"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.7

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,999 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,439 We've got no time at all. 3 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:10,439 The Young Guns battle a severe storm in a race to save their season. 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,399 JAYMIN: We've got to just keep moving this dirt into place. 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,919 If this floods, we're in serious trouble. 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,399 GAVAN: Digging out my floor would be a massive job. 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,119 I think I've got to get a drill rig and see what's down there. 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,679 The McFarlanes hunt for opal in the floor. 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,359 Oh, look at that. Let there be colour in there, please. 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,679 As they struggle to put a roof over their heads. 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,359 This stuff just brings down dust and dirt. 12 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,399 I can certainly say my confidence is not growing. 13 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:40,439 That won't cut it. That's too high. That's gone. 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,679 A new team hits the opal fields. 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,759 I'm off already. 16 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,479 I want to get on top of the bills. 17 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,439 I want to be able to provide for the kids. 18 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,759 Big debts force the Cheals to take big risks. 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,679 # Money 20 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,919 # And fancy clothes # 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:12,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,079 This is one of the old entrances to the out mines. 23 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,039 So this goes directly under where we are now and look at that, 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,959 we've got water down the shaft. 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,679 It's all starting to sink in. 26 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,119 So we got to really quickly build a barrier 27 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,319 just to stop all this water flowing down. 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:35,519 We've got no time at all. 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,759 We've got to just keep moving this dirt into place, 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,959 and stop the mine from flooding. If this floods, serious trouble. 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,039 I can't even touch the bottom there. 32 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,119 If the mine gets flooded, I mean, really, 33 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,839 we're not going to be able to mine it. 34 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,159 Not with all the electrics and stuff. 35 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,759 It's too dangerous to work down there with electricity, obviously. 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,839 We're starting to flood. 37 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,519 In remote White Cliffs, New South Wales, 38 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,519 a sudden summer storm is causing havoc for the Young Guns. 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,319 As outback temperatures rise, 40 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,879 humidity can also build, causing violent torrential downpours, 41 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,279 dumping hundreds of millimetres of rain in just a few hours. 42 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,519 This may seem like half an hour, 43 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,079 but we've had so much rain, 44 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,039 more than we've seen in the last three years. 45 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,919 Jaymin can get a big barrier at the top of that decline. 46 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,199 Now we just dug a little trench here, we've made a little barrier, 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,119 so hopefully, no more water gets in. 48 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,559 All right, we really just need to get out of the rain now 49 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:42,159 and just hope for the best. 50 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,239 We've done pretty much everything we can 51 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,479 to make sure the mine doesn't flood too much. 52 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,399 In their first season, 53 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,279 it's a massive setback for the rookies from the coast. 54 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,319 Still over $22,000 short of their season target. 55 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:02,919 If this goes for much longer, 56 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:04,759 if this goes for like another hour or two, 57 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,559 you know, our mine would almost certainly get flooded. 58 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,279 That's going to suck if that does happen, 59 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,359 and we have to shut it down early. 60 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,559 You know, that's going to really be a bummer. 61 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,679 Just 500 kilometres away, 62 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,879 the landscape is very different. 63 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,879 Bloody dry. Dry. Right. 64 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:34,919 Heading to Lightning Ridge, 65 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,079 former miner Chris Cheal and 18-year-old son Oscar 66 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,039 are entering a region that's been ravaged by a three-year drought. 67 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,919 It's probably gonna be a bit stressful, 68 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,559 but I just hope it's not too hot. 69 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,639 Yeah. 70 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:49,719 Chris is returning to opal mining 71 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,719 after the worst drought in a decade destroyed his trucking business. 72 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,719 Had a road train, and I'd cart grain with that. 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,399 Obviously with no rain in the last three years, 74 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,959 I think the last harvest I did was 2016. 75 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,719 The drought has just gone on and on. 76 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,519 As you can see from the landscape, it's as dry as . 77 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,519 I've just had to park the truck up and source work elsewhere. 78 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,359 I just graduated high school a few days ago. 79 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,639 I finished my last exam. 80 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,719 Dad managed to get us down to Sydney for school. 81 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,559 He worked his off seven days a week, every week. 82 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,599 And yeah, I'm just so grateful for that. 83 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,559 I'm really looking to give back 84 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,119 now that I'm kind of moving into the workforce. 85 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,959 The Cheals are back in Lightning Ridge, 86 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:43,479 hunting legendary black opal worth up to $43,000 a gram. 87 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,999 Lightning Ridge produces the best opal in the world. 88 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,159 And when you're mining, 89 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,519 you've got a chance to change your life just in one day. 90 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,039 You can get yourself ten years in front financially, 91 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,559 and there's not many places in the world you can go and do that. 92 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,079 I'm back here to try and find some decent money 93 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,879 cos I want to get on top of the bills. 94 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,959 I want to be able to provide for the kids. 95 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,239 I'm just trying to give my kids the opportunities that I never had. 96 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,759 But only weeks are left 97 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:18,439 until 50 degree temperatures make it too hot to mine. 98 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,039 We've got a very small window to put a hole down, 99 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,919 get the gear set up, and get as much dirt out as we can. 100 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,319 If we could find ten grand, it'll cover the cost for this time 101 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,599 and we'll have a bit in the kitty to come back. 102 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,319 Old mining mate Scott McMillan has a claim 103 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,719 he's willing to subcontract to Chris. 104 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,319 Hey. Hey, Chealsy, this is my claim, this one here. 105 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,319 Yep. So that's a boundary? Yep. This is your claim. 106 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,039 And it goes 50 - 50 by 50 metres that way. Yep. 107 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,319 Scott offered this claim to work. 108 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,759 He's done some work in here about 12 years ago. 109 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:00,799 The holes have been filled back in. 110 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,119 And, you know, you got a bit of money here. 111 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,319 Before he takes on the claim, 112 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,199 Chris wants proof the ground has the potential to produce opal. 113 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:11,399 Can we have a look down? Yeah, sure. 114 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:13,879 All right. Let's do it. We'll suit up. 115 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,959 We just want to go down, have a little scratch. 116 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:18,439 This is Scott's claim, 117 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,519 but it'll give us a good idea of what we can expect. 118 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,119 For Oscar, the opportunity to mine again 119 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,399 with his dad is a long-held dream. 120 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,359 OSCAR: Pretty much my whole life, I've been into opal mining. 121 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,679 It's a passion of Dad's. 122 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,799 As a young kid, I'd love to come out, hanging off him, 123 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,519 and jump on the digger and all sorts of stuff. 124 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,519 That's all right, Scott. Look. Broken one, eh? 125 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,959 Is the other half in there somewhere? I don't know. 126 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,119 There you go. Yeah, that's the other half. 127 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,039 Nice blue bar in it. 128 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,999 Well, that's convinced me. Yeah, and I'm happy with that. 129 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,879 In with a chance. If you're happy with it, 130 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:57,559 we can strike a deal, Scott? 131 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,279 The going rate's usually 30:70. Yeah. 132 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,559 I'm pretty happy with that if you guys are. 133 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,319 Yeah, right. That will work. You get 30, we get 70. 134 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,599 Hopefully we can make you some money. 135 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,319 Yeah. Cos if you're making money, we're making money. 136 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,759 Where we're digging is supposed to be good opal ground. 137 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,719 We've been up there digging now for quite a few months, 138 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,759 and all we've got out is a few grams, 139 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,399 so we don't want to push our luck. 140 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:34,039 It's dangerous ground. We have had collapses around us, 141 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,319 but we've just got to get some opal, you know. 142 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,639 Otherwise the family's going to suffer. 143 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,039 That's the end of the story. The family suffers. 144 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,319 So maybe we can buy you a car. Yeah. 145 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,799 Seven years ago, Gavan McFarlane, 146 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,959 wife Connie and 16-year-old daughter Teagan 147 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,879 moved to Lightning Ridge from the coast to escape the rat race. 148 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,759 Before opal mining, I was a computer engineer. 149 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:59,879 Sometimes I'd work seven days straight 150 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:02,039 or I'd be out seven, eight, nine o'clock at night, 151 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:03,639 still working, you know. 152 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,719 But there was something missing. 153 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,439 I think the treasure hunter in me was ignited. 154 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,679 You can go to work, $10 in your wallet 155 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,199 and go home a millionaire. 156 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,639 Everybody wants to be a millionaire. 157 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,719 Hunting legendary black opal, 158 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,799 the McFarlanes are struggling, 159 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,839 with the family home in desperate need of repair. 160 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,839 In there is my parents room, so I can see in, 161 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,359 and then there actually is a window there, 162 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,239 but it's kind of fallen through a little bit. 163 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,559 And then that wall is just, by the heat and everything, 164 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,119 is just getting deformed. 165 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,199 Australia has experienced its hottest decade on record. 166 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:50,079 For opal miners, the conditions are the toughest they've ever been. 167 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,959 CONNIE: We have extreme weather here. 168 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,279 At the moment, it's 45 degrees I heard, today. 169 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,959 Tried to put the air conditioner on the other day, 170 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,799 and the load was too heavy for the solars, and it just stopped. 171 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,919 And in the dead of this heat, it is killing me. 172 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,679 Even if we had air conditioning or a fan or whatever else, 173 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,999 because the ceiling is in the condition that it is, 174 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,839 and it doesn't quite meet the walls in places, 175 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,919 any cool air we do have 176 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,079 escapes faster than is practical to keep us cool. 177 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,679 This season, Gavan has found little more than $2,000. 178 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,239 So it's time for some new tactics. 179 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,439 Mines around me, they've got millions of dollars out of here, 180 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,239 and they are now condemned mines. 181 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,439 And they all were digging deeper. 182 00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:39,679 So where we're at, where we're digging at the moment, 183 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,199 we have a hard roof, but we have a really soft base. 184 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,679 I'm looking for a hard sandstone base... 185 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,639 ..below me, where the opal has got an opportunity to form. 186 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,159 Gavan's plan is simple. 187 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,319 Explore a nearby mine to see 188 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,959 what depth the previous miners found opal, 189 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,719 then dig to the same depth in his mine. 190 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,279 Offsider Tim Bryant will measure from above. 191 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,399 All right, mate, I'll go down. I'll give you an "oi" 192 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:08,879 when it's right for you 193 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:10,759 to come down for the first measurement. OK? 194 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,239 Yeah, no worries. You be careful. I'll be careful. 195 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,799 There is a mine next door that hasn't been worked. 196 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,159 It's been pretty much abandoned for ten years. 197 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,599 This is so dangerous in here. 198 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,239 This has been exposed open for ten-plus years. 199 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:41,679 Air coming in dries it out, so it makes it even crumblier. 200 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,439 You have to be aware of stuff like this falling in on you. 201 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,279 It's not solid. 202 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,759 God forbid, if the roof fell on you, it'd kill you. 203 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:54,919 I'm just gonna venture up this other hole. 204 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,119 Hopefully there could be something solid below me. 205 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,639 Well, there's a really, really narrow level 206 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,799 underneath what they been calling here, the second level. 207 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,119 You see that? In there. 208 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,319 It's like a little narrow level in there. 209 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,639 Certainly could be exactly what we're looking for. 210 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,839 We'll get all this loose stuff behind us here. 211 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,919 We'll put that in the water, and that'll soak up all that water, 212 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,799 and then we can just bucket out those muddy buckets of dirt. 213 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:38,759 In White Cliffs, the clean-up has begun for the Young Guns 214 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,999 after extreme summer storms flooded their mine. 215 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,239 Still well short of their season target, 216 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,879 the rookies want to expand their operation 217 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:52,639 as they hunt for crystal opal worth up to $25,000 a gram. 218 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,959 We're just gonna go down the back hole in the corner of the claim, 219 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,639 just to go and see what's down that hole. 220 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,679 The plan is to connect their mine to a neighbouring one 221 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,639 and open it up enough for the Kanga digger to get through. 222 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,879 OK. Slowly. 223 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:10,999 But first, Jaymin and Noah 224 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,799 need to descend nine metres to find the right location to dig. 225 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:17,839 I'm a little bit nervous, yeah. 226 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,519 The shafts like this that are that deep and unexplored. 227 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,039 On a swinging ladder, it's still a little bit scary. 228 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,959 It's a bit sketchy. 229 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,599 Dude, it's a little mine. Still one more place to go. 230 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:45,119 A downstairs level, and that's just the other side of this level, so... 231 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,199 Some of the ground looks pretty good. 232 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,159 Could've been ten, 15 years ago that whoever was last in here 233 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,919 gave it a bit of a go and then just never turned back up. 234 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,039 Whoa. 235 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,159 That must be like the underneath part, but bloody hell. 236 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,239 I think maybe we check out the bottom level 237 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,079 and see what's down that way. 238 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,679 So I think that's probably where 239 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,519 we're going to end up breaking through. 240 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,839 The bottom level is nine metres down, the same depth as their mine. 241 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,959 This is where Jaymin believes 242 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,599 they can dig through to join them together. 243 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:19,039 Let's try and focus on connecting them up and getting the loader in 244 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,439 and clearing out these walls, making them wider, 245 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,639 giving us a bit more room to walk through. 246 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,479 I'm going to draw up a plan of how it looks down here, 247 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,599 and then we'll head back up and draw a plan of our mine there 248 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,879 and try and figure out exactly in relation to where we're digging 249 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,159 to make sure we're going in the right direction to push through. 250 00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:42,079 Ooh, nice. Nice! 251 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,159 Got it? She's a heavy one. 252 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,279 Key to the plan is this 1.5 metre long auger drill, 253 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,599 hired for $700, that attaches to the Kanga. 254 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:54,559 Say hello to my little friend! 255 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,519 Yeah, there we go. Whoo! 256 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,999 For the plan to work, the boys are banking on the drill 257 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,559 punching through to the other side. 258 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,519 We're going to use that to try to drill a hole through there, 259 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,839 see if we can break through into it. That'd be really good. 260 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,679 Just go straight ahead first. Straight ahead first. 261 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,359 I haven't seen any opal or anything like that 262 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:21,919 come out from the drill yet, 263 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,319 but at this stage, 264 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,999 we're really just trying to find that mine and break through there. 265 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,079 Well, it's not a metre that way. 266 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,479 Think how long it would take to jackhammer that far. 267 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,079 I know. And now we know it's not in that direction. 268 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:34,919 So now we're gonna come over this way 269 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,959 and we think it's, you know, now that way. 270 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,679 Go right down the other hole. 271 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:47,159 Climb down that ladder and see if we can hear and see how close it is. 272 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,279 We've kind of worked it out by putting two holes in either side. 273 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,199 Now we need to go straight in the middle. 274 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:57,919 That's what we're doing right now. 275 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,439 That sounds close. 276 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,879 Like they could be a full metre away right now and they just... 277 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,279 Oh, it sounds really close. 278 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,239 GAVAN: I'm thinking that's my hard sandstone level there. 279 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,439 Righto, if you send it down, the tape. 280 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,479 Whoa. What do you got? 281 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,639 That's 10.8 metres. OK. 282 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:45,559 I've found a floor that's probably 283 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,439 roughly two and a half metres below where my floor is. 284 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:53,119 So I'm hoping that carries through into my claim. 285 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,839 That's where they were talking about where the opal is. 286 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,359 In a dangerous, abandoned mine, 287 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,279 Gavan and offsider Tim have located the opal level. 288 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,879 Next step, dig to the same level in Gavan's mine. 289 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,319 Digging out my floor would be a massive job. 290 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,199 Hundreds of tons of soil down there below me. 291 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,799 For us to get down into there, we're gonna have to... 292 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,959 I don't know, we're gonna have to come up with a plan, something. 293 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,479 I've been playing with the idea of possibly drilling underground 294 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:27,399 instead of spending weeks or months digging down with a digger 295 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,879 and just moving dirt to get down there. 296 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,199 We've sort of thrown a few ideas around. 297 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:38,119 The best one we've come up with is basically a small underground drill. 298 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,439 Gavan's gambling the last of the season 299 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,079 on this 23-centimetre diameter drill 300 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,719 to dig 2.5 metres into the floor of his mine. 301 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,919 To me, the most important thing in my life is my family. 302 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,999 For us to find opal would just make our life that much more better. 303 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:01,919 Is it going to work underground? 304 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,959 Is everything going to work in our favour? 305 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,319 These pins are gonna come out, 306 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,919 that's got to come off, and then we're gonna sample them. 307 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:18,559 The plan is to use the one-tonne hydraulic digger to drive the drill. 308 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,399 All right. Coming. 309 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,319 Hold it there. 310 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,679 Beautiful. Beautiful. 311 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,679 From here, it should be reasonably simple for us now. 312 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,519 A few hydraulic hoses, and we'll be ready to give it its first run. 313 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,759 The final step is to connect 314 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,119 a hydraulic hose from the digger to the drill motor. 315 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,199 There we go. 316 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,959 See how you go. 317 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,479 It doesn't fit, Gav. Are you kidding me? 318 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,799 It all hinges on the hole, whether you can get down or not. 319 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,599 The more time setting up, the less chance of making money. 320 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,199 Just weeks away from the end of the season, 321 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,679 new team, the Cheals, are making a last-ditch effort 322 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,159 to find $10,000 in opal to pay mounting bills. 323 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,319 We are starting from scratch, and it's the backend of the season. 324 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,399 It's getting so hot out here. 325 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,039 We've got a short period 326 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:31,439 to come out here and smash out as many loads as we can. 327 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,919 Rema, how are you? Pretty good. 328 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,799 We're gonna have to put a three-foot hole there, 329 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,919 so we get the big rig in. 330 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,959 Chris's plan is to dig a metre-wide shaft 331 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,999 through a layer of hardened rock called silcrete, 332 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,279 to the opal-bearing fault line 13 metres down, 333 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:56,039 then widen it by hand in a process known as "belling out" 334 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:58,679 to make enough room for a tunnelling machine. 335 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,839 So, there's a pretty hard cap 336 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,639 they say at about eight, ten feet, and it's about two foot thick. 337 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:09,719 Yeah, that's fine. 338 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,879 At a cost of $1,300, 339 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,599 Chris has hired experienced drill rig operator, Homere Rema Remaili, 340 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,679 to drill the 13 metres. 341 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,559 Probably bit of a slow go, but she should get through. 342 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,239 All right. OK. I need you to get through. 343 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,959 Getting the taste of it. 344 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,679 The teeth on a drill bucket are made of tungsten steel, 345 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,879 designed to carve through earth and rock. 346 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:41,799 The bucket machine, that bucket, basically, it gets forced down. 347 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,519 It fills the bucket. It's usually about one foot. 348 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:03,519 Sorry. We have to change a few teeth from the cover. 349 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,559 It used to have a tungsten tip like that... 350 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,439 ..and it's just worn out. 351 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,719 That's how hard the silcrete is. It's harder than metal. 352 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,639 Bore's only three metres down. 353 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,119 I've only really just started in that silcrete. 354 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,039 You wouldn't really expect to be changing teeth already. 355 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,559 Replacing teeth takes up valuable time. 356 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,199 Round two. Back to the grindstone. 357 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,359 We want to get down to about 43 feet. 358 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,319 If we can get to that stage today, hopefully by tomorrow afternoon, 359 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,839 we're down the hole and actually digging some dirt. 360 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,679 Another one bites the dust. 361 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,159 That's gone. Another one gone. 362 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,239 He's down two more teeth. 363 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,639 Seven feet. They've been at it for a while for seven feet. 364 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,439 I can certainly say my confidence is not growing. 365 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,439 Three hours and nine teeth later... 366 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:23,999 Getting through slowly, but I don't know 367 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,639 how much longer he's going to keep trying. 368 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,759 Eight feet. 369 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:35,879 The teeth are gone again. 370 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,199 Right now, we're really keen to get through, 371 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:58,759 so we don't want to stop now. 372 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,919 Still well short of their target, 373 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,239 the Young Guns' plan to break through into a neighbouring mine... 374 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,799 Ah, where are you? 375 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,039 ..has proved harder than expected. 376 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,839 There it goes. There it goes. 377 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,759 Go on, little drill. 378 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:25,679 I reckon you're really close, but... 379 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:32,279 Guys, you're in! The tip! The tip is in! 380 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:34,359 I can hear them. Listen to this. 381 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,559 Oi, hello! Oi, the tip is in! 382 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,839 What? The tip is in! 383 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,679 The tip's in. We were thinking of giving up, and the tip was in. 384 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,799 We literally just gave up. 385 00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:59,679 Look at that. 386 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:01,799 Oh, how're you doing? 387 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,079 Definitely very happy to be through, 388 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,959 and definitely going to open up so much more options for us 389 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,639 in terms of opening the mine up in a huge way. Perfect. 390 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,559 Just about to do that last little bit of jackhammering, 391 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,599 make it so we can actually walk through into our new mine. 392 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:23,679 Let's dig. 393 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,039 We'll walk all the way through. It is so satisfying. 394 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:40,759 You're satisfied now? I'm happy. 395 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,199 The new mine has 45 metres of tunnels that can now be accessed 396 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,399 by their digging and mining equipment. 397 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,479 Oh, this is pretty sick. 398 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,119 Checking out a whole new mine, it's just awesome. 399 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,919 You know, it's going to increase our potential 400 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,999 to find opal by magnitudes. 401 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,399 Oi, have you guys checked out this pit? 402 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,999 What's up there? 403 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:04,639 Oh, lots of backfill. 404 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,919 We are going to be shovelling all this dirt up here. 405 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,199 Bloody old timers and their backfill. 406 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,399 Holy ! Look. Here. Look. 407 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,159 What have you got? You got something? Opal. Look at that! 408 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,039 Dude, this mine is pin-up! 409 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,719 As you can see, look, it's just cutting grooves. Yeah, yeah. 410 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,279 In a desperate effort to clear debts, 411 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:40,079 former trucker Chris Cheal and son Oscar 412 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,599 are attempting to open up a new mine. 413 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:44,839 But their efforts have hit a roadblock. 414 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,519 His clutch is burning out 415 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:48,719 cos it's too hard for the reams to get through. 416 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,439 At a cost of $1,300, 417 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:55,839 the hired Caldwell drill can't break through a hard layer of silcrete rock 418 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:57,919 to reach the opal level. 419 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,959 What if I just go down the hole and took that out? 420 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,759 Chris will tackle the hole with a full-face mask 421 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,399 to stop silica dust damaging his lungs, 422 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:13,679 and a 15 kilogram jackhammer 423 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,679 that can deliver more pressure to a single point. 424 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,039 We can't get through, so the only thing I can think of 425 00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:21,559 is to get the jackhammer, 426 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,519 just get in the hole, and knock it out by hand. 427 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,719 The temperature at the bottom of the one-metre wide hole 428 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,399 is nearing 45 degrees with high humidity. 429 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,479 Yeah, he's definitely going hard down there. 430 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,879 He's got probably about that much to go around the hole, so... 431 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,999 Working in these conditions, 432 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,999 Chris is at risk of severe dehydration. 433 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:56,759 He's got about a third left to go. 434 00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:09,159 It's the hardest ground I've ever dug with a jackhammer. 435 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,959 Oh, great. Thanks, mate. 436 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:19,319 Let's give it a shot now. 437 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,479 Just hoping I've taken off enough down there 438 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,199 for him to get through that cap. 439 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,079 All good. Beautiful. 440 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,759 He's through that hard stuff. Thank goodness. 441 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,919 Yeah, I'm pretty happy, eh? 442 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:45,359 Thirty-nine. 443 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:48,479 Thirty-nine feet. 444 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:53,479 After six hours of labour, the drill has finally reached the opal level. 445 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,319 With nearly a full day lost and $1,300 down, 446 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:01,919 Chris needs the next step of his operation to go smoothly. 447 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,199 Just going over there to get the blower. 448 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,559 I'm gonna bring it over here closer to the hole. 449 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,359 The blower is a 30-year-old, ten-tonne high-powered vacuum 450 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,199 that can suck dirt up and out of the bottom of a mine shaft. 451 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:20,879 So this thing will suck a brick 50 metres within a few seconds. 452 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,439 We'll hook it up and tow it out. 453 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,519 But the blower doesn't have a working engine. 454 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,799 It must be towed into position right over the newly dug shaft. 455 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,879 Yeah, slow. Looking good. 456 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,199 Your wheel's gonna be good. 457 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:43,759 Right on. 458 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:48,119 That one's good. 459 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,199 Yeah, that way. 460 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,159 It doesn't fit, Gav. Uh-oh. Fittings are too big. 461 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,239 These are too small. On the head, oh... 462 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,319 Eight metres underground, 463 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,319 Gavan McFarlane's hopes of finding opal this season are slipping away. 464 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,839 Fittings on the motor was different to their hoses. 465 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,399 Unable to fit the hydraulic hose onto the drill motor, 466 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,999 Gavan and Tim can't dig the floor of the mine. 467 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,359 I have some fittings up in the truck. 468 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,119 Just a heap of spares. I'll go up, see what I've got. 469 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,039 Gavan needs to make this work. 470 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,119 The family's off-the-grid home is in urgent need of repairs. 471 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,039 TEAGAN: I don't understand not having a flushing toilet. 472 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,799 It's just normal to other people. We don't have that. 473 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:57,719 Coming down. 474 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,479 Luckily, I keep a little box of mixed fittings, 475 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,559 brand new fittings up in my truck. 476 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:09,799 Hopefully they fit. Let's do it. 477 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,559 Give me some good news. 478 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,639 Guess what? Yes? 479 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:22,879 It fits. Ah! 480 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:24,959 Thank God for that. 481 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:29,999 All right. The moment of truth. 482 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,079 You're ready? Ready. 483 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,559 All right! Yeah! It spins! It's spinning. 484 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,719 Whoo-hoo! Good going, mate. Excellent. 485 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,959 Ready to drill. Ready to go. 486 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,999 Mother Nature produces a beautiful gem, 487 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,639 and she's pretty darn good at hiding it too. 488 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,319 So that's what we're here for, the treasure hunter in us 489 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,239 is trying to find out where she is, where she's hiding it. 490 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,919 Two and a half metres of drilled dirt is sifted through a mesh, 491 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,559 catching any small opal-bearing pebbles or "nobbies". 492 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:13,679 Like sieving for gold. 493 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,319 Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's it. Whoa, look at that. 494 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:19,399 Look, look, look, look. Look at that. 495 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,399 That a nobby? 496 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,879 Wow. Wow. 497 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,279 God, let there be colour in there, please. 498 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:40,679 That one's good. 499 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,479 That's not what we want. 500 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,359 I thought you were coming down. Too soft. 501 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:58,119 Right, I'll have to fire the big truck up, sneak her out of there... 502 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,239 ..and put another hole cover in. Right. 503 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,399 Just added two hours to the day. 504 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:05,919 Deep in debt, and with the season running out, 505 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,239 the Cheals have got their ten-ton blower 506 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:10,559 stuck in the entrance of their new mineshaft. 507 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,919 We were trying to get the blower nice and close. 508 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,919 Just the dirt around the hole was a bit soft. 509 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,999 And, yes, it just went straight down. 510 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,199 Stand clear. I don't want the chain flying off and hitting anyone. 511 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,319 To get the blower out, 512 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,919 Chris needs the might of his 570-horsepower haulage truck. 513 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,399 At the moment, we're at the start of day four. 514 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,439 It's a bit worrying considering we haven't actually gotten down 515 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:41,639 and started digging. We've only got the hole. 516 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:44,959 Money is going out. Nothing's coming in 517 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:46,839 cos we're not getting through any dirt. 518 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,079 And we've got this really, really short window to make some money, 519 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,279 and at the moment, every day counts, 520 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:55,359 and just these little things are just chewing up so much time. 521 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:58,439 I've got some 40-mil steel plate. 522 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,119 I'll put steel plate over it. 523 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:05,159 It cannot fall in there, can it? 524 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,519 It's all good to go now, hopefully. 525 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:27,559 All we got to do now is put the pipes down, and we can start work. 526 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,959 At the bottom of the 13-metre shaft, 527 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:37,039 Chris will bell out, widening the hole for a digger 528 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,119 that will create the tunnels. 529 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:44,439 Like that sound. 530 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,799 Jackhammering this cement-like sandstone is slow, 531 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,839 with only two cubic metres cleared in an hour. 532 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,279 Put your helmet on and come down. We'll take turns on the hammer. 533 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,359 I'm gonna jump down there with him. 534 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,959 When you start up there, start on a bit of an angle. 535 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,159 Once your tip gets in there, then lift it up. 536 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:09,479 He hasn't had much of an opportunity the last few years 537 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:11,639 because he's been studying so hard, 538 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,079 and obviously, the best way he can learn 539 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:15,919 is just to be put on it and left alone. 540 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,719 He picks things up pretty quick. 541 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:19,799 That's it. 542 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,079 Yeah, it's really nice being down here and actually digging. 543 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,559 We better be able to because we're at the end of the season 544 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:49,199 and this is our only shot. 545 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,239 OK. Here's hoping. Right here. 546 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,799 Now what you do, all right, 547 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,199 just around the edges. OK. 548 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,919 For the McFarlanes, their entire season 549 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,439 rests on Gavan's find of an opal nobby 550 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:14,519 that could be worth thousands. 551 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,959 You're probably better off doing these back here. 552 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,159 You got more... OK, yeah. I like the idea. 553 00:34:19,240 --> 00:34:21,839 He's putting faith in his budding miner daughter, 554 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:25,879 16-year-old Teagan, to cut away the outer layer of sandstone. 555 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:27,959 Here you go. Oh, gosh. 556 00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:31,719 You see OK? Yeah. Ah! 557 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,319 So Dad wanted me to, like, chip at the nobby 558 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,079 to get, like, the dirt off it and see if there was anything in there. 559 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:42,559 We need to get a little one. 560 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,679 It's been nerve-wracking when you first do it cos you're like, 561 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,679 "What happens if it's a big, expensive one, and you break it?" 562 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:50,759 A little bit more there. 563 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,399 Yeah, now it's getting into the opal. Ooh! 564 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,079 I feel like if Dad wasn't there, I would've chopped it right in half. 565 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:03,199 Yep. Can I take that much? Yeah, go on if you can. 566 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,079 There you go. Oh, look, there's... 567 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:11,839 I mean, you can see it's purple and blue. Look, in there. 568 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:13,639 We're gonna give it a rub so we can see. 569 00:35:13,720 --> 00:35:15,359 Give it a rub and have a look. 570 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,959 Connie's skill at rubbing the stones on her polishing wheel 571 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:24,719 will reveal the true value of the opal, a gem or a dud. 572 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:26,519 So I get to rub the stones. 573 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,919 It's my way of helping, being part of the team. 574 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,479 There's a lot of sand in it. Yeah, I know. 575 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:36,519 I'd take it all the way to the black. 576 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,599 Yeah? Yeah. 577 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,599 It's not quite what we want, but she's pretty. 578 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:50,479 You can see little bits of purple, a little bit of green, and... 579 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:53,959 but I think the sand's definitely got to the middle of it. Yeah. 580 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,439 It's not gonna get us a new roof. No. No. 581 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:01,239 The nobby kind of like came out nice, 582 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:03,839 but there was sand straight through. 583 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:08,039 The McFarlanes' nobby is a black opal called "sunflash". 584 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,799 It has no colour bar, with only specks of floating green. 585 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:15,639 There are three to four grams or 15 to 20 carats. 586 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:18,639 No money in it, sadly. No money. 587 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:20,719 Heading in the right direction. OK. 588 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,799 We just got to keep it going. That's right. 589 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:24,839 Colour was in the potch, 590 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:27,959 and Gavan tells me that that is what we're looking for. 591 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:29,679 If he keeps on digging where he is 592 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,519 or moves a couple of centimetres to the left or to the right, 593 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:34,599 we might find that elusive opal. 594 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,759 It just tells me to keep going, keep trying, keep working. 595 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,639 I guess when I do find it, 596 00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:42,639 I'll be probably doing backflips and handstands and... 597 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:00,999 Oh! Up there. 598 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:04,479 Look at that. We got opal in the wall. 599 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:06,559 After surviving torrential storms 600 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:08,999 that threatened to wash out their claim, 601 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,079 the Young Guns have broken through to a new opal-bearing mine. 602 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:16,479 Some colour, for sure. Oh, it keeps going. 603 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:18,559 This looks good, boys. Come on. 604 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:20,879 Keep going. Keep going. 605 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:22,959 That's the money going in. 606 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,439 Whoa. Oh, that's a big boy. 607 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:29,159 That's a big one. That's some red and green. 608 00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:31,519 Boys. I think that's probably it. 609 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:33,599 Our bucket's pretty much full there. 610 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:42,079 Let's do some cutting, boys. 611 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:45,199 Jaymin's decided that to up the price 612 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:47,879 of the opal that we found, he's gonna cut it. 613 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:50,919 Jaymin Sullivan has been learning to cut opals 614 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,079 from his experienced mining father for the past year. 615 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,239 I'm just going to grab a couple of stones and clean up the edges 616 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,439 and just see, you know, what opal is beneath. 617 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:01,719 Using his dad's polishing and cutting wheels, 618 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:05,119 the value of the stones is now in Jaymin's hands. 619 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:06,839 Every time I touch this bit of opal 620 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,199 to the grinding wheel there, we're losing money. 621 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:10,879 So we don't want that to happen. 622 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:12,799 We want to take off as little as possible. 623 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,839 All the stones we cut right now are all going to be freeform. 624 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:20,759 Opals can be cut freeform, which maintains the irregular edges, 625 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:23,359 or they can be cut into a calibrated stone, 626 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,559 which has perfect symmetry. 627 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:28,559 So if we want to make a nice calibrated circle, 628 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:30,959 you would draw with a little pencil around there. 629 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:33,239 So you'll be able to just follow your outline. 630 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,239 But if you're making something like that, 631 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:37,759 that means you're losing that other beautiful stone. 632 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:40,599 You've got to decide if you want to keep it as a freeform 633 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:43,559 or, you know, you take more of your opal away 634 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:46,439 and make something that might sell a little bit quicker. 635 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:48,519 So it's always a bit of a gamble. 636 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:52,679 Look at that. 637 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,039 That's awesome. 638 00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:58,159 That's that parcel done. 639 00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:01,079 Just got to get a value now and see what we've actually got. 640 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:05,279 Jaymin has asked local veteran miner 641 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:08,559 and opal buyer Micah to value their find. 642 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:10,999 So these are the opals I was calling you up about. 643 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,079 Hey, man. What do you think, Micah? 644 00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:18,519 What weight? Uh, we got about 18 carats. 645 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,399 That one's probably the best one. Oh, mate, that's beautiful. 646 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:27,799 That's a kingstone there. That's six or so... Six, right... 647 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,599 The anticipation is killing me. Yeah, mate. 648 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,159 Another six and... 649 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,239 Mate, I'd say between seven and eight thousand. 650 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,039 That's fantastic. Thank you for that, Micah. 651 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,359 That's all we needed to hear, I think. 652 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,159 The Young Guns have found crystal opal, 653 00:39:48,240 --> 00:39:51,039 featuring the full spectrum of colours. 654 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:55,159 It has been cut and polished, and there's 3.6 grams, 655 00:39:55,240 --> 00:39:58,359 with a top-end value of $8,000. 656 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:05,079 That's like three months of working our dead-end jobs at home. 657 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,119 We're opal miners now. 658 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:10,199 We had problems with flooding. 659 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:12,679 Everything just seemed to be against us. 660 00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:14,639 The next moment, you just see this sparkle, 661 00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:16,279 this rainbow behind the wall, 662 00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:18,359 and that's what makes it worthwhile. 663 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:20,599 When you see that buried treasure underground, 664 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:22,279 it's just something special. 665 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,439 Right now, I've become completely adjusted 666 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,199 to the lifestyle of an opal miner. 667 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:28,359 You know, it's just so rewarding. 668 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,599 You move enough dirt, you're gonna find opal. 669 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:33,679 That's just something you can't get in other jobs. So that's why 670 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:35,839 it's just one of the best jobs in the world. 671 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,079 I just hope we get something by tonight, it's already... 672 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,599 It's already cut the grain going out. 673 00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:58,119 I just hope it's not for nothing, you know. Yeah, exactly. 674 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:00,319 After the worst drought in a decade 675 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:03,039 destroyed their grain trucking business, 676 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:05,759 father and son team Chris and Oscar Cheal 677 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:09,359 are banking on their first truck load of dirt holding opals. 678 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:11,039 Scott's been kind enough 679 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:13,319 to let us use the agitator, so we'll get this in. 680 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,519 The agitator's free this afternoon. 681 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:17,839 Chris and Oscar are going to put a load through that, 682 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,439 just to help him out. 683 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:21,399 Scott said you see bugger all 684 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:24,119 when you're digging it, so let's hope he's right. 685 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:26,999 Cos we didn't really see much down there, did we? No. 686 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:30,159 A converted cement mixer, 687 00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,999 the agitator uses thousands of litres of water 688 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:37,639 to wash away dirt until all that remains are rocks and any opal. 689 00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:39,239 Scott's here with his family, 690 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:41,199 and then there's Dad and I, and a few others. 691 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:43,799 We could find absolutely nothing. 692 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:46,079 We could find a million dollars, you never know. 693 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:49,799 Yeah, it all comes down to money, doesn't it? 694 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,599 With no money there, we need to cover the costs, 695 00:41:52,680 --> 00:41:55,239 or, you know, we don't go ahead. 696 00:41:55,320 --> 00:42:00,359 Whatever Chris and Oscar find will be split 70:30 with Scott, 697 00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:03,599 so they'll need to find over two and a half thousand dollars... 698 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:05,959 Bunch of the same. ..just to cover their costs. 699 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:20,999 Hey, look at that. 700 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:24,039 Nice bit of colour in it. 701 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:26,959 Oh, yeah. That's a good sign. 702 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:33,759 Oi, Dad, found a nice bit of colour. 703 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:42,039 You can make a little green bar in it. 704 00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:48,079 Hey, check that out. Could be the colour, nice, big nobby. 705 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:51,079 Oh, hey, it's going on, eh? 706 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:56,439 A little bit of red down and it's on black. Ah, it's bloody good. 707 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:00,319 The Cheals have found crystal opal, 708 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,959 green and blue, with some of it on a valuable black base. 709 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:06,439 In the rough, there are 20 grams of it. 710 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:11,519 Some good colour here. Nice little pea nobbies, nice bright colour. 711 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:14,839 In the rough, at a guess, two grand. 712 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:18,159 Their $1,400-share won't cover costs, 713 00:43:18,240 --> 00:43:21,199 but it's the sign the father and son team need. 714 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,639 There was a bit of colour there, so it's given me a bit of spark. 715 00:43:24,720 --> 00:43:28,199 We'll certainly put the digger down and rip some more dirt out. 716 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,559 Yeah, I'm really confident. Hopefully, you know, 717 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:33,599 it leads us in the right way that we can hit a massive pocket. 718 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:36,719 He's been great, Oscar. Just being able to teach him a few things 719 00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:39,919 and just getting time with him, I mean, he's great to have around. 720 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:47,879 subtitles by Deluxe 720 00:43:48,305 --> 00:44:48,464