"Outback Opal Hunters" Glory Days

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,279 On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,879 It's a very steep slope he's going down at the moment. 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:07,599 So it's a little bit nail-biting. 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:09,319 Rookie miners, the Young Guns, 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,839 kick off their season with a new machine... 6 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,439 Pushing, pushing, pushing... 7 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,679 ..that could be too powerful for their old mine. 8 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,679 Could make the whole roof come down on you, and that's death. 9 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,359 The Blacklighters are plagued by mechanical problems... 10 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,039 No, we're smoking it out. 11 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,679 ..as their opal bonanza runs dry. 12 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,359 No, that's disgusting, Mark. 13 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,759 And the Cheals are forced to modify their digger on the run... 14 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,399 Go up! Go up. 15 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:43,399 ..to hunt for opal beneath their feet. 16 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:46,199 How's that for a start? Straight up. Straight up. 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,759 # Money 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,999 # And fancy clothes # 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:05,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,039 # I feel like digging, digging 21 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,799 # I got a new digger and I wanna dig 22 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,439 # I feel like digging, digging # 23 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,439 I'd like a minimum 50 grand just for me. 24 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,319 Minimum. Like, profits in the bank. 25 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,919 I'd probably like even more than that. 26 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,559 We've already spent 12 Gs on a machine. 27 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,039 I reckon that's like... that's put us into minus. 28 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,199 All that money on a digger. 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,879 We're gonna have to pull out a lot more opal than last year. 30 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:43,719 Rookie team, the Young Guns 31 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,079 are starting the new season investing all they have 32 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,359 on this $12,000 second-hand hydraulic digger. 33 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,239 We spent our entire budget on buying a machine. 34 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,279 If it doesn't pay off we'll be in trouble, 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,519 but I've got high hopes for it. I know the boys are really excited. 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,719 I think we've got about $600 in the bank. 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,679 We still need to pay for diesel to get 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,759 all the way back out to White Cliffs. 39 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,959 And we need to get food for ourselves, so. 40 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,679 We're at the bottom of the barrel again. 41 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,079 We got 700 Ks to get from Lightning Ridge back to White Cliff 42 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,799 with the machine intact. If we can do that, put it to work. 43 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,759 Full on. 44 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,439 Our first season was all about learning. 45 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,159 That looks like death. Holy moly! 46 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,999 All about actually giving it a crack and going out to the opal fields. 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,799 Last season, the Young Guns had little more 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,279 than jack picks and big dreams. 49 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,759 Look at that. Look at that. 50 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,639 I think me and the boys are pretty much all on the same page 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,759 when it comes to going bigger and better. 52 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,559 The dream for the Young Guns this season would be 53 00:02:57,640 --> 00:02:59,719 to set up a really efficient mine 54 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,239 that's gonna cost another 50 to $60,000 55 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,439 for the rest of the gear we need which is gonna be tip truck, 56 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,519 uh, super tipper hoist, 57 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,559 another loader would be ideal, 58 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:11,919 and then a generator as well. 59 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,959 We have been looking into the possibility 60 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,999 of finding someone to help bankroll it. 61 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,519 Season target's the big 100K. 62 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,359 Six figures for the boys. 63 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,879 Jaymin grew up hunting opal 64 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,639 in Australia's oldest opal field, White Cliffs... 65 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,359 ..learning the ropes from father Graeme Dowton 66 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,639 and grandfather Ron. 67 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,199 Every time we make a change and get new gear, 68 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,319 we still need help, um, you know, in the initial stages. 69 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,519 Just to be able to learn how to operate it, 70 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,639 be able to learn how to fix it. 71 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,559 Whoo! Look at that move. Hey, look at it go. 72 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,719 This is like a very dangerous sort of machine to operate. 73 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,119 Um, very easy to tip over, 74 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,359 and obviously very heavy, you know, 75 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,279 so it's gonna cause, you know, like pretty serious injury 76 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,999 if it falls on anybody, so always best to stand behind the operator. 77 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,559 The hydraulic digger is a big step up from hand tools 78 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,639 but will increase their digging capacity ten times. 79 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,639 It's operated using a system of levers. 80 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,439 A ram secures it to the mine roof, 81 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,239 while its steel teeth work the face. 82 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,759 You're doing good, JC. Just take your time, nice and steady. 83 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,479 Unpredictable, and unbalanced, 84 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,719 the Young Guns have never operated one before. 85 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,319 It's a very steep slope he's going down at the moment 86 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,359 so it's a little bit nail-biting. 87 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,159 I was really, really excited to get on the digger 88 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,199 and to actually learn how to use it. But after jumping on it, 89 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:58,879 I realised I've kind of taken on a bit of a mission. 90 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:05,399 Having this massive bit of machinery that could fall any which way, 91 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,399 that was scary. It was very, very scary. 92 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,559 What's down there, JC? 93 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,239 I'm more worried about the next bit around that corner in there. 94 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,279 The Young Guns' 50x50-metre claim known as World's End 95 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,239 has been mined heavily for over 100 years. 96 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,519 Multiple levels of diggings, some above them, 97 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,119 make the ground highly unstable. 98 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,279 When we start pinning this into the roof, 99 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,479 and this is now gonna tell us how good a roof you've got. 100 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,599 You gotta be really super careful that you don't push this up 101 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,799 and loosen the ground above you, into workings above you. 102 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,959 Cos then it's gonna come down on top of you. 103 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,239 The digger, I didn't know if I'd bit off more than I could chew, 104 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,999 and I will be honest, there were a couple of times that I 105 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,679 full froze up on those controls. 106 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,559 I didn't want anyone to see how frightened I was. 107 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,599 We're listening for a bit of sponginess 108 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,439 and we're watching for movement. 109 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,679 You know? First sign of movement, that's it, you're out. 110 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,439 Wow. And there we go. 111 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,439 That roof just moved. 112 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,919 Got a bit of a problem. I think you have to get the machine outta there 113 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,559 and maybe dig somewhere else. 114 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,879 What's happening in there? 115 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,919 It's just got stuck, man. 116 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,439 If you look in there, there's a crack in the side of the bin. 117 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,399 Coober Pedy newcomers, the Blacklighters 118 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,079 are three weeks into mining their new mega claim. 119 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,479 The bin's just pouring straight down on the rollers. 120 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,519 It's not actually going onto the belt. 121 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,039 And all these rocks here are making their way under it. 122 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,519 A build-up of dirt is stretching an integral $3,000 belt 123 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,719 that feeds their ten-ton opal processor, Opalzilla. 124 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,879 I wanna keep digging, but yeah, we really gotta fix this. 125 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,159 We tear this belt, boom. 126 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,319 That's a three-inch gap, dude. 127 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,599 The side walls came off and it's allowing too much 128 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,399 of the finer dirt to go in behind it. 129 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,119 And that's what seems to be blocking up the wheel at the back there. 130 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,959 Opalzilla is the heart of the Blacklighters' operation. 131 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:51,079 It takes previously-mined rock and tumbles it to remove loose dirt. 132 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:55,319 Then, in the dark room, missed opal is spotted and collected 133 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,359 in a technique called noodling. 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,159 In the dark room we've got ultraviolet lights 135 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,559 and it makes the opal really glow and stand out. 136 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,079 If Opalzilla has a serious breakdown, 137 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,959 it's all hands on deck, everyone gets involved 138 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,479 and we gotta get it running. 139 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,639 Grind a bit of metal away so that the weld will stick. 140 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,839 Stich weld it all the way along and hopefully it'll last us. 141 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,919 So much rust. 142 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,639 Once we get this finished I hope we can get on to some opal 143 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:34,399 and end up having a decent week. 144 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,759 Mark I'anson, Paul Coon and John Nassar 145 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,959 have been forced to find a new place to live and work with their families 146 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:48,999 after their former home, the opal town of Mintabie closed down. 147 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:54,159 Wow. That's about $116,200. 148 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,879 Yes! Yes! 149 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:02,879 Their first week on new ground in Coober Pedy 150 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,799 was a surprise success. 151 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,719 Whoo! 152 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,959 We had a really good week last week, 153 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,399 but we gotta back it up because 154 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,519 we've got some plans there that are gonna 155 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,279 take a fair bit of fuel and money and that. 156 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,639 We need 250 grand, really, for the season to be a success. 157 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,639 Mark and his crew have pegged four adjoining claims, 158 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,239 totalling 80,000 square metres. 159 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,919 There was a lot of opal found here 160 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,119 just sitting, basically, not far from the surface. 161 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:41,279 So, doesn't look like the old miners have gone looking for it deeper, 162 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,599 so it's sort of given us an opportunity to maybe hit 163 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:46,959 something quite decent down there it'd be good. 164 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,519 Encouraged by their big find, 165 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,279 their plan now is to noodle the rest of the pre-mined dirt 166 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,519 sitting over much of their claims 167 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,999 before launching into an expensive open cut dig 168 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,159 of the virgin ground beneath. 169 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:06,119 The main game of opal mining is to hit it big. 170 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,239 The noodling allows you to get the money 171 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,479 to have a chance to try and hit it big. 172 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,279 There's literally nothing really left to weld to here. 173 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,799 This plate here is getting pretty thin and this 5-mil plate here 174 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,759 you gotta put so much heat into it 175 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,359 to try and transfer onto the thin plate... 176 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,599 Yeah, it's a bit of a nightmare. 177 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:32,599 Eight years ago, Mark built Opalzilla 178 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:35,959 using scrap parts from two derelict machines. 179 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,079 Some of its components are now 30 years old. 180 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:46,039 It is hard because one thing after another after another 181 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,239 just seem to keep going wrong. 182 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,919 So, we'll send all this down, that and that. 183 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,159 This is what we call a roof ramp. 184 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,639 Oil goes in, it pushes the piston out, 185 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:06,999 and locks into the roof. 186 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,039 You got one either side of the digger. 187 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,519 If you put pressure on the face and you got no way of locking it in, 188 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,079 the digger will just come back and squash you. 189 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,239 So, this is just a repair job, the hose is leaking. 190 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,799 And we just fixed it and we're putting it back together. 191 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,919 Oscar can stay up the top here, we'll lower this down with a crane. 192 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,399 Rory and I will fit it back into place, 193 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,839 put the pin it, and hopefully, we can get digging. 194 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,999 One month into an ambitious mining season, 195 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,999 Chris Cheal is scaling up operations 196 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,839 with his sons, 20-year-old Rory, 197 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,719 and 18-year-old Oscar. 198 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,319 So, Rory and I were both in Sydney University, 199 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,839 but Dad said there's a good shot here at this claim, 200 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,199 so we've decided to put our uni online, 201 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:53,999 come out here, give him a hand. 202 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,599 Dad hasn't had a big sale over the last few months. 203 00:11:56,680 --> 00:12:00,319 So, hopefully, we can get in and get him a bit of money. 204 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,119 Take your light away. 205 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:06,759 Whoa. 206 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,719 I just gotta get this other lock pin in. 207 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,559 All he needs, he only needs to go up probably a centimetre. 208 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,679 Up now. 209 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,599 Up! Oscar. 210 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:23,279 Go up! What? 211 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:24,959 Go up. 212 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,039 Tell him to take it up. Take it up. 213 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,039 Get us up! 214 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,519 Up? Yes! Up! 215 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,039 Chris' plan this season is to go big. 216 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,999 He's staked a giant 22-claim lease 217 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,039 covering 55,000 square metres 218 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,439 with mining partner Scott McMillan. 219 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,599 Look at that, beautiful. Beautiful orange. 220 00:12:57,680 --> 00:12:59,359 And black. 221 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,319 To reach his season target of $75,000, 222 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,279 Chris has come up with a radical idea, 223 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,359 to dig out the entire floor of their mine 224 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,479 which they believe holds opal. 225 00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:14,639 Well, the plan is to take the floor out. 226 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,519 Hopefully, at the end of it, we've got some gems coming out. 227 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,239 Nice payday. Yeah. 228 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,319 Fingers crossed. 229 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,119 Opal mining's a gamble 230 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,599 because you're paying the costs and you might not get nothing. 231 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:29,879 So we tend to think that the chances of it making 232 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,159 in the floor over there are pretty high, 233 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,839 so we've hedged our bets and we're gonna have a look. 234 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,399 Thank you. 235 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,039 The stakes are high, obviously. I wanna get ahead in life 236 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,279 and the kids to not, you know, go without. 237 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,359 Got it? Yeah, it's in. 238 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,079 If it pays off, you can change your life in one day. 239 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,839 That's why we all do it. 240 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,839 Righto. We've got it in. 241 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,919 OK. Stand back. 242 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,439 Before it can dig, Chris' machine needs to brace itself 243 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,919 between the roof and the floor with its hydraulic rams. 244 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,679 I don't know whether she's gonna be able to grab, Scotto. 245 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,639 She might not reach. 246 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,839 The mine has been worked by multiple teams over 20 years, 247 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,199 creating a high 3.5-metre ceiling. 248 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,599 No. 249 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,279 Oh, bloody hell. 250 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,199 But the rams only extend to three metres. 251 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,519 If you can't lock it into the roof and floor, you can't dig any dirt. 252 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,119 What are we gonna do? 253 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,919 We have to make something. 254 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,759 You don't wanna hear a hollow, a dull, hollow sound. 255 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,119 Yeah, I'm not liking that. Over there, yeah. 256 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,759 The number one issue is the roof is spongy. 257 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,439 Every time I've pinned the digger to the roof it's pushed up, 258 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,879 which could make the whole roof come down on you. 259 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,479 And that's death, so don't want that. 260 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,119 That's really bad. Yeah. 261 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,839 Where are we gonna dig? This is ridiculous. 262 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,519 The Young Guns have gambled all their savings on a digger 263 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:33,239 that's struggling to find solid ground in their old, unstable mine. 264 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:37,759 This pin pins to the roof, and it holds, we can keep digging. 265 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,159 And if it doesn't and it pushes up into the roof, 266 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,119 we gotta shut the whole mine down. 267 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,679 We're just kinda seeing our hopes just crushed. 268 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,839 We need to be making money. 269 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:51,639 We need to find some opal. 270 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,479 It's actually quite a danger. 271 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,639 And especially with a machine like this 272 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,519 that pushes on it and flexes it, 273 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,359 that could actually crack it enough to 274 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,759 actually bring a whole room full of dirt down 275 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,479 on top of yourself, and it happens that quick. 276 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,439 I'm pretty anxious about the whole thing. 277 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,839 If we can't find a good place to pin in this mine 278 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,159 to move forward, then we're pretty much screwed. 279 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,479 After a century of digging on this claim, 280 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,439 little productive ground is left. 281 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,159 Their best chance for opal... This is the moment of truth. 282 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,839 ..lies in one of the most dangerous sections. 283 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,199 Push it, push it, push it. 284 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,359 Push it. 285 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,599 Solid ground. 286 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,919 Is that solid? Yeah, solid as. 287 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,879 All right. Well, here we go. 288 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,039 There's solid ground. 289 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,359 This is it. This is our first proper wall gouge. 290 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,679 Oh, look at her crush it! 291 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,199 Oh, my God. Oh, yes! 292 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,119 Finally digging, you guys. 293 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,519 Look at it tear away the wall! 294 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,839 Yes! Tear into it, JC. 295 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,519 Good luck. See you later. Thanks, Graham. 296 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:05,679 Now it's time to find some opal. 297 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,839 Yeah! Look what I did to that wall. 298 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,319 You can just see it peel back, nice clean face. 299 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,199 If we see opal, it's gonna be a lot easier to spot than 300 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,679 half buried wall with a jack hammer. 301 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,519 The boys are chasing white seam opal, 302 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,839 worth up to $7,500 a gram. 303 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:28,839 We're really at the bottom of the barrel. 304 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,439 We've got not even 50 bucks left now. 305 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,759 Definitely in a tight place. We need to find opal as soon as possible 306 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,559 to keep us in the game. 307 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,199 If not then, you know, we're gonna run out of diesel. 308 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,519 Building some extensions because we've run out of reach. 309 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:03,679 Keep flipping it round, do the edges. 310 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,039 Chris Cheal and sons Rory and Oscar 311 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:11,839 are rushing to modify the roof rams on their hydraulic digger. 312 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,079 Have it cutting, not too much. 313 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,679 It's unreal, really, to learn off him. 314 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,679 He's like a walking textbook when it comes to building stuff. 315 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,479 I've had to make extensions up 316 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,959 so that I can actually lock the digger in 317 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,759 and get the force on the face we need to dig the dirt out. 318 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,959 The teeth will go up into the roof, lock it in. 319 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,199 The digger is critical to searching 320 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,199 for rare black opal on the mega claim. 321 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,639 But building the one-metre extensions 322 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,119 has cost the Cheals a day's work. 323 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:43,919 Now. 324 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,879 You've got it, mate? Yeah. 325 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,639 That's it. Good to go. Well done. 326 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,599 Time to get some digging done. Hopefully. 327 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,199 Righto. 328 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,239 Let's see how we go, eh? 329 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,439 How good's that? Perfect, mate. 330 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,119 Pretty good start, all right. 331 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,439 Finally, Chris can test his theory 332 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,719 that there's money to be made in the floor of the mine. 333 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,999 When we started here, we intersected our workings, 334 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,799 we got opal, little bit of trace down deep. 335 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,079 If we dig through here and there's opal in it then, 336 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,439 we've sort of proven that there's another level. 337 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,959 Oi, oi, hang on. Get away. 338 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,839 Got a bit of colour. How's that for a start? Straight up. 339 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,119 That's well done. Green seam. 340 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,479 Good start. First little scratch. 341 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,719 Bloody hawkeye Oscar straight on to it. Geez. 342 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,119 A bit above that is where I got a nice stone a fair few years ago. 343 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,799 Yeah, righto. So, that's a pretty good sign. 344 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,519 The ground the Cheals are working is famed for nobbies, 345 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,999 small stones of concentrated opal silica 346 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,759 buried within hardened clay or sandstone. 347 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,399 I'm not seeing any, but... 348 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,959 my eyes aren't as good as they used to be either. 349 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:39,999 That's why we wash it, you know. 350 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,559 You get a little stone like that, worth a lot of money. 351 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,999 It could be in a big clod so that's why we wash it. 352 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:50,919 Their wash plant or agitator is a kilometre from the mine. 353 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,239 Built from a 20-year-old cement mixer, 354 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,999 it's the quickest way of washing the dirt. 355 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,559 Nothing? 356 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,279 Scott's having trouble with the starter motor 357 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:14,079 so, you know, we got two full trucks 358 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,439 so we just gotta get this going. 359 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,399 Time is money, you know. 360 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,439 Not ideal for us because, you know, it's costing money. 361 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,199 No idea. Got me buggered. 362 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,399 I just got out the hopper bin and yeah, had to weld up 363 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,359 the big plate on the side that came off, and yeah, 364 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,599 hopefully, that'll hold till we can get some dirt through. 365 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,359 We'll see how it goes from there. 366 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,879 We'll just spin the belt at the back for a bit to straighten it up. 367 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:57,959 Well, here goes the first bucket up in Opalzilla after the fix. 368 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:03,399 For the Blacklighters, it's now been a ten-day dry spell without any opal 369 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,439 while costs keep mounting. 370 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:10,719 Cos we got family and that, we can't afford to mess up, you know. 371 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:15,479 Just living expenses for everyone, fuel... It runs into thousands. 372 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,479 The last thing we need is this not to work. 373 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:28,079 That is good. That belt's come right back across beautifully. 374 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,839 Still a bit of dirt in there but that'll work its way out. Wow. 375 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,319 Belt's working fine, guys. Well done. 376 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,039 Awesome welding job. 377 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,919 In the dark room, the conveyor is moving at one metre per second. 378 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,439 Any stone that glows under the ultraviolet black lights 379 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,919 could contain valuable opal. 380 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,879 When you're not finding much and you're spending hours in here, 381 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,719 uh, it does sort of get you down a bit, 382 00:22:57,800 --> 00:22:59,799 but not every day is gonna be a good day. 383 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,199 We got a little bit of an issue here. 384 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,399 The shaker's not keeping up with the rocks coming through. 385 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,679 We have to turn the trommel off and just let it all come through. 386 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,599 That's an issue. 387 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,439 Turn the trommel off again. 388 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:22,479 The trommel sieves away excess dust from the opal bearing rock 389 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,079 before the shaker feeds a steady stream of tumbled stones 390 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,159 into the all-important dark room. 391 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:30,919 The shaker's not keeping up. 392 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,719 It's overflowing. 393 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,679 Is the belt spinning enough? 394 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,479 See what we can think up. 395 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,159 I'll work it up, see what's around, and what we can do. 396 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,799 Yeah, breakdowns cause a lot of pressure. 397 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,799 Another couple of thousand dollars here, there, it can go so fast. 398 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,799 Just trying to process rocks and rocks just wreck everything. 399 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,359 The overflowing shaker is powered by an electric motor 400 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,159 attached with a pulley belt 401 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,879 to a deliberately unbalanced spindle 402 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:02,399 to create a shaking motion. 403 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,799 The belt seems a bit loose to me. 404 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,359 So, we might give her a stop 405 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,519 and see if we've got a smaller belt, 406 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,319 and see if we can speed it up a bit. 407 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,439 Shut it down! 408 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,119 That was too loose to start with, eh? 409 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,199 Too tight? 410 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,839 Yeah. 411 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,959 It's not going on, John. Put the shaker on. Shaker. 412 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,079 No, we're smoking it out. 413 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:46,959 Righto! Off. 414 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:51,199 Is that enough? She's blocking it. It's too tight. 415 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,919 40 kilometres from Lightning Ridge, 416 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,919 Chris Cheal and mining partner Scott McMillan 417 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,239 are struggling to fix the starter motor 418 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,919 on their home-made wash plant. 419 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,239 I just want to feel if this solenoid's clicking. 420 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,479 If it's not clicking then it's not working. 421 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,799 Nothing? 422 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,279 They're old tractor motors, it's probably about 80 years old. 423 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:34,559 Most of the gear on it's original. 424 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,359 Sooner we can get this to fire the better. 425 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,559 Without the wash plant working, 426 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,919 they can't separate the opal from the mined dirt. 427 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,079 There's no use if you're digging opal, 428 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,799 you need to be washing it to be able to keep digging it. 429 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,799 And the more dirt you move the better. 430 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,679 So, hopefully, it won't hold us up too long. 431 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,919 There's no power getting to the starter motor. We've got one more solenoid 432 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,239 which we're gonna try now. Chris has brought it over. 433 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,439 So hopefully, the new one'll work. 434 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,679 The solenoid allows a large electrical current 435 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:13,039 to flow from the battery to the starter motor. 436 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:17,959 The starter motor will hopefully turn over the engine and away we go. 437 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,759 There we are. 438 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,559 The team can finally start the 12-hour washing process. 439 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,879 We've lost time, so you know, we are behind where we wanna be. 440 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:50,039 We'll head back down there now and finish off that other truck. 441 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:52,479 While the Cheals get back to mining, 442 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,199 Scott will keep watch on the problematic agitator. 443 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,759 We'll just keep knocking dirt out and keep washing, and hopefully 444 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:01,679 just hoping we start to see something. 445 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,479 We'd like to get another set of gear going. 446 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:12,559 I can have both the boys digging 447 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,199 and the three of us keep the two sets of gear going, 448 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,719 and you know, two irons in the fire, double our chances up. 449 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,839 All these things take time and money, 450 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,759 and at the moment, you know, we're getting by 451 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,199 and yeah, we need a big find if we can get one. 452 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,079 Sometimes it's hard to keep in a good frame of mind 453 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,879 when you're, you know, you're not sort of seeing anything. 454 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:40,919 That's my biggest worry is 455 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,839 we just actually haven't really seen anything 456 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,719 except right at the start. 457 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,999 Yeah, she's too tight. Needs a looser belt. 458 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,759 In the desert country of South Australia, 459 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,799 the Blacklighters are trying to fix a faulty pulley belt 460 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,519 on Opalzilla's shaker. 461 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,599 See if this will fit on. 462 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:15,919 Turn the shaker on, John. 463 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:18,719 Yup. 464 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:28,559 She's good. Keep that going, just turn the belt on, John. Go. 465 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,239 Back in business. Beauty. 466 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,959 Delays always create pressure amongst everyone, 467 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,599 you know, no one likes to not be making money. 468 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,639 We need to get a few more bucks under our belt, that'd be good. 469 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,519 We can get a heap more fuel, you gotta go use it. 470 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,319 Whether you find something or not, you gotta pay for it, 471 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:02,079 so it is a gamble. 472 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:08,319 Fingers crossed, we might have some colour in the bucket. 473 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,239 Could make the last few days seem a little bit brighter. 474 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,479 Opalzilla can process 50 tons of dirt an hour. 475 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,559 It's up to Mark in the loader to feed it. 476 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,279 When are you gonna put some stuff through so we can pick it up? 477 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,839 It's hard to find stuff when there's not even rocks coming through. 478 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,719 Maybe you should open your eyes. 479 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,399 I'm pretty sure there's rocks coming through, you donkeys. 480 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,319 No, we got a bit of gravel. 481 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,919 All I've heard is just complaints over the radio. 482 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,439 So... 483 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,679 How are youse going in there? Getting any? 484 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,359 Found a couple of bits of potch, the best bit of the day 485 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,719 we've got so far, I found it just walking around. Right. 486 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,679 It's just a lot of top soil building up on the right hand side. 487 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:51,839 That's all we're going through, it seems like. 488 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,999 You need to lift your game, mate. Yeah, well I'm trying to . 489 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,159 We got absolute nothing. Rubbish. 490 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,039 Uh, feeling a bit at the moment. 491 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,399 I can't seem to find any materials. 492 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:25,759 There's not much to write home about in there. 493 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:28,639 No. There's a bit of a shine there. 494 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,879 Something, I guess. Bit cracky. 495 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,879 Nah, that's disgusting, Mark. 496 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,039 It's a bit disappointing. I really don't know what to do. 497 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:43,919 Just gotta hope that we got enough in there 498 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,119 to get a few bucks for this week. 499 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,119 Just this bit just slows it back down a little bit. 500 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:08,839 And it kind of makes us realize that 501 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:12,279 one bit of machinery doesn't solve everything. 502 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,679 We might need a few more machines to pick the operation up. 503 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,159 After overcoming unstable ground, 504 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,799 the Young Guns have hit another problem with their new digger. 505 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,279 How to clear away its waste dirt. 506 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,999 We really need some gear to start shifting dirt, 507 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:33,479 so that's what we're hoping for with an investor or partner. 508 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,799 At the moment, we've just got feelers out, 509 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:38,719 to set up the mine we'd really like, 510 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,679 if we had everything off our wish list, 511 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,079 we'd be looking at probably 50 to 60 grand. 512 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,159 Hopefully, you know, something will come through. 513 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,759 Oh, is that colour? 514 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:53,559 What do you mean? Is that colour? Where? 515 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:55,679 Yeah. Look, look, look, look. 516 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,879 Do you see it? That's colour, baby! 517 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,119 Oh, look at it! 518 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,319 I love this machine! 519 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,599 I don't even believe it. 520 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,959 Can you see it? There's a little bit of a seam running through there. 521 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,479 She's still running, baby. She's still running. 522 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,159 Freaking hell, that is thick. 523 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,319 That's colour. 524 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:19,079 Look how big it is. Look at that. 525 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,439 Crystal. Oh, my God. 526 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,639 Do you wanna lick it? Whoo. 527 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:29,039 Look at that. 528 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:33,079 See what we got. Yeah, OK, man. 529 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,599 Here we go. All right, boys, you ready? 530 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:44,839 Whoo! 531 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,519 I think we got some colour in there. 532 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,719 Look at that colour. Really good parcel here, boys. 533 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,439 20, 30 grand? 534 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,879 We got some really nice, big, thick bits in there. 535 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:01,639 If we can get at least 20 for it I'd be really happy. 536 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,159 This might be our biggest find. Whoo! 537 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,559 Hey! Hey, boys! 538 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,319 Finally got some. You found something, mate? 539 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,479 I don't know whether there's any colour in it. 540 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:30,079 After four fruitless days of digging, 541 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,639 Chris Cheal and sons, Rory and Oscar 542 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,119 have finally hit signs of opal. 543 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,879 There's good black potch, 544 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:41,159 so yeah, I'm pretty happy to finally see a bit of... 545 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,119 see a bit of trace, which is good. 546 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,919 Potch is opal silica with no colour and no value. 547 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,239 Tiny little bit of green in the top there, it's trying. 548 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:55,359 But it's often a sign that gem quality opal is nearby. 549 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,119 Geez. 550 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,759 God, why can't there be colour sitting on that? 551 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,239 Gee, that's thick potch. 552 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:05,039 All it takes is one bar to go through 553 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:08,479 one of those big black bits of seam, and we're laughing. 554 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,679 Like, it's proved that there's opal down deep. 555 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,879 But the final proof of valuable opal in their mine's floor 556 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:17,679 will come at the tail-out. 557 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,519 You don't know what's in it. We could've already made money. 558 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,079 You don't know. That's why we gotta wash it 559 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,399 and we'll tail it out. It is easy to miss. 560 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,719 After leaving the wash plant running overnight, 561 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:36,319 the Cheals, Scott McMillan and his daughter Hannah 562 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,519 start the tail-out. 563 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,399 Any colour in it? Not really. 564 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,159 Nah. 565 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:59,919 Hey, hey, hey. 566 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:04,359 Oh. Scott! 567 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:12,599 Far out. Liking the colour in that. 568 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:16,559 That'd be worth probably 6 to 8,000. 569 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:20,039 Feel relieved, you know, we at least got our fuel money 570 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:21,999 and we got enough to buy food. 571 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,959 If there's a bit more in there we might be able to do repairs. 572 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,639 Here you are. Look at this, mate. 573 00:35:27,720 --> 00:35:29,799 Ooh. Far out. 574 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,559 Finally a bit more colour. 575 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,799 Bit of red up the side here. 576 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,079 That's the reason we're opal miners. Because of that. 577 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:45,359 It's good colour, I'll tell you. It's nice and bright. 578 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:49,839 The tail-out has revealed seam and nobbie opal in the rough 579 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:55,039 featuring a full spectrum of colours and weighs 90 grams. 580 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,879 It's a good result. We've got something for our hard work. 581 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:02,639 I'm happy. We should get around ten grand for that. 582 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:04,719 It's a really, really solid start. 583 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,519 We've been knocking out pretty big days, out early, back late. 584 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,199 But it's good to get a reward at the end. 585 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,919 Their theory of a deeper opal level in their mine 586 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:17,959 one step closer to being confirmed. 587 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:20,759 When you're hitting that material you gotta keep looking. 588 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:24,559 Keep going, we'll dig the rest of that floor and see how we go. 589 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:28,719 Made enough, maybe, to keep ourselves fuelled for the next dig. 590 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:31,919 That's the most important thing. While you're doing that, 591 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,839 you give yourself a chance to find that million dollar lead. 592 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,359 I'm happy that we're able to keep going. 593 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,399 That one. 594 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:51,639 After a series of breakdowns, 595 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:55,839 the Blacklighters' running costs have hit $6,000 596 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,999 and all they have to show for it is a handful of stones. 597 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,239 I think these will cut up quite nice, eh. 598 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,279 I'll get over and start the saw up. Righto. 599 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,919 Cutting and polishing opal can triple its value. 600 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,159 But only if no flaws are revealed 601 00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:17,119 and the stone isn't damaged by the cutter. 602 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:20,079 We face them up to start with. 603 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:24,479 Turn these stones into a nice, polished, finished piece, 604 00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:27,479 and value add a bit, that's the plan. 605 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:29,799 We put a bit of trust in him to do this. 606 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,839 He's actually quite good at it. We give it a go, 607 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,599 but you know, he just gets the shapes 608 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:38,039 and he can just do it from the top of his head. 609 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,399 Which a lot of people wouldn't be able to do. 610 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:42,159 This one's got a bit of a problem. 611 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:44,519 So I'm gonna have to be careful. I'll take that off 612 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,799 to make a bit of a back, nice, smooth back. 613 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,479 Sometimes you take the wrong way and you wreck the stone. 614 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:56,439 Which gives you a pretty sour feeling. 615 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,159 The anticipation's killing me. 616 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:07,639 Those stones come out quite nice. 617 00:38:07,720 --> 00:38:10,799 I think they'll definitely be worth more now once they're cut 618 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,119 than they were in the rough. 619 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:16,399 Get 'em off to Rach, and get them sold, get a few bucks in. 620 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,079 Yeah, that'll be good. 621 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,959 Got a few stones we've done today that we finished. 622 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,239 Mark's wife Rachel is the team's opal seller. 623 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:28,039 Try and get a bit of fuel up for next week would be handy. Yeah, awesome. 624 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:29,879 To move their opal faster, 625 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:32,079 Rachel has started selling it online 626 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,119 to buyers all around the world. 627 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,279 Got some nice colour there. 628 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:39,199 High-res photos of the opal and its details 629 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:41,439 have been posted online. 630 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,199 For sale are four pieces of white and crystal opal. 631 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,799 They've been polished and the colours are varied, 632 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:50,039 including sought-after reds. 633 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:52,399 The parcel weighs five grams. 634 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:55,479 I've got a buyer interested in these. 635 00:38:55,560 --> 00:39:00,119 Ultimately, we would like $7,000 now. 636 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:03,359 Whether we can get that or not, we'll see how we go. 637 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:08,039 Hi, Sinan. How you going? 638 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:11,439 850 kilometres away, in the city of Adelaide 639 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:14,079 is opal dealer Sinan Kosadac. 640 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:17,799 We've been mining away and we've got a few good stones for you 641 00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:20,039 that I think you're really gonna like. 642 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,479 Around 25 carats. 643 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,639 We'd really like around ten, ten and a half 644 00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:27,599 and we're hoping, you know. 645 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:29,879 I need some breathing room with that. 646 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:32,799 We might be a bit apart, but I think 647 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:36,559 five and a half would be about reasonable for what you got there. 648 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:40,159 Yeah, that's really not even gonna cover our diesel cost. 649 00:39:40,240 --> 00:39:45,759 So, maybe you could come in at around eight? 650 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:49,039 What about I go to about 65? 651 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:52,599 You're really breaking me there. 652 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:54,919 I don't know if I can really... 653 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:59,199 Look, I'm still really not making a lot on this at all, 654 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,359 but I'll meet you at seven just because 655 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,439 you're a great customer, and I wanna be able to look after you. 656 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:08,999 Do you think that sounds fair or... 657 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:12,079 I'll take the seven, seven would be great. I'm happy with that. 658 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:16,199 Awesome. Awesome. Thank you, Sinan. 659 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:18,239 Take care. 660 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:20,759 Hey, boys, I got some good news for you. 661 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:22,959 We just sold that parcel. 662 00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:26,279 Oh, you beauty. And we got seven grand for it. 663 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:28,679 Well done. How good's that? 664 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:30,639 Yes! 665 00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:33,519 She's got a buyer so we'll get some money for those stones. 666 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,239 That'll go straight into fuel and everything we need. 667 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:38,039 It turned out all right in the end, 668 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:39,879 but I wouldn't say it was a good week. 669 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,159 If I had to have it again I'd skip it. 670 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:58,439 How's it going, Dick? I'm good, Jaymin. 671 00:40:58,520 --> 00:41:00,839 Yourself? Good to see you. This is JC and Noah. 672 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:03,319 Hi, JC. This is probably one of the biggest parcels 673 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:05,839 we've found so far. You've done well. 674 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:08,239 We were bloody cheering, weren't we? 675 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:10,279 We knew we had something pretty good here. 676 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:12,839 The Young Guns' start to their ambitious second season 677 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:14,679 has paid off straight away 678 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:18,319 with what could possibly be their biggest ever haul of opal. 679 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:21,719 They've brought their find to local buyer, Dick Wagner. 680 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,119 We have to sell it, we've got to make some money. 681 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:27,159 We can't afford to really even go back down into the mine 682 00:41:27,240 --> 00:41:29,759 until we make that sale. 683 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,759 The Young Guns have crystal seam opal, 684 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:35,719 it's in the rough and shows a full range of colour. 685 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:39,479 Including highly-valued red and orange hews. 686 00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:42,079 It totals 510 grams. 687 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:45,519 Initially, we were kind of thinking, 688 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:48,679 you know, about 20 or 30 grand. 689 00:41:48,760 --> 00:41:51,439 Beautiful piece. You got a price on it? 690 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:54,199 We decided, why not let's go a little bit higher with it? 691 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:58,599 I think me and the boys are coming in, what we're looking for 692 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:02,359 is gonna be about 37,000 on the lot. 693 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:05,079 You're a little bit high. I'd, um... 694 00:42:05,160 --> 00:42:09,559 At this stage, about 30 would be my offer on it. 695 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:11,719 I don't think we can come as low as 30. 696 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:14,319 Is there any chance you'd be willing to come up to 35? 697 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,159 The 35 mark. 698 00:42:17,240 --> 00:42:20,599 No, not 35 but I'll split the difference with you. 699 00:42:20,680 --> 00:42:23,839 32 and a half. 32 and a half, boys, what do you think? 700 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:26,639 We put in a lot of hard work to get to it. 701 00:42:26,720 --> 00:42:29,639 Thanks for that, Dick. No worries, Jaymin. No worries. 702 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:37,039 Well, boys. 32.5K! 703 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:43,119 Hopefully, this is just the beginning. Hell yeah. Touch wood to that. 704 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:50,119 Hold on. Hello. 705 00:42:51,680 --> 00:42:54,519 Hey, John, how's it going, mate? You read over it all? 706 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:58,319 What do you reckon? You keen? 707 00:42:59,920 --> 00:43:02,479 Yeah? Nice one, man. 708 00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:04,879 Well, yeah, if you're happy to move it forward, 709 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:07,879 we definitely are. That's exactly what... Yeah. 710 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:11,039 No, all right. All right, man, let's make it happen. 711 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:12,999 I'll talk to you later. Bye. 712 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:17,559 Boys, we just got an investor. 713 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,479 Whoa, really? Yeah. 714 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,519 He's like 100% on board, he wants to make it happen, let's do it. 715 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:24,639 Mate, we're on. We are bloody on. 716 00:43:24,720 --> 00:43:26,599 We are bloody on. Cheers, boys. 717 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:28,759 That's it, boys. 718 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:34,119 Subtitles by Deluxe 718 00:43:35,305 --> 00:44:35,792 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm