"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #3.6

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,679 . 2 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:04,759 On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,159 You're not gonna fit. 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:09,879 The Bushmen are pushing man and machine... 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:10,959 It's stuck. 6 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:12,799 ..down a 15m mine shaft. 7 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:14,959 I can seriously hurt someone. 8 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,239 Hold it. Ah! 9 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,079 New partners, the Boulder Boys... 10 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,239 Colour! 11 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,039 ..strike rich opal. 12 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,599 I got it in here, there. Ooh, look at that. 13 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:28,239 And the Young Guns... 14 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:29,839 That's not -ing cool. 15 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:30,919 ..bust up. 16 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,399 I'm shattered right now. 17 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:33,879 And finally hit pay dirt. 18 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,439 Ah! Oh. 19 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:44,074 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,319 Now, the only thing is don't tip the over. 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,519 Keep her on all four wheels and we'll be all right, OK. 22 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,039 Cos if it tips over, it's your fault. 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,279 Don't fall off cos I'll -ing run over you. 24 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,159 I know you will. You won't even stop. Nope. 25 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,239 Won't even slow down. That's right. 26 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,119 Bushmen Rod Manning and Les Walsh have abandoned 27 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,879 their Hell's Corner mine, 28 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:21,999 after 12 months of finding 29 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:23,799 barely any opal. 30 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,199 I've had enough of it. 31 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,599 There's gotta be better somewhere else. 32 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,239 Because we haven't found much for so long, 33 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:33,159 we just wanna see some colour, get a few dollars. 34 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,119 Like Les said, he needs to buy a car, I wanna go and see 35 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,319 the grandkids, and we both need to keep opal mining, too. 36 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,199 They're moving their entire mining operation 37 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,799 400m to a new claim. 38 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,679 An underground mine they've nicknamed Bondi. 39 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,079 See, that's why we call it Bondi. Look at that. 40 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,159 Just like beach sand. 41 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,359 A recent test dig here turned up promising opal trace. 42 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,559 Oh. Ho-ho-ho! 43 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,079 Oh, Les, look at that. Yeah. 44 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:10,239 Tantalising signs of the rarest and most expensive opal in the world, 45 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,719 the elusive black opal, 46 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,039 worth over 500 times more than gold. 47 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,759 You don't do that very often, where you dig into the wall 48 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,919 and hit a nice little pocket like that. 49 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,079 You know, we're sort of thinking that might the change of our luck. 50 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,959 Of the two claims each they're permitted to own, 51 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,159 Bondi is the only mine they haven't exhausted, 52 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,599 and the only chance they have left of making money. 53 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,999 Right, Les, let's pull our finger out. 54 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,959 The first and most dangerous job 55 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,279 is to get their 3m long, two-tonne digger 56 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,159 down the narrow 15m-deep shaft. 57 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,399 There's gonna be a lot of trouble in dropping the digger down at Bondi 58 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,039 because we're not sure whether it'll fit. 59 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,039 Ooh. 60 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,279 Rod's called in help from neighbouring opal miner 61 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,359 Nick Casement. 62 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,519 We help each other when we can. 63 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,319 If we got favours, pulling ladders or putting pipes down, 64 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,599 or moving machinery, whatever, 65 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,679 we try to help each other. 66 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,759 Young Nick is going above and beyond with this one 67 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,639 because it is a dangerous thing that I've asked him to do. 68 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,199 He didn't really hesitate. He jumped straight in and said, 69 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,199 "Yeah, mate, I'll give you a hand." 70 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,919 What are we gonna do? Get the crane in position? We wanna do that, yes. 71 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,919 The Bushmen's 60-year-old homemade crane, Arnold, 72 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,479 will winch the heavy digger down the shaft. 73 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,319 She's made up out of bits and pieces. 74 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,959 Half of it's a truck, the other half's a crane. 75 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,999 We call it Arnold cos she'll lift anything, like Arnold Schwarzenegger. 76 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,079 Bit more. That'll do you. 77 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,239 We just got the crane into position. 78 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,039 So we'll fire her up, hook the digger on, 79 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:04,999 just to make sure she is gonna fit. 80 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,079 Watch out! 81 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,079 We have put it down a hole once before, 82 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,839 but it was a bigger hole, it was a 46 inch hole. 83 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,039 The hole we're putting it down now is only a small hole, 84 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:20,759 it's only a three footer. 85 00:04:20,840 --> 00:04:24,919 The digger is critical to finding opal. If they can't get it down 86 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,039 the hole, their hopes for the season will be dashed. 87 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,119 Hold up! 88 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,599 It didn't fit. 89 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,999 It's a little bit of a worry at the moment. 90 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,159 If he knocks the collar out a little bit, 91 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,439 and takes the legs off... 92 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,879 and say a quick prayer to the opal gods... 93 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,919 ..we might get her down there. 94 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,999 Righto, go down a bit. 95 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,799 You only need one little failure and it's a catastrophe. 96 00:04:57,280 --> 00:04:59,279 Careful. 97 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,519 Another day at the office. 98 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,759 At Aaron Grotjahn's legendary Dragonfly Claim, 99 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:18,839 all work has ground to a halt. 100 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,359 Come here, Ned. 101 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,039 Oh, well. 102 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,999 After his most successful season ever... 103 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,159 Oh! Whoa! Look at that. 104 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,079 ..everything he earnt is now gone. 105 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,279 You don't have much, do you? 106 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,879 His long-time mining partner, Greg Geran has quit. 107 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,799 And his machinery is in desperate need of expensive repairs. 108 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,879 Yeah, we're a bit snookered from machinery. 109 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,239 The Kato ain't going, excavator goes on one track. 110 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,079 The goal this year is just to... 111 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:55,439 try and find some opal, 112 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,959 try and get some money together and keep going. 113 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:01,959 The big pit's full of water. 114 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,639 Last season, Aaron's best mining pit contained over 115 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,239 $100,000 in opal. 116 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,399 Now, it's flooded, and inaccessible. 117 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,719 Down to his last drum of diesel, 118 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,879 Aaron's been forced to work alone, 119 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,039 digging in shallow ground where the opal is thin 120 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,119 and hard to find. 121 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,479 I've been facing here for three weeks on and off by myself. 122 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,679 It's a very slow process, doing this by yourself, 123 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,879 cos there's that many rocks you gotta check and... 124 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,959 you're in and out of the machine, it's handy to have someone 125 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,039 to give you a hand. 126 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,159 There were a few times I was nearly gonna walk away, 127 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,239 but something might turn up. 128 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,439 Without a partner, Aaron stands no chance 129 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,599 of hitting his season target. 130 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,479 It is hard by yourself, hey. Everything's easier with two people. 131 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,119 But there's not many partners around. 132 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,319 You here, mate? Oi! 133 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,319 Oh, you are here. I know that voice from anywhere. 134 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:05,919 How are you? How you going? 135 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,959 You might need a bit of hand. 136 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,839 Last season, Ron Selig worked part time with Aaron 137 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,999 on the Dragonfly Claim. 138 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,079 Me and Aaron get on good. 139 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,199 Most of the times. 140 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,359 I heard that he is by himself. 141 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,559 I thought, "Well, , he's so desperate, 142 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,279 and I can't stand him crying." 143 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,479 Hey, mate, you want a job? Yeah. 144 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,719 Bloody oath. No worries. Job here all the time, mate. 145 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,279 That's all right, that's good. I'll pay you, mate, 20%, 146 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,599 whatever. All right. We'll work that out when we find some opal. 147 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,079 We only have to find a couple of good rocks. 148 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,679 With a new-look Boulder Boys... 149 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,959 Just got onto a bit of trace, then. 150 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,039 ..all they need now is to find opal. 151 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,479 Whoa, that's all right. That's very promising. 152 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:05,959 Where's my steak gone? Who had that? 153 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,479 In White Cliffs, New South Wales, 154 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,039 rookie miners, the Young Guns, led by Jaymin Sullivan, 155 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,479 are living with his dad, opal miner Graham. 156 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,359 You come in and drink all my beer as well, so... 157 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,759 But they've overstayed their welcome. 158 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,079 To be like a proper miner we definitely need to 159 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,239 have our own place. We can't just stay at my parents'. 160 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,199 It was only supposed to be a month at most and we've kind of 161 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,799 overstayed it now and... Yeah, it's definitely time 162 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,879 to look for a camp. 163 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,159 Oh, my God, it's like a full mine. 164 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,039 The Young Guns' mining season has shown some promise. 165 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:49,559 You've got at least two grand. Oh! Whoo! 166 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,039 But nothing close to the fortune 167 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:53,959 team leader Jaymin promised 168 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,559 his friends two months earlier... 169 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,799 That's some of the opal there. Is this the stuff you found? Yeah. 170 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,519 ..when they left their jobs on the coast 1,000km away, 171 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,599 to join him opal hunting. 172 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:07,519 We've had a fair few hiccups along the way and all that, 173 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,319 that have kind of teetered on whether or not 174 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,199 this was the right decision. 175 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,319 Everything's very hard, and we're struggling for food. 176 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,959 The prospect of finding hundreds of thousands of dollars 177 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,239 and even millions of dollars, that would change our lives completely. 178 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,959 Jaymin is a third generation miner, 179 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,639 but best friends Noah and JC 180 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,639 have never mined before. 181 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,759 I'm definitely gonna have to watch out for them 182 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,919 and things can be dangerous, so their lives are definitely in my hands. 183 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,079 The Young Guns are now on the hunt for a new home. 184 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,039 So what are we gonna see, James? What's going on? 185 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,039 Let's go around the field and have a look, 186 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,839 and see if we can't find some other accommodations. 187 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,559 We'll have a look at some of the camps and see what's out there. 188 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,839 We don't have much money so...I guess not to expect anything 189 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,639 too big, right? I wouldn't expect running water. 190 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,799 Maybe not that rough. 191 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,639 Scattered across White Cliffs are deserted mining camps, 192 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,079 abandoned by previous opal hunters 193 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,959 who've gone broke chasing the opal dream. 194 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,639 Let's have a look. Chicken wire. 195 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:18,039 The leases and everything on them can be transferred to new owners, 196 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,319 for the right price. 197 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,279 Is that a shower? 198 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,839 Um...looks like it might've been at some point, but it's disgusting. 199 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,439 It looks like someone has just kinda left, 200 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,999 he's had enough and packed up. 201 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,679 With its own claim and mine attached, 202 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,959 this camp could provide everything the Young Guns need 203 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,519 to finally be their own bosses. 204 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,279 But with just $2,000 between them, 205 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,759 they need to drive a hard bargain with the leaseholder. 206 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,319 What was your asking price on it? 207 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,959 Look, mate, I'm looking to get 4,000 for it. 208 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,039 Around that. 209 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,119 Um... 210 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,319 no, we're definitely very interested 211 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,559 but I think the best price that we can manage is two grand 212 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,279 and that's our absolute max. 213 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,879 Um... Honestly, mate, 2,000 is like the best we can do 214 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,399 at this stage. I know it's been out here for a while... 215 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,239 Yeah, well, I've held onto it for a while 216 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,799 and, yeah, I'm looking to get rid of it, so, I mean, yeah, 217 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,039 if it's two grand, if that's what you're offering 218 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,999 I'll take that. Yeah, yeah, that's awesome, man. 219 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,039 We're 100% in. Thank you so much. 220 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,879 I can't even believe it right now. This is crazy. 221 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,679 This is so good for us, man. 222 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,639 Yes, we got it! 223 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,519 Got a camp. Dude, how was that? I can't believe he took two! 224 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,639 I know. He just went for it. That's awesome. 225 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,239 I feel like...shaky right now. 226 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,319 That's incredible. 227 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:46,799 We got it. 228 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,919 We're much more independent now. We're not underneath Graham's roof. 229 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,639 He helped us out a lot but now we're breaking away from that 230 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,959 and we're really gonna become independent ourselves. 231 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,359 Now it's just the workload, the responsibility, 232 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,639 it all just shoots up. 233 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,239 We've really just taken on a huge gamble here. 234 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,199 At their Bondi mine, the Bushmen 235 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,759 are attempting to lower a two-tonne digger 236 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,599 down a narrow 15m mine shaft. 237 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,159 We're all gonna be switched on, we're all gonna be communicating, 238 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:27,999 everybody's gotta know their roles 239 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,239 and everything has to go right. 240 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,839 We've got the dangers of it getting jammed, 241 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,039 the crane breaking down, so everything from here on in 242 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:37,519 is a worry. 243 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,599 Les and fellow miner Nick 244 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:41,879 will be stationed at the bottom of the mine shaft, 245 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,199 to guide the heavy digger from below. 246 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,519 If the digger gets caught on that second ring 247 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,799 and pops it, all that dirt's gonna cave in on the boys down there. 248 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,759 It'll choke them down there, so we gotta be very careful 249 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,119 that doesn't happen, all right? Yeah, no worries. 250 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,519 With lives at risk, they've drafted in last-minute help 251 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,439 from Rod's opal miner cousin Mick. 252 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,799 So stand on the top of the hole and relay messages 253 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,639 from underground, to me on the crane. 254 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,319 There's a million things that could go wrong, but you just gotta hope 255 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,199 for the best and I'm standing well back. 256 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,879 As soon as you get to the bottom I'll pull the ladders... Yeah. 257 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,599 ..and if something does happen, don't worry, 258 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:27,159 I'll get youse out, all right? I'll get youse out eventually. 259 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,399 We're all a bit nervous and a bit worried about 260 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,479 what's gonna happen from here on in. 261 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:34,479 OK, well, anyway, forwards, lads. 262 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:37,159 Their only other workable mine, Hell's Corner, 263 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,959 has run dry of opal, leaving Bondi 264 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,439 as their last-chance mine for the season. 265 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,039 Now, Les, don't lean back, will you? 266 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,239 The shaft is the only way in or out of the mine. 267 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:55,359 If the digger gets stuck, Les and Nick will be stranded. 268 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,439 Righto. 269 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,839 Boys are underground on their own. They can't get out, you know. 270 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:07,919 We're in the middle of nowhere. 271 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,039 Right, this is the hairiest bit, Mick. 272 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,719 You fellas all right down there? Yeah. 273 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,119 Me and Mick are going to the pub for lunch. 274 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,799 We'll see you when we get back. Righto, get us a couple of beers 275 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,639 while you're there. I'm gonna start her now, all right? 276 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,599 Get back from the hole a bit. Here she comes. 277 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,559 If the digger gets stuck halfway down the shaft 278 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,639 Les is gonna get stuck under there and that's a huge problem, 279 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,719 because there's gonna be bite from that. 280 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,239 Push it over with the bottom of your foot. 281 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,399 Now you'll have to pull it towards me, Mick. 282 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,039 It's jammed now. 283 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,279 It's not gonna fit. 284 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,719 Mick. What? You gotta rotate it 180 degrees. 285 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,359 Gonna have to spin it, try it another way. It won't go down. 286 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:28,959 That's it. 287 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,399 Stop. Stop. 288 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,399 Just twist it on an angle and jam it up against the tunnel. 289 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,839 It's jammed? What the is going on up there, Mick? 290 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,799 Just stay out of the way, you blokes. 291 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:52,959 Yeah, what's going on? The drum's slipping, Mick, you got it? 292 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,559 Just keep taking some weight. I can't. 293 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:57,959 It's stuck. 294 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,919 The drum's slipping. 295 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,399 With the brake slipping on the crane, 296 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,999 the only thing stopping the digger from dropping now 297 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,599 are the walls of the shaft. 298 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,959 Be careful. If you let go it's gonna go quick. 299 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,119 Watch out there cos I got no control much over it. 300 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,039 There's no -ing weight on my rope. 301 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,319 Just stay out of the way, you blokes. 302 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,399 The brake's stopped. 303 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,879 Yeah, I got three blokes' lives in my hands, 304 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,239 you know. Like, if I stuff this up 305 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,319 I can seriously hurt someone. 306 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,039 Tell them fellas to get back from the hole, for Christ sake. 307 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,039 After buying the camp and spending nearly all of our money, 308 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,839 we're really gonna need to find opal to keep us out here, keep us going. 309 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,279 In White Cliffs, having spent their last $2,000 310 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,799 on a shack to call home, Jaymin, JC and Noah 311 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,879 are out of cash. 312 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,439 You know, put in some long hours today. I think we'll have to. 313 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,279 A couple more days and we'll run out of food and fuel. 314 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:10,479 We've gotta find opal today. 315 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,279 Otherwise we're in a really, really tight spot. 316 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:17,519 The Young Guns are pinning their hopes on working a mine 317 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,839 they've leased from Jaymin's dad. 318 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,919 In the past, the claim has produced good opal, 319 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,839 and they're banking on it still holding riches. 320 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,879 White opal, worth up to $7,500 a gram. 321 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,799 This opal formed millions of years ago, 322 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,119 when water deposited silica in fault lines, 323 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,199 up to 20m below ground. 324 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,519 But finding an opal-bearing fault is purely random. 325 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,479 The only way is to just keep digging. 326 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,879 So right now I'm going left up this way. 327 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,959 Noah's back straight down that way. 328 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,199 He's trying to take out a whole another floor level, 329 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,159 see if we've missed anything down there. 330 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,159 And then Jaymin's way over the other side of the mine. 331 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,399 You really can't stop. There's no other option 332 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,599 than to keep going and find this opal. 333 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,919 So right now it's dig or be done. 334 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,759 On the surface, the key to the dig 335 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,919 is their diesel generator, powering the lights 336 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,999 jackhammers and tipper. 337 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,079 We're pretty much like right up against the wall right now. 338 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,759 We've got a little bit of money left to pay for a bit more fuel, 339 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,519 but after that we're pretty much totally empty. 340 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,239 Whoa. 341 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,119 What's happened? Fuel's out. 342 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,359 We're out? Yep. 343 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,839 Hey, boys. Yeah? Yeah, I don't know what's going on up here 344 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,399 but you're gonna wanna come up. 345 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,559 What? That don't look good. Jerry can's busted. 346 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,839 There's fuel everywhere. 347 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,879 There's a hole... I found it right here. 348 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,199 And it was just...I dunno, the exhaust's kind of in line 349 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,239 with... Is this all the petrol here? This is all the petrol. 350 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,399 Yeah, . Hole melted in the side of it. Yeah. 351 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,959 Who put it there? It was me. 352 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,519 I... 353 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,799 I'll start digging, hey? All right. 354 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,319 Let me just go through here a little bit, all right? 355 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,519 Yep. Before you go digging too much. 356 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,599 For Boulder Boy Aaron, it's been a disastrous start to the season, 357 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,959 working his 270,000 square metre claim solo. 358 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,119 But his fortunes have just changed, 359 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,279 with the arrival of old mate Ron. 360 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:52,919 You know what it's like, we can miss it just like that. 361 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:54,999 Yeah, I know, I've been into it, too. 362 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,079 We've gotta check all these rocks here. 363 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,119 Ron's turned up so it's good, I can get through the ground a bit quicker 364 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,639 and you got more eyes on the job. He's a good checker. 365 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,719 Couldn't come at a better time. 366 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,279 Aaron's most productive pit is flooded. 367 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:12,999 He and Ron are forced to excavate an area where the opal level 368 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:17,159 is close to the surface, but it's thin and hard to find. 369 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,719 So what we're doing now is just go over it to make sure 370 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:23,919 we don't have anything. I've already cracked one 371 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,239 and it colour in it. So it's easy to do, to miss. 372 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,039 Hey, Ron, have a look at that. Oh, yeah. 373 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:36,879 Hey, that's nice colour. Oh, yeah, that could make into really good- 374 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,039 Look at the skin, hey? Gold. 375 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:41,839 Yeah, really, take your time here, mate. 376 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,439 There's no rush when you got colour. 377 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,759 Ron's brought some luck. 378 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,839 And that's what you need in this game. 379 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,519 With good signs of opal, 380 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,199 Aaron and Ron want to dig the face of the pit 381 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,279 with an excavator. 382 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:58,359 But there's a problem. 383 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:01,279 So what's wrong with the machine? 384 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:03,839 That left-hand drive's got a strip cog- 385 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,399 That was last year, though. It's still the same, yeah. Same? 386 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,559 With only one track working, 387 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,199 the machine is stuck in one position, 388 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,599 and can only reach as far as the digging arm can extend. 389 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,599 Two grand or something for the part. 390 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,519 This week it'd be nice if I could find enough money 391 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,159 to do some maintenance on the Kato excavator. 392 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,279 I'd need a few thousand dollars to do that 393 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:29,199 and if we find some opal we can just bite the bullet and fix it. 394 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,679 They need to find $5,000 of opal with the crippled excavator 395 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,559 to make the repairs and get their Dragonfly Claim 396 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:39,639 fully operational. 397 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,159 Colour in the skin. Here, have a look. 398 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,239 There's even a green line. 399 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:50,959 Ooh. Hey? 400 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,039 Hey, nice colour, Ron. Yeah. 401 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:55,679 They're getting greasier too, the rocks. 402 00:21:55,760 --> 00:22:00,679 The opal-bearing level is visible as a dark orange strip of sandstone. 403 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:04,919 With a high moisture content, the rocks can feel greasy to touch. 404 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,039 I think it's actually levelling out. 405 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:10,959 That's actually a good sign. That's what you want 406 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,039 to catch the silica. 407 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:17,399 Opal is formed when silica-rich water is trapped below ground. 408 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:23,439 Boulder opal forms in cavities in the hard iron stone rocks themselves. 409 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,639 Finding it means cracking open thousands of rocks by hand. 410 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,439 Oh. 411 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,399 Oi. Want me to bring the bucket down, Ron? 412 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,959 You're gonna have to. It's a nicer piece here. 413 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:46,439 Yeah. Hey, we might be on to it. 414 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:51,759 He might be king stone. 415 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,679 Whoa! Colour! 416 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,279 Colour! That's a nice colour. 417 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,799 Look, that's electrics. Hey, it's in the bottom, too. 418 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,599 It might be running right through the rock. 419 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,479 In White Cliffs... 420 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:15,959 hole melted in the side of it. Yeah. 421 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,359 It must've been like the exhaust. Yeah. Yeah. 422 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,679 I don't know how much that's just put us back. 423 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,479 We've lost like a whole jerry can and the fuel. 424 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,239 Hot exhaust gases have burnt a hole 425 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,039 in the Young Guns' only large jerry can, 426 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:31,639 draining all the fuel for the generator, 427 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,319 losing power to the lights and jackhammers 428 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,759 vital to their mining operation. 429 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,079 And youngest member Noah is to blame. 430 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,639 Dude, that's not cool. 431 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,239 Like... I wasn't thinking, if you put it like right here 432 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:46,999 it was gonna burn through. Like, geez. 433 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:48,999 Could've caught on fire, but... 434 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,639 I'm shattered right now. I feel really bad. 435 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,839 Just stupid mistake. Look, I honestly didn't think it was gonna... 436 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,679 Like, that is a fair distance. 437 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,239 Yeah, you've just gotta keep your heads on and think about 438 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,559 what you're doing, otherwise silly mistakes like this can happen. 439 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,079 This is our big week and he's gone and made this mistake, 440 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,159 which is costing us a fair bit. 441 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,119 Nothing comes cheap out here either. The petrol is... 442 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,879 almost $2 a litre, so you're looking at, like $40-50 a jerry can, 443 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,919 and then add that on with actually getting a new jerry can, 444 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,519 and that's setting us back almost $100. 445 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,679 Now we can't run the generator as long because we're using 446 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,439 the smaller fuel can. 447 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,159 This is what we gotta do. 448 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,439 We're so stretched thin as it is, 449 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,079 financially, that we're really in trouble. 450 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,159 We need to find opal today. 451 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,239 Yeah, that's good. 452 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,599 It's really all just about saving money right now 453 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,079 and saving costs. The only way to make money out here 454 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,719 is to find opal, so it really is make it or break it. 455 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,159 If we don't find opal, I don't know 456 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,239 if we can even afford to stay out here. 457 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:06,759 Generator's out again. 458 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,159 I'm having trouble holding it. The brake's -ing slipping. 459 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,719 At their Bondi claim, the Bushmen are struggling. 460 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,279 Mick, it's not going. The brake's stopped. 461 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,119 Their two-tonne digger is dangling 462 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:25,999 down a 15m mine shaft, 463 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,079 with the crane's brakes slipping. 464 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,079 Is it still stuck or is it coming down, mate? 465 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,639 Just take some weight. 466 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,039 Try bringing it up a little bit and dropping it. 467 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:37,359 Be careful there. 468 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,479 The digger is jammed in the 90cm wide shaft, 469 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,239 trapping Les and Nick with no way out. 470 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:48,079 It's not moving. I got no control. It's free, it's off. 471 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,359 Wriggle that cable for us, Mick, just to try and free it. 472 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,439 It's going, it's going. 473 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:59,119 Righto, it's going. It's moving again. 474 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,199 It moved? Yeah. 475 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,279 Go down another five feet. That's the top of the roof. 476 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,839 Five foot to go, you're at the top of the roof. 477 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:12,159 That'll do, that'll do. Hold it, hold it. 478 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,159 About there. 479 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,639 We're gonna connect the feet. Can you keep the pressure on it. 480 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:20,999 It's some pretty scary down there. 481 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,159 I mean, I'm nervous sitting up here. 482 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,519 You know, I can imagine what they feel like down there. 483 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:33,039 Les and Nick must now reassemble the digger's feet from underneath. 484 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:35,119 And... 485 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:39,039 If the cable holding it slips, they could both be crushed. 486 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,519 Which way? Er... 487 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,319 Ah! What you doing, lad? 488 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,679 Right, put it in. Sorry. 489 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,599 Oh. Nearly took my fingers off. 490 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,399 They're putting the last wheel on now. 491 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,479 It's going A-OK. 492 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,679 Righto, down you come. 493 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,959 The next task is to guide the digger away from the mine shaft wall. 494 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:09,079 Hold him there. 495 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,639 To do this, Les must get between the digger and the wall itself. 496 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,159 Slow right. Slow right. 497 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,839 Slow to your right. Slow to my right? 498 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,039 If Rod turns the crane the wrong way, 499 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,319 he could crush his friend against the rock wall. 500 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,119 Hold it. Hold it! I said slow right. 501 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,519 Right. Sorry. 502 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:35,599 I'm standing in different to youse. 503 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,599 Doesn't matter, all you have to do is what we tell you. 504 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:43,239 Slow right. Yeah, but where I'm standing I am right. 505 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:54,039 Whoa! Colour! 506 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:56,159 We got it in here, there. 507 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,759 Here. Yeah, that's proper colour, Ron. 508 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:02,159 Here. Ooh, look at that. 509 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,239 At the Dragonfly Claim, Aaron and new partner Ron 510 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,639 have struck up lucky in the shallow squibby level. 511 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,519 There's good colour. That's proper colour. 512 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,399 You don't get any better, I don't reckon. 513 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,079 That there's a thousand bucks a carat. 514 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,519 They need $5,000 for machine repairs, 515 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,759 and to drain their most productive pit. 516 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,359 This may just be the answer to their prayers. 517 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,079 Them lines, if they carry through, we've got a few grand there. 518 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,199 I know. I'll put it in the , hey? yes, you will. 519 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,759 There might be more in the layers. 520 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:36,839 We'll see how we go. 521 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,359 Unlike other gems, opal has a high moisture content, 522 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,639 making it fragile. 523 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,439 Nearly blinded me then. Oh. 524 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,719 To avoid damaging their find with picks, 525 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,199 the Boulder Boys take it back to camp. 526 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,519 That's beautiful colour, mate. Yep. 527 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,119 It was a good day today. We got some rocks we gotta saw up 528 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,199 and we might even get some surprises. 529 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,599 Get all our gear fixed up, and we got money for diesel. 530 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,239 You only need the one rock. Don't need a lot. 531 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,799 Cutting the rocks open with a diamond tip saw 532 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:16,839 will reveal just how much opal each one really contains. 533 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,439 Water helps cool the rocks and keep them from cracking, 534 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,999 but sawing them open is a risky process 535 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,039 that could shatter any open inside. 536 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,359 It's a bit like an addiction, you could call it. 537 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,679 You do it for that possibility of a chance 538 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:38,799 of that one rock that's worth 400,000, 300,000, whatever. 539 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:47,319 In White Cliffs... 540 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,679 Who knows what could've already come out of the ground that we might've missed. 541 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:53,079 ..after a costly error with their fuel can, 542 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:55,599 Young Guns team leader Jaymin has discovered 543 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,719 that his crew have made yet another rookie mistake. 544 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,439 I've just come in to have a look to see what the ground looks like 545 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,119 and I've actually seen a bit of opal in the wall. 546 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:08,159 Seriously? That looks like you've kinda just passed it. 547 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,639 This is why you gotta obviously keep your eyes open 548 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,679 and pay attention to what we're doing. We really need to find 549 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,039 anything that can lead us to some sellable material. 550 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,399 The pressure's on for everyone right now. We're trying to find opal. 551 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,159 That's what we're down here for, and he's just gone and missed it, 552 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,719 he's dug straight through it. Hopefully it was just the very tip 553 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:28,999 of it and it's still continuing on through the wall, 554 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:31,839 but if you send it up the tipper and it's gone into the pile upstairs 555 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,719 we're gonna have pretty much no luck finding that. 556 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,719 I made a big old mistake here. Completely missed a bit of sand. 557 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,279 At least Jaymin came through at the right time, 558 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,559 so hopefully we can turn this into something good 559 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,599 and there is a bit of opal there. 560 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:49,679 Have a look next time. 561 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,519 Yeah, my heart's beating pretty hard right now. 562 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,999 Like, I'm just really wanting it to thicken up. 563 00:30:57,080 --> 00:31:00,759 I'm just... You know, it's like it's here, it's colour, but... 564 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,319 Come on, just thicken up. 565 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,399 Thicken up, little opal. 566 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:10,839 Ooh. 567 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,399 Holy . 568 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,959 Hey, boys! 569 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:20,919 Look at this. Look at that. 570 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,799 Have a look at that. Dude. Look at that colour there. 571 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,279 That is... This is what we're after. 572 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,439 Look at that green flash. I've got it. 573 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:30,839 I can see a little bit more in there. Yeah. 574 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,759 Very nice, bro. Very nice. Look at this bit. Look at that. 575 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,839 Can you pull it out? Yep. 576 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,399 Give us a look at that. Look at that bit. 577 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,439 Dude, that's what we're looking for. Look at it in the light. 578 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,959 Holy . That is some brilliant green. 579 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:49,879 Cos there's green and blues. I think I've even seen a few sparkles 580 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,639 of red in there. This couldn't have come at a better time. 581 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,039 Your hands look like they're shaking a bit. I am. 582 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,119 I'm full shaking. 583 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,599 Noah. Noah, get in here, dude. Have a look. Quick. 584 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,879 Look at what's in the bucket. Look at this. 585 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,839 Have a look at that. That's nice. 586 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,999 Look at that bit there. Yeah, wow. It's got some red in it. 587 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,919 Yeah, look at that one. Look at that. Look at that. 588 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,399 Oh, that one's big. That one's actually thick. 589 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,399 Far out, man. This is a fairly decent-sized stone as well. 590 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,559 Thank God for this. That's crazy. 591 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,279 That is dollar signs right there. Oh, thank God. 592 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,719 Slow to the right. 593 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,759 At the Bushmen's Bondi mine... 594 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,159 Slow to the right. 595 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,599 That way? That's what they said, to the right. 596 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:48,519 I don't know. Rod's right. 597 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,199 Yeah, that's all right for you blokes. Which way's right up here? 598 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:56,559 Well, look, you could be standing south 599 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,319 and I could be -ing north. 600 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:00,639 The two-tonne digger is hanging by a cable 601 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:03,199 at the bottom of a 15m mine shaft, 602 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:05,559 trapping Les against the shaft wall. 603 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:08,079 But communication between the team underground 604 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,839 and the team on the surface is breaking down. 605 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,839 Just tell rod to swing it right. His right. 606 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:18,359 Rod's right. We've already taken that into perspective, mate. 607 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,279 It went to my right and you took that into consideration. 608 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,559 You wanna get buried down there? 609 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:28,919 That's my right. Rod's right, mate. 610 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,439 Rod's right. Yeah. That's it. 611 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,199 That's it. 612 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,559 How long did it take to get through to you? 613 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,639 Hold it. Hold it. 614 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:46,759 That pisses me off. I get really cranky real quick 615 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,999 when someone don't... Simple instructions. 616 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:51,839 It's simple instructions. 617 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,359 You got a bloke on the crane there, you do as you're told. 618 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,319 You don't do what you can't see and think. No. 619 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,719 You don't do it unless you're told. 620 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:03,559 OK, up you go. Righto, mate. 621 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,279 What are you fellas doing upsetting my dogman? 622 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:12,519 LES: I'll upset him when I get up there. 623 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,479 Right means right. How the do we know 624 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:17,759 what right and left is up here? 625 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:22,519 We've got it down there, and I can get the boys out now, so... 626 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,799 Mick reckons youse can get stuffed and stay down there 627 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,159 after getting cranky with him. I couldn't get up the ladder 628 00:34:29,240 --> 00:34:31,599 to get to him. 629 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,999 Come on. Can you push the ladder down the hole? 630 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:40,679 Which way? Right or left? 631 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,519 Your right, my left. 632 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:46,599 Good work, Nick. Well done, mate. 633 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,159 That's easy. Well done, mate. 634 00:34:51,240 --> 00:34:53,239 Thank you. 635 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:01,159 Where's that -ing dogman? 636 00:35:01,240 --> 00:35:04,639 He didn't know right from wrong or right from left. 637 00:35:04,720 --> 00:35:07,599 He almost got squashed because you went the wrong way. 638 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,599 No, that's... Well, he's sitting over there, 639 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,279 he slewed around here. Where's his right? Over there, 640 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:16,279 where I slewed him. That's right. 641 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:19,439 So you were standing in the wrong spot, you old . 642 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:23,039 You know what I reckon, I reckon the best thing to do 643 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:26,159 is you two old geriatrics get over the paddock and punch it out. 644 00:35:26,240 --> 00:35:29,599 Whoever comes back was right. 645 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:37,599 We had a few hairy moments. She did get stuck once, 646 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:39,679 but we managed to free it. 647 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,079 Yeah, it only just fit. There was nothing in it. 648 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:48,119 We can start mining now, Les, and just through that wall 649 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,239 is a million dollars waiting for us, mate. I hope you're right. 650 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:54,239 I tried to tell you that a while back, but... 651 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,439 All right, boys, that was a bad job well done. 652 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,079 Let's get out of here. I suppose you fellas will want a beer. 653 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:02,199 Yeah, we're going home to have one. MICK: I'm not sitting next to Les. 654 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:05,559 Why not? You're a cranky old . 655 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,239 You wanna give proper directions next time, Les. 656 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,799 You wouldn't know your left and your right. 657 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:26,079 On Dragonfly Claim... 658 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:30,039 Whoa! Hey! 659 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:33,119 That's all right. Where's he running from, Ron? 660 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,399 From there. Look, it's that one there. 661 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:37,599 It's that one. He's running all the way. 662 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:40,719 ..Aaron and Ron have cut open their rocks to discover 663 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,399 they are full of opal, potentially tripling their value. 664 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,719 We need about five or six grand minimum to fix our gear up 665 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,799 and get back to work. 666 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,999 Yep, he runs through. Look. All right? 667 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:57,079 Yeah, it's not a bad stone either. 668 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:00,519 We wanna leave it up to Cole. I think so. 669 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,319 He's got a better, more of an idea than us. Of course he has. 670 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,279 Let's go and see Uncle Colin. All right. 671 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:08,639 To get a more accurate valuation, 672 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:12,159 they want former mining partner and veteran opal valuer 673 00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:14,039 Cole Duff to take a look. 674 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,759 Hey, Aaron, how are you? 675 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,279 I always want a second opinion on this stuff, mate, hey. 676 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,479 Bring it around the back, we'll have a look, hey. 677 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,439 That's the best of it, Cole, what you got in front of you. 678 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:28,519 Mm, beautiful colour there. 679 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:30,599 Cole's happy to give us a hand. 680 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:34,959 Yeah, no, there's some nice big pieces in there, 681 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:38,039 and they got potential. Yep. You can see that line comes out. 682 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,679 I can see some big chunky bits in here that, you know, 683 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:44,079 with a bit of work you can get some nice bigger stones. Yep. 684 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,159 Aaron and Ron's boulder opal is rough cut, 685 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:50,319 with high quality blue greens. 686 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:54,719 There's 2kg, with an estimated 2g of opal inside. 687 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,599 Yeah, look, I think that's a beautiful blue green. 688 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:00,239 You know, there's more of it in there, so... 689 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:04,879 That's gotta be five grand worth of rough. 690 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:07,919 All right, that's good. Very happy with that. 691 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:11,479 That'll give you a bit of fuel money and get a few things fixed. 692 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:14,119 We wanna get everything fixed up, Cole. Should be right, hey? 693 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,599 Thanks for that again, Cole. Good on you. 694 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:21,559 Very happy with that. Yeah, probably 5,000 to fix the gear, 695 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:26,559 bit of diesel. And I got a few buyers that want an opal. 696 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:29,559 In that rough that they're gonna get some good surprises. 697 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:31,679 It's good maybe to sell the parts like that. 698 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,839 We were hoping that we gems, we've got gems, 699 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:37,799 so, no, it turned out really good. Really good. 700 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:39,879 I'm really pleased with it. 701 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,439 This $5,000 haul 702 00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:45,679 pushes the Boulder Boys' total to $7,000 703 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:48,679 of their $100,000 season target. 704 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,559 Aaron can now repair his equipment, 705 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:56,359 drain his best opal pit, and finally expand his Dragonfly Claim. 706 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:00,239 My main goal at opal mining is having one or maybe even three patches 707 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,639 always producing. You won't go broke. 708 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:05,039 If you got a little bit making there and there 709 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:07,559 it all adds up. 710 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:10,399 This year we're off to a good start. 711 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:23,879 We'll clean up some of these rougher stones, grind off all the dirt 712 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:27,519 and see what we've got underneath. We've got some really nice colour in some of these. 713 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:29,759 With fuel tanks and bank accounts empty, 714 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:33,359 the Young Guns need a good opal payday from the handful of stones 715 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:35,199 they have found. 716 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:37,279 Financially, we spent a lot of money. 717 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:39,439 We've been scraping the bottom of the barrel. 718 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:42,039 With this find I'm hoping it's definitely gonna be 719 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:44,119 a payday for us. 720 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:46,639 How much more do you reckon we'll get for these, 721 00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:48,919 making them like this instead of selling it rough? 722 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,559 We can triple or even, you know, make even more money. 723 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:57,439 Taught by his father, Jaymin has been cutting opal for just over a year. 724 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:00,039 All right, now show us how it's done, master. 725 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,359 Right now I'm just cleaning off any of the sand 726 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,679 that's still stuck on the backs. 727 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,879 You can see that colour just coming through there. Whoa. 728 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:12,399 Wow. That's flashing all over. 729 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,799 That's good. And then once you put the black backing on it, 730 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,239 it'll really highlight the colour in there. This is unreal. 731 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:21,199 A bit to clean off there but there's definitely a nice little stone 732 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:24,039 running straight up there. This is it, bro. 733 00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:26,119 I think we could be on to a winner here. 734 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,359 We've definitely found some really nice stones 735 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,759 that are cleaning up a lot nice. Look at it. 736 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:33,839 We've found treasure, boys. 737 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,639 The Young Guns take their gems to be valued by a legend 738 00:40:40,720 --> 00:40:44,239 in the White Cliffs mining community, Macca McCaskill. 739 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,199 A couple of years ago Macca pulled out a million-dollar pocket. 740 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,039 That's probably the biggest in White Cliffs ever, 741 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:53,599 so he's really on top of the game here. 742 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:56,199 I'm pretty nervous about going in to see Macca. 743 00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:59,319 He's been in the business a long time and he knows a lot about it, 744 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,959 especially with the cut stuff. 745 00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:05,919 Left blood, sweat and tears down in that mine. It's all coming down to this. 746 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,599 Hopefully it all pays off. 747 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,999 How's it going, Macca. Good, mate, yourself? How are you? 748 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:15,079 Yeah, pretty good. Macca. JC and Noah. 749 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:17,119 I'm hoping we'll at least get two grand for them. 750 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,279 If we can't then we're gonna be in some serious trouble. 751 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:26,479 So this is the material I've obviously cut up. 752 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,239 It's come up pretty well, I reckon. Have a look at some of these, 753 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,919 They got flashes of even... Little bits of red in there as well. 754 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:34,119 What do you reckon we'd be looking at? 755 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:39,319 You're looking at an unset price, just as they are. 756 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,559 Yep. Yep, yep. And I reckon you're looking at... 757 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:47,919 ..maybe in the fours for them. 758 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,479 Yep. The 400s. And probably... 759 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:54,159 So you reckon we're coming into 400 there and... For each of them? 760 00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:56,719 Each of these? Yeah. Each. 761 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,279 So... Are you serious? 762 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:02,679 You're not gonna have a heart attack, are you? I'm gonna have a heart attack. 763 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:04,879 Who's good at maths? How much is that? 764 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:07,519 I reckon you got... 765 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:10,799 probably, you know, late 4,000s. 766 00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:13,239 4,600, 4,800, something like that. 767 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:15,439 That's crazy. 768 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:17,519 Macca. 769 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:20,559 Oh, Macca! 770 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:22,559 That's definitely made us happy. 771 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:24,639 Just keep at it, that's what I say, mate. 772 00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:26,719 We'll be into it, don't you worry. 773 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,039 The Young Guns have high-quality crystal opal, 774 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:32,359 blue green with flashes of red. 775 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:36,879 There's 18 polished stones they've set on black obsidian backing, 776 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:40,959 with an estimated value of $4,800, 777 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:45,799 bringing their season total to $7,750. 778 00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:51,439 It's really, really amazing what just happened. It's such a relief. 779 00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:54,439 When I was just working back at home I was working in a bottle shop. 780 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,959 Never had such a big amount of money that just flopped on you at once. 781 00:42:58,040 --> 00:42:59,639 It's just satisfying. 782 00:42:59,720 --> 00:43:00,719 Hey! 783 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,919 Old legend Macca has valued our stones 784 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,559 stupidly above what we thought we'd get, 785 00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:10,359 and so, it's just...complete weight lifted. 786 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:12,919 First things first, we get a new jerry can. 787 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:15,639 We're stepping up in the world. 788 00:43:15,720 --> 00:43:19,759 Pressure was on me, and now to find myself, I guess, validated a bit, 789 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:23,079 it feels absolutely amazing to be able to see opal pay off. 790 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:26,039 It feels like we're becoming real opal miners. 791 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:28,119 subtitles by Deluxe 791 00:43:29,305 --> 00:44:29,163 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm