"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.8

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,479 . 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,399 On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,839 This is the home of the black opal. Gives me goose bumps. 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:09,639 ..The Tunnel Rats... 5 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:11,279 I'm really hoping this could be it. 6 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,239 ..are fighting to make a new start in unknown ground. 7 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,039 Right on the black too. 8 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,159 Yes! 9 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:22,479 Solo prospector Col Duff feels the heat... 10 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,799 Really good for catching the opal. 11 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,279 ..hired to find new opal in the vast Outback. 12 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,719 There's some good areas to drill that haven't been looked at. 13 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,119 And with Pete Cooke out of action... I'm running out of ideas. 14 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,999 ..it's the last roll of the dice for apprentice Sam. 15 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,399 It's not working. 16 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,439 # Money 17 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,879 # And fancy clothes... # 18 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:58,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 19 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,719 So lucky that we're able to come up here and make a new start. 20 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,199 In the Grawin Opal Field, 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,599 the temperature is pushing 40C. 22 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,119 The end of the season is just weeks away. 23 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,119 But for Tunnel Rats Bayden Pearse and Lise Grobe, 24 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,559 their season here is just beginning. 25 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,879 There's a lot of people who've come from Coober Pedy and other places 26 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,439 and had a fresh start. You're not the first. Yeah. 27 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,759 They've come here to seek one of the most valuable gemstones in the world: 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,639 black opal, worth up to $43,000 a gram. 29 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,959 If I can find some of that stuff - 30 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,879 one stone, you could be looking at $20,000, 31 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:49,039 just like 17 grand, 20 grand. 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,559 We're not used to that kind of material. 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,679 Whoo! 34 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,599 That is what I call Mintabie opal. 35 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,039 Yes! Yes! 36 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,039 Two months ago, the Tunnel Rats hit the jackpot. 37 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,279 It's just made things a lot easier for us. 38 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,879 That's really changed a lot. 39 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,479 In the mining township of Mintabie, 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,079 Bayden and dad Rodney worked their 40,000m-sq claim - 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,159 Grasshopper. 42 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,799 Look at that colour. That is beautiful colour, son. 43 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,119 Yay! Whoo! 44 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,199 The mine produced their biggest-ever opal find 45 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,479 worth $100,000. 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,639 But the find of a lifetime ripped the family apart. 47 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,839 Bayden came and got me, 48 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:54,199 and sort of started pushing me back, 49 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,279 and I started pushing back against him, 50 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,319 and he just dropped me down on the ground. 51 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,839 He's suspicious of me taking money. 52 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,039 He and I were mates. 53 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,679 Mates. Not father and son, we were mates. 54 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,759 We spoke about everything. 55 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,159 There's Bayden when he was little. 56 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,759 Not sitting on his mother's knee, sitting on MY knee. 57 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,279 Who's feeding him? His father. 58 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,319 Who took him out on the tractor? 59 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,599 Who looked after him? 60 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,279 It's been pretty depressing, really. 61 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,159 Makes it hard when there's someone that you used to idolise... 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,159 ..that doesn't want to talk to you any more. 63 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,799 For the Tunnel Rats, there is no turning back. 64 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,439 The town of Mintabie is being closed down by the authorities 65 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,559 and handed back to its traditional owners. 66 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,119 So I've got a lot of work to do and not much time to do it. 67 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,119 Rodney must abandon his off-grid home. 68 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,079 The stress of having to move, 69 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,119 it's very emotional. 70 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,439 Nothing's in place, 71 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,719 and everything's stressful. 72 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,359 I don't know what the future holds. 73 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,039 Well, I've got to make sure that everything that I own 74 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,919 is taken out before D-Day. 75 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,079 This is home for my four dogs and myself. 76 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,079 It's not a nice feeling. 77 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,159 The place you've called home for 26 years... 78 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,199 It's a strange feeling. 79 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,519 1,500km away to the east... 80 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,479 Reliable - you mean stability-wise? 81 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,159 Stable opal, it doesn't crack. Yeah, stable. 82 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,759 Bayden and Lise are starting again 83 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,639 with old friend Murray - Muzz - Cantwell. 84 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,919 So, this area that we're coming into now, 85 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,679 this is what they call Millionaires Road. 86 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,879 A lot of opal came out of this area. I like the sound of that! 87 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,919 Muzz, Bayden and Lise have done a deal... 88 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,159 Alrighty. So this is it. 89 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,199 ..explore an abandoned mine on Muzz's claim 90 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:31,479 for a half share of any opal found. 91 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,159 No-one's been down this hole for probably about seven years. 92 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,319 Oh, wow. You said that claim was flooded. 93 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,079 The claim down the bottom level 94 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:40,839 used to get a lot of water in it... Yep. 95 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,919 ..from all the other claims around. 96 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:47,599 I don't know what to expect. It's all new to me. 97 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:49,559 One person at a time. Yep. 98 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,319 Just hang on to the handrails. Three points to contact. 99 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,439 Keep your feet on the rails, and you'll be all right. 100 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,719 Mintabie's a lot more stable ground. It's very hard. 101 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,879 Here they're having to put props up to stabilise the ground. 102 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:04,719 I'm really, really nervous, 103 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,719 cos it's jumping into a bit of ground that you don't know about. 104 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,239 Righto. OK, I'm coming down. 105 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,479 This ground's no joke. 106 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,559 It can collapse on you. 107 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,479 I'll show you a couple of spots where you're not allowed to go. 108 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,439 That's a particularly bad area going in through there. 109 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,679 This is where it's been mined. 110 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,439 This is all out of bounds in through this direction here. 111 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,839 You can see where there's been a fall in there from the roof. 112 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,039 That area off that section is out of bounds. 113 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,519 You can see the stability of those pillars here. 114 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,919 We don't want to be getting anywhere near these. 115 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,199 Everything here, all that... 116 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:48,479 Is collapsed. ..is roof. 117 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,879 No props in it. That's what happens. It all comes down. 118 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,879 I quite often wonder whether anyone was underneath this stuff 119 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,959 when it happened. 120 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,479 For Pete Cooke... 121 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,079 Yeah? Let it down. 122 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,439 ..and Sam Westra the season is coming to an end. 123 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,759 Temperatures are rising... Rightio. 124 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,679 ..and so is the pressure on the master and his apprentice. 125 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,479 It's been a pretty tough season so far. 126 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,359 Haven't found much opal, and now Pete's torn his shoulder. 127 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,559 So, uh, yeah, it's pretty tough going. 128 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,639 I busted up my shoulder. 129 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,159 That's my main niggle at the moment. 130 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,919 That's a bit of a big , 131 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,839 climbing 50ft of ladders with one arm. 132 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,999 It makes it difficult even just to get dressed, 133 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,079 let alone getting anything done. 134 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,639 Pete's injury has slowed their operation down, 135 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,879 forcing 20-year-old rookie Sam underground alone. 136 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,519 You know, we haven't found any money in the last couple of seasons, 137 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,479 which is virtually two years of my life 138 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,559 where I haven't really got paid. 139 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,239 The partners are not even halfway 140 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,999 to their $50,000 target 141 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,959 with only one more week 142 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,959 before the summer heat will force them to shut down. 143 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,879 They too are hunting the most valuable opal in the world: 144 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,199 Lightning Ridge's black opal, 145 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,719 500 times more expensive than gold. 146 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,759 It's a very rare, elusive gem to find. 147 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,519 That's why it's worth so much, because it's so scarce. 148 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,719 It's pretty tough down here, mining by yourself. It's really slow. 149 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,479 We're not gonna operate both machines at once. 150 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,159 We'll call that a day. Home time. 151 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,799 Better find some opal, mate. 152 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,959 It's all well and good for me when I'm by myself, but... 153 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,119 ..having Corinne in the equation definitely changes that. 154 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,559 So, I've been doing quite a bit of thinking about it. 155 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,359 Hello. How are you? Good, how are you? 156 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,559 How was your day? Good. How was mining? 157 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,759 Find anything? No. 158 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,639 Just like every other day! 159 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,719 If I found some opal to finish the season off, 160 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,919 I'd have to stay, but if we don't find anything, 161 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,479 it's probably time just to look at the reality of it 162 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:41,159 and work out whether this is 163 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,119 a good thing for me and for us. 164 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,679 Hey, mate, have a look at these happy snaps. 165 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,079 You see, all that should be full of tendon. 166 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:58,919 So, I think there's four in total, 167 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,279 and I've torn three of them completely off. Right. 168 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,599 I've got surgery in a week. 169 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:06,839 Well, can we do anything in that week? 170 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,199 You can't do that sort of work, 171 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,959 drive a truck or anything? I can still weld. 172 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,439 I have a plan. Rightio. Let's go and have a look. 173 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,799 All right, mate. 174 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,399 Their hydraulically powered one-tonne digger 175 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,559 moves by dragging itself slowly across the floor. 176 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,439 Pete has a plan to speed up both it and their mining operation. 177 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,199 Looking at it from the side. So what I'm gonna do... 178 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,799 is try and put some tracks or wheels on it - 179 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,319 a drive wheel. 180 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,199 And in the middle, we've got a hydraulic motor. 181 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,079 So you just hit some levers, 182 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,159 and it's like a little Bobcat or an excavator, 183 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:47,959 in that it drives itself along. 184 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,439 So if this works how I hope it works... Yeah. 185 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,759 ..you'll be able to do this by yourself underground without me. 186 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,239 Pete's got this new concept, 187 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,479 which will work well if it works, 188 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:03,319 but got to build 'em first! 189 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,919 At the moment it's just a drawing. We'll see how it goes underground 190 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,719 cos if it doesn't work, we can't mine. 191 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,439 Got a big drive, 192 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,479 so, erm, got to make sure everything's right. 193 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:31,759 Veteran prospector and self-taught geologist Col Duff 194 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,599 is preparing for an opal hunt in remote wilderness country. 195 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:37,999 You've just got to have the stuff you need, 196 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,599 so you're not stuck in the middle of nowhere. 197 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:43,519 If you're broken down and you've got to sit there for a few days, 198 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,679 you wanna have some water. 199 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:51,239 Where Col's going, temperatures can hit 40C in the shade. 200 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,999 Out here without water, an adult can be dead within a matter of hours. 201 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:00,599 There we are here in Winton... 202 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:03,439 and we're going to Opalville 203 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,679 via Jundah. 204 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,759 Dirt most of the way. 205 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,599 He's heading 400km south 206 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:16,239 to the remote opal claim of old mate Ron Benny. 207 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,439 It's one of the biggest opal operations in Australia, 208 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,199 a multi-million-dollar mine-to-market business 209 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,719 where the opal is mined, cut, 210 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,679 set and sold directly to customers 211 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,759 in big city Sydney. 212 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:35,079 Righto. 213 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,359 Ron's hired Col to find new sources of opal 214 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,999 using his expertise in satellite imagery. 215 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:42,839 That's the lease there, 216 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,639 and that's a big fault structure coming through there. 217 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:50,239 Opal is formed in ancient underground fault lines. 218 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,039 Over millions of years, 219 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,879 silica-rich water trickled through these natural cracks 220 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,919 into pools and cavities known as gutters, 221 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,679 forming opal. 222 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,959 So these dark bits we can see - 223 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,199 what we call gutters - 224 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,199 which are really good for catching the opal. 225 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,359 And it shows up as like a shadow. 226 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,439 I've got a bunch of squiggly little shadows, 227 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,839 and we're gonna go straight to those places and see what's there. 228 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,239 Col has two days to complete his mission. 229 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,959 Starting to get a bit of excitement, a bit of adrenaline. 230 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,799 We must be getting close. 231 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,879 Can you smell the opal yet, Finn? 232 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,279 Col, good to see you. Good on you, Ron. 233 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,879 I found the place all right. Yeah, that's good. 234 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:44,799 Yeah, she's a big place. 235 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,999 You can see those big structures there. 236 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,399 This here is what I'm very interested in 237 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,479 because you've got the Black Mine and the Galaxy Mine here. 238 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:55,279 What's going on in between? 239 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,039 What's going in between there? Mm. 240 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,319 Talk to you soon. Good on ya. Cheers, mate. 241 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,199 The first task in the field is to get 242 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,039 a more detailed bird's-eye view of the area. 243 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,359 Basically, we're looking for surface trace. 244 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,279 If we can't find any surface trace, 245 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,879 we should be able to pick where the ground's changed. 246 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,039 That's gonna fly down the valley a bit 247 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,519 and see what we can see that sticks out. 248 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,439 The aerial view is very important 249 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,119 because it shows you some of those main structures. 250 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,719 With a bit of manipulation, you can see 251 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,119 some of the underlying stuff that's hidden from us. 252 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,439 Turn off, cancel. 253 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,799 Cancel. 254 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,879 Go home. OK... 255 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,839 Yeah, totally lost the video feed. 256 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,119 Don't break it. Not a good thing. 257 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,719 Just looking for any kind of loose rocks that might be hung up, 258 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,359 so no rocks jump on our head and try to kill us. 259 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,639 Tunnel Rats Bayden and Lise are entering unknown territory. 260 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,039 Watch your head. Yep. 261 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,399 With new partner Muzz, they're scouting out 262 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:38,599 a heavily worked abandoned mine in the unfamiliar ground of Grawin, 263 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,799 1,500km from their native Mintabie. 264 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,239 All of that roofing there would be sort of quite unstable. 265 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,119 Well, unstable to the point whereby that's just a big slab, 266 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,359 and you can see separation in here. 267 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,399 Just a whole different kind of ground, like it's... 268 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,479 With Mintabie ground, it's more white sandstone like this. 269 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:02,159 But as you can see, you've got the blow, as they call this... 270 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,359 It's just all mixed-up dirt. 271 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,039 The problem with these walls is is that they're that dry 272 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,279 that they start to separate. 273 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,919 Put your hand out, there's just as much likelihood 274 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:14,839 that could fall down and fall on you. 275 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,999 That tells a story that it's paid money. 276 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,879 I can show you around here how well it's paid money. 277 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,399 The miners who started this claim before had a fairly good run. 278 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,919 There's more trees down here than what there are trees on the surface, 279 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,999 with all the props. 280 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,079 And they didn't mine like that for nothing. Yeah, yeah. 281 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,799 Knowing that this is the home of the black opal, 282 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,279 it gives me goose bumps. 283 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,599 Getting Bayden back into the swing of things 284 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,999 is probably the best thing for him. 285 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,079 Just comes and goes so quickly. 286 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,799 Get plenty of leads, but all of a sudden... 287 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,999 Just little tiny... Tiny little bits and pieces. 288 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:03,759 A bit frustrating. 289 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,759 The fabrication's nearly done. 290 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,079 We've just got to finish the plumbing and... 291 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,879 yeah, we'll be right to test them out and see how they go. 292 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,039 In a last-ditch effort to hit their target, 293 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:27,999 Pete and Sam are building 294 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,999 hydraulically powered wheels for their digger 295 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,559 to move it faster and single-handedly. 296 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,919 I hope this works, cos once you're in for your op, 297 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,679 then I'm a bit stuck. 298 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,679 With Pete out of action due to injury, 299 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:45,159 Rookie Sam is carrying the entire operation on his shoulders. 300 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,279 I don't wanna leave opal mining. 301 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:49,359 I love what I do up here. 302 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,719 I'd hate to throw it all away and leave it. 303 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,559 But sometimes you've got to look at the reality of things. 304 00:17:57,120 --> 00:18:01,479 Personally, I'm struggling a bit financially to make ends meet - 305 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,879 a bit over just going to work eight till five, 306 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:05,959 and not getting anything in return. 307 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,239 It's time to have a bit of a think about it and see whether... 308 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,239 how long I continue to do that. 309 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,719 I can't see Sam staying here if we don't find any money. 310 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,479 We've got to find some opal. 311 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,879 You can't just keep putting all your time in and all your money in 312 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,439 months and months on end without pay. 313 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,879 I just hope I've got all the plumbing right. 314 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,079 I hope it all goes together. 315 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,679 Yeah, well, we're not gonna know until we put it in. Mm. 316 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,759 20m below ground, 317 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,799 Sam's task is to connect wheels to the digger 318 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,879 designed to give it more grip. 319 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,199 Whoa! 320 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:54,799 Trying to get these wheels on myself, 321 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,599 but it's not really a one-man job. 322 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,719 It'd be a lot easier if Pete was down here. 323 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,239 Oh, you... 324 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,439 We didn't make these things light, that's for sure. 325 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,159 They're nice and strong, but they're bloody heavy. 326 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,719 So far so good. 327 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,279 Right. Let's test this thing. 328 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:26,799 All right, I'm starting it up. Moment of truth. 329 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:37,919 And it's not working. 330 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:49,439 Oops. Too far. 331 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,519 Deep in the Queensland Outback... 332 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,639 ..Col Duff is struggling with his drone. 333 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,119 Yeah, totally lost the video feed. 334 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,719 With only two days to find new opal sites, 335 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:04,559 he needs the drone's aerial capacity to help him cover vast distances. 336 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,759 I'll just bring it down manually. 337 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,359 Do you know what I mean? Didn't think of that, eh? 338 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,759 It's all good when it works, but, gee, sometimes it's an adventure. 339 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,239 The drone has taken the images Col needs 340 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:30,799 to analyse the landscape and pinpoint areas likely to hold opal. 341 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,599 We just took a couple of aerials, 342 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:36,279 a video, a few oblique photos. 343 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:38,919 There's some interesting features up here. 344 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,959 You can see where some creeks join, 345 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,559 and the sort of stuff that looks interesting, 346 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,039 you know, for an opal mining perspective. 347 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:50,119 Righto. Let's find some opal. 348 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,639 Col's first target is a nearby dry creek bed. 349 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:57,439 I need to walk it and just have a look 350 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,919 cos if there's anything coming out on those levels, 351 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,159 usually it concentrates in the creek, and you'll see something. 352 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,119 Where there is water, there is a chance of opal. 353 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,239 Once you've found some in the creek, 354 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,639 you've got to work out where it's coming from. 355 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,799 Col's hoping to find signs of boulder opal 356 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,159 that occurs in this area of Australia. 357 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,679 Formed when liquid silica flows and solidifies into cavities 358 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,399 in ironstone rocks deep underground. 359 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,799 Over millions of years, movement of the earth and erosion 360 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,439 have brought these boulders to the surface. 361 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,359 So we can see these different boulders here 362 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,599 lying on the ground that are weathering out. 363 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,879 You can see this has got big cavities in it. 364 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:40,759 When that fills up with opal, 365 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,519 that makes the most beautiful black opal. 366 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,519 So we've got the rocks and the cavities. 367 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,199 In the right place, that'd make beautiful opal, 368 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:50,279 but we need to find some trace. 369 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,759 Finding one with opal would be a good sign of a major deposit. 370 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:08,879 There's a bit of trace. 371 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:13,039 We've got a bit of black potch in a boulder cavity here. 372 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:16,119 Black potch is fairly exciting cos you don't see it very often. 373 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,039 When it makes colour, it makes the best black opal. 374 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,319 Somewhere that'll get better and start loading up and making colour, 375 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,079 and then you've got a payday. But where? 376 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,159 Well, not much opal today, 377 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,119 but that's how it goes. 378 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,039 You don't find traces every day. 379 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,319 We need a bit more than potch to get anyone excited. 380 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:41,639 If Col doesn't find any opal tomorrow, 381 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:46,479 his mission to discover new deposits for mate Ron will fail. 382 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,839 What's happening? 383 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:03,719 The motors are getting oil, but they won't spin. 384 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,399 Right. 385 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,239 20m below ground, 386 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,679 Pete's plan to speed up their operation 387 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,759 has come to a grinding halt. 388 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,999 It's not working. 389 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:24,959 Damn thing. 390 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:29,159 The wheels on their modified hydraulic digger aren't working. 391 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,799 Still no good, eh? Yeah, I don't know, mate. 392 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,919 I'm bloody...a bit stumped. 393 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,719 Another failure risks putting their opal mining partnership 394 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:40,839 on shaky ground. 395 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,599 I really don't know, mate. 396 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,119 Maybe I've got to come down. 397 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,559 I'm running out of ideas unless I'm down there looking at it, you know? 398 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:52,559 I wasn't real keen on climbing 50ft of ladder 399 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,919 with only one shoulder working properly. 400 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,919 Sometimes you've just got to get right there and hands-on. 401 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,839 I was a bit trepidatious cos you've got 50ft of ladder 402 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:07,919 you've got to climb up. 403 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,159 See you at the bottom. Righto, mate. 404 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,919 I really didn't want Pete coming down the hole. 405 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,119 Climbing ladders with one hand is just so dangerous, 406 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,119 but you've got to do what you've got to do sometimes. 407 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:26,999 Phew! 408 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,279 Rightio. See if we can get this thing fixed. 409 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,519 OK... 410 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,439 Look at that little plug. 411 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,799 It's obviously blocking an oil path. 412 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,719 So, if we take it out, 413 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,199 maybe it'll let the flow through when the lever's on, mate. 414 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,359 Wow, I wouldn't have seen that. 415 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,559 Oh, no, you wouldn't pick that. 416 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,999 You'd hope all our problems were this tiny little plug, 417 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:03,759 wouldn't you? Really? 418 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,159 We'll just try it, I reckon. We'll just put this hose back in. 419 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,919 Rightio, I'm gonna fire it up. 420 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,999 See if that fixes it, eh? 421 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,279 There we go. There we are! Whoo! 422 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,239 Well, that's good. That IS good. 423 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,279 Bloody river! Bang... 424 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:34,239 The wheels are spinning round, it's spitting out dirt. 425 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,719 Sam can manage that digger by himself. 426 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,519 He can manoeuvre it. I don't have to be underground there with him. 427 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,599 Nice and easy now. 428 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,319 It's nowhere near as jumpy as it used to be. 429 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,999 That's good, mate. Well done. 430 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:57,199 The end of their season is only days away. 431 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,959 For Sam, this load needs to contain opal. 432 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,479 Hoist coming up. 433 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,839 It's costing me more than I'm making, 434 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:07,799 and you can't really ignore that fact. 435 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:16,879 One single load of good black opal could turn their season around. 436 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,959 Could be a million dollars spinning around in there. 437 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:32,919 Just starting to get a little bit of colour in the black. 438 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,799 Right in here. Ooh, yes. OK. 439 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,399 In Grawin, the Tunnel Rats are also on the hunt for rare black opal. 440 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,039 That's nice. 441 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:46,439 Oh, beauty! That's got good colour on the... 442 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,799 I found its partner. Yeah, there's the stone. 443 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,839 Yeah. That's good dark potch, 444 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,279 and you've got a colour bar sitting on the top of it. 445 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:57,559 It's running around to about here at the moment, 446 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,919 so there's probably a good - I don't know - 447 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,199 probably seven, eight-carat stone in there. 448 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,199 Whoo! Yeah. That's got good orange. 449 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,719 That's your black opal. 450 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,839 Yes! 451 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:11,759 Knew I was gonna get it. 452 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:14,359 After opal tore their family apart 453 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,239 1,500km away in Mintabie, 454 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:21,239 this black opal might be their chance for a new start. 455 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,839 That's a fairly big piece. 456 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:26,559 Ooh, hello. 457 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,239 This rock looks like red on black from my angle. 458 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,519 Well done, Muzz. That one's got it too. 459 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,359 It's pretty good luck to go from one field to another, 460 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,599 and all of a sudden be on opal. 461 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,719 You can't pay someone to do that. It just doesn't happen. 462 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,799 But maybe I've brought some luck with me. 463 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,839 Bloody hell. 464 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,919 It's the best bit of opal I've seen for a couple of years. 465 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,479 It's got every colour in it, and it's thick and clean. 466 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,919 You don't see this every day. 467 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:53,999 I'm really hoping that this could be it. 468 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,799 I'm hoping, if all goes well, this is where I'll be. 469 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,839 Reasonable size stone. That's huge. 470 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,959 Whoa! Nice. Yeah! 471 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,079 Look at that. 472 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,399 You're after a black stone... Yeah! 473 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,999 There's more there. It's going back... 474 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,519 Yes! That's what I think. Yes! 475 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,719 I've got more in my hand too. Right on the black too. 476 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,799 Oh, that's red. Oh, bloody hell, Muzz. 477 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:20,879 Got the red and orange, 478 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:22,919 which is very, very rare colour. 479 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:24,559 I'm pretty happy. 480 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,199 Whoo! 481 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,039 I definitely could live here. 482 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:29,879 The opal's beautiful, mate. 483 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,919 I can't wait to see what they actually look like rubbed up. 484 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,119 I'm holding my breath. I'm thinking I hope that they just come out 485 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,759 the way they should, and if we do, we could be talking a few grand. 486 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,879 Don't put numbers in your head. We don't put numbers in our head. 487 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:45,199 If we get any more than 50 bucks, we're happy. 488 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:46,719 Well, that's it. 489 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,439 We'll get up the top of this hill, 490 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,319 so we can look over the whole valley, 491 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:58,999 see if we can see some of those big fault structures, 492 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,079 some of the changes in the ground. 493 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,919 In remote Outback Queensland, 494 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,159 Col Duff is on the hunt. 495 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,199 Oh, beautiful. 496 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,759 Mining mate Ron Benny has hired him to find new opal sites. 497 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,679 As payment, any opal he finds, he keeps. 498 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,519 It's good to get a good overview of what's going on, 499 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,599 where everything's sitting. 500 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:34,839 Those faults coming in, they're sort of separating in a few places. 501 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,039 There might be opal in the creek 502 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,199 cos it's fairly deep ground, eh? 503 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,759 You'd have to do a few test holes there. 504 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:45,119 Definitely, there's some good areas to drill 505 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,519 that haven't been looked at very much. 506 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,399 Let's go for a walk around, 507 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:55,839 see if we can see some stuff on the surface. 508 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,879 Col's 30 years of experience hunting opal 509 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,719 has taught him to spot surface clues 510 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,799 that could indicate an opal-rich area underground. 511 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,799 You get the sun to your back, 512 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,359 and you've got the best chance of it reflecting. 513 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,239 Yeah. 514 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:15,399 Oh, hang on, here's a nice bit of colour here. 515 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,599 That's a nice purple bar, 516 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,519 goes all the way through the rock. 517 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,639 So you can just see purple along there and green. 518 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,479 That might be a nice stone. 519 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:28,279 Ladies love purple! 520 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,919 Where you find one, you might find some more. 521 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,359 Yeah, some nice green. 522 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,839 Beautiful laser-beam green. 523 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,159 I think they're good cutters. 524 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,079 To the edge of the level, 525 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,159 which has just come out on the surface, 526 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,119 and there's nobbies lying everywhere. 527 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,719 That's not from a back or anything, 528 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,919 that's just naturally where the levels hit the surface. 529 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,679 It's a shallow dish of opal. 530 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,719 With a good opal area pinpointed... 531 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,439 Yeah, now that's beautiful colour. 532 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,119 ..Cole can return to Ron with the good news. 533 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,919 Rightio, mate. 534 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,039 See if there's any gems. 535 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,799 Over $25,000 short of their target, 536 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:30,199 Pete and Sam are banking everything on their last load of the season. 537 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,599 At least I can do this one-handed. Yeah, that's it. 538 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,399 In the tail-out room, 539 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:40,279 Sam's future in opal hunting is riding on this one load. 540 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,759 You can only live in this world if you're pulling out some gems, 541 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,359 and if you're not, you've got to go back to reality a bit 542 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:48,999 and go and get that nine-to-five job. 543 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:52,719 Oh, there's a bit there. 544 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,319 Nice black potch. 545 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,799 Any colour in it? I can't see any colour in it, 546 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,159 but that's all right. Bit of good trace. 547 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,039 We need to see opal now. That's it. 548 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:06,159 We've got the trace in here, but... Yeah, yeah. 549 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,399 Little bits and pieces, bit of grey potch. 550 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:16,159 Oh, yeah. Look, look. 551 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,319 Any colour in that one? 552 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,159 Not that I can see. 553 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:23,959 Not from an initial glance. 554 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,039 The key to opal is colour. 555 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,879 No colour, and the stone will be worthless. 556 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,319 I reckon we just put it on the wheel, mate. 557 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,079 A full spectrum of rainbow colours, 558 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,119 and the stone could be worth $30,000, 559 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,359 saving their season and their partnership. 560 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,639 There could be a nice gem in here. We just don't know until you rub it. 561 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,799 Windows of colour rolling there. 562 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:56,919 I think we're gonna lose it, mate. We're gonna have to go through 'em. 563 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,759 They're, like, teasing you that there could be more. It just... 564 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,159 There's a nobby there that had a little bit of potential. 565 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,159 Could see a little bit of colour in it, 566 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,119 but it rubbed down to nothing. 567 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:11,919 Worthless. No money. 568 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,079 What have we got there? Yeah, pretty ordinary tail here. 569 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,679 Not much at all, mate. Didn't turn into much? 570 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:20,879 in that, really. 571 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:26,359 With zero opal from their final load, 572 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,759 Pete and Sam's total for the season 573 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,079 remains at just $24,000, 574 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,839 not even enough to cover their costs. 575 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:39,159 I don't know if I can keep going like this, to be honest, mate. 576 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,039 I don't know whether I'll be able to do another whole year 577 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,719 with just finding that stuff. 578 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,719 I understand what you're saying, mate. 579 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,919 It's cost us a grand a week to mine. 580 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,719 You know, dig it, cart it, wash it. 581 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,919 Probably just need a bit of time to think about 582 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:56,879 what next, what the next step is for me. 583 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,479 He's saying now he's not sure if he can keep going, 584 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,559 and I can understand that. 585 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:11,639 It's a big financial commitment. 586 00:34:11,720 --> 00:34:14,239 He's a young bloke, he hasn't got anything behind him. 587 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:15,959 He's got his future to think of. 588 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,639 I moved up here with a little bit of money, 589 00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:22,999 but by the time I bought myself a camp 590 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:26,159 and I've been mining for two years, 591 00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:28,959 there's not much left in the savings account. 592 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:33,399 I've got to weigh up what's best for me and Corinne 593 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:36,959 and what's gonna put me in good stead for the future. 594 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,839 If that's to give up opal mining, it is what it is. 595 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,479 And that's a decision I've got to make. 596 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,159 It's decision day for Sam, 597 00:34:51,240 --> 00:34:53,759 as Pete leaves for his shoulder operation. 598 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:02,399 So, young fella, you've been home, and had a bit of a think? 599 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,959 What's the verdict? What are you gonna do? 600 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:08,439 Erm, yeah, 601 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:12,479 I reckon I'll stay on another year. I reckon we can go around again. 602 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:15,239 In the ring for another swing, mate? 603 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,159 Yeah, I reckon. Ah, good. Excellent. 604 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:19,839 Hate to give up on those two seasons. 605 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,519 I reckon we can give it another go and see how we go, I reckon. 606 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,879 Hopefully, next season, we pull out some gems 607 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,199 and, yeah, keep everything ticking along. 608 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:33,199 I've decided I'll give it one last season. 609 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:36,719 We've found enough opal to keep me encouraged 610 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:38,839 that there could be some more down there. 611 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,119 Next truck might have a million bucks in it. 612 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,639 I think we were hoping for 50 grand to cover costs, 613 00:35:45,720 --> 00:35:47,719 but halfway there. 614 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:49,639 So, yeah, we'll have to look on it 615 00:35:49,720 --> 00:35:52,719 as a cup half full instead of half empty. You've got to be positive. 616 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,559 I'll give you the keys to the city, mate. 617 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:58,919 Excavator, truck, shed. 618 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,119 You can keep that ticking over for us 619 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,239 for the next couple of days. Yeah. 620 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,399 Well, you go get cut and shut. Absolutely. 621 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:07,959 Good luck with it all. I'll give you a ring tomorrow. 622 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:10,599 I'll come back stronger than ever. I'll give you a call, 623 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:12,519 see how it all went. All right, mate. 624 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:14,319 All right, mate. Safe trip. 625 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:16,759 Bit of trust in this, but that's good. 626 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:19,199 That just shows that we are partners. 627 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:23,639 The keys to Cooke City. 628 00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:26,159 It's not a bad city to have the keys to, actually. 629 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,199 Yeah, we had a good day today. 630 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,159 Col Duff's outback survey has come to an end. 631 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:51,239 He's identified potential new sources of opal 632 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:53,479 on a massive Outback claim. 633 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,759 We narrowed down a bit of a shallow show 634 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:00,079 if they're interested in chasing some shallow stuff. 635 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,079 They'll get something there. 636 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:05,879 These fault structures that we can see just now in this image, 637 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,039 they're massive. 638 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:12,199 You can see how that's a really strong bit of movement. 639 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:14,919 Yeah, I think they'll find this stuff useful. 640 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,159 So we'll make up a data package and give it to 'em. 641 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,119 Here we go. 642 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:26,119 Time to report back to claim owner Ron Benny. 643 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:27,919 Hey. 644 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:29,999 Hey, Col. 645 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:34,639 How did it go? Yeah, good-oh. 646 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:37,559 Put the drone up in those places that you pointed to, 647 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,079 and got some really good shots of all three places. 648 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,239 You can see where the level's coming out. 649 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:44,559 I've got a USB stick for you 650 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:47,799 with all the aerials and information on it. 651 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:49,559 Thanks for that. Really clear. 652 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:52,639 You see those big faults coming through each way. 653 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:55,119 Might be some ground in between. 654 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,519 I'll have a look at it tonight and I really appreciate it once again. 655 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:00,559 Anyway, thank you very much. Good on ya. 656 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:02,199 Yeah. And I'll talk to you. 657 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,279 No worries. Cheers. 658 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,199 Well, there's our little haul of rocks. 659 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:14,039 So we'd better cut some stones. 660 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:16,119 As payment for his work, 661 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,039 Col keeps any opal rocks he's found. 662 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:21,679 Maybe half a dozen nice cut stones. 663 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,799 Some of it's very flashy. 664 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:28,239 And, really, I don't know what we'll get until we saw it up. 665 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,599 But I can see some potential, and there's some beautiful purple. 666 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:35,679 They're big bars, so I'll go from side to side of the stone. 667 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:39,599 I'll have to do a bit of work to value-add it. 668 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:42,319 This is boulder opal in the rough, 669 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:44,839 mostly green and purple in colour, 670 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,679 weighing about 5k. 671 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:49,799 $300... 672 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:51,359 Not bad for a walk in the paddock. 673 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:55,839 For Col, opal mining is about much more than just money. 674 00:38:57,120 --> 00:39:00,239 When you do see really good opal, it's exciting. 675 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,319 It's an emotional stone. 676 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,519 It flashes so many different ways. 677 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:07,079 This magic-looking bunch of rainbows 678 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:11,079 bouncing around with laser beams and little squares and hexagons. 679 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:14,119 Very satisfying. 680 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:16,839 When you find good opal, it's really rewarding, 681 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:18,719 but it's not easy. 682 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:21,479 But because you love it, you just keep doing it. 683 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,479 700km to the south, in the opal field of Grawin... 684 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:38,239 Got these bits here, guys, some of those other bits we had in the wall. 685 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:41,119 We'll go through, clean them up, clean the edges, 686 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:42,839 see what we've got. Yeah. 687 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:47,639 After losing their claim and home in Mintabie, 688 00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:49,839 Bayden and Lise are relying on this find 689 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:53,399 to help them decide whether to make Grawin their new home 690 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,479 or keep moving on. 691 00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:57,559 I've got no home. 692 00:39:57,640 --> 00:39:59,359 I've got nowhere to live. 693 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:01,959 I need to start finding opal. 694 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:04,639 I'm raring to go, have a crack 695 00:40:04,720 --> 00:40:06,759 and definitely a new future, hopefully. 696 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:13,839 The good thing is it's a nice stone and it's clean. 697 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:16,239 I'll be happy to leave that as it is at the moment. 698 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:18,959 That's a pretty good-sized stone. 699 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,639 You're looking at, what, a ten-carat stone there, Muzz? 700 00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:23,599 Yeah, we'll weigh that up in a minute, 701 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,559 but that's going gonna be a ten-carat stone, without a doubt. 702 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:31,039 We've got all the stones pretty much rubbed now. 703 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:34,039 Muzz is just finishing up on one of the last ones, 704 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:37,679 and then we're gonna put a valuation on what we've got for the day. 705 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:41,959 At the end of the day, that's 65 carats. 706 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:45,399 It's a mixed bag. There's a couple of black stones in there. 707 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,919 That stone there in the middle... That middle one. 708 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,519 That's the black stone. That's 3.9 carats. 709 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,559 You could almost take that out and put 1,000 a carat on it. 710 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:56,479 1,000 bucks a carat for that?! Yeah. 711 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:59,399 There's some crystal, there's some paler stones, 712 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:01,479 but they've all got a different colour. 713 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:03,639 They're all clean-faced, all sellable. 714 00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:05,279 There's a red stone there. 715 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:07,159 That's beautiful. That is beautiful. 716 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:11,759 Their haul is a mix of crystal and black opal. 717 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:17,359 It's rubbed with a weight of 65 carats or 13g 718 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:21,759 with colours of blue, green and highly prized red. 719 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:27,159 65 carats, if we go out and ask for 6½ grand, straight off the bat, 720 00:41:27,240 --> 00:41:29,919 I don't think you're gonna have too many problems. 721 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,319 Man, that's awesome. Well done. Excellent. 722 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:34,159 Well done, honey. 723 00:41:34,240 --> 00:41:35,999 For their half share, 724 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:39,639 Bayden and Lise will net at least $3,000. 725 00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:41,399 I'm actually stoked. 726 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:44,119 For a couple of days - 3,000 bucks. 727 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,199 That's pretty damn good. 728 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:53,159 Yeah, I'm pretty happy to stay. 729 00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:55,279 The opal's beautiful, mate. 730 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:57,399 Just go up to the dump, 731 00:41:57,480 --> 00:41:59,199 and have a bit of a scratch around. 732 00:41:59,280 --> 00:42:00,959 Yeah. 733 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:04,119 Well, you get a bit of a bird's-eye view of everything. 734 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,439 Did you ever think that you would like opal mining so much? 735 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,919 Do you wanna keep on mining with me? 736 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,239 Yeah. Would you marry me? 737 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:24,439 Was that a proposal? 738 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:26,199 It is. Really? 739 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,359 Will you marry me? Really? You're kidding. 740 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:31,279 Elisa Grobe, will you marry me? 741 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:35,719 Yes. 742 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:42,119 You ! 743 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:46,519 It feels like a new beginning. Yeah. 744 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,399 Everything felt right, so I want you as part of my life. 745 00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:52,239 I can't live life without you. You're fantastic. 746 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,679 I do love her, yeah. How can I not? 747 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:03,199 She loves opal! 748 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,239 Cheers to new beginnings, honey. 749 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:11,559 Yeah, for sure. Let's find some more opal, eh? 750 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,359 Yeah. 751 00:43:16,720 --> 00:43:18,719 subtitles by Deluxe 752 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:38,279 # Money! 753 00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:42,839 # Money # 753 00:43:43,305 --> 00:44:43,680 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm