"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.9

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,959 On Outback Opal Hunters... ..a man down. 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,279 This has really thrown a spanner in the works. 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:12,199 And Young Guns risking abandoned mines... Get in there, brother. This is deep. 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,479 ..for a new source of Opal. Are we insane? 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,599 Chris and Oscar Cheal battle their toughest ground yet... 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:22,439 That's not working. ..and find another miner... That had a bit of work in here. 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,759 Look here, look. ..has beaten them to it. 8 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:30,119 And the Poms' opal hunting dream... Carl, the tipper is stuck. 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,879 ..could be about to shatter. Could that thing just work for a day? 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:42,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 11 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,119 All right, we are pushing, pushing for the target. 12 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,799 OK, let's do it. Let's go down. 13 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,959 In remote New South Wales, temperatures are pushing 40 degrees. 14 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,839 The Young Guns, JC, Jaymin and Noah, have just a few weeks 15 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,479 to hit their target before extreme temperatures end their season. 16 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,919 It's like an oven in there during the day. 17 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,679 And our machinery is starting to struggle a bit 18 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,439 and we don't know how much longer it can take it. 19 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,839 But there's been no sign of opal for two weeks. 20 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,999 We came out to show people that we could actually do this and there is actually money in it. 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,759 And so we don't want to come back with nothing. 22 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,599 The key is, literally, the more dirt you move, the better your chances are gonna be. 23 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,039 Woo-hoo! Let's move some dirt, boy. 24 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,919 They're hunting White Cliffs famous pineapple opals, 25 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,079 worth up to half a million dollars a piece. 26 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,879 I mean, if we find one...that would, literally, be amazing. 27 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,959 You know, there's nothing that could compare to that. 28 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,719 Bloody hell, having a bit of a rough day today. 29 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,159 Everyone's just digging pretty much their hardest. 30 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,119 We're taking it in shifts at the moment. We just rotate out. 31 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:05,719 Hey, Noah? 32 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,079 So I'll jump in and have a bit of a dig as well. 33 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:17,879 Argh! 34 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,559 Nos? Oi, what happened? Is it the roof? 35 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:23,799 What, what, what? 36 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,799 Where are you? Up here! 37 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,599 What happened? 38 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,239 What's wrong? What's wrong? I got a nail...through...the foot. 39 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,919 Look at that! I think one of those went through his foot or something. 40 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,919 Dude, I don't know what to do right now. 41 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,319 Do we just chuck him in the back? I think, yeah, I think we just got to put it him the back. 42 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,479 All right, Nos. Let's go. 43 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,479 Two kilometres from their mine is Jaymin's parents Opal Base Camp. 44 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,839 Noah, how are you, mate? We're here. 45 00:02:57,920 --> 00:02:59,799 We just got here. OK. 46 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,039 I'll grab Mum. 47 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,279 Take him over to this bench. Look at the foot. Look at the foot. 48 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,759 What's going on? He's got a nail hanging out his foot. 49 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,079 You have to leave it in there because you don't ever pull anything out like that. 50 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,839 That's when the damage is done. I'm heading to town... so let's just go. 51 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,119 You are gonna be all right. Don't worry, you'll be all right. 52 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:21,919 We'll take you in, sort your foot. 53 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,119 Just watch your foot, watch your foot. 54 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,999 OK, you ready? Just keep your phone on you. Just give us a call. 55 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,999 The nearest hospital is 240 kilometres away in Broken Hill. 56 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,079 You'll be all right. 57 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,199 And Noah will be out of action for an unknown period of time. 58 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,359 This has really thrown a spanner in the works. 59 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,399 It's kind of confusing now as to where we will go from here. 60 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,919 To avoid conflict over any fines... 61 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,519 Look at those colours. 62 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,199 ..the Young Guns have an agreement not to set foot in their shared mine 63 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,239 if one of them is ill or injured. 64 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,119 Look at that! That is ridiculous. 65 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:00,759 With Noah gone... 66 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,479 their season has suddenly been thrown into doubt. 67 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,879 We can't really do our mine without him. 68 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:07,759 I don't want to be - The thing is... 69 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,319 We've all worked so hard to get that mine where it needs to be. 70 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,399 If we find opal and he's not there, that's our team split up. 71 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,999 I am really hoping that this will be the end of our troubles. 72 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:29,399 Soon as we get out there, get out on the jackhammers and maybe drop the digger this arvo? 73 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,079 If not, tomorrow morning? Yeah. 74 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,479 Hopefully drop the digger this afternoon. 75 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,319 Anyway, just have to do the best we can. 76 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,519 The opal season is just weeks away from ending, 77 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,559 but Chris Cheal and 18-year-old son Oscar have only just started their hunt. 78 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,119 There's a lot riding on the next two weeks. 79 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,719 It's stressful. There's debt that I just want to tidy up... 80 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,559 And I'm probably gonna need a miracle. 81 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,359 But the miracle is not gonna happen if I don't try. 82 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:02,519 Australia's worst drought in a decade has destroyed Chris's grain trucking business, 83 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,119 forcing him to return to hunting opal. 84 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:09,559 With over ten years of opal mining experience in the past, 85 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:15,199 Chris knows the world's most valuable opal, black opal, worth up to $43,000 a gram, 86 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:17,679 could offer a quick payday. 87 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,799 You can get yourself ten years in front, financially. 88 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,559 There's not many places in the world you can go and do that. 89 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,959 And I couldn't think of anything better than digging with my son. 90 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,199 Chealsy, this is my claim, this one here. 91 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:33,839 Yeah, 50 by 50 metres is that way. 92 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:39,079 Old mining friend Scott Macmillan has subcontracted his claim to the Cheals 93 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,039 for a 30 per cent share of anything they find. 94 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,719 The task now is to widen or bell out the mine shaft by hand 95 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,239 to give their digger room to start tunnelling for opal. 96 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,999 Right on, mate, let's get into it, eh? Let's go. 97 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:56,959 We just started the compressor, 98 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,439 will start the blower and start digging. 99 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,279 We've got to get down there and make enough room for the digger 100 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,879 so we'll be taking turns hanging off the jackhammer. 101 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,719 Righto, here we go. 102 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:13,479 For Oscar it's the first chance to work underground with his dad. 103 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,559 As a young kid I'd love to come out, hanging off him, 104 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,199 and jump on the digger and go to tunnels. 105 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:24,359 It kind of just seems like it was ticking a lot of boxes for us to come out and work together. 106 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,959 I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't stressed about it, 107 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,319 but I just want to make the most of this opportunity and I want to find money. 108 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,839 We just got bugger all time to do that. 109 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,279 We've just two weeks of their season left... 110 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:52,439 the Cheals' need to find $10,000 to cover their debts. 111 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,639 I reckon we should have enough room. 112 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,479 I feel confident we can get it in today anyway. 113 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,679 Their two tonne digger can carve through 10,000 kilograms of earth an hour, 114 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,839 many times faster than they could by hand. 115 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,159 To lower it down the 13 metre shaft 116 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,559 they've called on a local crane operator, Jack Pocock. 117 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,359 Hey, Jack, good to see ya. 118 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,039 Jack's going to be up top here on the crane most of the time, 119 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,159 gonna make sure the lifting gear is in good condition. 120 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,639 Haven't got much weight on it, just take the slack. That's it. 121 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,719 Come towards me a little bit more, Dad. 122 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,719 Sometimes the hole is a little bit crooked, 123 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,239 you got to keep an eye on it and make sure it's not dragging up against the wall. 124 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,199 Sometimes you're told that it's a bigger hole than what it is. 125 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,279 You look pretty good. 126 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,319 'You all right?' No, mate. 127 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,479 We haven't taken enough out of the roof 128 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,199 and we should have taken that little lip off there, 129 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,279 and we're jammed up in here for space. 130 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,679 Mining is, physically, one of the toughest things I've ever done. 131 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,279 And mentally at the moment, it's incredibly difficult. 132 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,959 I've talked to people around town and the advice that I'm getting back is that we are at the right level 133 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,879 but we're just not seeing it, we're just not seeing the opal yet. 134 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,759 Former primary school teacher Carl Grice and jeweller Mary McMillan 135 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,039 have sold everything and travelled 3,000 kilometres 136 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,039 to hunt opal in remote New South Wales. 137 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:39,359 Established in the 1880s, White Cliffs is Australia's oldest opal field. 138 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,919 We just like to do something that's a little bit different. 139 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,199 So we decided to jack in the stability of normal life. 140 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,479 They've sunk $50,000 into a camper van 141 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:52,319 that doubles as both workshop and home. 142 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,639 Their last $3,000 has been spent on basic tools 143 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,199 and the lease to an abandoned mine. 144 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,479 We chose White Cliffs because we've seen some of the opal 145 00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:04,559 that comes from here and it's absolutely beautiful. 146 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,679 Worth up to $25,000 a gram, 147 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,559 White Cliffs crystal opal is coveted around the world. 148 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:16,039 I love the colours, the way they dance and disappear and reappear in different lights. 149 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,079 They really transform and they're really unique and individual. 150 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,759 Because I make custom jewellery, I feel that they represent the person 151 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,639 that I'm creating for perfectly because they're so unique. 152 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:27,719 Mary's ability to make jewellery 153 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,599 can increase the value of any stones they find ten fold. 154 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:33,439 This is a partnership for Mary and I. 155 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,639 And the idea is that I find the opal and cut it, and Mary sets it. 156 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,239 Mining is a complete machine itself and everything is an essential cog in that. 157 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,279 The jackhammer, the tipper... 158 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,079 And then Mary and I as well are all integral parts of that machine. 159 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,919 If one part of that goes, the whole system breaks down. 160 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,479 But as the end of their first season closes in, 161 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:58,319 the novice team have barely made a dent in their target and are getting desperate. 162 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,959 I need to be cracking on. I need to be cracking on into the opal ground. 163 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,039 Rightio, opal, here we come. 164 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,679 Ah, f... 165 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,079 Argh, bloody jackhammer is not working. Really? 166 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:18,159 Yeah. 167 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:22,759 Oh, jackhammered. 168 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,999 What are we going to do? 169 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,679 I don't know, Mary. 170 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,959 There aren't any jackhammer shops around there. 171 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:36,559 And I don't wanna drive 1,300 kilometres to buy a new one. It'll cost a fortune. 172 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,439 I'm absolutely stuffed. 173 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,919 This is proper old school. 174 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,639 This is how the old boys did it. Hats off to them. 175 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,959 They must have been fit blokes. 176 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,159 Carl? What? 177 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,599 The tipper is stuck. 178 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:03,599 What? The tipper's stuck. 179 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:05,399 It's stuck? 180 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,879 sake! Could everything just work for a day! 181 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,159 I think it's stuck right at the top. 182 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,239 It's just not come back. 183 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,719 I'm sick of everything breaking down every ten minutes. 184 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:23,679 I just want to dig, dig for a day without something breaking down. 185 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,439 We need to keep working. 186 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,399 It's nearing the end of the season. Every week's one week closer. 187 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,039 It's just one week we can't spare. 188 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,039 So we've really got to get to work as soon as possible and find another way to mine. 189 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,399 Go and sort out some other odd jobs we can do, hey? 190 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,839 Jaymin and JC are in desperate need of a plan. 191 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:52,239 With partner Noah out injured, they need a new location to hunt for opal. 192 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,959 What options do we have? We don't really have much... 193 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,719 Our main... Our best bet now is to go and see Pops. 194 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,519 He's got some of the biggest knowledge in White Cliffs about opal mining. 195 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,959 You know, he lives and breathes it his whole life. 196 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,519 Let's see what he reckons we should be checking out. 197 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,159 All right, here's Pops. 198 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:10,639 See what he's got for us, hey? 199 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,159 How's it going, Pop? It's going all right. 200 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,039 What are you guys up? 201 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,479 You know, just figuring out what our next step is. 202 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:19,879 Jaymin's grandfather, Pops, 203 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,759 is a legendary local miner with nearly 50 years experience. 204 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,239 So we were just coming over to see you and see if you got any ideas 205 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,519 of what we could get up to in the meantime. 206 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,359 I suppose you could go down my old mine. 207 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:35,599 I haven't been able to get down there for a while now, till I get my leg fixed up. 208 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:38,159 So if you want to go down there and have a look about? 209 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,999 Have you pulled any opal out of the mine? 210 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,159 Yeah. Yeah? Yeah. I'll tell you what... Somewhere around... 211 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,119 Holy . 212 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,479 Look at that! Jeez! 213 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:55,759 That's from the mine. That is an enormous bit of potch. 214 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,679 I don't think I've seen potch, even that size before! 215 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,559 Potch is low value, colourless opal. 216 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,519 It's a sign valuable rainbow opal could be nearby. 217 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,959 It's there. I know it's there. 218 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,839 There's still opal showing so, yeah, they should find it. 219 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,279 Just a matter of whether they apply themselves to it. 220 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:20,359 Two kilometres out of town lies Pop's mine, the mousetrap. 221 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,679 Jeez, look at the hole there. Right on the side of the road too. 222 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,399 Almost two decades old, it hasn't been worked in over 13 years. 223 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,759 And its current condition is unknown. 224 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,559 This is it. He said there was a ladder in place. 225 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,399 Woo-hoo. 226 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:38,759 Dude, how deep is that? 227 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,159 That's deep. That's a big one. 228 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,519 At least 40 foot. I still can't see the bottom. Me neither. 229 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,159 Well, you wanna go first? Yes. Sure thing. 230 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,239 I'll do the honours. 231 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,839 How's it looking? 232 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:02,479 Holy moly, it's massive. 233 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:06,319 God, it's dusty, it hasn't been worked in a good while. Wow. 234 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,479 Nearly missed a step. You at the bottom yet? There's a bit of a drop. 235 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:16,679 Yeah, I just got down. All right. You good? Yeah, I'm coming down. 236 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,279 Jeez, it is a bit of a climb, man. 237 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,399 I reckon... 238 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:27,879 Whoo! 239 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:31,519 Have a look at this. We got some workings. Yeah, right. 240 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,599 Jeez, look at all this. Holy... 241 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,639 We got an indoor swimming pool. 242 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,039 That's going to be fun. No way! 243 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:46,239 The flooded mine has just made the Young Guns' hunt for opal a whole lot tougher. 244 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:47,399 Holy moly, man. 245 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,239 Jack? Yes. 246 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,439 Grab the jackhammer out of the toolbox on my ute. 247 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,839 13 metres underground, father and son team, Chris and Oscar Cheal, 248 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,239 have a two ton problem. 249 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,039 The digger they need to get them to their $10,000 goal 250 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,799 is stuck at the bottom of the mine shaft. 251 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:17,919 We haven't taken enough out of the roof 252 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,239 and we should have taken that little lip off there. 253 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,439 And we jammed up in here for space. 254 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,719 Without the digger, the Cheals' mining operation will grind to a halt. 255 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,799 All right, coming down. 256 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,879 To make it kinda fit properly, 257 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,199 had to jackhammer out a few different bits. 258 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:51,439 Hydraulically powered, it can carve through up to 10,000 kilograms of earth an hour. 259 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,439 Now we're talking. 260 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,799 How far do you want it? The more, the better. 261 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,519 All right. I reckon that's perfect. 262 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,599 Here we go. 263 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:14,639 Once in position, four hydraulic rams lock it against the ceiling and floor. 264 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,719 About time, eh, we go this thing going? 265 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,759 Ooh, staying out of the way. 266 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,879 Is that all workings, mate? 267 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:40,479 That's all workings. 268 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,319 Seems like a fair bit of work's done in there, though. So good sign. 269 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,399 We will open it up in there. 270 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,559 We'll go in there for a look to see how much work's done. 271 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,479 Long lost, abandoned mines can be a blessing or a curse. 272 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:56,999 They done a bit of work in here. 273 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,879 Someone's added a little gauge in there. 274 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:02,519 It could be a sign the area has promise. 275 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:08,159 Falling within the boundary of their 50-by-50 made claim, the tunnel is now theirs. 276 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,599 What we wanna do, because we got these old workings, 277 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,239 is try and get the digger in here and clean this floor up. 278 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,119 That's the plan today. We want to start knocking this out. 279 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,879 I wanna knock that out in there. 280 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,599 It's hard... There. 281 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:32,679 Bloody hell. 282 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,999 We really need something in the next couple of days for us to be able to keep working. 283 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,119 Look at the sides. Looks like that crystal stuff. 284 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,719 Looks like it's got a bit of colour in it. 285 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,999 Bloody hell. 286 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,759 Haha! For all the we went though for a week! 287 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,159 Finally! We hit the opal! 288 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,239 It's not bad! 289 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:12,759 Argh, for f... 290 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,719 With the end of the mining season closing in, 291 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,559 frustrations are growing for rookie team, the Poms. 292 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,039 Bloody bucket is stuck, Mary. 293 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:22,919 As long as this bucket is not working, we can't get any dirt out. 294 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,999 It's just a I don't need at the moment. 295 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,919 Three metres high and extending 15 metres below ground, 296 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,639 the tipper bucket can remove 60 kilograms of dirt at a time from the mine. 297 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:40,039 Something's sticking somewhere but I haven't got a clue what it is. Just be careful with your hands. 298 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,839 Does it look like it's twisted to you? If you stand at the end there? 299 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,079 No, it looks straight. So it's not that then. 300 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:52,159 I might just have to give this a hard pull, just to release that bucket. OK. 301 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,759 Jesus Christ! What the was that? 302 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,999 That was the spring! 303 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,359 You joking? It flew straight past your head, Carl. 304 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:06,799 Did it? Yeah. Oh, brilliant. 305 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,319 Great day It could've been a lot worse. 306 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,759 How could it be worse? We got a broken tipper and broken jackhammer. It could have hit you, Carl. 307 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,759 I can see where it's come off. It's come off that left-hand side. 308 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:18,519 I can see, yeah. 309 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,879 sake. 310 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,319 Need some help. 311 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,239 Carl rings friend and neighbouring minor, Adrian Porch. 312 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,999 'Hello?' Adrian, how you doing, mate? 313 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:30,359 'Hey, Carl, how's it going?' 314 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,279 Ahh, I think I've done something really bad in a past life. 315 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:36,879 I am having the worst day. Bloody jackhammer packed up. 316 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,959 And then the tipper's just literally thrown a spring and nearly taken my head off! 317 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,639 I know! So I've no tipper and no jackhammer. Don't suppose you're about, are you? 318 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,199 Just come and have a look at it for me because I've no idea what's going on, mate. 319 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,959 'Just give me... Erm... I will come over.' 320 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:53,479 Oh, you're a star. Thanks, mate. 321 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:57,039 We're so grateful for the community here because Adrian 322 00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:00,879 has kindly offered to come and help look at the tipper as well. 323 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,399 So it's just another validation of how lovely people are around here and how helpful they are. 324 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:09,879 I'm having one of them days, buddy. 325 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:15,479 Ahh, look at this. This should sort your troubles. 326 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,999 Thanks, mate. Thank you. That's all right. 327 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,799 You star, mate. Thanks for saving the day. Definitely. 328 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:26,719 What you reckon? Is it fixable? Yeah, I reckon we can get it back up there again. Re-attach it. 329 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:27,799 Yeah. 330 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,919 It's hard watching Carl up there, 331 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,679 flapping around in the wind. 332 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,159 A bit nerve-wracking but I am pleased we got someone here with us. 333 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,199 Bring it back through the ladder. 334 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:45,919 It's close, hang on. 335 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,479 Yeah, that's it. That's it. 336 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,319 Well done. Beauty. 337 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,119 All right. It looks a bit cockeyed but we'll give it a go, eh? 338 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:56,679 Yeah, give it a go. 339 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:06,039 Yes. 340 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,719 Thanks, mate. That's all right. Thanks, mate. Glad I could help. 341 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,239 Start mining. Saved the day. See yous later on. 342 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,719 Let's get to it. Right, I'll get down there then. 343 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:19,999 While the Poms' opal hunt is back on, 344 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,559 struggling to make ends meet far from home is taking its toll on Mary. 345 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,719 Hello! 346 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,119 Can you see me? I can see. 347 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,719 How are you? I'm OK, Mum. 348 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,439 How are you? Good. 349 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,119 I know Mary's been finding it quite difficult being so far away from home. 350 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,559 Lots of things have been happening back in the UK, 351 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,639 you know babies being born and weddings, and things like that. 352 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,119 How's the babies? They are coming up tomorrow. 353 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,199 Is she? She's a proper little girl now. 354 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,239 You've missed so much of the baby stage, which is a shame. 355 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,719 Mary's been in touch with all those people but I think feeling that distance, not being part of it. 356 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,479 I want to come home soon, I think, because I'm just missing you. 357 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,559 Hurry up. OK, Mum. 358 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,199 I knew she was feeling a little homesick, 359 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:16,719 but didn't quite realise how deeply until she got off the call with her mom. 360 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:24,839 You miss her a lot, don't you? 361 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:26,479 Hey? Yeah. 362 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:32,239 You know, it's the longest time that I've been away for. 363 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,279 At the end of the day, family is the most important thing 364 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:39,359 so it's important to honour that, I think. 365 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,239 That is an Olympic swimming pool of water. 366 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,759 Massive problem. We've gotten down into the mine 367 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,839 and we found several parts of the mine filled with water. 368 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,079 With partner Noah out of action, 369 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,879 Jaymin and JC are hunting for opal in a disused, flooded mine, 370 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,279 50 metres long and 13 metres underground. 371 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:09,159 So it's going to be a challenge to try and cross that 372 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,559 but it's something we're going to have to do 373 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,559 if we want to get to the other side. 374 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,039 All right. 375 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:16,479 You good? 376 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,559 Let's do it. Get in there, brother. 377 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,239 Oh, my God, that is so cold. 378 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,679 With its depth unknown, the water could contain abandoned 379 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,999 tools, wire and metal that could seriously injure them. 380 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:33,079 Dude, this is deep. This is insane. 381 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:36,759 See anything through there? 382 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,839 I've not seen anything yet...at all. 383 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,439 I just wanna check over in this corner. Yeah. 384 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,359 I should have brought a boat! 385 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,119 I don't know why we thought this was a good idea. 386 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,919 It's not paying off at all. 387 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:52,999 It's cold. 388 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:56,079 Are we insane? 389 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,879 Dude, up here. Up there? Up here. 390 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,359 Oh, God, there's some actual ground. 391 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,839 I honestly thought it was going to run out, and just be nothing. 392 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,039 But the mine continues. 393 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:13,039 Here. Ah, that's sore. 394 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:15,319 Ahh! Get up there. 395 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:16,999 Look at that! 396 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:21,199 There's gotta be something after what we've just gone through to get to here. 397 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:22,879 This is, like, good ground. 398 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,119 Someone's had a bit of a dig around here. 399 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,439 Oh, check this, bro. 400 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,079 Look at that! 401 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,599 Opal. There's some opal running through the roof there. 402 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,399 Oh, thank, God, we didn't go though all that cold for nothing. 403 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,439 There, look! There's a bit of green and some purple. 404 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,119 It's got a bit of colour, it's something. The ground's pretty hard there, eh? 405 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,239 We're gonna have to go back through the water. We need jackhammers. 406 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,239 We're gonna have to bring tools back through that water. Oh, God. 407 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,519 What do you reckon? 408 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:52,719 Ah, let's go get wet. 409 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,279 You know what? We bring towels down next time. 410 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,279 We found a bit of trace in the wall. 411 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:02,559 So when you find trace, you just got to chase it and hope it turns into something. 412 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,599 There's always that day, you know? You can be poor in the morning 413 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,839 and then by the afternoon you can be a millionaire. Type of day I want. 414 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:13,159 I think our biggest challenge today is going to be running our power. 415 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:14,239 Yeah. 416 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,839 It's not worth risking your life and getting electrocuted. 417 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:18,599 No, not at all. 418 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,519 I know there's a drill hole right near the area. That's perfect. 419 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,319 Erm...I think it's this one here. 420 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,919 Yeah. I guess we just take the chance and drop the cable down this one. 421 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:33,239 If we're wrong then one of us is going to have to go back through the water and up the top again. 422 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,519 Let's just hope this is the hole. 423 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,159 I know you miss her. 424 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,159 I can tell, I can feel it as well. 425 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,719 I can see it's getting harder and harder as well. 426 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:53,999 Mmm, it is. Yeah. 427 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:57,879 It feels a long way away sometimes, doesn't it? Yeah, it does. 428 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,199 Especially when you're in the middle of nowhere. 429 00:26:00,360 --> 00:26:01,759 Far from home... 430 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:06,679 cracks are starting to appear in the Poms' Australian opal dream. 431 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:09,199 It just broke my heart seeing Mary that sad. 432 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,519 So, immediately, I thought, we find opal as quick as we can 433 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,079 and get Mary on a plane home to see her family. 434 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,639 But Carl and Mary haven't found a cent in opal for over a month. 435 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,359 The line's looking good. Is it? Yeah. 436 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,639 This seam's thickening up. It is, isn't it? 437 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:33,319 Yeah, it's getting a lot thicker. 438 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,599 All of a sudden you see what's there. 439 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,879 Come on, Mary, bring your eagle eyes down, see if you can see anything. 440 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,879 Look, I just found that in the wall. 441 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:58,799 Looks like potch. It does a bit. It's almost like a shell actually. 442 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,719 When I am scratching, it's making that horrible noise. That's silica. 443 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,759 It's really, really silica. 444 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:09,279 The main ingredient in opal, if the silica is deposited unevenly, 445 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:13,279 it forms a colourless, worthless substance called potch. 446 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:14,999 It looks like potch, Mary. 447 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,839 It's a sign that valuable opal might not be far away. 448 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:21,799 Let's jackhammer it, see what happens. 449 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:32,919 Oh, Mary! Yes. Mary, have a look. 450 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,199 What is it? Oh, wow. 451 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:39,319 Have you found some? Yeah. Look. It's a vein. It's all through here. 452 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,479 Have you got the little pointy, stick thing? Look. 453 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,999 Oh, my God. Look at that colour. 454 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,599 Look at that. Bloody hell! That's thick as well. 455 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,239 That's really thick. Ohh! There's lot's more, Mary. 456 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,519 Is there? Yeah, the vein runs all though here. 457 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,559 Wow! Look at the size of that! Wow. 458 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,079 Oh, my God. It's all through there as well, Mary. 459 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,959 It goes all the way round to here, Carl. I know, there's loads of it. 460 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:07,599 Wow. Look at that, that's beautiful. That's stunning. Yeah, that's really nice. 461 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:12,239 We've already taken out maybe 20 pieces and it's still going, it's still coming out. 462 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,839 This is brilliant. We got purple, blue. Wow, Carl! 463 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,119 Green... Look how much we got, Carl! 464 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,199 Just look at this! 465 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,959 It's the sound of money, that. That's the sound of a plane ticket, Mary. 466 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:28,039 Let's go. 467 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,999 With just two weeks of the season left to find opal, 468 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,799 father and son team, Chris and Oscar Cheal, 469 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,599 have broken into an old mine. 470 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:44,679 A bit of purple. 471 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,679 Purple seam. Yeah, that's good trace. 472 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,919 With his trucking business on the rocks, 473 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:55,479 dad Chris desperately needs at least $10,000 to help support his family. 474 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,439 I'm back here to try and find some decent money 475 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:00,879 because I want to get on top of the bills. 476 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,919 I want to be able to provide for the kids. 477 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,159 I'm just trying to give my kids the opportunities that I never had. 478 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,999 Chris is gambling on finding highly priced black opal, 479 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,679 so-called because of its black base. 480 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:18,639 Best quality stones can be worth up to $43,000 a gram. 481 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:23,199 This one stone is a clue there could be rich opal in the old mine. 482 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:25,599 Makes me want to keep digging. 483 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,639 Once we take this out, get the digger in here, 484 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,479 that's when the real stuff happens, so I want to get to that point as soon as possible. 485 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:38,399 To get their two ton digger into the old tunnel, they must first lower the mine's floor. 486 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,039 Look here. Look. 487 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:03,599 That's so good. We just came across a bit of opal in the floor. 488 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:05,279 Really happy to see that. 489 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,079 Ah, that's beautiful. 490 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:12,679 Got black too, right? 491 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,519 A 140 horsepower suction tube called a blower 492 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,279 sucks the opal rich dirt out of the mine 493 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:11,799 into their truck so it can be processed in their wash plant 494 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:13,999 40 kilometres away. 495 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,879 We're pretty excited because we don't know what's in there, 496 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,159 you know, we can see colour all through these. 497 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,559 We'll wash them up and see what comes out 498 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,519 once the clay is washed away from all the nobbies. 499 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,599 Hopefully, there's enough in it, you know, and just keep digging. 500 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,239 That's what I'm looking for. 501 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:46,439 Woah, it's cold! 502 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,399 With partner Noah out through injury, 503 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:54,039 Jaymin and JC are chasing a seam of opal 13 meters underground 504 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,119 in a flooded mine owned by Jaymin's grandfather Pops. 505 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,439 Whoo! That was good. 506 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,199 Here's your cable. What? Is that it? 507 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,919 That's it. You nailed it, mate. Absolutely nailed it. 508 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,639 I think the opal's just up this way, just here. 509 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,799 There it is. There's our flash. 510 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,279 Stop, stop, stop. 511 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,679 Oh, my God, JC, look! That's red. 512 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,639 Look, there's a little bit of red, there's a bit of a red sparkle. 513 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:26,199 Good spot! 514 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:28,159 That is gnarly, bro. 515 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,479 That's the cream of the crop when it comes to opal. 516 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:33,399 That's what you want. You see red, you know you're on the money. 517 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,519 And it's looking kind of thick as well, so... 518 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,599 Let's get it. 519 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,359 You ready? I'm in. Come to papa. 520 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,079 Let's have a look. 521 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,199 Definitely got potential, this one here. 522 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,759 That's our boy. That might be the best one so far that's done, that's good. 523 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:09,759 Where did that come from? 524 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:14,039 Very nice. Jeez, there's seams running all over the place. 525 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:15,559 You got it? Ho, ho, ho, ho. 526 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:17,759 Look at that little bit, there we go. 527 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:21,439 Jeez, that's colour. That is the colour. 528 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:22,519 Hell, yeah. 529 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:27,319 Ohhh... Is there a bigger bit up in there? 530 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:28,559 That's pretty cool. 531 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,799 Ha, ha, ha, look at that beaut right there. 532 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,799 That's some crystal green opal. That's the colour we want. 533 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,079 Stop, stop, stop. 534 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:44,079 You got this? Holy...dude, look at that! 535 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:46,999 Look at that colour. Look at that stone! 536 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:48,879 That is a rock right there. 537 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,279 That's going straight on the Queen's finger. 538 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:55,199 That is worth doing just about anything for, I'd say. 539 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,879 We're seeing some brilliant colours come out of the ground, which is fantastic. 540 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:00,599 It's why we're here, it's what we're looking for. 541 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:03,159 Opal like this can change your life if you find enough of it. 542 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:05,279 This has really turned it around, big time. 543 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:10,999 This has turned into some really serious colour, good size on it as well. I'm ecstatic. 544 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:13,959 This is what we want. Hell, yes. That's bloody beautiful. 545 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:15,039 What a good day. Mate. 546 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:24,559 I'll pour it on here, yeah? Yeah. 547 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:25,919 Let's have a look. 548 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,239 After weeks of hard labour, 549 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:32,159 British couple Carl and Mary have finally hit a rich seam of opal 550 00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:34,599 that could turn their fortunes around. 551 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:36,919 Oh, look at the colour. Look at that. 552 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,599 Wow, look at that one. 553 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,559 Ah, gorgeous. Look at that! A bit of purple crystal there. 554 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,399 That's beautiful. Wow... Look at that bit, Carl. 555 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,919 Look at that. It's perfect. 556 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,359 It's all the way through! All the way through. 557 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:55,759 I knew it was there. It was just looking more and more like it. 558 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:57,879 I felt it in my bones. 559 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,759 This is gonna be worth thousands rather than hundreds. 560 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,279 Yeah, I think so, just because of how much is here. 561 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,319 For homesick Mary, there's now hope she can see her family. 562 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:10,719 Looking at the opal there, obviously, I think I'd need a little help 563 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:12,959 from someone who's got a bit more expert eye, 564 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:16,719 but I reckon there is enough there for a plane ticket for me to back to England. 565 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,039 We're gonna take the opal to Macko, a local legend. 566 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,439 He knows what he's talking about when it comes to opal. 567 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:25,799 We hope he'll give us a valuation, an appraisal of it. 568 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:28,679 Nice to see you again. Macko, good to see you, mate. 569 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:31,799 Veteran opal miner John Macko McCaskill 570 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:35,039 is a local legend with 30 years experience. 571 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:37,559 We did. We had a find. Good on you. 572 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,999 We've given it a good scrub and wash so we can try and see some colour. 573 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:45,399 That's great. Oh, my God, you've cleaned that up well. 574 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:47,879 Yeah, and it's good... 575 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:52,039 It's good White Cliffs opal. It's got that nice sound to it. 576 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,239 Yeah. They look good. 577 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:59,119 Good stuff. You've probably got 8 or 9 ounces maybe. 578 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,519 Hey, just the better side of 10. 579 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:09,839 Oh, that's good. It's pretty clean. It's as though there's no rubbish in it. 580 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,079 So Mary can set. 581 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:16,959 So you've got the chance to be able to do that and increase the value. 582 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:18,239 OK. 583 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:22,119 Just say you were cutting to size, and not freeforming... 584 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:25,359 you'd expect to probably get at least... 585 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:36,199 ..yeah, it brings you into the many thousands. 28,000 - 30,000 minimum. 586 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:39,559 Good on you, kids. You've done well. 587 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:45,399 Carl and Mary's opal is crystal opal with translucent blues and greens. 588 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:50,199 The stones are in the rough but Mary's jewellery making skills 589 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:54,319 could transform them into pieces worth up to $30,000. 590 00:36:54,400 --> 00:37:00,599 In just one find, they've made a huge leap from 7,900 to almost $38,000. 591 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,399 Exciting. Yeah, that's amazing. 592 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:06,039 That's a ticket home and then some. 593 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:09,639 We realise that we've made, potentially, a good amount of money. 594 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:13,359 But also that means I can afford a plane ticket now to go back and see my family. 595 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:17,239 So, although, I'm sad to be leaving Carl temporarily... 596 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:19,719 I love you. I love you too, sweetheart. 597 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:22,719 ..I think it's important that I go back and see my family. 598 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:26,279 Hopefully Carl can find some opal in the meantime to show me for when I get back. 599 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:31,439 On the one hand, I was really excited that Mary was able 600 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,959 to go back and spend some time with her family. 601 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:38,839 On the other hand, selfishly, there is a big gap where she she was 602 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,039 and I knew I was going to miss her. 603 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:46,959 It's a case of me holding the fort here until Mary returns, 604 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,799 and hopefully that fort will be sparkling with opal by the time she does. 605 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:05,119 Oh... Ho, ho, ho. Oh, nice. 606 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,359 Very nice. Look at that colour! 607 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:14,039 Young Guns, Jaymin and JC, are cleaning the excess clay off their find 608 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,039 before washing it to reveal its true value. 609 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:19,359 All right, let's chuck those in. 610 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,239 And we'll see what we got... 611 00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:23,719 when they're clean. 612 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,919 Let's chuck some water in it. Let's go, Mr Tumbler. 613 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,239 That's it. We'll come back and check it out tomorrow. 614 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:34,719 See how she goes in the morning. 615 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:39,519 Yeah, we'll come back and check tomorrow. There's a couple of nice bits in there. For sure. 616 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,959 After losing partner Noah to injury, 617 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:46,679 and still $14,000 short of their target, 618 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:50,199 they'll need this fine to pay off just to keep their season on track. 619 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,479 See what we got. What we got! 620 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:57,639 Big ol' moment of truth. 621 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:05,799 Woo, some colour there. 622 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:09,759 That's beautiful. Oh, oh, look at that one. 623 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,279 That's got colour. 624 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:14,239 Oh, fantastic. 625 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:17,719 You got some of that water still? That is absolute rainbow. 626 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:21,239 This is the high grade stuff, this is the low grade stuff. It's weaker. 627 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:23,399 We've probably got about an ounce of each. 628 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:25,719 I reckon as a total, we're looking at about... 629 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:29,239 Four grand for the lot. 630 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,599 Mate! Look at that colour. 631 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,599 Jaymin and JC have found crystal opal 632 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:38,479 with blues, greens and flashes of valuable red. 633 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,839 Whilst there's over 50 grams, it's still in the rough, 634 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:45,159 making it worth an estimated $4,000, 635 00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:49,079 bringing their total to over $49,000. 636 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:53,639 Hello? There he is. There he is! Hey! 637 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:56,159 How's it going, mate? How's your foot? 638 00:39:56,240 --> 00:39:57,999 Yeah, it doesn't hurt so much any more. 639 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:02,119 Had an X-ray, but it wasn't as bad, the cut itself. 640 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:05,079 Didn't actually go though Oh, that's good. 641 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,639 Well, look what you've bloody missed out on. Let me flip the camera. 642 00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:10,439 Holy moly. Wow, look at that. 643 00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:12,759 And look how big they are! Yeah. 644 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,799 Seen that stuff. I'm jealous now. I'm jealous. 645 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:21,519 I bet you are. Hurry up and get that foot bandaged and get on your way back. 646 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:25,919 Hobble back to us, we need you. I'm stinging for it. 647 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:29,279 All right, brother. See you soon. See ya, bye. 648 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,599 That's it. Good job. Killed it. All right. 649 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:44,479 Yeah, it's cleaned up good. 650 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:48,159 In desperate need of at least $10,000 to pay mounting debt... 651 00:40:48,240 --> 00:40:49,239 Beautiful. 652 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,159 ..Oscar Cheal and Chris are about to find out 653 00:40:52,240 --> 00:40:55,919 if their first truckload from an abandoned mine has paid off. 654 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,879 Spinning them in reverse and send it down, I think it's only gonna be one set. 655 00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:04,559 Owner Scott is there to help and claim his 30 per cent cut. 656 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:06,639 Let's do it. She's ready, mate. 657 00:41:09,080 --> 00:41:11,479 It should come out fairly clean anyway. 658 00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:14,039 But if there's no opal in this load, 659 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,759 the father and son team will just sink deeper into debt 660 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:20,999 and could be forced to stop mining altogether. 661 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:24,879 Push it down, mate. 662 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:27,919 There's flashes everywhere. Woo-hoo! 663 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:30,959 Rightio. 664 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:34,239 They're everywhere. Far out! 665 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:36,879 There's one. 666 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:42,839 Look at the colour on that one. 667 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,199 Oh, mate, everywhere you look there's colour. They are everywhere. 668 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:52,399 Holy... 669 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:54,999 Everywhere you look, mate. 670 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:57,959 Really bright green stone in here. 671 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:00,159 Here, beautiful little clean crystal. 672 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:02,599 One truckload and we were just... 673 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:05,159 Everywhere you look, there was colour. Unbelievable. 674 00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:08,159 Aren't they? Look at that. 675 00:42:08,240 --> 00:42:11,679 A lot of shift in the colour, isn't it? Yeah, lots. 676 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:16,879 This is why we do it. 677 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,679 We got some opals. I've never, ever seen it like that before. 678 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:29,519 With two weeks remaining before the summer heat ends the season, 679 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,839 Chris and rookie son Oscar have hit the jackpot 680 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:37,279 with a stunning haul of classic Lightning Ridge black opal. 681 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:41,439 With purple, turquoise, green, 682 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:43,519 yellow and orange. 683 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:50,159 It really is a long time coming, you know? 684 00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:54,279 It's definitely worth more than 10 grand when you look at it like that. 685 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:56,079 100 per cent. 686 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:59,799 30 odd grand there. That's our target out the window, eh? 687 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:05,399 Worth $30,000, their $21,000 share 688 00:43:05,480 --> 00:43:07,799 means they've smashed their season target. 689 00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:09,759 First go, mate. First go. 690 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,719 He's seen something that a lot of miners never see. 691 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:14,519 And he's only been at it a week. 692 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:17,399 You know, I think he's been shoved up the ass with a rainbow. 693 00:43:18,040 --> 00:43:21,479 Do you want to keep mining with me, or what? 694 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:24,679 You might be my good luck charm, mate. Maybe. 695 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:28,719 This whole experience is going to be something I'll look back on 696 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,759 all throughout my whole life and smile. 697 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:35,199 Especially with him. It's something we've been able to do together . 698 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:41,999 subtitles by Deluxe 698 00:43:42,305 --> 00:44:42,794 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org