"Outback Opal Hunters" The Opal Whisperers

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:01,999 . 2 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:03,999 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:05,679 Watch your head, Les. 4 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:07,359 ..the Bushmen are back together. 5 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,279 But with a new claim, new machinery and new partners... 6 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,479 You don't produce, they're not gonna be patient with you forever. 7 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,199 ..they're under more pressure than ever before. 8 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,559 Ah, geez, my leg! 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,479 Pete and Sam start the season with a high risk engineering challenge... 10 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,759 Going around. Steady, boys, steady. 11 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,119 ..that could hold the key to more opal. 12 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,239 Look at it, look at it. That's big money. 13 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,999 And in their desperate hunt for opal to pay off mounting debts... 14 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,759 I needed it, that 80 grand. I'm a little bit stressed out. 15 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,239 ..the Boulder Boys push some big machines... 16 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,039 You're all right behind. Back. ..beyond their capabilities. 17 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,519 Whoa! What? I'm stuck. 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,399 # Money 19 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,679 # And fancy clothes 20 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:05,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,519 This is real hard sandstone, this stuff. 22 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,199 And most diggers won't dig it. 23 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,839 That's why they've gone for one of these super diggers. 24 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,119 The power of this thing's just bloody phenomenal. 25 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,559 That ram there, that's probably 26 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,999 four, maybe five times more powerful than my digger, 27 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,199 the one I've been using over at Bondi. 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:35,359 It's a lot heavier, bigger, twin posts. 29 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,199 Ah, Les, you're like an old mole at a christening. 30 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,959 God, I... I should go home. Had enough already. 31 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,999 No, you haven't. This hasn't gotten fun yet. 32 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,439 Rod Manning and Les Walsh, 33 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,399 opal mining partners for over a decade... 34 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,399 This is hard work. Never ends. 35 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,159 It's always a pile of dirt on the ground. 36 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,279 It is harder work on the double, 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,919 but you can't have it easy all the time. 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,479 Oh, he's as tough as a bag full of cultures, he really is. 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,359 And he's 74 years old. 40 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,239 Burned all the skin off both arms and both legs and his chest 41 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,439 and here he is a few months later ready and raring to go. 42 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,239 Late last season, an explosion put Les in hospital 43 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,719 and nearly ended their partnership. 44 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,119 Spark hit the top of the tin and whoosh! 45 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,519 And I copped it. I don't know whether it's being on a good diet, 46 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,319 or being really healthy, 47 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,759 but I was healed up really good and quickly. 48 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,079 The Bushmen have started work on 49 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,959 a 50-by 50-metre claim called Ploughboys. 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,679 New partners and mine owners, the Hutchisons 51 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,079 have offered Rod a 50-50 share of any opal found. 52 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,039 But now that Les is back, Rod will split his percentage. 53 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,799 Course I can't leave Les behind, 54 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,359 you know, we've been together through thick and thin. 55 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:07,039 So, I'm gonna get 25% and Les will get 25%. 56 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,599 The deal is pretty good, actually. 57 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,399 They supply all the gear and all the diesel. 58 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,199 All I gotta do is dig the opal out. 59 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,839 $80,000 come out of just here. 60 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:21,039 This section coming down through here, 61 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,559 $200,000. 62 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:26,599 We've got a future with these fellows. 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,039 And it's something that we've never had before. 64 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:30,999 Which does bring a bit of pressure 65 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,359 because we gotta produce to get that future. 66 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,319 You all right, Les? 67 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,039 Yeah, I'm at it. 68 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,319 Working with a new and powerful super digger in a proven mine, 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,559 for the Bushmen, this is their best chance ever to strike it big. 70 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,319 We've set ourselves a big target this year. 71 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,959 We're gonna set a target of $200,000. 72 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,039 That's gonna be mine and Les's share. 73 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,839 100 grand each. There's no excuses. 74 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,919 We got good gear, we got a good mine. 75 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,759 There's a lot of pressure on us to find bloody opal 76 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,839 because we need it, but our partners need it, too 77 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,959 cos they've invested all this money. 78 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:10,879 If you don't produce, 79 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,559 they're not gonna be patient with you forever. 80 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,479 I've been behind a few super diggers 81 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,119 but I think this is probably the best I've ever seen. 82 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,119 Plenty of power. She's a beauty. 83 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,319 Only drawback is you gotta be a little bit careful because of the power. 84 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:29,599 If it tips up and lays this over you, 85 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,919 you may not get out of the way in time, it's just gonna send you. 86 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,119 I just wanna move forward a bit and get a more of that roof 87 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,359 before we clean it right up. 88 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,519 One of the things I like most about it is my roof. 89 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,599 No more rocks falling on my head. 90 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,279 Ah! 91 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,039 Les. Pull my legs out! 92 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,399 From that beam to that beam, what were we? 93 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,039 30, 20. 94 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,919 Today is a big day. 95 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,719 It's the first step of getting this mega wash plant up and running. 96 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,279 Let's start rigging those chains up. 97 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,959 In Lightning Ridge, Pete Cook and Sam Westra 98 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,359 are setting up a precision move 99 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,599 for a new $10,000 piece of equipment. 100 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:34,039 For these agitators to work properly you gotta have them set up level. 101 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,719 It's gotta be exactly the right distance from the conveyor 102 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,879 so the dirt goes into the agi and not misses it. 103 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,679 So, yeah, getting the measurements right is crucial. 104 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,519 The agi, or agitator, is a three-ton converted cement mixer 105 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,959 that processes opal dirt. 106 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,399 Pete has big plans to get four or five agis here. 107 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,879 Pete already has one working agitator on site 108 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,319 which tumbles and washes away dirt, 109 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,599 leaving only potential opal-bearing stone behind. 110 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:07,719 At the moment, I can squeeze 15 cubic metres of dirt into the agi. 111 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,839 Usually, it'll take a day per truck to wash the dirt down. 112 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:16,119 This season, Pete wants to expand his wash plant capacity five times, 113 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,039 creating a mega wash plant 114 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,959 and cash in on a growing demand for agis. 115 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,479 I contract wash for other miners on percentage. 116 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,639 So, if I've got five agis, 117 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,879 I can get 75 cubic metres a day processed. 118 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,599 It's as simple as the more dirt you wash, 119 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,719 the more chance you've got of finding opal. 120 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,959 We're nearly ready to do this lift. It's a bit precarious. 121 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,599 Moving the second agi into position 122 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,279 requires two excavators working in unison. 123 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,039 If Sam's pulling and I'm pushing instead of vice-versa, 124 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,999 it'll all go pear-shaped. 125 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,919 It'd be a disaster if we drop it. 126 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:59,879 Righty-ho. All good. OK, straight up. 127 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:06,279 It's gonna be an agitator being picked up each end by the excavators 128 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,399 so we gotta do that in unison. 129 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,359 Going round. 130 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,159 I'm gonna go up a little bit more. Righty-o. 131 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,599 OK, start going in. 132 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,679 We haven't practised it or anything, so we'll just get it right first go. 133 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,679 Looking good. Looking good. 134 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,319 It's crucial to get it all here. We gotta get it in the right spot. 135 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,879 You're gonna come out, mate. 136 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,159 Not quite that hectic. 137 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,359 Just go in a little bit. 138 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,559 It's a big bit of kit to be mucking around with. 139 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,319 Um, prop yours up a bit, Sam. 140 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,159 Steady, boy, steady. 141 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,719 Right, just at that balance point. Up a fraction. 142 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,679 Right-o. The eagle has landed. 143 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,559 Right. 144 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:09,999 It's all well and good having five agis here, 145 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,479 but if you're not moving dirt and not finding opal, 146 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,559 well, there's not much point. 147 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,799 Pete and Sam are chasing the most valuable opal in the world, 148 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,999 black opal. 149 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:25,159 Last season, the partnership hit an all-time low. 150 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,359 It was a pretty hard season. 151 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,519 Pete did his shoulder. 152 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,079 We went backwards in the money department. 153 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,039 Not much at all, mate. 154 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,679 Definitely crossed my mind just to go to a normal nine-to-five job. 155 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,799 I can't see Sam sticking around if we don't find any money. 156 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,079 This season's all or nothing for me. 157 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,919 Um, don't find anything, it's hard to justify to keep going. 158 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:56,079 We need more opal to get more cash to finish this place off. 159 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,239 So, we're gonna go hard. Season target. 160 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,999 Going big this year. Yeah, big, mate. Going huge. 161 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,399 How about we go over 100? All right, 100,000, then. 162 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,799 We can do it. I reckon. 163 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,039 First dig of the season, mate. 164 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,159 See if we can pay for this bloody agi. 165 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,359 Yeah, well, there's ten grand tied up there without trouble. 166 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:26,079 The key to their agitators bringing in opal, their Allawah mine, 167 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,159 20 kilometres outside Lightning Ridge. 168 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,439 Until they start contract washing for other miners, 169 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,919 all their opal has to come from here. 170 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,359 The hole's grown now to 60, 65 foot to the bottom. 171 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,919 Wouldn't wanna fall down there. 172 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,839 Righty-ho. 173 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,839 We've got two drives, we'd call them, 174 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,799 one in each direction. 175 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:54,399 So, we have one machine working in one section, digging the dirt 176 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,279 while Pete uses the bogger, and then we swap. 177 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,679 The bogger carries the mined dirt to the hoist. 178 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,919 This hoist takes the dirt up into the back of our truck. 179 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,239 The hope is the dirt contains nobbies, 180 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,799 small nodules of opal caked in chalky dirt. 181 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,239 It's pretty rare to see nobbies as you're digging. 182 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,959 Usually, you gotta wait till you wash all the dirt down. 183 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,999 sakes. 184 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,879 Sam, there's a break in the ladder. 185 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,679 Something's damaged it or something. 186 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,879 All right, I'll go up and I'll have a look. 187 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,319 Ooh. 188 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,159 Oh, yeah, that's just snapped the weld there, mate. 189 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,119 If we get the bucket caught on that... Yeah. 190 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,439 ..it'll just destroy the whole hoist. 191 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,359 Dad was a bit of a hoarder. 192 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,279 We've tidied it up but wanna get everything down the shed 193 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,959 and then I'll start cleaning up the house properly. 194 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,679 Aaron Grotjahn's dream to own his late father's house 195 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,959 has finally become reality. 196 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,399 I just bought Dad's estate, in the process of cleaning it up. 197 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,559 Wanna open it up as a bit of a museum. 198 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,559 Aaron's father Arno was a legendary local opal miner, 199 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,999 as well as an innovative artist. 200 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,199 Yeah, pretty cool artwork. 201 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,359 Look a lot better cleaned up. 202 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,679 That's the goal, present all of Dad's artwork, 203 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,479 and let the tourists come through and have a look. 204 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:42,079 That was Dad's last artwork. 205 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,439 A lot of people look at it and think it's rubbish 206 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,159 but it's pretty cool, I reckon. 207 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,799 There's a lot of artwork down in the shed as well. 208 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,319 He made artwork out of everything and I think people want to see it. 209 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:58,079 But last season's haul of opal wasn't enough to secure the house. 210 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,399 Didn't quite have the funds to buy the house 211 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,479 and a good mate of mine, Eric, helped me out 212 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:05,719 with the rest of the money to buy the estate. 213 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,839 I needed about 80 grand. For the money alone... 214 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,239 I'm a little bit stressed out, I gotta find opal. 215 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,559 Whoa. Whoa! 216 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,319 We're on colour, all right. 217 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,439 Last season, Aaron and his mining partner, Ron Selig 218 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,679 found over $100,000 worth of opal. 219 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,039 It's not a bad week's work. But flooding... 220 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,319 Look at that, Ron. 221 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,159 ..and machinery breakdowns... Just . 222 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,239 ..stalled their operation. 223 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,359 Now, owing $80,000 to his friend 224 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,079 and fellow opal miner, Eric Hume, 225 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,559 Aaron desperately needs a way to repay his debts. 226 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,839 Me and Ron have done a bit of deal with Eric, we're partners. 227 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,479 Me and Ron are on 15% each. 228 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,199 I gotta pay Eric back with the opal I find, 229 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,479 so it's up to me and Ron to find a bit of opal. 230 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:02,879 As part of the deal, Aaron and Ron will work Eric's claim 231 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,359 while he's away for much of the season. 232 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,239 The perfect goal this year would be paying the whole loan off 233 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,439 and finding $150,000 worth of opal. 234 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,999 Known as Badlands, Eric's lease 235 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,159 is three hours from the nearest town, Winton. 236 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,399 They call it the Badlands cos it's the middle of nowhere. 237 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,599 I'm gonna take Ron down, show him where we want to start digging. 238 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,359 That's a little bit there, see? There's a bit of trace in there. 239 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,039 You reckon? 240 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,759 Look at that, blue, purple. There you go. See it? Yeah, it is. 241 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,599 These are our workings from probably over 30 years ago. 242 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:45,239 They've done a bit here but this little strip here hadn't been done. 243 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,999 We're maybe thinking of bringing the bigger excavator over, 244 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:49,959 start a face here. 245 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:56,119 At almost half a square kilometre, and covering two leases, 246 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,639 Badlands has been mined on and off for over four decades. 247 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,799 That's where the previous people, they found their big money. 248 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,359 Found a $970,000 parcel. 249 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,119 Just here, yeah. Well, we're not far away. 250 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,999 From there across to there is all virgin. 251 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,239 Hasn't been touched so we got a good chance. 252 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,999 With their new claim comes a new camp 253 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,399 which Eric has started to build. 254 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,279 Home sweet home, Ronnie. 255 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,439 Aw, doesn't that look good? 256 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,039 Need some dollars coming in, Ron. Yeah. 257 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,239 Well, every week you're not producing, 258 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,679 every week we're... Well, I'm going under, anyway. 259 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,599 Hopefully we have a bit of luck and get enough to... 260 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,959 just keep your nose above water. 261 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,039 Aaron has got the opportunity 262 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,919 to give back what Eric's generously given him 263 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,279 and we've got a ball and chain on and he wears it proudly. 264 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,479 Oh! 265 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,199 The wheel come down on my foot. 266 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,839 Top roof rams let go. 267 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,199 So all the weight of the digger 268 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,599 all come down and it dropped, I had my foot underneath it. 269 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,759 These boots are safety boots with a steel cap around them. 270 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:18,759 If you're not real careful... 271 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,119 you'll, um, cut your toes off. 272 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,599 One of the problems of pushing too hard, 273 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,319 you do silly things like that when you're not thinking. 274 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,399 Because you're hurrying and that's when accidents happen. 275 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,639 So what do you reckon? Let's get out of here. 276 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,879 Yeah, let's go out and have a cup of coffee. 277 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,759 What we do out here, it is dangerous. 278 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,959 There's lots of accidents, you know. 279 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,799 We've had deaths, we've had injuries. 280 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,239 It does make me stop and think for a while. 281 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,479 After a close call with a two-ton digger, 282 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:58,279 Rod and Les are heading home for a break. 283 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,319 Life as an opal miner, it certainly ain't easy. 284 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,199 It'll kick your arse. 285 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,799 But you gotta keep getting up, dusting yourself off. 286 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,079 Rod lives off the grid, 70 kilometres from the nearest town 287 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,079 with his wife of 23 years, Amanda. 288 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,999 I've been trying to do something for my camp where I live 289 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,559 for me and Amanda for years. 290 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:26,119 Basically, we live in a corrugated iron shack in the middle of nowhere. 291 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,319 Amanda never complains about it. 292 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,319 It can be challenging out here. 293 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,159 Especially in summer and that, but I like it. 294 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,119 She's a good woman. 295 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,399 And I'd like to make it a little more comfortable for her. 296 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,399 The two main things we wanna do is some new solar panels, 297 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,799 they need to be replaced, and some new solar batteries. 298 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,959 The batteries we got there now are buggered. 299 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,879 And new water tank. You know, we need to 300 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,199 get a bit more water storage, don't we? Yeah, we do. 301 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:56,479 And we don't wanna buy any more dogs, that's for sure. No, we don't. 302 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,959 For 74-year-old Les, the situation's even more desperate. 303 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:04,839 Yeah, I've gotta upgrade my vehicle 304 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,119 so I've got a good one to go to town in. 305 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,479 Without even enough cash for a roadworthy car, 306 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,999 his plans for retirement are in tatters. 307 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,159 Les has gotta start thinking about winding it down. 308 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,559 He's gotta have a little bit of money behind him. 309 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,479 We're both busted-arse broke at the moment. 310 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,639 It is probably about time I slowed down, anyway. 311 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,599 I don't want to be mining until I drop. 312 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,079 I just want to bloody ease out of it gently so I don't die in a hurry. 313 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,679 You should be right. 314 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,999 Well, I'll take it easy. I'm not gonna push it, all right? 315 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,759 I'll go over in front of you, Ron, make sure you don't fall in a hole. 316 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,399 With an $80,000 debt hanging over Aaron's head, 317 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,559 the Boulder Boys' season is finally underway. 318 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,599 Gonna slowly go over to Aaron, he's gonna get in the 100-tonner. 319 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,279 And then we're gonna go to a section that's shallow. 320 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:06,879 They're relying on two big machines supplied by claim owner, Eric, 321 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,079 a 30-year-old excavator. 322 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,839 This is a 100-ton Komatsu excavator. 323 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,679 Bucket's about six cubic metres, and round about 500 horsepower. 324 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,279 It's the biggest sort of excavator I've ever operated. 325 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:23,279 And a 50-ton loader with a faulty four-wheel drive system 326 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:26,039 that puts it at risk of getting bogged. 327 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:27,839 The loader's only got two-wheel drive 328 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,119 so may as well go and try to find a bit of shallow opal. 329 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,119 Aaron and Ron are hunting boulder opal, 330 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,319 worth up to $20,000 a gram. 331 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,239 There was just under a million dollar find here in the creek. 332 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,399 In Central Queensland, boulder opal can be found on the surface 333 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,959 or up to 30 metres down. 334 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,999 It forms slowly over millions of years 335 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,159 when silica-rich water becomes trapped in cavities 336 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,399 within ironstone rocks. 337 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,199 Just good for Ron to get the rubbish off the top 338 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,199 or you gotta deal with it with the excavator. 339 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,319 You're all right behind you. Go back. 340 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,839 I gotta be careful because if I... 341 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,759 I get in a bit of a rut, I won't get out. 342 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,239 Lovely. I'll tell your mother. 343 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,999 Steady, steady is the way it's gotta go. 344 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,239 You can't push the machines cos if something goes wrong with them 345 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,359 it costs big dollars. 346 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,719 We'll just take it easy, two-wheel drive. He can do half buckets. 347 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,239 Oi. 348 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:48,199 Still can get out. 349 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,919 Oh, Aaron, I'm stuck. 350 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:13,919 Nah, that definitely needs to be re-welded. 351 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,599 That bucket catches on the ladder on the way up... 352 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,599 Yeah. ..the winch will just keep pulling. 353 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,919 And it'll rip all the ladders out, 354 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,599 and then when they go up to the top 355 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,519 it'll start pulling the hoist back down. 356 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,039 That would mean another catastrophe. 357 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,879 It's just too dangerous. I don't wanna keep going with it like that. 358 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,159 19 metres under the surface, in Outback New South Wales, 359 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,439 a broken ladder has brought 360 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,719 Pete and Sam's first week of operating to a standstill. 361 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:45,959 If we don't fix it, we can't mine. 362 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:50,999 And if you can't mine, you can't look for opals, let alone find any. 363 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,919 Just gonna put a weld straight across it, are you? 364 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,479 Yeah, I'll rig up, put the harness on. 365 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,199 You right going down there with your shoulder? 366 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,559 Oh, well, gotta be. 367 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,439 Oh. 368 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,759 Pete is still recovering from a recent shoulder surgery. 369 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,599 Going up and down these ladders 370 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,679 certainly tests the shoulder rebuild out. 371 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,079 I'll put a safety harness on and a safety rope 372 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,039 so that if the worst happens, I'll be left there dangling. 373 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:21,559 I feel for him that he's got to climb down and do it. 374 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,719 I'm not that great of a welder yet. 375 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,439 But in this situation, we don't have much choice. 376 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,679 Otherwise, you gotta pull the ladders. 377 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:33,799 Removing the ladders from the shaft would require dismantling the hoist 378 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,239 and days of downtime. 379 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,319 Not much room down here. No, it's pretty tight. 380 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,639 You breathing all right? 381 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,519 Oh, I love the smell of welding smoke in the morning! 382 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:02,199 I think that should do the trick. 383 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,799 You reckon that's all gonna fix it? Yeah. 384 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,719 We'll go down and get a load, eh? 385 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,239 See if we can get this truck full by the end of the day. That'll be good. 386 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,639 It's going very good at the moment. The repair seems to be holding up. 387 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,479 Haven't seen anything but in this sort of dirt 388 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,559 you've gotta wash it, you won't see it. 389 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,519 It's a 20-kilometre drive back to Pete's wash plant 390 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,319 with their first 15 cubic metres of dirt this season. 391 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,239 This is good. Good to see it going in. 392 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,079 Tomorrow, this dirt will be all washed down to 393 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,039 maybe a cubic metre or two. 394 00:22:57,120 --> 00:22:59,759 Then we'll take that back to town and sort through it 395 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:01,999 and hopefully, there'll be some gems in there. 396 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:09,999 We need to get moving, Les. 397 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,439 Our fortune's waiting for us. 398 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,759 The pressure's really on me now cos of this new partnership. 399 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,239 If I don't produce, I'm sure they'll get rid of me. 400 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,319 So I gotta show them that I can find opal. 401 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,279 In opal-rich ground with brand new gear, 402 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:29,559 the Bushmen are now three days into their new partnership, 403 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,039 and they still haven't found opal. 404 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:34,159 There's no colour in that yet, mate, 405 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:36,839 so I might just pop that little bit there out. Yup. 406 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,039 It's also Les's first week back 407 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:42,839 after a three-month layoff from a serious injury. 408 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,639 How you travelling with it? You all right? I'm all right. 409 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,879 Your arms all right? Arms, everything's good. 410 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,919 Heart's all right? Was the last time I checked it. 411 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,559 Don't wanna wear you right out. You're only half wore out. 412 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,959 That's true. Righto. Let's go to work, eh? 413 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,479 The Bushmen are hunting black seam opal. 414 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,559 Worth up to $43,000 a gram, 415 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,839 it's the most sought after opal in the world. 416 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:10,919 We are getting a little bit of seam up there, 417 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,319 but I'm not stopping digging until we hit colours. 418 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,559 Seam opal is easily seen 419 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,999 and can be pulled straight out of the wall. 420 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,039 I put my digger teeth up in there and I bust that bit of black seam. 421 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:24,839 And there's a big line of red through it. 422 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,959 We could be hundreds of thousands of dollars better off. 423 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,199 Watch yourself, Les. 424 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,999 Les's job is to feed the waste dirt 425 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,599 into the brand new $100,000 blower. 426 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,439 Inside that blower, you got a great big fan. 427 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,239 It's spinning at about 1,500 RPM. 428 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,839 Supplied by their partners, the blower is more powerful 429 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,519 than anything the Bushmen have used before. 430 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,879 It can suck dirt up to the surface at a rate of five tons an hour. 431 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,399 Do get a bit tired at the end of the day. 432 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,759 You probably done a ton of rock. 433 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,119 That can't be good. 434 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,639 Go and have a look, I'll be up in a sec. 435 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,119 While Les has gone up to check the blower, 436 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:15,879 I might just move forward a foot 437 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,799 and then I can see what's behind that black stuff up there. 438 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,719 You there? Yeah, mate. 439 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,399 I think you better get up here and have a look at the blower. 440 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,239 It's what, mate? 441 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,719 It's a hell of a mess. Yeah, all right. 442 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,719 Where are you, Les? What's the problem? 443 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,479 Oh, Jesus Christ. Yes. 444 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,079 Oh, no! 445 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,879 The fan has moved on the shaft. Out? 446 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,719 Oh. 447 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,759 What's happened is there's a great, big fan inside here. 448 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:00,879 It's moved back on the shaft, 449 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,999 caught on the side, and just destroyed everything inside. 450 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,439 $100,000 down the drain cos that's what it is. 451 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,799 I'd push it straight back on the engineer. 452 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:13,879 A lot of the welding ain't done good enough. 453 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:15,959 And now I gotta go and tell our partners. 454 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,199 Oh, geez. 455 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,919 Oi, Aaron, I backed down and slipped off. 456 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,399 At the new claim of Badlands, 457 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:46,919 Ron has backed the $50,000 loader into a ditch. 458 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,199 You're gonna have to pull me out. 459 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,239 Tell you what, Ron, I'll bring the excavator out. 460 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,199 Yeah, mate, bring it around. 461 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,159 Pull me up on the right hand side, 462 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,199 just curl the bucket in on the right hand corner here. 463 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,359 Go down a bit. 464 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,119 Further. Further. Further. 465 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:11,919 I reckon that'll do you there. 466 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,079 We'll go really steady. 467 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:17,839 Nice and gentle. Righto, mate. 468 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,799 Don't wanna damage anything. Just hook on and pull me. 469 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,199 It's all right. Keep going. 470 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:55,879 We're in. 471 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,039 I won't tell anyone about it. 472 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:03,279 With the loader free, Aaron in the 100-ton excavator 473 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:06,119 can start open cut mining the ground. 474 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,159 We gotta be really careful, I think it's a bit of an overkill, 475 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,079 but we'll get through the dirt a bit quicker. 476 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:16,759 The mammoth excavator is capable of shifting six cubic metres 477 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:20,559 or about nine tons of dirt with each scoop. 478 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,599 There's some really nice band of sandstone running here. 479 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,399 If we get a clay level underneath with this material in it, 480 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,599 It'll make really good quality opal. 481 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,639 They're trying to reach a patch of virgin ground 482 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,239 missed by the previous miners. 483 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,679 We'll take a few more hits. Just take that mullock out. 484 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,479 May be virgin on the other side. 485 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,919 But first, they must remove the waste dirt, known as mullock. 486 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,359 I've dug this here. Give it a try. Righto. 487 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,679 Imagine the amount of bits and pieces 488 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,919 that are laying on these mullock heaps that they've missed. 489 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,879 We've got a little bit of potch going into blue-green. 490 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,319 All sitting in the mullocks, eh. 491 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,279 Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa! 492 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,399 What? Stop! Have a look at that. 493 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,399 Whoa! Hell, you wouldn't expect to find that in a mullock too often. 494 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,839 As you went over, I looked and I could see that flash. 495 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:29,839 That's opal, right? 496 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:41,639 Right, mate, let's have a look. 497 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,999 After washing a truck load of dirt, 498 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:49,079 Pete and Sam are left with one ton of washed rocks to check for gems. 499 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,239 The idea is to spread it one stone thick 500 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,639 and any colour will just shine like a rainbow. 501 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:01,999 Bit of potch in it, Pete. 502 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,879 No money but just a few bits of potch. 503 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,159 Colourless opal stones, known as potch, 504 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,279 are often found near valuable coloured opal. 505 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,839 Oh, there's a big one. Oh. 506 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,159 So that's a good chunk of potch there, mate. 507 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,839 There's no colour. What you need is that colour 508 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,079 On that. ..on that size stone. 509 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,719 Oh, that's a nice sized nobbie. 510 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,599 Holy ! Have a look at that. 511 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,879 That's, um... That's hitting the jackpot, mate. 512 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,279 Look at it, look at it, look at it. That's big money. 513 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,599 50 grand plus, easy. Mate, could be double that. 514 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:56,319 Finally! Finally, the one we've been looking for. 515 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,439 In gem quality opal, 516 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,479 size and a full range of colours are key. 517 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,559 This one has both. 518 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,319 Be interesting to see if we get an offer on it like that. 519 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,279 In the rough? Yeah. Yeah. 520 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:13,119 See a couple of little lines on it. Yeah. 521 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,199 Cos if you rub it and those lines are in the colour... 522 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,999 It's worth bugger-all. ..it's just an interesting specimen 523 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:23,319 worth maybe five grand or something maybe. 524 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:29,639 But if it faces up, it'll be ten times, 15 times that. 525 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,519 $100,000 I wanted to get this year, 526 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:34,719 to get this wash plant up and running, 527 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:36,959 convince Sam that it's a good idea to stay. 528 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,159 And finding this stone, it could get us to that target. 529 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,999 I don't know. I'm hoping. 530 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,719 We're still not sure of the exact value of it. 531 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,239 It's hard to tell in the rough when it's not rubbed. 532 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,919 But in the rough, I think we decided around 20 grand. 533 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,959 $20,000 as is, 534 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:58,759 or cut and polished as much as $100,000. 535 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:02,559 But cutting and polishing the stone comes with its risks. 536 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,599 Do I rub it or don't rub it? 537 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,759 You know, it could turn into $100,000 538 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:08,959 or it could turn into $10,000. 539 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:11,879 What are we gonna do? 540 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:13,799 You've got to, don't you? 541 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,199 Gotta rub it. I'm gonna rub it. Go on. 542 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:19,919 I'm gonna rub it. 543 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,479 I don't know what to do. 544 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,559 I mean, you know... 545 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:34,319 No, nothing's going right at all. 546 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,399 New plant, you think there'd be nothing wrong with it. 547 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,479 You get excited about things happening, and then, 548 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:45,479 you know, every time it's got to kick you in the guts, every time. 549 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:48,679 The Bushmen have been dealt a massive blow. 550 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:53,319 In the first week of their season, their new $100,000 blower 551 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,759 designed, built and paid for by their partners 552 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:58,719 has destroyed itself. 553 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:02,519 It's not a little thing. It's a major, major breakdown. 554 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:06,519 And just what you don't need at the start of the season 555 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,879 with new partners and brand new gear. 556 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,879 Rod and Les have made a deal to dig the Ploughboys claim 557 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,639 for 50% of the opal they find. 558 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,479 But without a blower, they can't mine. 559 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,519 We can't get the dirt out from underground unless this is going. 560 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,559 No blower, no work. 561 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:30,479 What I think we'll do is we'll undo this blower, 562 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:34,399 and for the time being, I'll try bringing the old blower over 563 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,199 and stick it in here and see how we go with that. 564 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,479 This is the original blower that was used here 565 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:41,519 before the new one was built. 566 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,159 She'd have to be 20-year-old, this old girl. 567 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,519 So the fans are just worn. 568 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,959 They've probably lost 30% of their function 569 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,039 but we're hoping that it's just going to 570 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,239 suck well enough to get us out of trouble. 571 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,159 Let's see if the old bastard will go, eh? Righto. 572 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,879 At the moment, our entire season total, 573 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,279 the old fellow's retirement, they're all riding on that 574 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,359 20-year-plus old blower. 575 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,639 That's it, Les. She's going, let's get underground, find some opal. 576 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,199 We're hammering into it pretty well. 577 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,999 We're gonna see if we can push a fair bit out today. 578 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:33,159 We'll just treat this old girl a bit slower, mate, take care of her. 579 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:37,679 Pressure's on, we got that expensive breakdown, 580 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:42,919 we haven't found anything, we need to keep hammering forward. 581 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:44,959 Watch your head, Les. 582 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:48,679 Little bit of potch around on this side. 583 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:50,479 Yeah, that's why I wanna go in there. 584 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:52,719 The ground looked good when we come this way. 585 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:57,999 Hard as hell, whatever it is. 586 00:34:58,080 --> 00:34:59,679 Look at that. 587 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:03,439 It's still got it, all right. 588 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,039 It'll still outwork most 20-year-olds, that's for sure. 589 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,239 Hang on a minute. Eh? Hang on a minute. 590 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,999 I'll just get the pick to knock a bit off. 591 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:17,839 That's all looking real good since we've spun around, 592 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:20,399 and gone in the wall, we've only gone in that far. 593 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:23,719 Hit a really nice seam with little bits of colour on it. 594 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:28,199 It's the first time we've seen any colour at all for some time. 595 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,439 I'm pretty excited about it, actually. 596 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,839 Whoa, what's that? Whoa, stop, stop. 597 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,039 Look at that! That's what I saw. 598 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:50,599 Look at it, all the way around, mate, look. 599 00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:52,599 There's gotta be more. 600 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:54,519 Whoa, there's the other bit. 601 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:56,479 Yes! Oh, OK. 602 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:59,279 That's come off there, look at it. 603 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,799 Don't put your foot on it. 604 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,039 That's really good, that. 605 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:09,159 Whoa, Les, there's a bit more. 606 00:36:09,240 --> 00:36:11,159 There's a bit more, Les! 607 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,959 Oh, that's a nice little piece of purple. 608 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,639 It's petering out it. The seam's dropping. 609 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,039 Do the weigh in, eh? 610 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:30,799 What are you guessing? 611 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:33,159 500. 500? 612 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,399 475. That's not bad, Les. 613 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,799 I don't know what you reckon, Les, 614 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:46,879 but I reckon we'll get 10 grand for that. 615 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,639 Their opal is blue, green crystal, 616 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:55,919 it's in the rough, there's 475 grams. 617 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,119 With a minimum value of $20 a gram, 618 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:02,919 it's worth close to $10,000. 619 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,639 With 50% going to their partners, 620 00:37:05,720 --> 00:37:10,159 Rod and Les will split $5,000. 621 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:13,319 That's a boost to the morale. 622 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,959 Because you never had it there ten minutes ago, 623 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:20,239 now it's all there in front of you, keep you going a bit longer. 624 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:24,199 We've got a $200,000 target this year, 100 grand each. 625 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:28,639 And we only chipped a tiny, little bit off that. 626 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:30,759 We know there's money down there. 627 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:34,159 It's a long season, we've only just started it. 628 00:37:34,240 --> 00:37:36,759 I know we're gonna do all right this year. 629 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:47,199 Oh, mate, moment of truth, eh? That's exactly what it is. 630 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:49,879 Are you sure about this? Yeah. 631 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:52,799 For the first time in his short mining career, 632 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:56,279 Sam has found a monster gem in the tail out. 633 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:59,079 Valued at $20,000 in the rough, 634 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:03,439 cut and polished it could be worth as much as $100,000. 635 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:05,799 You're gonna take that grey off the top, are you? 636 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:07,799 Just gonna take that bit off, have a look. 637 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,959 And then, we'll take the top off, I think. 638 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:14,839 It's a big gamble. If Pete grinds off the colour, 639 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:19,119 or shows that the stone has flaws, its value will plummet. 640 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:20,879 A bit nerve-racking. 641 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:23,079 Having this sort of money in your hand, 642 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:25,399 it gets the old heart pumping a bit, eh, mate? 643 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:28,679 I'm not even holding it and my heart's pumping, mate. 644 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:31,639 Coming off. 645 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:35,439 This is where it starts getting scary. 646 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:38,879 Every time you take a bit of colour off, that's $1,000. Yeah. 647 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:46,479 I'd stop and have a look. 648 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:49,479 You're getting nervous, mate? 649 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:52,399 You just rubbed more and more colour off it. 650 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:54,079 What do you reckon? 651 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:56,799 Well, I think it's time to stop. 652 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,039 Yeah. And have a real good look at it. 653 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,039 You know, look, you got that black bit there. Yeah. 654 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:11,639 And that black is under the red. 655 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:14,399 I think we'll stop there. 656 00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:18,319 So what do you reckon, mate? What is worth now? 657 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,879 There's 50 grand sitting there. Yeah? 658 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:26,199 Yeah, I'm convinced of that. 659 00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:29,439 Their opal is Lightning Ridge black nobby, 660 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:31,879 displaying a full range of colours. 661 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,119 It weighs 41 carats or eight grams. 662 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:41,119 It's a partial rub, bringing its value to $50,000. 663 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:43,439 Payday, mate, 50 grand. 50 grand. 664 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:45,559 More money in a single stone 665 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,759 than Sam has found in his entire opal mining career. 666 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:53,199 I think it's really good for Sam to see what can happen. 667 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:56,279 The potential of this mining venture, 668 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:59,999 one stone, $50,000, that's just incredible. 669 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,039 And now he's seen that it can happen to us. 670 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:06,359 Was about to call it quits last season, you know, 671 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:09,079 we'd had three tough years of not much, 672 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:13,799 so to finally see a gem come out in our first week this year, 673 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:15,719 can't ask for a better start than that. 674 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:17,439 Hey! Hey! 675 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,079 I was about to knock it out. 676 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:34,639 Lucky. We can see what they were on. 677 00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:38,559 Desperate to start repaying an $80,000 debt, 678 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:40,919 Boulder Boys Aaron and Ron 679 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:43,519 have just hit their first opal of the season. 680 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:45,799 That's a really nice opal. 681 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,239 Hey, Ron. Yeah? Let's roll it and flash, eh. 682 00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:56,679 Whoa! Where the hell did that go? 683 00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:59,919 I've lost it. Oh, no, I didn't. 684 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,279 Another bit. They must've found a big rock. 685 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:07,599 And as they broke it, these pieces have fallen off into the dirt. 686 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,039 And they've lost them. 687 00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:12,239 Well, Ron, I reckon we deserve a cup of coffee. 688 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:14,359 We'll go and clean them stones up. 689 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:17,559 Go and wash them up. See what they look like when they're clean. 690 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:24,799 That's nice there, isn't it? 691 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:26,759 I reckon you'll get a stone out of there. 692 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:31,279 1,500. Would that be a safe bet? 693 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,799 Yeah. All right, let's have a look at this other one. 694 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:37,559 There's your stone. 695 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:41,959 Little blemish right in the middle there, Ron. 696 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:44,799 What do you reckon, nine? 697 00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:48,839 You'd have to ask nine, Ron. All right. 698 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,359 So, that's... Ten and a half. Ten and a half, right. 699 00:41:52,360 --> 00:41:55,919 They've found boulder opal. It's in the rough, 700 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:58,279 predominantly blue, green in colour 701 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:00,719 with flashes of red and orange. 702 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:03,959 And valued at $10,500. 703 00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:07,839 After giving the claim owner Eric his cut, 704 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:13,479 Aaron and Ron will have just over $3,000 to split between them. 705 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:16,079 This is a different situation for me. 706 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:18,359 I mean, I'm on 30%. 707 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:22,319 Last time I found good opal I got 80% of it. 708 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,319 Yeah, the tables have turned. 709 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:28,239 But one job remains before the boys can call it a day. 710 00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:32,039 Here he is. He's a good one. 711 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,479 Look at that. A few bush frogs. 712 00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:39,119 They're freshwater yabbies, crayfish. 713 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:41,359 Ron's gonna cook it. What is it, Ron, marinara? 714 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:43,399 A marinara and a bechemel sauce. 715 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:45,679 I'm glad Ron's back, eh, get some good tucker. 716 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:54,279 All right, mate, dinner is served. I'll make the table, Ron. 717 00:42:55,720 --> 00:42:57,999 Oh, no worries. 718 00:42:58,080 --> 00:42:59,999 Would you like me to serve you some up? 719 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:04,719 Look, we've got the machines, we've got all the setup here. 720 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:06,399 All we gotta do is do the work. 721 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:08,559 You can taste the yabbies, eh? Yup. 722 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:10,599 I'm not outlaying any expenses. 723 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:13,079 We've got a chance to dig with with decent machinery. 724 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:16,239 That couscous is all right too, Ron. I like the couscous. 725 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:20,679 It'll be a very, very interesting year this year. Very interesting. 726 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:24,199 I think we're in some good country. It's up to us to find some opal. 727 00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:25,879 Very nice, mate. 728 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:28,599 I was eating baked beans and toast before you got here. 729 00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:30,919 Here's to luck this year, Ron. Yeah. 730 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:36,879 Subtitles by Deluxe 730 00:43:37,305 --> 00:44:37,704