"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #3.2

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,159 . 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:03,559 On Outback Opal Hunters, 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:07,159 the Bushmen risk their lives... 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:08,679 He's all right down there! 5 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:10,719 ..opening a long abandoned mine. 6 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:11,799 Coming down! 7 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,359 The Boulder Boys start the season battling breakdowns... 8 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:20,039 Can't move. The truck's buggered. 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,639 ..and fighting floods. 10 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,359 Right there. 11 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,039 You want money, you gotta dig in. 12 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,479 Hit the thing. 13 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,999 And new team, rookie miners The Young Guns, 14 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,679 Whoa, dude. ..head underground for the very first time... 15 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,839 That looks like death. ..hunting a legendary opal. 16 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:37,279 Oh, ho, ho, ho! 17 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:45,074 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=- 18 00:00:57,880 --> 00:00:59,759 Opal mining is pretty simple. 19 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:01,799 Shift the dirt till you find the opal. 20 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,199 Trouble is, it's a bloody lot of dirt here. 21 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,439 Bushmen Rod Manning and Les Walsh 22 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,199 have been working the remote Sheepyards minefield for a decade, 23 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,039 hunting black opal at $43,000 a gram. 24 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,999 The best can be worth 500 times more than gold. 25 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,559 I reckon if we can get 60 grand, that's 30 grand each, 26 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,479 we're going to be real happy. 27 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,119 70 kilometres from the nearest town, 28 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,359 miners must rely on each other for help. 29 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,799 We have absolutely no services at all our here in the fields. 30 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,959 So it's like going back in time, probably 60, 70 years. 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,119 We haven't found anything for so bloody long 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,919 that it's getting a bit desperate at the moment. 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,679 Hello, Grubby's here. What's he doing here? 34 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,039 What are you over here for, Grubby? 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,119 Uh, a bit of a problem. 36 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,879 I hit some hard ground and it's not hammering out well at all. 37 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,839 Grubby Mick's my first cousin. 38 00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:12,039 He's got Parkinson's. He's had it for about 15 years. 39 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,319 I wouldn't mind if you and Les come over and had a look. 40 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,839 Give me your opinion, whether it's worthwhile. 41 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,559 It's a bit of an inspiration for an old bloke with Parkinson's. 42 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:25,759 You know, he climbs that ladder every day. And he's a good worker. 43 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:28,559 We can do that for you, Mick. 44 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:31,439 We can come over and have a quick look now, if you like. 45 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:32,759 Yeah, I'd appreciate that. 46 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,199 Badly in need of opal to pay their own bills, 47 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,959 helping Mick will use up time they should spend mining. 48 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,959 Well, we'll just fly over there and have a quick look underground 49 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,719 then we'll come back and get into it. 50 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,759 Yeah, because we've got to find some bloody opal somewhere. 51 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,839 Yeah, you're not wrong. 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:03,679 It's just dry bony-looking bloody dead dirt, isn't it, Les? 53 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,359 Like a dig in a quarry. That's about what it looks like. 54 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,159 I know this field. There's plenty of opal in this field, 55 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,919 but I think you're on the wrong end of the claim. 56 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,879 I know about a hole over the other end of your claim. 57 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,999 Queenslander that was in it, he got a big 56-carat stone. 58 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,519 I saw it. It was real nice. Yeah? 59 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,999 Now, he pulled out because he reckoned it was a bit dangerous. 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,999 Down the other end of the claim, it's completely different dirt. 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,999 I know money come out of that hole. 62 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,519 The abandoned mine is in a corner 63 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,359 of Mick's existing 25 by 100 metre claim. 64 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:41,519 This hole here, Mick. 65 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,079 I'll stick some ladders down and we'll go down and have a look, OK? 66 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,199 Last accessed over six years ago by the previous claim owner, 67 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,839 the 15-metre-deep mine could now be near collapse. 68 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,679 You all right, there, mate? Yeah, I'm on the bottom now. 69 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,199 It's a hell of a mess down here. 70 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,599 Opal forms over millions of years 71 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,479 when silica-rich water trickles into faults in the rock, 72 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,239 hardening to form the gem. 73 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,959 This means that hunting it can involve 74 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,159 chasing dangerously unstable fault lines underground. 75 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,919 As you can see, that whole wall there 76 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,119 has just come this way and collapsed. 77 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,559 There's a bloody dead Brown Snake down here too. 78 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,719 Oh, OK. Long as he's dead. 79 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:34,839 That's an Eastern Brown Snake. 80 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,839 Probably killed more people in Australia than any other snake. 81 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,319 At the moment, it's pretty scary down there. 82 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,439 White Cliffs in remote New South Wales. 83 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,479 Australia's oldest commercial opal field. 84 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,719 Miners have been coming here for 130 years, 85 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:09,199 leaving the land covered in over 50,000 mine shafts. 86 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,399 Braving temperatures nearly 50 degrees Celsius 87 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,279 in the hope of finding one of Earth's rarest types of opal, 88 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,439 Pineapple Opal. 89 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,439 Only an estimated 300 have been found 90 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,639 and they can fetch up to half a million dollars apiece. 91 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,639 Now, the promise of opal has attracted a new generation of miner. 92 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,639 All righty, boys, you ready to get to work? 93 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,759 Yeah, mate. Yeah, man. Let us dig dirt. 94 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:45,239 Once considered the greatest opal hunting ground on earth, 95 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:50,279 most of White Cliffs' 50,000 mine shafts are now abandoned. 96 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:56,039 But best friends Jaymin Sullivan, JC Caruana and Noah McDonough 97 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,679 believe this is where they will find their fortune. 98 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:05,279 We've been sucked in to the dream of finding a tonne of opal. 99 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,519 Team leader Jaymin grew up here, 100 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,799 and after serving an apprenticeship with his opal mining dad, moved away. 101 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:17,079 But now he's returned to lead a team for the very first time. 102 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,279 I've come back to hit the mother lode. 103 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:21,799 I've seen some of Dad's success. 104 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,039 I see the money and stuff like that he's making. 105 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:25,519 That's really got me keen. 106 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,679 So what would be the value of that? This one will be $60,000 US. 107 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,959 Jaymin has convinced best mates JC and Noah 108 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:41,679 to leave their jobs on the coast and chase a fortune treasure hunting. 109 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,559 That's some of the opal I've found. This is the stuff you found. 110 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,679 Yeah, that's a couple of thousand just there in that jar. 111 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,279 That's crazy. This stuff's nuts. 112 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:51,679 Jaymin started showing us 113 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,199 that he actually did make money out of opal mining. 114 00:06:54,280 --> 00:06:55,399 So it was like, oh, wow. 115 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,759 It's daunting. It's scary to go all the way out there. 116 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:02,039 But that's kind of what I think I need right now and what I want. 117 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:07,159 I've left behind just about everything. 118 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:09,799 I was also kind of Little Jimmy in the family, 119 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,279 I was a little mower, I didn't really have any career 120 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,119 or anything really going for me. 121 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,359 So this trip's kind of, it's a big coming of age, big growing up, 122 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,959 do something on my own and really go make my own way. 123 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,759 For JC and Noah, just getting to White Cliffs 124 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,679 is a gruelling 1000-kilometre trek deep into the outback. 125 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,439 That's it. And that's the town. 126 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:36,759 Population, 200. 127 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,199 Population 202. 128 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,279 Man, look at this place. 129 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,599 That's Jaymin's van. 130 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:48,759 You've made it! Hey! 131 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,359 You made it. We made it. 132 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,119 Yous actually came! We actually made it. 133 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,559 How are you going? How was the trip? It was all right. 134 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:00,199 It was long. Big trip. 135 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,279 We're here. 136 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,999 Since we left our jobs it's either we find opal 137 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:05,799 or we go back home broke with nothing. 138 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,399 I spent every bit of savings getting out here. 139 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,759 We're not going home without any opals. 140 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,999 I think probably if we try and head for about 60 grand this season, 141 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,599 I think that's probably a good target for us. 142 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,319 Keep the food on the plate. 143 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,879 Keep us digging. Get us a nice little place. 144 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:32,959 We've always made a living, 145 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,559 but you've got to want to do this thing, mate. 146 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:37,999 Because it's tough on the body. 147 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,079 It's tough on the machinery. 148 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,239 Tough on partnerships. 149 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:46,759 Last season, Aaron hit the opal jackpot. 150 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:48,479 This is the one. 151 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:52,399 And achieved his dream of buying his dad's old claim. 152 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,439 Oh! Oh, look at that! 153 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,039 Queensland boulder opal, mate. Not bad, eh? 154 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,839 The best opal I've found since I've been here 155 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,919 and I've been here six years. 156 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,519 But returning after the four-month hot season, 157 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,559 there's no sign of partner Greg. 158 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,639 Me and Greg had a bit of a run-in. 159 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,359 This hole, it's been a waste of money and time and effort. 160 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,759 I don't know. You don't know much, do you? 161 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,439 He's a good mate. We're just not working together. 162 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:28,679 Sort of finished the partnership 163 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,039 Don't hold any grudges or nothing. That's just how it is. 164 00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:36,079 Home sweet home now that it's cooled down. 165 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,799 Well, looks like everything's gone. Bulldozers, drill rig, escalator. 166 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:42,799 Greg took his bat and ball and...off. 167 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:48,519 For Aaron, working this old claim keeps the memory of his father alive. 168 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,079 Dad passed away nearly two years ago. 169 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,839 The family sort of give me an option to buy the place, which is good. 170 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,919 The last season was about securing the claims in Dad's place. 171 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,959 I spent everything, all my money on that. 172 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:03,959 I'm starting this season from scratch. 173 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,719 Keep going with what dad was doing, you know. 174 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,119 Already low on cash and with no partner, 175 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,519 Aaron's dream of working his father's claim 176 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,399 is just about to hit an even bigger problem. 177 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,759 The best opal seam on the claim has been flooded by tropical rains. 178 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,679 I'd like to keep going with this, but it's full of water. 179 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,079 And the water level is still rising. 180 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,599 I can hear water coming in there, draining in through the fault line. 181 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:36,199 Wouldn't be worth pumping it out. 182 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,479 We'll have to work something else out. 183 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,999 With water still seeping into the pit, 184 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,879 Aaron's best hope of getting opal to start his season 185 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,159 lies in the nearby Squibby Level. 186 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,799 At the moment, this is all I can do. 187 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,439 It's easily accessible, but the opal is poor quality 188 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,359 and thin on the ground. 189 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,439 Mm, nice hard one, that one. 190 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,799 But it's very slow going when you're by yourself. 191 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,639 You gotta just keep checking every bit, eh? 192 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:12,119 I'll need a hand to get through it so with a bit of luck Jack can give me a hand. 193 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,519 Jack's my oldest son and he drives trucks in Winton. 194 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:20,079 Winton is Aaron's closest town, 120 kilometres away. 195 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,119 He has been around a few times when we found opal, 196 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,559 and he seems to enjoy coming out here into the bush. 197 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,319 Go get a hand and catch him up to it, it'd be good. 198 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,239 I haven't seen Jack for a while, but we have our ups and downs. 199 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:36,279 I've had a few punch-ups. Bit of luck, he's in a good mood. 200 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,279 Oi! 201 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,359 Who is it? It's the old man. 202 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,879 Put that down. How are you goin'? What are you doing? 203 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,159 Oh, nothing, mate. What you been up to? 204 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:54,319 You working? 205 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:58,799 I've still got a job trucking but I'm stood down till further notice. 206 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,439 What are you doing? I need a bit of a hand on my opal. 207 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,599 Dig a bit of opal for a few days? Yeah, all right. 208 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,839 If we're gonna do it, we gotta do it now. 209 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,679 Next few days. Three days. 210 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,279 If we get going now, we'll get there by lunchtime. 211 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,199 Righto. We'll make something happen. 212 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,279 Instead of sitting here talking. 213 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,719 Hopefully it goes well. But you don't know, eh? 214 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,799 We've had our ups and downs. 215 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:28,399 Opal mining, and I'll be honest here, not really for me. 216 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,559 I prefer to go to work where I know I get paid every week. 217 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,239 Dad, he'll test how thick your skin is, put it that way. 218 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:37,599 Before you turn. 219 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,079 To get Aaron's season started, 220 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,359 father and son will have to put their differences aside 221 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,079 and work together as a team. 222 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,679 Was the opal in the wall or in the ground? 223 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:00,999 Is that, like, the ground? 224 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,119 In White Cliffs, Australia's oldest opal field 225 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,039 rookie mining team The Young Guns 226 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,119 are getting their first taste of life in the outback. 227 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,439 You live in an actual cave. 228 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,079 To escape temperatures of almost 50 degrees, 229 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,479 100 homes here are built underground 230 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:22,239 where the temperature stays a cool 22 degrees. 231 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,479 So we just keep following you. 232 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,239 And it's all hand-rendered over the top. 233 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,479 So that's the ground? Yeah, that's the sky. 234 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:32,839 That's the roof just straight up there. 235 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,439 Basically, you put your phone in there. 236 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,959 Attach to the power cord and you get reception in your room. 237 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,039 You pull her up like a flagpole and you've got reception. 238 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,639 You can play a bit of Apex or Fortnite. 239 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,759 It's actually insane, Jay. These were all old timers' diggings. 240 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:49,959 These are just shafts. 241 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,119 Then Dad came along, continued those on 242 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,199 and then made it into a dugout. 243 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,359 This is what the walls look like without the render over the top. 244 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,039 It's just been sprayed 245 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,119 and you can actually see a little bit of opal 246 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,839 that is just left in the wall, a little bit of blue-purple. 247 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,719 That's what we're gonna be looking for. Exactly. 248 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:09,839 That's it. 249 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,799 Just watch out as we come up around this next corner. 250 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,759 Cos it is pretty close to some shafts on either side. 251 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,799 Oh, my. 252 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:25,319 This is a little bit full-on. I wasn't expecting this. 253 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,919 The claim we're heading to at the moment is Dad's. 254 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,919 We're going down there to do a bit of work. 255 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,159 He said we can keep any opal that we do find. 256 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,119 But at the same time, he has the power to just close us down. 257 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,399 Dating back to the 1880s, 258 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,319 some of the shafts can be over 20 metres deep. 259 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,759 Oh, dude. There are some holes. 260 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,839 Look at 'em. They're right here. 261 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,879 Here we are, boys. Just up here is where we're going to be mining. 262 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,679 Wow. 263 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,919 So this is where we're gonna make our millions. 264 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,999 Yeah, that's it. 265 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,879 Third generation opal miner Jaymin 266 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,159 is leading a team for the very first time. 267 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,799 This is how we're going to get down there. Oh! 268 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,119 I'm definitely gonna have to watch out for them. 269 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,359 Things can be dangerous. So their lives are definitely in my hands. 270 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,359 Dude, that's huge. 271 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:20,879 It's about 30 foot right now. 272 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,439 That looks like death. 273 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,879 I've always had a problem with heights since I was a kid. 274 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,479 Go to a theme park, don't ride the roller coasters. 275 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,759 And now I gotta go down a 30-foot ladder. 276 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,439 Little bit daunting, I'm a little bit scared. 277 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,479 Once you guys are down there, I'll stay up here and just tank. 278 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,879 All right, who's next? Yeah, I'm comin'. 279 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,159 Holy moly! Ha-ha-ha! 280 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,079 Makes it worse that they look like they're doing it so easily. 281 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,239 It's just like they're jumping down. I'm... 282 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,079 Oh, my God. It's like a full mine. 283 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,639 What do you reckon? This is so cool, huh? 284 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,559 What are yous doing down there? 285 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:56,999 Yeah. You good to come down? 286 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,679 I'm not sure if I am. 287 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,439 You can do it. I don't even think I can step on it. 288 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,879 Come on! We're waiting! 289 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,879 I'm going to take the first step now. 290 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:13,479 That's it. 291 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,239 Man, I'm shaking. 292 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,559 For me, coming from like a sheltered life, 293 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:20,839 yeah, this is a big change. 294 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:22,479 You all right? 295 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,399 One foot after the other. 296 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,479 That's it. 297 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,919 Oh, Jesus Christ. That's it. 298 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,319 Touch the ground here. Oh! 299 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,719 Hey, you did it. You did it. 300 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,479 Oh, Jesus. How do you feel? Oh, man. 301 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,759 Like I don't want to go back up! 302 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,279 With equipment rented from his dad, 303 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,919 Jaymin has already outfitted the mine for the start of the season 304 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:55,999 and spent the last of their cash. 305 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,879 It's really bloody cool. It's unreal down here. 306 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,679 10 metres deep and 20 metres long, 307 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,879 the mine is filled with old dirt after years of neglect. 308 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,639 It needs to be cleared before the search for opal can begin. 309 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,279 This is your new best friend, Noah. Oh, good. 310 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,159 Basically gonna chuck all the dirt and push it straight into the tipper 311 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,239 and then I'll show you how to run that when you do your first load, 312 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:20,719 make sure you got it down. 313 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:25,479 All right? 314 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,759 Jump on the end of that, jump out of the way, Noah, 315 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:29,559 and we'll bring it down to the tipper. 316 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,319 Just watch yourself cos obviously it's a bit of weight 317 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:33,599 and you might slip a bit. 318 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,839 And then, Noah, you see that rope hanging there, give it a good pull. 319 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,239 There you go. That's our first bucket of dirt out of the mine. 320 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,519 Hey! That's dirt number one! 321 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,999 With another 15 tonnes of rock and dirt to shift 322 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,199 before they can start digging for opal, 323 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,239 it's just the beginning of a daunting physical challenge. 324 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,639 Only 4,000 more to go. 325 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,959 The remote New South Wales outback. 326 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,479 He can't move over there by himself. 327 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,599 He can't keep mining where he is. 328 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,399 So what do you do? We can't say "Go to ". 329 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:19,479 Only $500 towards their $60,000 season target, 330 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,399 Bushmen Rod and Les have put their own opal hunt on hold 331 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,399 to help cousin Grubby Mick relocate to a new mine. 332 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,159 And the delay could cost them hard. 333 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,839 We need to find opal and we need to find it bad. 334 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,639 But we've never sort of not helped someone that's in need. 335 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,359 What can you do? He's family. He's not a bad old . 336 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,359 What do you mean he's not a bad old ? 337 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,359 He's 20 years younger than you. Three, OK? 338 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,599 The first challenge is to get the gear out of Mick's existing mine 339 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,679 using the decades-old hoist. 340 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,799 Righto! Just keep an eye on it going up. 341 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,039 The hoist runs on rails that double as the miners' main ladder. 342 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:02,599 These are real dangerous cos you just can't control them. 343 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,279 Once you pull a cable, they're on their way up. 344 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,679 And a lot of times, all the cable unwinds all over the ground. 345 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,199 And we've had cases where cable then locks around their legs 346 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,839 and they're dragged... Generally cut their legs off. 347 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,079 It's going to be close. 348 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,599 It's coming down! 349 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,719 Yous all right down there? Yeah. 350 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,079 That was, that was pretty close. Could have been under it. 351 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,639 Take two. See if we can get her up this time. 352 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,839 With the rickshaw safely extracted from Mick's old mine, 353 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,199 the focus turns to moving the 200-kilogram hoist itself. 354 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:55,519 What have you got for us? 355 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,679 It's over here, the hoist. We're moving it from over there 356 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,759 to over here, all right? Very precarious bloody things, them. 357 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,639 Yeah, they're to move, aren't they? Yep. 358 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:06,679 This hoist is the only one I've got 359 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,919 so I can't afford to have it damaged. 360 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,239 Let him go. 361 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,839 Righto. Keep going. Lazy old . Doesn't have to walk. 362 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,119 That's it. That's it. 363 00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:26,359 Yeah, drop it down on that. 364 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,999 Well, that all went really good. The worst is yet to come. 365 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:35,759 As a former rigger, 366 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,919 the task of securing the hoist ladder to the 15-metre-deep shaft 367 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,759 falls to 74-year-old Les. 368 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,439 It's all right. He's OK. He's OK. 369 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,519 Titch, he gets real upset when Les goes down the hole. 370 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:51,719 He's all right. He's just there, see? 371 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,799 See? He's all right. 372 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,279 I'm on my own. Nobody loves me no more. 373 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,199 He's a friend, you know. I can talk to him. 374 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,999 He can talk back sometimes. 375 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,639 He knows what sort of mood you're in and he means the world to me. 376 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,719 It's all right. 377 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,999 Hello, buddy. 378 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,319 With the ladder securely pinned to the wall, 379 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,799 the boys must install timber supports 380 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,799 to stop the dangerously unstable ceiling from collapsing. 381 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,679 Me and Les have gone none laying around so what we'll have to do 382 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,759 is go out in the scrub and cut a few. 383 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,399 All right. 384 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,319 You go like a maniac in the bush. 385 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,279 In a process that hasn't changed for over 100 years, 386 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:47,079 the Bushmen cut their own props from the robust local cypress pine. 387 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,359 Whoo! That's a bit like hard work, Les. 388 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,799 We may as well get those back to the mine, eh? 389 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,959 Yep. Well, I'll just give her a good try. Come on, dogs, all aboard. 390 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,919 Put them in the back, there's no room for dogs or Les 391 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:13,199 so it's just as easy to drag the . It's more fun too. 392 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,599 I've just noticed we've had a big collapse off the side of the wall. 393 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,479 Cos none of that was here yesterday. 394 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,319 So if you're walking past one of these and that falls out, 395 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:33,759 it's gonna break your legs. 396 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,879 On Sheepyards Opal Field, 397 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,679 Grubby Mick's new mine has been dug from loose sandstone and clay. 398 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,239 Easy to tunnel through, but highly unstable. 399 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,439 The more miners widen a tunnel or drive, 400 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,799 the more likely the roof is to collapse. 401 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,679 A series of wooden props will support the most dangerous parts of the roof, 402 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,799 making the area safe to work. 403 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,199 Les is just cutting the props to the length I want 404 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,319 and then he's going to drop 'em in that hole on the surface. 405 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:08,279 So they're gonna come rattling down through there. 406 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:09,519 Righto, ready? No! 407 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:11,119 Hold on! 408 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:13,319 Hold on! 409 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,439 So they'll come rattling down through there. Bang. 410 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,439 Then I gotta move 'em before the next one comes down. 411 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,519 Righto, Les, let it rip! 412 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,239 Let it rip! 413 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,079 I knew that was coming. 414 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:37,839 Righto. We got power? 415 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:40,159 Yes. 416 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,199 Righto! Drop her! 417 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,399 Whoa... 418 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,439 Hey, Les. Just come here. 419 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,319 Do you reckon that's opened up any? 420 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,399 Was that as bad as that before? 421 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:15,799 I didn't think that was open like that. 422 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,239 I didn't think it was open that far neither. 423 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,479 We're just a bit concerned about the roof here, 424 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,919 that crack that we had in the roof. 425 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,159 It appears to have opened up a bit with the pressure we've put on. 426 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:27,679 I think we'll be all right, 427 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,679 but we really, really need to keep an eye on it. Yeah. 428 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,559 I don't want this to be my final resting place. Not Grubby Mick's. 429 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,079 Imagine getting killed in Grubby Mick's. 430 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,119 This last little bit left. 431 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,319 I've been getting traces up here. This is all a bit quiet here but... 432 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,879 Traces in the clay? In the clay, mate, yeah. 433 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,999 Starting the new mining season with no money and no partner, 434 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,239 Aaron has roped in truck driver son Jack to help. 435 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,639 No, she's not going to go anywhere. 436 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,199 But straight away, he faces another major setback. 437 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,959 Oh, this truck ain't working. This side ain't working. 438 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,239 I don't want to move it too far on one track cos I'll probably . 439 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,599 This machine's more or less stuck here. 440 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,519 The excavator is the only piece of equipment they have. 441 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:31,199 Unable to move it, they can only dig as far as its arm can reach. 442 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,759 Jack, I'll do it in separate bits. I'll knock a bit out of there. 443 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,319 If there's no opal in this dirt, they'll be out of options and broke. 444 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,279 I'm going to turn it off, Jack. We'll have a good look, mate. 445 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:46,359 You got something poking out. 446 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:52,199 Million dollar rocks waiting for you, mate. 447 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,999 We'll get a good chance here in the next few days. 448 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,959 Nothing, not even potch. 449 00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:02,439 Ah, you just can't get a win in this place. 450 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:06,359 We'll go to Plan B, Jack. We just haven't thought about it. 451 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,519 We'll think of something, mate. We're going to have to, eh? 452 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,359 Aaron and Jack are at rock bottom. 453 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:16,999 What do you reckon, Jack? 454 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,679 I reckon I should go to town, drive trucks again. 455 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,759 It's gone quiet, eh? Yeah. 456 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:23,679 What else is there? 457 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:28,319 What about where you and Greg were pulling that stone out? 458 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:30,079 We can go and have a look at that. 459 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,759 I reckon if you get another chop at it, you'll get opal all right. 460 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,239 The best opal seam on the entire claim, 461 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:42,279 where Aaron found over $200,000 last season, 462 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:45,439 is out of reach, on the far side of the deep pool 463 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:49,759 at the bottom of 20-metre cliffs. Too unstable to climb. 464 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:52,999 How are we going to get over that? 465 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,719 The water's there. You can't swim. I'm not swimming over. 466 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,479 Have to think about it, mate. 467 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,279 Are you going to make a raft out of 44s or something? 468 00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:01,799 Get over there and have a look. 469 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,239 I know where we can get a boat. Where? 470 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:07,799 Craig's got one. A little dinghy. 471 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,119 That's Craig's boat. He won't mind us borrowing it if we bring it back. 472 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:28,759 Fibreglass bottom, eh? But she'll do the job, 473 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,159 Watch out there's no snakes there. 474 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:34,919 Ah, nothing in her, eh? 475 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:36,559 All right. 476 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,639 Good little lightweight boat, eh? 477 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:43,959 Aaron and Jack have a boat 478 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:48,159 but with no outboard motor, the boys must get inventive. 479 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:50,919 We'll have to make some oars. 480 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,959 Put it on like that. That'll do. They'll be all right like that, eh? 481 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,839 Yeah, we'll just wrap zip ties around them. 482 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,919 I'll get them zip ties. 483 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,599 Make it without a zip tie in the bush. 484 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,519 You can do anything with them. Oh, yeah. 485 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,319 I suppose at the end of the day, you know you are an Aussie 486 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,279 when you gotta make oars out of thongs and zip ties, eh? 487 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:13,319 And that's how we are, I suppose. 488 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,399 We do what we gotta do and we've done it. We'll get there. 489 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:17,599 That'll be all right. 490 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,879 That'll get you there. You're not going far. 491 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,959 All right. 492 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,999 You get in, mate, and I'll push you out. 493 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,119 Oh, be careful cos she's not that stable, eh? 494 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,319 Righto. Want to go over here, Jack, have a bit of a look, eh? 495 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,679 What, over here? No, straight. Straight. 496 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,759 Righto. 497 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:52,199 We're not going too close to that wall. 498 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,279 Don't want rock hitting us, eh? No. 499 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,959 We had to be very careful We didn't want to go too close to the wall 500 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,959 cos there's all little fault lines through it. They can slab off. 501 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:07,239 But to reach the fault line where the opal forms, they have no choice. 502 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,239 Oi, oi, take us into that one rock there. 503 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,079 You paddle so the nose goes round like that. 504 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,519 He needs to get his oaring skills a bit more better but. 505 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,519 He'll end up going like that all the time. 506 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:19,959 I want to get in there, mate. 507 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:22,319 We're getting in there. I told you that. 508 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:29,119 Hey, look at the colour there, Jack. 509 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:33,039 Oi, oi. In here, a little pipe. See the green? Oh, yeah? 510 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,799 Good live level, mate. You want money, you got to dig here. 511 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:48,199 In White Cliffs, it's day one for The Young Guns, 512 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:52,119 one of the newest teams to take on opal mining, 513 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:53,999 hunting, rare pineapple opal 514 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,479 worth up to half a million dollars apiece. 515 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:04,079 They face a hard slog, clearing 15 tonnes of dirt from the mine. 516 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,639 We're doing a bunch of backfill. We're just clearing all that out. 517 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,879 All the stuff that was left from the old timers that were down here last. 518 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,959 The ageing hoist carries 60kg of debris at a time 519 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,039 up and out of the mine. 520 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:20,759 I need a whiff. 521 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,639 So dig if you want your supper. 522 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,359 Noah will have his first blisters tonight. Yeah! 523 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,039 You down here, boys? Yeah. 524 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,519 Is that you, Dad? 525 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:34,519 Found the place all right? Yeah. 526 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:35,639 As the claim owner, 527 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:39,399 Jaymin's dad, Graeme, has overall responsibility for the mine. 528 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,639 Little bit apprehensive when he said he's gonna go out on his own 529 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,599 with a couple of very green young people. 530 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,799 I don't know if they realise just how hard it's gonna be. 531 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,199 Looks like you'll have to level your floor up a bit, 532 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,039 just make it nice and comfortable for getting to your tipper, 533 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,719 where most of your work happens. You want to get it comfortable. 534 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:01,119 I mean, I'd be trying to chop that floor out as well. 535 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,279 Just looking at the ground around us, 536 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,399 we haven't got down to the sandstone bar in this area yet. 537 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:08,839 So there's good opal just above that. So I mean - 538 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:12,279 Whoever was in here before, mining, just didn't go quite deep enough. 539 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,319 I can see down here we've got a little bit of the old workings. 540 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,039 You know, one of the levels, so they've gotten down there. 541 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,639 Quite often, they didn't work enough, through the ground. 542 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,799 So you'll have to dig a whole lot more. 543 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,079 See you, fellas! See you, Dad. Happy digging. 544 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,159 Thanks for the advice. 545 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,639 The boys here at the moment, in this mine 546 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:32,639 and in this stage of their career, 547 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:34,679 have no option but to use manual labour. 548 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,279 So now it's up to these boys to really just work their way 549 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,359 towards a really good pocket of opal. It'll be in here somewhere. 550 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,159 They've just got to do the hard yards to get to it. 551 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,439 I'm hoping I can rely on Dad's guidance, 552 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:48,119 but I want to get out and do my own thing as well. 553 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,279 And I want to be out there calling the shots for myself. 554 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,279 It is gonna be a bit of a gamble and it's gonna be a bit of work 555 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,119 to drop all the floor down a few feet. 556 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:58,519 But I think it's gonna be our best chance. 557 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:01,039 Oh... 558 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,799 I think I just found some. I thought I found a bit of opal. 559 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,039 Is that opal? 560 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:12,439 That's crazy. Did that just come out of the ground? 561 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,919 I don't know if it came out of the backfill or the wall. 562 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,559 That's really cool. You already found some. Yeah. We found some. 563 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,559 This could be the dream start to their mining career. 564 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:24,839 That's insane. 565 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,359 500 kilometres away... 566 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,639 ..The Bushmen are struggling to make cousin Grubby Mick's new mine 567 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:42,039 safe to work. 568 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:44,839 Yeah, I just don't want to muck around with it too much, Mick. 569 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:47,399 It's a bit nervy, what we're doing. 570 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,919 On only $500 so far this season, 571 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,039 this good deed is costing them vital time 572 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:57,239 hunting for opal for themselves. 573 00:32:57,320 --> 00:32:58,839 We're just living week from week. 574 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:03,239 All we're doing is paying diesel and tucker, and that's about it. 575 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,919 Could go back a bit but it's... Not too bad? 576 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,639 It's not too bad. Well, that's not going to go anywhere, Les. 577 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,959 We didn't have a bad morning. We got all the props put in. 578 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:19,039 We got one more dangerous job to do and that's barring the walls down. 579 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:22,359 We got to make them safe so we have to actually bring them down 580 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,319 so that they won't fall on Grubby when he walks past. 581 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,919 It's a bit dodgy cos you never know how much is going to fall out. 582 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,279 So I reckon we'll take this corner off here. Yep. 583 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,999 I'll jackhammer that little bit there, maybe. 584 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:39,399 Yep. And if you can get the the bar in behind there and pry this out. 585 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:41,039 Yep. 586 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,079 Even with the props, 587 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:46,599 there is still a risk they could bring down the entire roof 588 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:48,679 on top of themselves. 589 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,039 What do you reckon, Les? Doesn't look too bad. 590 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,839 That'll be safe enough for the moment. Oh, yeah. 591 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,079 With the mine safe and running smoothly, 592 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,159 Rod and Les's work is done. 593 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,199 I'm real happy for Mick to keep going there now. 594 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,159 We can't make it any safer. 595 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:11,319 And it's already showing promising signs. 596 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,479 A little patch of opal stuck right there. 597 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,759 Oh, my God. Ooh. 598 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:19,839 Typical crystal from down here. 599 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,839 That's all right. See that? You got reds, oranges. 600 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:24,919 Red there too. Look at that. 601 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:28,159 I couldn't be happier. 602 00:34:28,240 --> 00:34:30,879 The ground's a lot softer than it was over the other side. 603 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,839 That's the start of your mine, mate. You enjoy it. 604 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:36,039 Trace opal, worth just a few hundred dollars, 605 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,599 is all the sign they need 606 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:41,359 that Mick's new mine could be about to produce. 607 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,479 That's excellent. Put it in your pocket. 608 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:48,319 Don't waste it. Spend it on bad women and grog. 609 00:34:52,720 --> 00:34:55,439 Well, mate, back to work we go. Back to Hell's Corner. 610 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:59,439 That's it, yes. Hopefully today might be the day. 611 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:02,719 We're just going to start shifting dirt 612 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:06,239 and hopefully we find a little bit real soon because we bloody need it. 613 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,799 Then the next couple of weeks, we should be multimillions. 614 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,999 No matter what, mate. But we shall see. 615 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,159 Desperate for funds to start his season 616 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:26,679 but with the richest part of his claim flooded, 617 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:30,839 Aaron has enlisted his son Jack and a neighbour's leaky dinghy 618 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:33,839 to get to the elusive opal seam. 619 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,239 Have a look at the colour there, Jack. Oi, oi. 620 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:40,719 In here. Look at the pipe. See the green? 621 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:42,199 With access difficult, 622 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,759 Aaron's only targeting the rocks he thinks may contain opal. 623 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,479 This tells you the level's still low. Did you lose it? 624 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,519 You've got to break every rock. 625 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:54,479 You might think for a while that level ain't producing. 626 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:56,839 Next minute, it'll turn it on and there's a rock. 627 00:35:56,920 --> 00:36:00,399 I'm going to try and find a little parcel to keep us going, mate. 628 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:03,639 Hit the thing! 629 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,959 Colour. What's the plan, mate? 630 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:13,079 I just don't want to go too close where there's too much either side. 631 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:18,159 It's hard enough as it is without one of them dropping on me. 632 00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:23,119 Why don't we go in there and we'll dig into that big rock over there? 633 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,199 We're nearly there, mate. Yeah. 634 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,279 You want to stay on the boat and I'll go and dig? 635 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,359 I don't care. Well, spin me around. 636 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:35,799 Stay in the boat, son. I will, mate. 637 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,519 Bit of colour, mate. Show me. 638 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,399 It's still blue, eh? 639 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:54,239 Just goes to show, mate. Don't throw the towel in, eh? 640 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:57,919 When you go bash, like that and there's colour in there, 641 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,199 the old heart gets hammering a bit, eh? 642 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,399 There's nice rocks here, Jack. That's not bad, eh? Bit of green. 643 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,399 There's little bits of blue and everything in there. 644 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:09,479 Bit of green. Everything like that. 645 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:14,679 I do really want to see my old man go ahead in this game. 646 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,959 That's his dream, doing this stuff and hopefully he doesn't lose out. 647 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,199 I don't think he will. He'll get there. 648 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:23,959 You know, it gives you self-confidence and motivation. 649 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,039 And a bit of pay day, eh? 650 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:30,839 We'd better before this bad boy gets too much water in her. 651 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,239 Those oars are working hard, anyway. Yeah, one is. Mine. 652 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:36,359 Well, I go hard, I can beat you. 653 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:40,119 We're comin in hard. Give it a whirl. 654 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,919 Whatever we get, you can have half. I'm not too worried about that. 655 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,799 I was trying to put a bit of a carrot in front of you. 656 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,399 That's our best bit but it's blue. Not the best colour. 657 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,239 Bit of green in there. 658 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,799 Oh, mate. That's proper colour, ain't it? Sort of like black opal. 659 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:14,519 That's the best stone. 660 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,199 I'm hoping that cuts. 661 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:21,599 Well, I reckon we'll definitely get 500 bucks for that in town. 662 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:23,119 Yeah. 663 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,039 Aaron and Jack have found blue/green boulder opal. 664 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:30,239 It's only small and still in the rough, 665 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:34,999 making its value approximately $500. 666 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,759 At the end of the day, we've got enough to get me back out there. 667 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:41,559 It wasn't a waste of time. It was good. 668 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,319 Thanks for the help, mate. No, that's all right, eh? 669 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:45,799 Thanks for the hand, mate. 670 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:48,679 It's enough to get Aaron's excavator fixed 671 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:50,759 so he can finally drain the pit. 672 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:52,719 In the big picture, in the next few weeks, 673 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:55,159 I'd like to go and put a trench in with the excavator. 674 00:38:55,240 --> 00:38:57,359 That'll stop the water going into the big pit. 675 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:59,959 Bit of luck, it gets a few bucks out in the next few weeks. 676 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:02,039 Just battle on with it. 677 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:11,999 Yeah, there's a whole band right here. 678 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:13,639 In White Cliffs, 679 00:39:13,720 --> 00:39:17,239 The Young Guns are already closing in on their first Opal find. 680 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:19,599 Whoo, look at that seam. 681 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:24,119 Oh. Found some opal. Holy moly. 682 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:26,199 It actually looks like a seam there. 683 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:28,839 Dude! 684 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:30,919 That could keep going back further. 685 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:34,559 Hey, dude. 686 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:38,559 We're doing it. We're doing it. That actually looks like a bed. 687 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:40,919 Look at that. That's the money, right there. 688 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:42,999 It's sparkling, Actually shiny. 689 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,399 That's good quality material. That's a really nice green. 690 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:49,559 Look at that. 691 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:51,399 Look at this little bit right here. 692 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:54,759 That's insane. Still going. 693 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:56,799 Actually reckon that'll be thousands. 694 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:59,159 I reckon we've probably got a few thousand there. 695 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:02,839 We're not going to know until we clean it up cos it is pretty dirty. 696 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:07,639 That's a whole container. 697 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:16,159 "Beyond expectations today. We found some really good opal." 698 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:19,479 The rookies are hoping their hard first day's work 699 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:21,559 will lead to a healthy payday. 700 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:25,479 This is super exciting. Come on. Let's have a look. 701 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:31,839 You reckon there's some? 702 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:33,719 I definitely reckon. Whoa. 703 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:36,519 That's incredible. That's a really nice stone right there. 704 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,039 It's got an electric blue flash all the way through. 705 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:41,239 This is great. Actually got some colour in it. 706 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:43,319 Maybe we can get something for this. 707 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,639 It's time to go see Dad and see what he can do for us. 708 00:40:46,720 --> 00:40:50,439 Oh, yeah. We've done the hard work. Now we just gotta do the selling. 709 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,639 The Young Guns' first find is white opal. 710 00:40:53,720 --> 00:40:55,239 Blue/green in colour. 711 00:40:55,320 --> 00:41:00,039 It's only in the rough and they have just 170 grams. 712 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,599 But they're hoping it could fetch $1,500. 713 00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:08,999 Hello, hello. How's it going? Morning. 714 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:11,159 Got some opal for you. 715 00:41:11,240 --> 00:41:14,959 Jaymin's dad, Graeme, is also White Cliffs' biggest opal dealer. 716 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:17,719 Where's the rest of it? 717 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,679 Come on. By the way that you were talking, 718 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,639 you had a whole bloody lot of it last night. 719 00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,519 This is the stuff we could bear to part with. Oh... 720 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:27,599 Let's have a little look, eh? 721 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:39,159 So how much were you looking for for this parcel? 722 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:46,319 I think the lowest we can take would be $1,200. 723 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:49,599 That's like bottom dollar. 724 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:52,799 The material is actually a little bit weak, 725 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:59,679 so you might have, you know, only around maybe $150 an ounce. 726 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:03,079 You're looking at six ounces in this whole lot. It's a mixed bag. 727 00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:05,559 I don't know where that fits with you guys, 728 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:11,039 but, you know, I mean, that's just having a realistic view of it. 729 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:13,519 All right. Have to step it up for next time. 730 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:16,439 But I want to keep yous guys going. 731 00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:19,999 I've got a few little jobs that need doing around the place and whatnot. 732 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:22,679 So I'll give you 950 and a little bit of labour. 733 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:25,919 Back my way and we'll call it a deal. 734 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:29,719 Yeah. I reckon just take it. It's fair. 735 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,879 Fair enough. And we need it to actually keep going right now. 736 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:37,479 Hard negotiator. Some of the best lessons are learned at home. 737 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:38,559 You know? 738 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:42,199 The buyers that come in here are a lot harder than what I am. 739 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:45,479 Because they will be wanting to get it for nothing. 740 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:49,839 Jeez. And that's just the way in which they they're gonna work. 741 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:52,959 So what I'm giving you here today 742 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:57,559 is really a very soft start in this industry. So um... 743 00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:01,879 Righto. We'll take that deal. We'll take it. 744 00:43:01,960 --> 00:43:03,759 Well done, fellas. 745 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:08,639 Your first opal sale. That's good. Thank you. Keep this going now. 746 00:43:08,720 --> 00:43:11,719 It'll keep us going. We'll bring some better stuff back, I think. 747 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:17,719 There we go. Our first...our first cheque, boys. 748 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:19,799 There you go. 749 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:21,439 To opal mining and finding opals. 750 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:23,519 To finding the opal. To millions. 751 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,119 There we are. 752 00:43:27,720 --> 00:43:29,719 subtitles by Deluxe 752 00:43:30,305 --> 00:44:30,598 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm