"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.6

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,199 . 2 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:04,039 On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,359 Last chance to find opal before it gets too hot. 4 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,119 ..the Boulder Boys risk their only excavator... 5 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,199 Whoa! ..chasing an opal legend. 6 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,519 Dad found $240,000, probably where that big rock is. 7 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,439 Shangri-La, we got a car! 8 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:21,119 The Bushmen hit a dead end. 9 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,319 Oh, what do we do, Les? It's completely gone. 10 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,719 And disaster. No, no, no. 11 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,519 And the young guns... Whoa! Oh! 12 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,599 ..face the fury of the outback. 13 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,679 Oi! Close up all the house! 14 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,839 Oh, my God. 15 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:44,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,879 Hello. Hello. 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,559 He's got the blower going. 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,319 Good on you, Les. So, we can keep on digging. 19 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,559 In Sheepyards Opal Field, New South Wales, 20 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,039 after a series of mechanical breakdowns, 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,959 Bushmen Rod Manning and Les Walsh are finally mining. 22 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,159 ROD: This one here, Les, doesn't pull ahead a big lump of colour. 23 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,239 LES: We've got to make a decision. 24 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,239 What do you think? 25 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:33,359 Nothing there. Nothing there, is there? 26 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,439 It's getting worse, isn't it? 27 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,519 Yeah, I think it's nearly all gone. 28 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,759 You hate stopping. You always think that when you stop 29 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,399 another inch and you would have hit it. 30 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,799 Well, what do we do, Les? Cos that's completely gone. 31 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,559 Over halfway to their season target, 32 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,119 Rod and Les are struggling to find the elusive black opal 33 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,319 15 metres below ground in their Bondi claim. 34 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,999 At up to $43,000 a gram, 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,639 it's worth 500 times more than gold. 36 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,199 With gold, you can see the veins 37 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,439 and you see lots of things with diamonds. 38 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,879 No-one knows where opal is. 39 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:18,759 It's a mystery. 40 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,839 Hang on. Hang on. We've got oil everywhere. 41 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,799 The season's been a pretty hard, bloody grind, you know. 42 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,159 Everything that we've had has broken down at one stage. 43 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,959 But that is opal mining, you know. It's harsh conditions out here. 44 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,519 And the machinery has just as hard a life as we do. 45 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,759 How are you, doll? Good, how are you? All right? Yeah. 46 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,799 We've had a few little just life problems, you know. 47 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,239 Amanda's had some pretty major problems with her leg. 48 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,919 She can't move much. She's in a lot of pain. 49 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,999 It's a bit of a concern and you do think about it. 50 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,319 It puts more pressure on us, as she's got to go to appointments 51 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,999 which is a 700K drive, which is money. 52 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,279 If she does have to go and have an operation, 53 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,159 there's more money there. 54 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,999 So we need to hit our target 55 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,879 and we need to probably go a little bit more than our target. 56 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,639 All right. They've got pretty hard in here too. 57 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,119 It's completely gone. You reckon I can talk you into going in here? 58 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,079 Yeah, I reckon. Here's where I'd like to go. 59 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,079 Yeah. Straight through here, see what it says. Excellent. 60 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,599 We're going to duck over to this other side. 61 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,719 It's sort of opposite where the colour ran on this side. 62 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,199 Hopefully it'll continue through over that side. 63 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,079 To move the 12-year-old two-ton digger, 64 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,519 Rod has to use the hydraulic digging arm, to lever it through the tunnel. 65 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,199 They're pretty weighty 66 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,479 and it's real easy to dig because it's so short. 67 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,639 It's in that hole. 68 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,759 No, no, no, no, no, no. 69 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,839 Jeez! 70 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,999 She dug into this soft ground here in the floor 71 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,079 That hurt. 72 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,519 This year hadn't been a bad year. 73 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,039 We've had some good finds, some not so good ones. 74 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,159 But the season ain't over. 75 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,279 In Opalton, Queensland, Boulder Boys Aaron Grotjahn and Ron Selig 76 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,999 are facing temperatures of over 40 degrees. 77 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,359 They close in on their $100,000 season target 78 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,799 on Aaron's late father's claim, Dragonfly. 79 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,719 Do this little bit here for me. Where, mate? Just there. 80 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,159 I'll watch it. There's a rock there. 81 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,519 I've been digging these leases for the last three years since Dad passed away. 82 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,599 Miss old Pa a bit too. 83 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,399 There's a few spots where I'd like to continue, 84 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,959 where Dad followed the fault. I know he was getting opal. 85 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,999 There's still virgin ground, that side needs to be dug. 86 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,199 This week, Aaron would love to check out three different areas... 87 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:36,599 It's a bit slippery, mate. ..that related to his dad and what his dad dug. 88 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,319 So he wants to finish it off in his own mind 89 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,679 and finish it off for his father. 90 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:44,839 He wants to be able to find that one big rock 91 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,599 like his dad used to find. 92 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,199 Opalton is famous for rare veins of boulder opal 93 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:54,879 worth up to $20,000 a gram 94 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,599 found inside rocks scattered through underground faults. 95 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,839 On Dragonfly, a major fault 96 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,239 and several minor ones run right through the plane. 97 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:07,439 Aaron's plan is to target three areas on these faults 98 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,559 where he believes his father found opal decades ago. 99 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:12,639 It's worth a go. Plenty of rock. 100 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,799 Hm, well, we'll give it a go. 101 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,799 The first is an area between two outcrops 102 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,239 with signs of the fault running through it. 103 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,519 You gotta be on the ball mining these levels, 104 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,399 cos they're not set, they're just rocks here, there and everywhere. 105 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,519 We have to go through it bit by bit, won't we? 106 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,079 Yeah. I think you need that red stain on the rocks. 107 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,679 It's there. They all look that way here. 108 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,719 Hard levels to read, eh? Yeah. 109 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,399 Well, we've got a problem. 110 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,199 Very messy ground. 111 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:53,599 See, there's rocks there, there's rocks there. 112 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,559 This is just all over the show. 113 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,559 Even though there was a little bit of colour in the rocks, 114 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,759 once we actually got stuck into it, 115 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:06,359 it didn't have clay under the level to capture the stones. 116 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,519 Boulder opal forms when silica-rich water trickling 117 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,319 through sandstone settles in cracks in brown ironstone boulders 118 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,279 but only one boulder in a hundred will contain any opal. 119 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,239 Sort of dead ground. There's boulders there, there's not much. 120 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,439 You're gonna go broke digging there. 121 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,119 Too messy, isn't it. Yeah, it is. 122 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,999 We're going now around to the other side. 123 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,159 No good wasting fuel 124 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,519 if you can see it's not going to pan out. 125 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:50,159 Aaron and Ron's second spot is on the other side of the ridge. 126 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,399 We're gonna drive the machine up the top, strip 15 foot off it, 127 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,719 then chase the big boulders in and see how we go. 128 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,799 You just don't know what can happen. 129 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,719 This season is coming to an end. 130 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,479 We've only got a month or two left before temperatures hit 50 degrees, 131 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,839 so it's going to be absolutely crucial 132 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:20,999 that this week we find some opal. 133 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,119 If we don't find anything, then we're going to be in trouble. 134 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,799 I'm already starting to doubt 135 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,079 whether we're going to make our season target. 136 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,159 If we can't nail this, 137 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,999 it's not looking good for the Young Guns. 138 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,759 Rookie team, the Young Guns are hunting crystal opal 139 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,319 worth up to $25,000 a gram. 140 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,079 But, short on cash 141 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,519 after their first three months of mining, 142 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,679 pressure is mounting. 143 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,639 Absolutely nothing coming out of the walls of the mines. 144 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,879 We just keep finding more dirt and rocks. 145 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,999 It's like a constant, constant struggle. 146 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,199 Kanga'ing? You want me to Kanga? Yeah, mate. I'll go and grab it. 147 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,799 It's gonna take a bit of time to shift this dirt that we've just made. 148 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,439 But, you know, just gonna keep moving dirt, keep moving forward. 149 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,879 Hey, guys, guys. What's up? Giant dust storm out there. 150 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,239 Really? A huge one, yeah. Whoa! 151 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,279 Oh! Oh my God. 152 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,919 Oi! Close up all the house! 153 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,719 Jesus. We're just gonna close everything up. 154 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,519 Otherwise our whole house is going to be full of dust. 155 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,359 Gonna tape the window's shut. 156 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,439 It's not just dust, it's the wind as well. 157 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,399 We gotta make sure everything's not moving around too much. 158 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,519 High temperatures, combined with dry conditions, create dust storms 159 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,839 with winds reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. 160 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,919 This one's full on. I don't think we can do anything right now. 161 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,719 Well, I guess we're just gonna have to wait this out. 162 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,039 God! Never ends. 163 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,119 What next? 164 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,279 All right. Looks like it's cleared up a bit. 165 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,679 We'll head down and have a look at the mine. 166 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,679 You got to chuck some fuel in, get it started up. 167 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,759 Sounds good. Meet you down there. Get the first bucket out. 168 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,279 Oi! Come back down, boys. 169 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,159 Don't worry about that. We've got bigger problems. What's that? 170 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,239 Ah. 171 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:31,919 Oh, ! 172 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,079 Oh, dude, it's in the engine bay, it's absolutely shocked. 173 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:42,559 We've just got a heap of roof fall out straight on top of the Kanga. 174 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,799 And I guess that wind coming down just dried stuff out 175 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:50,239 and made it fall in a bit. This is gonna be a nightmare to clean up. 176 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,599 There's another bit falling down right now. 177 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:56,319 We didn't need this. It's going to be a fair bit of work 178 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,039 just to get all these rocks off it and clean it all out. 179 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,479 We don't want anything going through the radiator or the fans, 180 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:05,559 so it's gonna be a bit of a job. 181 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,639 The Young Guns' entire operation 182 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,999 depends on the Kanga Loader, on hire for $200 a day. 183 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,119 The Kanga, we're responsible for it. 184 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,199 We're very concerned that all the moving parts, the engine bay, 185 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,479 all dirt had made its way into there 186 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:26,839 and fallen into those areas, which is not good for machinery. 187 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:28,599 How does that even...? 188 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:32,759 Our biggest concern is rocks going through any of the fans and stuff like that. 189 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:38,119 So, we've just really taken it piece by piece and taken out every little rock that we can. 190 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:42,239 I mean, if we wreck this machine, you know, then we essentially owe them a machine. 191 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,279 It's absolutely ridiculous. We can't afford to spend $25,000 192 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,079 replacing something that we've broken. 193 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,359 That is a lot of dust. 194 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,839 So we're just about ready to get rock and rolling again 195 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,439 and get back into it after a-bloody-nother setback. 196 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,599 We're back in business, boys. Woo! 197 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,159 No, no, no, no, no, no. 198 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,839 Jeez! What is going on down here? 199 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,039 15 metres underground at their Bondi claim... 200 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,119 I just tipped it over. 201 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,079 ..Rod and Les's overturned two-ton digger 202 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,719 has brought their mining operation to a halt. 203 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,919 Where the 9" come down, the ground's real soft. 204 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:49,359 One of the wheel's just tipped into the soft stuff and over she went. 205 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,839 Thank Christ Les wasn't over the other side there, 206 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:53,719 cos he'd been a goner. 207 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:57,999 Nothing we can do about it. 208 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,719 Stand her up. And back into her. And back into her. 209 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,479 What do you reckon? Drop the sling down. 210 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:07,599 Higher, you see. Yeah, it's right, in line, too. Yeah. 211 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:10,599 They're generally hardest to stand up when they're like that. 212 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:15,479 But we were just lucky there was a 9" hole in the right spot 213 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:18,799 so we could drop a chain down that 9". 214 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:20,879 Jesus. 215 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,039 Hook that to the top of the digger and slowly bring it up back onto its legs. 216 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,519 Just a minute. 217 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,599 Righto. 218 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,719 He's not slipping on that bottom leg, Les? 219 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,799 I'll just get it up a little bit further. 220 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,439 Oh, she's the right way up. 221 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,559 Well, that's better, Les. 222 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,519 It could have been a lot bloody worse. 223 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,759 What the bloody hell were we doing before all that? 224 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,839 We were going to shift it back down there. 225 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,479 We've wasted all bloody morning getting this back on its feet, 226 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:12,559 so it's time to start mining. 227 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,239 It's always exciting when you start a new drive. 228 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,439 You don't know what's in there or where you're gonna hit it. 229 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,239 We haven't been across this way, so we'll have a look and see what happens. 230 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,319 The new spot where we started in, there's plenty of action in there. 231 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,599 You know, I got nice seams running where they should be. 232 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,759 Bloody good-looking dirt in there, Les. 233 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,839 It is. It's looking really good. 234 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,959 Bloody hell. What's going wrong? 235 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,919 We're losing a fair bit of hydraulic oil from somewhere. 236 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,039 This? Yeah. 237 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:57,079 Without hydraulic oil, the digger arm can't operate. 238 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,359 Well, that's gonna be a fun fix 239 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,039 900 kilometres to the northwest... 240 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,119 Dad and his mate Joe found $240,000, 241 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,079 probably where that big rock is. 242 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,799 That's why I wanna finish his job. 243 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:19,319 ..Aaron is driving hard to fulfil his late dad's opal dream. 244 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,119 I got a nice pocket close to where we're digging now, 245 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,439 that was $240,000 and that was 15 years ago. 246 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,839 It's probably half a million now. 247 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,959 To reach the opal level, Aaron must first remove four metres 248 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,999 of overburden whilst being careful not to undermine 249 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,679 his excavator and risk a rollover. 250 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,919 All right. That's enough to have a look. I'll make a little ramp. 251 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,759 Make a ramp, we'll go down, and you get into it. 252 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,399 Aaron's next move is a precarious one. 253 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,919 He must drive the 35-ton excavator 254 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,119 down the loose dirt ramp to the bottom of the pit. 255 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,839 We've got about four metres to go down and he's making a ramp. 256 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:07,719 He wanted about 20 degrees back. We'll see how he goes. 257 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,919 Aaron's got the excavator down. 258 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,199 We've got a bit of track going up and down there. 259 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:28,759 So it will make it easier. 260 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,559 Now he's starting to dig down to the actual level. 261 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,319 It looks different now, eh, once when you open it up. 262 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,799 It's messy looking level too. Yeah. 263 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,879 We've taken a little bite out of it. 264 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,879 It's as bad as the other side. It's too mixed up. 265 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:59,959 There's no defining levels. 266 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,359 It's a band, but it's not really a level. 267 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,759 Oh! You're wasting fuel. 268 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,879 It doesn't look real good. That's the same as the other side. 269 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,399 It's crap. Crap? Come on, let's get out of here. 270 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,199 Righto. Get into a fresh bit 271 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,679 that might have a bit more promise. Yeah. 272 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:25,079 Aaron's quest to continue his father's legacy on Dragonfly 273 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,479 is turning into an uphill battle. 274 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,519 You've got to dig in there. 275 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,559 Right now, we're just doing a bit of a make safe, 276 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,999 pulling off all the really loose bits of the roof 277 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,319 just so they don't fall on us. 278 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,999 Oh, my! A massive dust storm... 279 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,399 Oi! Close up all the house! 280 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:57,159 ..has dried out the roof of the Young Guns' 100-year-old mine, 281 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,639 putting it at risk of collapse. 282 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,399 Team leader Jaymin must make it safe 283 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,679 before their opal hunt can restart. 284 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,719 We're only taking away the stuff that's gonna come down. 285 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,599 Anything hard like over in this area here 286 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,359 we just want to leave it as it's a nice, solid bit of roof. All right. 287 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:18,679 But with the end of the season in sight, 288 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,439 the Young Guns are struggling to make ends meet. 289 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,639 We're near the end of the season. We've got a month or two left 290 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,359 before those temperatures soar up to 50 degrees. 291 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,039 We've not got much time left. 292 00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:33,999 We really need to find something to get us where we need to be. 293 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,079 It's not about finding millions, it's more about being able 294 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,559 to live comfortably out here. 295 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,319 Barely got a change of clothes. 296 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,479 Don't have enough money to wash clothes. 297 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,679 Yeah, we're getting kind of sick of all this dirt. 298 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,679 I don't really know if I can handle much more of this. 299 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,359 That's a shaft. 300 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,839 Yo, J! Come down here! 301 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,239 What's up? 302 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:09,319 I think we've hit another shaft. 303 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,399 You serious? Yep. 304 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,919 In another setback, the mine shaft 305 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,959 contains tons of worthless dirt that will take days to shift. 306 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,239 I think we just leave it for now. 307 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,519 We'll just chop in that side of the wall there. 308 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,519 I don't want to keep shifting dirt that seems looked through. 309 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,599 There's no money in that. 310 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,599 We need to be finding stuff. We can't be digging through dirt. 311 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,879 It's just, you know clearing out a shaft that's just full of dirt 312 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,359 that there's gonna be no opal in. 313 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:42,039 So we've cracked into some old workings up here. 314 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:45,119 We've got this little smudge mark here from a candle. 315 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,879 So the old timers in here, which is why we're talking 316 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,999 like 100 years ago, no electricity or anything. 317 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,079 All they had was a little hand pick. You know, it would have been 318 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,359 much more of a struggle than what we're doing, 319 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,319 but we're moving heaps more dirt. 320 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,559 Here we go, little bit of trace 321 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,639 You see this little bit up here? 322 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,359 Holy moly, that's actually nice. 323 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,719 So they probably dug through, but with their little lights, 324 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,239 and candles, they wouldn't have been able to see 325 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,199 the little bits and pieces around. 326 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,239 This is really, really awesome. 327 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,119 There's actually some opal in here 328 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,079 and we haven't seen opal in a while. 329 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,999 Hey, boys! Come up here! 330 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,719 You mean some opal? Yeah. 331 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,559 It's only little, but it's actually got a bit of colour. 332 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,399 Finally, some opal. That's really good. 333 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,319 Coming out of there now. 334 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,199 15 metres below ground, 335 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,879 Rod and Les's digger is haemorrhaging hydraulic fluid. 336 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:48,159 Ah, you... 337 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,599 Tastes like . Yeah, it does, that oil. 338 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,479 Without the two-ton digger, 339 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,119 they'll be forced to return to hand tools. 340 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,399 I'm not sure. I think it's a connection. The elbow? 341 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,999 It might be loose. We're not real sure what it is. 342 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,519 But for now, it's only going to get worse. 343 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,199 It's already spraying. 344 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,439 Hopefully it's just a nut that's come loose. 345 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,559 Otherwise, the elbow is probably cracked as I fell 346 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,439 and dropped her over. 347 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:17,319 You all right? 348 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,079 Do you know what it is? It's not gonna be easy as it... 349 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,879 What is it? The end of the tube's split. 350 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,159 Cracked on the weld. Wonderful 351 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,879 Into the ram here, underneath here. 352 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,399 It's split and it's getting worse, 353 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:35,359 so oil's too bloody dear to waste. When the digger broke, 354 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,199 you sort of know it's game over until you can fix it. 355 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,039 We're not going any further with this thing, Les. 356 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:44,799 And that's more than a quick fix, mate. 357 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,399 This is showing nice promise. 358 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:53,439 We've only just started here and we're getting twinkles all over the place. 359 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,839 Mm-hm. Do you want to have a bloody half-hour dig 360 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,239 with the jackhammer and just see if we can... 361 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,999 I would've liked to have gone further forward in there. Yeah. 362 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:13,599 There's a fair bit of activity up here. 363 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,319 I'd be kind of surprised if those don't do something. 364 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,079 I've got a few glints of colour here. 365 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,079 Bring that bloody tray up here, mate. 366 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,079 Hold her up under there. 367 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:38,919 Bit of colour in that. A little bit of colour. Any money? Oh... 368 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,799 Any good? Depending what it cleans up like. 369 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:47,799 That's a nice shiny bit. 370 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,359 Mate, we need to get this bloody digger going. 371 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,479 This is developing in here real nice. Yeah. 372 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,879 That's not a bad bit in there, corner of that. 373 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,839 The further you go in there, hopefully the better it'll get. 374 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,559 So for now all we need is some quick dollars to get the digger up and running. 375 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:07,279 Without the digger, the Bushmen's operation has slowed to a crawl. 376 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:10,399 And, for Rod, it's about to get even tougher. 377 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,879 74-year-old partner Les must leave 378 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,959 for a vital medical check-up 379 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,039 350 kilometres away. 380 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,319 So what time is your appointment tomorrow? 11 o'clock, I think. 381 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,119 You want anything in town? New digger Yeah, right. 382 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,039 AARON: Think me dad was digging here about 30 years ago. 383 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:38,759 So we're just seeing if it's running more this way. 384 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,759 Little luck, we can pick up a lead and start at the base. 385 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,519 It's hotting up on Dragonfly claim 386 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,559 with Aaron's father's old leads turning up nothing 387 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,959 and costing the Boulder Boys hundreds of dollars in fuel. 388 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:54,919 He knew what he was doing when he told me to dig around the shaft where there's opal. 389 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,159 As we're getting away, we're not getting onto anything decent. 390 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:03,439 Their last chance site is an old area known as the Cut. 391 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,119 Strip the top off and we can get into it. Looks all right, eh? 392 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,439 The sandstone's pink out here. 393 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,879 Yes. Right, so there's good chances there. 394 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:17,159 Last chance to find opal before it gets too hot. All right, mate. 395 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,959 With their season target almost in reach, 396 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,799 everything rests on Aaron's dad's final location. 397 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,959 It is opal ground. We've just gotta see what we can find. 398 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,319 Hopefully, we'll get some nice rocks. 399 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,799 Yeah, I think you should. 400 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:04,039 It's nice and moist. There's a level there. All right. 401 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,079 We got a few butterflies down in the Cut. 402 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,879 Usually when we got butterflies, we get opal. 403 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,239 Found a bit of colour here, mate. Like a pipe, or something. 404 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,959 That's very nice. Blue. 405 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:25,519 It's like a pipe, isn't it? Well, it is. Yeah. 406 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,639 I reckon we saw that. You don't know what's up this end of it. 407 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,239 No, you don't. We'll keep going. All right, mate. 408 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,119 Ah, boy, we got some colour! 409 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,639 You got colour? That's a good sign. Yeah. 410 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:45,759 Really nice blue, electric. Looks all right. 411 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,879 Get this little bit here for me. 412 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,599 Hey! We've got colour! 413 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,879 It's got the line running through it. Blue to green. 414 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:00,959 It could be loaded that end. 415 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:04,839 Oi, Ron! Bit of purple. You beauty! 416 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,639 Ah! Bit more! 417 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,879 There you go, it's got a bit of electric in it. 418 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,439 If it makes it into a line here somewhere... 419 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,599 Yeah, yeah. That needs a saw, mate. 420 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,879 Oi, Ron, more colour! That's fantastico! 421 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,119 Shangri-La! We got a car! 422 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,039 Whoa. Now that is nice colour, Ron. 423 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:27,719 Look at that red in there. 424 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,399 That'll need a saw, eh? 425 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,799 Should be able to split it, eh? Hey, Ron, that's a nice colour. 426 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,319 Good on you, Ron. Lucky Ron strikes again, mate. 427 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,359 All right. Come on. Let's have an early day. We'll cut this up. 428 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,399 Lovely, Ron. That ain't a bad morning's work, mate. 429 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,679 Here are your keys, mate. Righto, thanks. 430 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,079 Good luck with it. Yeah. 431 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,199 Ring us and let us know how it went. I'll do that. 432 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:07,479 Gotta go to Dubbo to see the heart specialist down there 433 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,959 for a check-up and see what he's got to say. 434 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:15,279 Les's visit to the doctor is a 700km round trip, 435 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:17,439 leaving Rod to mine alone. 436 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,359 With Les having to go to Dubbo for the doctor's appointment, 437 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,599 it steps your workload up a little bit. 438 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,319 Without Les or a working digger, 439 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,039 Rod's only option is a mine where he and Les 440 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:32,119 recently found good opal. 441 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:37,519 The Maze. Hundreds of metres of unstable tunnels. 442 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,679 I've got a little column I want to dig out. 443 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,319 I just want to dig in a bit, find a bit of colour. 444 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,599 Oh! 445 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:55,199 It's called a maze for a reason, and you can get lost down there very, very easily. 446 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:59,279 Where am I? It's a horrible feeling when you get lost underground. 447 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:04,919 You can wander around for hours trying to find a way out. 448 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,719 This is where we were working the other day. 449 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,159 This is where we took the columns out. 450 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,439 They were out here before we took 'em out. 451 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:21,439 The rock columns or pillars are vital for holding up the roof. 452 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,519 That's not a bad seam, that, you know. 453 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:29,999 While they could still contain good opal, mining them risks a fatal roof collapse. 454 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,719 Pillar bashing is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do in mining. 455 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,399 This is not too bad. 456 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,919 This pillar that I'm working on now that's all that holds the roof up. 457 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,279 Something happens, there's no-one to go for help. 458 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,879 But we need opal. 459 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,479 It's nice ground here. 460 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,479 Little bit of green up in there but... 461 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,559 That might turn into something. 462 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:18,319 It's big and it's cheesy! 463 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,079 Look at that. 464 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,479 How good's this? We've taken out half a bucket of dirt. 465 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:28,079 That's good money. There's more in the walls. 466 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,439 Ah, happy, happy, happy. That's a week's pay, just there. 467 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:34,839 Ooh, it's starting to get exciting. 468 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,119 Beautiful colour all the way round. 469 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:40,839 Another couple of grand. 470 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,719 And how good's this? Straight in the bank. 471 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,079 You know, lately everywhere we dig, we're getting a bit of colour. 472 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,799 I hope it continues. 473 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:04,319 You see that? Mate, that's a $100 stone right there. Stoney. 474 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,839 All right. In their first season mining, 475 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:10,479 the Young Guns have finally hit a promising opal seam. 476 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:13,679 Slow and easy. Slow and steady finds the opal. 477 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,799 Mate, I'm just getting covered in dirt. Yep. Me too. 478 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,919 Ooh, is that a bit up there? What have we got? 479 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,639 Look at that. Holy... 480 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,319 That's ridiculous. Look at the colour of that bad boy. 481 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,719 That's like gem-grade opal. Look at that. 482 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,479 That's wild. 483 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,279 That's wild, dude. Holy moly! Look at that. 484 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,639 That's a massive green-blue gem-grade opal. 485 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,959 Let's hope. Let's keep digging this and we'll see what happens. 486 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,639 Oh, hear that? That's a big crack. 487 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,879 Oh, that's a bit of green up in the wall. 488 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:57,759 You see that? Oh, yes. 489 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,439 Dude, dude, look at that bit in the bucket, dude. 490 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,359 Woo! Whoa! 491 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,039 What the hell? That's like dead-set 20 pieces just down there. 492 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,439 Oh! Oh, there's 20 on the other side! 493 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:12,799 My hands are literally shaking. Look at that. 494 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,559 Oh, look at... That's a nugget. Look at the size of that! 495 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:20,559 We just broke through a whole big seam. 496 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:24,319 It's... Dude, it's thicker. Look at that. Holy... 497 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,999 Look at that. There's handfuls of it. 498 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,239 Yeah, baby! Yeah! 499 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,399 This is so beyond anything that we've found before. 500 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,719 Holy moly, so there's that bit of trace in the wall 501 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,759 that we're following, and we just dropped that whole shelf down, 502 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,839 and it just went "Bang!" 503 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:45,039 Look at that! That's incredible. 504 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,359 We just pulled out a massive pocket. 505 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,559 I mean, look at this stuff. I mean, it's absolutely, you know... 506 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,959 It's so validating, it's so good. I've really needed this, this week. 507 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,039 It makes it all worth it, you know? Let's get it in the tumbler. 508 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,839 I want to see what we've got as soon as possible. 509 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,679 Do not spill that. 510 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:04,999 Holding on to this like there's no tomorrow. 511 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:09,039 It's the biggest find of their short careers. 512 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:13,479 But to discover its true value, there is an important step to take. 513 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:16,439 Yeah, dude. Let's have a look. Where's that sweet stuff? 514 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,879 All right, you know the drill, boys. Chuck it on. 515 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,799 All right. Put her on there. 516 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,079 There we go. Washing the clay-covered stones in water 517 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:30,879 overnight will reveal just how much opal they found. 518 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,839 Now, unfortunately, we have to wait for, like, 12 hours. 519 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,919 It's just gonna be pure wonder. 520 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,959 I'm so excited. Dude, that's a nice colour. 521 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:43,359 Just stand and watch, wait and wonder. 522 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,319 Hey, Les! How you going, mate? How are you, mate? 523 00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:00,919 After a 700km round trip, Les is back from the doctors. 524 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:05,319 What did the vet say Gave me another six months. Six months? 525 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,679 Well, we should hit our fortune in six months, I'd reckon. 526 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:11,879 Well, I hope so. I started on it yesterday. 527 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:14,719 Well, that's good. I got a little bit while you were away. 528 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,599 Oh, righto. 529 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,199 With a clean bill of health, 530 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:25,319 Rod's opal haul from the Maze is a welcome surprise for Les. 531 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:29,319 Oh, that's nice. It's got a bit of red in her, eh? Oh, yeah. 532 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,519 Nice pieces in there. Couple of really nice pieces, actually. 533 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:35,719 Yes, we'd get a stone out of that. 534 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:38,239 After all the breakdowns 535 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:40,839 and all the trouble we've had, it was bloody good. 536 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:49,359 Rod has arranged a meeting with a local opal buyer. 537 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,599 I'm not gonna do too much cos she's a cutter, and she'll wanna cut 'em. 538 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,279 I'm trying to get 'em to look as pretty as they can. Yeah. 539 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:00,279 Cleaning up the rough stones on a grinding wheel 540 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,839 gives a better chance of getting a higher price. 541 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:06,399 Oh, that's a nice piece, that. 542 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,079 Nice little stone, isn't it? That's a nice one. 543 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:12,999 And the grain is all flashy. Flashy, eh? 544 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:15,639 Now what we gotta do is decide on a price. 545 00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:18,519 I'm gonna ask for eight. Yeah. 546 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,559 And then our lowest price would be, say, five? 547 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:24,999 Yep. Yeah. If we get five or six for this, 548 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:28,079 I reckon we're gonna come pretty close to our season total. 549 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:32,079 Oh, yeah. Yeah. For a bloody change. 550 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:34,999 The Bushmen stones are mainly crystal opal 551 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:36,759 with good greens and blues. 552 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:41,119 They're rough, but rubbed clean and there's approximately 15 grams. 553 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:46,199 Rod and Les are hoping to get between five and $6,000 for them. 554 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,399 G'day, Jenny. Hello. How are you, mate? Good? 555 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,879 Yeah, good. That's good. Nice day. An experienced buyer, 556 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:58,359 Jenny Tolo has been dealing opals for 20 years. 557 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:02,079 Going on into a sale, there's always a bit of anticipation 558 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,239 cos this is what it's all about, you know. 559 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,319 Grab a seat there, Jenny. 560 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:09,679 It all comes down to when the buyer walks through your door 561 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:12,239 how much they're gonna give you for it. 562 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:16,559 Well, this is what I've got, Jenny. Rough from down the Maze. 563 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:19,439 This is a little bit I've got from another mine 564 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:21,399 that I rubbed yesterday. 565 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,799 Mmm! Looking good. Yeah, it's a nice colour in there. 566 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:26,879 Let me have a closer look at this. 567 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:32,439 It's got nice colour, but they're only gonna cut little stones. 568 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:37,599 So what are you asking for this again? 569 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,159 I want $8,500 for it. Ooh! 570 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,199 I'm more like $6,000. 571 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,279 Nah, Les would belt me up the back of the head if I give it to you for six. 572 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:53,679 Seriously, eight's a bit too steep. 573 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,359 This is beautiful colour. I'm not knocking it. 574 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,439 You're actually lucky to find stuff like this. 575 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:03,199 The only thing is I'm gonna end up with smaller pieces, you see. 576 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:09,759 I'll tell you what, the lowest and this is me rock bottom, the lowest I'll do is $6,300. 577 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:14,039 I think $6,300 is... I won't go any lower than $6,300. 578 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:17,839 Well, I reckon it's worth a little bit more, but we'll come to the... 579 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,519 No, I think that's fair. $6,300? Yeah, $6,300. 580 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,319 Good on you. Thanks. Thank you. Appreciate it. Yeah. 581 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,919 It was a bit more than we wanted so we're real happy with the sale 582 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,879 and she was happy to pay that. 583 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:33,799 You only need a couple of good stones 584 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:35,999 and you're right back in there. 585 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:40,199 This sale brings the Bushmen within reach of their season target. 586 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,199 Everything's sort of turning around for us. 587 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,839 If Lady Luck stays with us for a little bit longer, we're gonna do all right. 588 00:36:56,080 --> 00:37:00,439 We found a little bit of opal. Cut it up, see if we get some surprises. It'd be good. 589 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,279 Aaron's gamble chasing his late father's old leads 590 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,959 has turned up promising stones. Mate, you know what you're doing. 591 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:09,079 But to discover their true value, 592 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:12,879 the stones must first be split on the diamond-tip cutting wheel. 593 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:16,079 Do what you can do, Ron. 594 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,079 If the opal runs right through the rocks, 595 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:23,159 it could more than triple their price. 596 00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:26,239 Another rinse through, that one. I reckon. All right. 597 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:31,159 Cut too close to the opal and Ron could render the stone worthless. 598 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,479 We're just grinding the sides down to see how big the stone's gonna be. 599 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:41,399 It's runnin' there. You can tell. Well, it is running all the way. 600 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:43,559 So what we've gotta do is splitting. 601 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,399 Splitting a seam can mean they get two opals from one rock, 602 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:50,559 instantly doubling its value. 603 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:52,639 Split it. All right. 604 00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:56,239 See if it'll split. 605 00:37:57,360 --> 00:37:59,359 There you go. 606 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,719 That was a good little surprise, wasn't it? That was a surprise. 607 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,999 It split good too, Ron. Yeah, mate. 608 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:08,719 Hey, look. Nice. 609 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,119 Nice electric gem, green. Beautiful, isn't it? 610 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:16,079 That's what we found. What do you reckon, Ron? 611 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:19,839 How do you get two stones out of that? Cut it through the gut. 612 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,119 Told you. 613 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,799 That's the better stuff, Ron. Well, that's our king stone. 614 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,079 Nice red, isn't it? Yeah. 615 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:40,959 I got two of them, mate. 616 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:42,799 That's another surprise that we got. 617 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:46,639 That is, isn't it? This one was very good, I thought. 618 00:38:46,720 --> 00:38:50,079 Yes. There you go, mate. Cos that's earrings. 619 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:53,399 That's got a couple of nice lines in it. Right. Right. Right. 620 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:55,479 So they're our king stones, really. 621 00:38:57,080 --> 00:39:01,439 Their opal is boulder opal with rich greens and blues. 622 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:04,319 It's still in the rough, but they have two kilos 623 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,399 making its value approximately... 624 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,279 Well done, mate. Well done, mate. 625 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,199 The boys have passed their season target 626 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,799 with six weeks' mining still to go. 627 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:22,799 Good on you, Ron. No worries. It does feel good following Dad. 628 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:25,199 It's good to finish the job, you know. 629 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:27,679 It would have been good if he was here to show me. 630 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:32,439 He would've said, "Don't dig there. Don't do this. That's rubbish. This is good." 631 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:35,399 But the year ain't over, so anything can happen. 632 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:51,719 Here we go. Our moment of truth. We are very excited. 633 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:55,399 For The Young Guns, a disappointing season so far, 634 00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:57,839 all rests on the results of 12 hours 635 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:00,759 washing their stones in a homemade tumbler. 636 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:05,799 Look at this. Bloody hell. 637 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:08,039 Holy moly. Here it comes. 638 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,359 Yeah, that'll do. 639 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:19,359 Woo-hoo-hoo! Look at those colours! 640 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:25,359 Look at that. Enormous. 641 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,079 That is beautiful, boys. 642 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:36,079 It's like a mountain of opal. Holy moly, a mountain of a day. 643 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,639 That stone is probably two or three grand. 644 00:40:39,720 --> 00:40:42,119 What the hell? 645 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:44,079 There's reds, greens, blues... 646 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:46,839 Get this! Damn! Holy... 647 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:50,679 There's definitely thousands of dollars here. Like, right here. 648 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:54,319 Look at that! Look at that. That is ridiculous. 649 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,399 I don't know how much something like this would even go for. 650 00:40:57,480 --> 00:40:59,359 This is just ridiculous. 651 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:01,559 It'll make your dad jealous? For sure. 652 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,439 Opal doesn't get nicer than that. Here we go. 653 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:07,439 Dad, what's going on? Hey, Jay. 654 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,479 Hey, fellas. We got something pretty cool to show you. 655 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,559 Jaymin's dad, Graham, 656 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:16,199 is one of White Cliffs' foremost opal valueist. 657 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:19,439 Yeah, we thought we'd better bring this one to the professional. 658 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:22,559 Oh, wow. That's actually really good stuff now. 659 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:26,039 Oh, that is actually gem, that one. 660 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:28,199 That's the best stuff there, for sure. 661 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:29,999 Yeah, look at this. So beautiful. 662 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:33,839 That is really beautiful White Cliffs crystal, that. Gem. 663 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:37,919 The Young Guns' find is crystal opal. 664 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,639 At a centimetre thick, 665 00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:42,599 it is highly desirable for high-end jewellery. 666 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,639 It has clear blues and greens. It's in the rough 667 00:41:46,720 --> 00:41:49,599 and, once cut, they will have 30 grams. 668 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:55,039 When I look around, just looking at the quantities that you've got... 669 00:41:56,280 --> 00:42:00,079 ..I think, just as a bit of a rough ballpark, 670 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:02,159 you're probably looking at least... 671 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:08,559 ..$20,000. Whoa! 672 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:12,639 Oh, gee! Well done. 673 00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:16,399 That is so cool. That's so cool. That is unbelievable. 674 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:18,879 You guys will start to make a bit of a go of it now. 675 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:22,999 Doing well lately. Absolutely. You must be feeling relieved. 676 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:25,239 Twenty thou! Well done, proud of you guys. 677 00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:29,239 That's massive. What do you reckon? We're real opal miners now? 678 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:33,679 You still got a bit to go now. 679 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:37,239 There's still a few things, you know, to learn. Yeah, yeah. 680 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:40,199 So, boys, are you sticking around for the rest of the season? 681 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:43,559 Oh, yes. Bloody oath. The big one's coming, boys. 682 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:45,679 This is just one of the smaller ones. 683 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,599 The little fish today. The million dollars might be next week. Phew! 684 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:53,079 Woo! Oh, yeah! 685 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:58,039 With this haul valued at $20,000, 686 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:04,479 their total is now over $37,000. 687 00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:09,799 $20,000! Cheers, boys. Yeah! 688 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,319 We did it, boys. 689 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:18,279 subtitles by Deluxe 689 00:43:19,305 --> 00:44:19,319 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org