,519 We'll let this wash it down for a few hours 486 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:34,079 and first thing tomorrow morning it should be ready to tail out, 487 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:39,719 so we'll reverse it out of the agi, look through whatever's left and hopefully there's some gems in it. 488 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:56,639 They've had some pretty heavy rain out here. It's washed all the tracks away. 489 00:34:57,720 --> 00:35:01,679 'The Fire Crew need to make back the $30,000 they've invested 490 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:04,799 setting up their mining operation. 491 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:09,639 With their fire opal quest on hold until global prices rise, 492 00:35:09,720 --> 00:35:12,999 they're hunting an untouched deposit of black opal, 493 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,959 worth 500 times more than gold.' 494 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:21,279 Something like a find of black opal in WA would just blow my mind. 495 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:23,759 Yeah, that'd be a dream come true. 496 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:28,079 'Prospector dad Pete believes a stone he found decades ago 497 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:31,759 could've come from its source and he's hoping to relocate it.' 498 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,759 The old man remembered a spot where he found some black trace, so... 499 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:43,279 I do not know how your dad does this. ..that's why we've come out here this trip, to follow that up. 500 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:49,199 'Two hours' drive from the nearest town and in heat over 30 degrees, 501 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,639 they finally find the right area.' 502 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:56,639 This is it, eh? Yeah, it's round here. 503 00:35:56,720 --> 00:36:00,999 'To pinpoint the opal, Pete uses an arcane method.' 504 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,919 All right. You do your thing. Yeah. Yep. 505 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,519 'The disputed technique of divining 506 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:12,479 is said to indicate opal-bearing faults below ground when the rods move.' 507 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:18,119 There. Yep, straight through here. That was so cool! 508 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:23,439 Do you wanna give it a go? No. Do it! That's his thing. Give it a go. That was so cool! 509 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,399 A bit of bush magic. Adam. Yeah? 510 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:31,039 That's where the hole is. So it's gonna produce big stuff here. 511 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:35,199 Well, these rocks aren't gonna move themselves, are they? It was naive of me, 512 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:40,519 but I was picturing just dirt and just a few rocks in between. This is just rocks. 513 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:45,719 Less talking. Ohh. More digging. Yeah. 514 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,119 Is that potch? Let's have a little look there. 515 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,919 Hey, Pete, look what we found. 516 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:06,319 Whoa. See the red dot? 517 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:08,479 It's right there. 518 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,799 Yep, there it is. Can I see it? 519 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:16,119 If you can see it, I can see it. 520 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:19,119 You can see, it does produce colour. 521 00:37:20,240 --> 00:37:23,079 Colour! It's here! It's here! It's here! 522 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:25,319 Get the jackhammer! 523 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:29,359 Pretty cool, eh? That flash of red, that's all we need. 524 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:33,599 It doesn't get much better than that, hey? We found the spot, found some evidence, 525 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,319 so it's time to get the machine, get out there and dig. 526 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,159 We're coming back, we're bringing heavy machinery and we mean business. 527 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:53,279 '18 metres underground, a rock has jammed the Bushmen's vacuum pipe 528 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:55,679 and brought their mining to a standstill.' 529 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:57,639 Ah, you bastard! 530 00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:00,199 Jammed there, is she? Yeah. 531 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:05,199 You might be able to break it with the pick from there. Get the screwdriver and the hammer 532 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,359 and try and break it in through there, I think. 533 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:10,959 That way. 534 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:15,799 Yeah, that might get it, I think. 535 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:18,839 It's a boy! 536 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:22,799 'Short on cash after their mine was raided by thieves, 537 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,239 it's crucial Rod and Les find some opal.' 538 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,039 Hang on a tick. 539 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:36,439 Just let me have a look in the face before we get back up in there. 540 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:38,679 There's colour in this little patch here. 541 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:42,879 Bit of blue/purple. Got a little bit of a glint to it. And there's more. 542 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:46,919 When you bust into it in the wall, you know you've got something special, 543 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,319 cos it just pops out at you, talks to you, you know? 544 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:52,799 It's just such a beautiful thing. 545 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,439 And when you see it underground in the wall, 546 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:58,879 it's just the most magnificent thing you've ever seen. 547 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:02,479 I've got a little bit of green crystal just in there, Les. 548 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:04,679 Who knows what's behind it? 549 00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,279 We might be eating steak for a change. 550 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:10,799 That's more like what we wanted. 551 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:14,679 It's thick, it's clean, it's not sand-shot or anything. 552 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:20,799 Les, this is the stuff that we've got out of there. 553 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:28,679 It's got a reasonable bar through it. 554 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,799 A-ha! Here's a... 555 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:35,039 That's all right! Yeah, that's not a bad piece, if it was three times bigger. 556 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:40,799 See, that green bar's not a bad bar, but it's too thin. Yeah. 557 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,319 Just do two separate little parcels, eh? 500 bucks? 558 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:49,759 500 bucks for the lot. If we can get that... We won't take less than 500. No, that's it. Yeah. 559 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:55,319 'Their opal is mainly grey base material, or potch, flecked with colour. 560 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:59,319 It's in the rough with blue, green and purple highlights. 561 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:03,479 To the right buyer, it should fetch $500.' 562 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:06,639 It'll give us the diesel money for a couple of days. Yeah. 563 00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:10,399 We might even be able to buy a sausage roll. I'll have a curry pie. 564 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:14,399 Curry pie? I don't like them bloody sausage rolls. 565 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:31,559 So I'll just get this old girl fired up if the battery's got any kick. 566 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:39,799 'To kick off their season, Pete Cooke and apprentice Sam Westra 567 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:44,199 badly need a good opal haul from their first load of dirt.' 568 00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:51,319 Here, look, there's a little... What's that one? 569 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:54,719 Bit of black. Touch of red on the other side there. 570 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:58,719 Oh, there's a fair bit of material, little chips and pieces, in here. 571 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,919 It's, yeah, very encouraging. 572 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:04,999 If it cuts, it'll be good. Nice and bright. 573 00:41:05,080 --> 00:41:09,879 We'll take that one back and see what it turns into. 574 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:13,999 Well, mate, what have we got here? 575 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:18,119 There's a lot of material in it. Lots of colour. 576 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:20,639 Yeah, a few nice, bright bits. 577 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:23,719 Definitely a success, the old Steam Machine. 578 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:27,199 We just need some fuel money. Yeah. We need it to happen quick. 579 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:30,639 Yeah. Is anyone in town buying at the moment? 580 00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:32,559 We could go and see Edmund. 581 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:35,239 We've got five bags, 582 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:37,719 so I reckon we'll go in at five grand. 583 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:42,639 Go in there at 1,000 bucks a bag and see what happens. 584 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:49,119 G'day. How you going? Good, Edmund. Sam. Edmund, yeah. 585 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:51,439 'Opal dealer Edmund Lahood 586 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:55,239 has been buying rough stones from Pete for ten years.' 587 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:57,119 Let's see what you have. 588 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:00,719 Five bags there. I'd like to sell it as a parcel. 589 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:02,839 It all depends on how hungry you are. 590 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:07,999 I'll tell you what I think, you tell me what you think and we'll see if we can agree. 591 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:11,319 I can see lots of colour in it. 592 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:13,439 How much do you want for it? 593 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:18,919 Well, the whole parcel, I was starting at five grand. Yeah. 594 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,799 Well, Pete... 595 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:26,119 I'll have to go hard on this one. Yeah? OK. 596 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:30,079 I'll have to go, like, you know, two and a half is my best offer. 597 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:33,679 That would be your best offer? Absolutely. 598 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:35,919 Two and a half. Two and a half. 599 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:44,719 Two and a half? Two and a half. Done deal. 600 00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:51,559 'Their opal is a mix of black and less valuable crystal opal in the rough, 601 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:53,719 but there's five kilos of it, 602 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:58,079 making its sale value $2,500.' 603 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:00,479 Sam and I, I reckon we'll go pretty good. 604 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,119 We work well together. He's as keen and passionate about it as I am. 605 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,519 I really believe in mine and Pete's chances this season. 606 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:12,759 We've got the machinery, we've got the manpower, we've just gotta go out and do it. 607 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,599 We need a little bit of luck on our side, 608 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:19,159 but we will find a good patch this year. I really do hope so. 609 00:43:19,240 --> 00:43:23,279 'The opal season has begun, and as temperatures rise, 610 00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:25,999 the Outback is only going to get tougher. 611 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:29,319 There's a fortune just waiting to be found.' 612 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:34,799 subtitles by Deluxe 612 00:43:35,305 --> 00:44:35,792 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=-