"Outback Opal Hunters" Trouble Underground

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,639 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,879 Go, you Zilla. Come on. 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,319 In a desperate bid to reach opal-rich grounds... 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,319 Easy. Easy. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,879 ..the Blacklighters risk moving their ten-tonne processing plant. 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,279 Hold up, hold up. Oh, oh. Look at the hole I'm standing in. 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,679 If we do fall in there, it's game over. 8 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,999 In their dangerous underground mine... 9 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,959 I don't like it. ..the Cheals' operation grinds to a halt... 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,319 Hoist won't come back down. ..as their only 11 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,439 dirt-moving truck breaks down. 12 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,799 If Dad can't get this going, we're in trouble. 13 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,959 Jeez, that looks a bit ominous. And, determined to expand 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,239 their mining empire, the Young Guns hunt 15 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,359 for a new claim on an old field. 16 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,399 Easy does it. Oh, oh, oh. 17 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:49,439 When you put a ladder into place and the bottom rung drops off... 18 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,679 Grab it, grab it. ..one slip and broken bones. 19 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,479 # ASH GRUNWALD: Money 20 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,559 # Money 21 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,759 # And fancy clothes # 22 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 23 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,959 Yeah, let's go find some opal, eh? 24 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,479 A bit dismal in the little hole we're digging at the moment, 25 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,199 so if we can locate a bit of a nice patch tonight, 26 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,279 we'll head for that tomorrow. 27 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,799 See what we get tonight, eh? Yeah. 28 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,119 Come out to the plane tonight to have a bit of a scratch around 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,879 with the black lights, and hopefully we can find 30 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:38,879 a new dump to get stuck into tomorrow. It would be good. 31 00:01:38,960 --> 00:01:41,399 NARRATOR: Experts in sifting through 32 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,919 old mined dirt to find missed opal, 33 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,199 the Blacklighters are using ultraviolet torches 34 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,879 to find surface trace difficult to see in daylight. 35 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,759 We use a little black light. As soon as we put it on, 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,839 any opal around it glows like crazy, 37 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,479 so we're just gonna wander around with this and if there is 38 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,599 any opal on the surface, we'll pick it up straight away. 39 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,279 There's a bit there. You can see it. 40 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,119 It's like, in the day it's just the same as everything else, 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,399 but at night, with the light, it's just glowing. 42 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,559 When hit with ultraviolet light, 43 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:19,239 the water electrons inside the opal become excited, 44 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,919 releasing energy and flourescing. 45 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,159 I'll definitely give this spot a dig tomorrow, 46 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,879 cos like, that's a sign there's definitely material there, 47 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,839 so hopefully we get a stack of 'em. 48 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,439 That's just stunning, top opal. 49 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,439 ALL: Ohh! Ohh, yes! Yes! 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,479 NARRATOR: Mark, Paul, John and their families 51 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,079 were forced to relocate to Coober Pedy 52 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,039 after authories shut down the opal town of Mintabie. 53 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,119 So far, they've pulled out 54 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,399 $123,000 worth of opal 55 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,399 by noodling, or sifting through old mined dirt, 56 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,399 with their processing plant Opalzilla. 57 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,879 Where we're getting it, they only went to eight feet. 58 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,679 Our plan is to noodle the dirt away that they mined to eight feet 59 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,919 and then go down. 60 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,279 But with running costs in the thousands every week, 61 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,439 the reserve funds are depleting fast. 62 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,959 No, we're smoking it out. Right-o. 63 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,039 Parts are expensive. 64 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,399 Fuel's gone up a lot. Everything's gone up. 65 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,199 We do need to find opal or we're gonna go backwards fast. 66 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,959 In my own family, we've got six mouths to feed. 67 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,639 They're all reliant on it, and Paul's got a new baby 68 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,079 and a little fella, as well. So two or three claims, 69 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,919 if you fail, you're down 100 grand like that. 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,039 You know, and try to recover from that, it's very hard. 71 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,239 40 kilometres from their home, 72 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,759 the Blacklighters are working Jess's trech - 73 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,799 one of their four 100-by-200-metre claims. 74 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,159 We're gonna cut a slot through another dump 75 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,839 to head towards where we were last night, 76 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,119 and try a bit of fresh dirt. 77 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,559 It takes so much to set up here. We wanna make sure 78 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,639 we get everything we can reach before we move on. 79 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,839 We're just waiting for Mark to push some of the opal-bearing dirt 80 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,919 that we found some stuff in yesterday. 81 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,599 Put it through Opalzilla. He's a little bit hungry this morning. 82 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,559 You load it up into a hopper and it goes through a trommel, 83 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,159 shakes all the dust off. The dark room's got ultraviolet light. 84 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,519 You've got your pickers, and they're picking it off 85 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,799 the belt as it glows through. So it's very efficient. 86 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,719 Oi, the trommel's stopped running, man. Turn everything off. 87 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,039 All we're gonna leave is mess. 88 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,359 Is the trommel not working? 89 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,439 Turn the hopper off. 90 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,839 Jesus Louises. 91 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,919 Ugh. 92 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,919 You need to be digging dirt to generate some money 93 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,279 by selling opal, so at the moment 94 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,479 we're not getting the production out as we should be. 95 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,679 And, of course, we've got to live so we need to find the money 96 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,559 to do that. We've all got to keep up with fuel bills, 97 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,399 so it makes it harder. It's a bit stressful. 98 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,959 After a slow start to the season, 99 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,799 Chris Cheal and sons Rory and Oscar 100 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,879 are moving their unstable two-tonne digger 101 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,559 towards a more promising opal-bearing fault. 102 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,719 I traced down on the lower side of it. 103 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,799 It's only when we did some more work here 104 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,919 that we discovered it. As far as the digger goes. 105 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,679 It is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. 106 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,919 I don't have anyone in close around it because they can fall over. 107 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,359 I've had one crush me once and it did a bit of damage to me. 108 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,119 If it gets you in the wrong spot, then she's all over. 109 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,799 So you just don't want to put yourself in a position where you're gonna get crushed. 110 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,639 Once in place, the digger needs to brace securely 111 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,759 against the roof for mining the rockface. 112 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:03,039 I don't like the roof up there. There's a little bit of crap up there that's dried out. 113 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,119 I'll just get you to stand back. 114 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,199 I don't like it. 115 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,639 Just was a little layer there that had come away. 116 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,599 There's not much dirt in it, but if it falls 117 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,359 and it hits you on the shoulder or hand or something, you know, 118 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,959 it could break your hand. Happy with that? 119 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,039 Happy as can be. 120 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,879 Hey, hey, hey! Whoo! 121 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,079 Chris is relying on opal mining for his income, 122 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,199 after drought destroyed his grain-hauling business. 123 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:48,279 But so far this season, he's found just a fraction 124 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,759 of his $75,000 target. 125 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,119 Obviously, you always hope for more. 126 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,759 That would be unbelievable if we hit a big pocket 127 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:59,439 and the boys had enough money to... 128 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,239 help themselves out at college and uni and... 129 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,199 you know, I was able to get back on my feet a bit. 130 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:07,599 Believing his claim could hold 131 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,839 a lucrative pocket of black opal 132 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,919 worth up to $43,000 a gram, 133 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,319 Chris has pegged 22 claims 134 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,479 covering a massive 55,000 square metres. 135 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,439 That's our roof there at the moment. 136 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,559 And it starts coming back down. You can see the sandstone. 137 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:31,799 It finishes about there. 138 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,599 And then comes back. That's what we will, um... 139 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,679 we will have for our roof. 140 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,079 The Cheals have discovered that the opal level 141 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,199 they were following in the ceiling has been forced downwards 142 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,479 into the floor by a massive earth movement, 143 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,999 resulting in a Z fault. 144 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,759 With Z faults, cos there's that massive disruption, 145 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,279 if you've got big, kind of, open spaces underground 146 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,839 from, like, an earthquake or whatever, more water 147 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,239 can get in there and can press to make opal. 148 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,879 I've heard a lot of good stories about Z faults. 149 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,719 I've never really worked around one so it's a new opportunity for me. 150 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,199 And, you know, we've got opal on the high side of it, 151 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,279 so, you know, we're kind of hoping 152 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,079 that the bottom side might be even better than the top side. 153 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,839 It's pretty vital that we find something. 154 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,799 It's been a while since we got a big hit. 155 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,359 OK, here we go. 156 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,599 Don't go with it if it's going. 157 00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:45,239 Don't hold on to the control. Just let it go. 158 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,359 And watch your...watch your feet around the wheel, JC. 159 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,639 Oh, thank God. 160 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,279 All right, we're in a pretty good spot now. 161 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,679 In just their second season, 162 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,159 the Young Guns, JC, Jaymin and Noah, 163 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,119 are learning the ropes on their ten-year-old digger 164 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,119 in their century-old unstable mine. 165 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,599 Just before you move back in, I'd move the bar a little. That's it. Like that. 166 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,759 Don't want another big old bopper on JC's little noggin. 167 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,199 There it is. Johnny, it's glacial. Is that actually glacial stone? 168 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,279 It's glacial stone, dude? Sometimes you can get opal in 'em, 169 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,119 sometimes you can't. They are cool to find, though. 170 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,359 So, we just found, um... a glacial stone on the roof there, 171 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,719 and sometimes opal can pool in around those. 172 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:38,919 So, JC's gonna bring the digger back a bit 173 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,839 and just pop that little shelf down where the glacial stone's sitting. There's a couple of 'em in there. 174 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,879 Glacial stones were carried by drifting icebergs 175 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,959 on Australia's inland sea 176 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,039 100 million years ago. 177 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,159 The melting of the ice exposed cracks 178 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,759 and voids in between the glacial stones. 179 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,559 Silica-rich water can drain into the gaps 180 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,359 to eventually form opal. 181 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,159 Just going directly, like, into the glacial stone. Like, above it. 182 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,399 It will probably go straight through, and it pops down, pops down. 183 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,679 This could be the million-dollar piece. 184 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,279 Have we got anything? Oh, look at that. 185 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,519 It's just all, like, concretion-y stuff. 186 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,839 Is that him? No colour, no opal. 187 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,959 A million-year-old ice thing. 188 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:26,959 That's exactly what it is. 189 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,079 Here we go. 190 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,479 Oh-ho-ho-ho! 32-and-a-half. 191 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:37,919 That's a deal. A deal. I think we are very happy with that. 192 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,039 NARRATOR: In the first week of their season, 193 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,999 the Young Guns have already had their biggest opal find to date. 194 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,799 All right, man. Let's make it happen. Boys! 195 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,279 We just got a new investor! Oh-ho-ho! 196 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,479 The week got even better when they secured an investor 197 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:55,599 who's put in $50,000 for mining equipment 198 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:59,639 in exchange for 25% of any opal found. 199 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,919 We've got the loader, we've got the truck 200 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,839 and we've got the tipper. Everything we almost need. 201 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,919 Whoo! 202 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,559 Hey, John. Hey, how's it going, fellas? Yeah, good, mate. 203 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,839 All the gear has turned up. That's good, that's good. 204 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,679 I mean, we are pretty much, er... We will try and get this gear 205 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,799 up and running as soon as possible, and hopefully pull in some opal some time soon. 206 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,439 Yeah, sounds good. The sooner we start pulling opal, 207 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,839 the better off we'll all be. We need a bit of money back in the kitty. 208 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,759 OK. ..we get it sooner rather than later. 209 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:36,039 It's definitely a lot more responsibility 210 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,399 now that we have someone else that we are responsible to. 211 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,599 He's put down a lot of money 212 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:44,679 to get us going and, you know, put his faith in us. 213 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,799 The goal with his machinery is to, you know, move more dirt, 214 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,399 find more opal. This is a massive opportunity 215 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,519 for the Young Guns. This is a chance to expand, 216 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,919 go bigger and better like we've been talking about, 217 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,159 trying to upgrade our situation, trying to become real opal miners out here. 218 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,719 The mine we're in at the moment has a very limited shelflife. 219 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,399 A lot of the ground is dug out and unsafe to work. 220 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,679 We can't limit ourselves to one claim. 221 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,679 We need to expand our operation as much as possible 222 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,759 to give ourselves more options. 223 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,439 ..scary. 224 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,519 Yeah, JC, you. 225 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,159 What was that? Did you just hear that? 226 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,999 Yeah, it clanked a bit, didn't it? It sounded like a snap. 227 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,319 No oil pissing out nowhere? 228 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,079 That was a big snap, wasn't it? 229 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,239 Wait. That thing there. That screw is supposed to be in there. 230 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:41,119 It's supposed to be connected to that. It moves the arm. The arm won't move now. A bad spot, too. 231 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,639 Here, have a look at this. It's just jammed. 232 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,519 Yeah, and all the rocks got on and popped the belt off. 233 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,319 I'm probably gonna need the shovel, too, I think. 234 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,599 The fines' here, man. It's just burried the whole wheel. 235 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,639 You need to keep on top of it a bit more. 236 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,119 Desperate to find opal, Blacklighters leader Mark 237 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:15,079 has forgotten to clear away tonnes of dirt, known as fines, 238 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,679 that Opalzilla's trommel has shaken off 239 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,319 the processed rock. 240 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,039 I've been running around trying to find some fresh spots. 241 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,199 Neglected the most important job - 242 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,479 to keep Opalzilla nice and neat. 243 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,719 A bit frustrating now I haven't got to the fines in time 244 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,879 and it's thrown the belt off. It's not moving, is it? 245 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,319 Yeah, we've just got to shovel out the trommel, 246 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,839 get rid of all the fines and, yeah, 247 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:44,919 put the belt back on. 248 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,559 Opal makes our world go round, so we need Opalzilla 249 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,879 to find our way for us, really. 250 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,239 You can lose all your assets and that if you start 251 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,799 having to borrow a bit of money to keep yourself going. 252 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:00,199 And then you don't find it again after that, you can lose everything. 253 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,279 We're almost there. 254 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,039 Just gonna try and stretch this belt on, 255 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,039 It's not... 256 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,599 There, she has it. There we go. 257 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,679 We'll start it up now and hopefully she will spin. 258 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,159 You ready? Yep. Shaker. 259 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,519 Yep. Trommel. 260 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,879 Yep. Beautiful. 261 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,519 That's what we like to see. It's rolling around. 262 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,719 Good news. 263 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,719 Right-o, mate. She's all running again now. All good. 264 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,999 Well done, guys. Awesome effort, man. 265 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,559 I think it's time to go look for some more dirt. 266 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,639 Going on the search at the moment. 267 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,119 Yeah, just coming around the back. 268 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,679 This is sort of like tunnelling towards where we were. 269 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,079 Getting some stuff with the black light last night, 270 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:56,119 so we'll see what that eventuates into. 271 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,079 NARRATOR: Opalzilla can process 50 tonnes every hour. 272 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,719 But right now, it's a 200-metre round-trip 273 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,239 for every two-tonne load. 274 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,879 Yeah, it's pretty hectic trying to keep up the pace 275 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,599 when you're having to get the dirt from so far away. 276 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,919 Whoa. Kicked into another gear at the moment. 277 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,039 Yeah, just got the first piece come through for the day. 278 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,439 It's a bit hard to see under the black light, cos it's dark in here. 279 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,559 Everything looks the same. 280 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,399 It's been a bit slow. Not that much coming through, 281 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,279 so, yeah, hopefully it can pick up sooner or, yeah, 282 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,639 we'll have to rethink this plan of ours. 283 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,239 I don't feel confident in the spot anymore. 284 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,599 All of a sudden, every little spot I try, 285 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,679 every corner seems to be empty. 286 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,119 Yeah, there's not all that much in my bucket. 287 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,799 What is in there looks like it might be mainly rocks. 288 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,079 I just don't know where to go, man. I'm tunnelling straight into 289 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,719 that dump that we walked around last night 290 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,919 and nothing, nothing, nothing. Yeah. 291 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,759 I reckon start making plans to get the out of here. 292 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:14,799 Yeah. Let's do it, eh? 293 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,399 I reckon the party is just about over. 294 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,599 No point digging dirt that's not giving us any reward. 295 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,959 It's, um... Yeah, the machinery costs a lot to run. 296 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,039 We just can't afford to stay stagnant. 297 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:34,639 We've got to just move on. You can't just sit there forever 298 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,159 and just keep digging, cos you're just burning diesel 299 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,239 and putting a hole in your pocket. 300 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,239 If this was the only claim we knew about, the only place we could dig for the rest of our lives, 301 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,839 we'd stay here, wouldn't we? You know, and keep persisting, but it's not. 302 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:52,039 And we're just gonna have to bite the bullet and look for something a bit more productive. 303 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,039 Off to the next claim. Yeah. Off to the next claim, eh? 304 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,519 The plan is to tow the ten-tonne Opalzilla 305 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,959 to their other claim, Bedframe. 306 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,159 This new claim is about 700 metres from our last claim. 307 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,159 You can see where the old guys really had some success, 308 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,639 cos it was one cut after another, after another. 309 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,919 They were definitely following a run. 310 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,439 Moving Opalzilla, it takes days. 311 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,599 Sometimes it can take weeks. 312 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,599 That's our moneymaker. We need to be able to move it. 313 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,479 So, we are thinking the opal might be carrying down deeper, 314 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,079 so the only way we can get to it is to dig down. 315 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,519 At the moment we're heading down towards the bottom side 316 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,599 of that Z fault on a decline. 317 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,399 Um...we've filled probably half the truck. 318 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,759 We're probably gonna have to dig down another six foot. 319 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,199 Chris Cheals and sons Rory and Oscar 320 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,679 are excavating to find the opal level 321 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,479 beneath an ancient geological formation 322 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,559 known as a Z fault. 323 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:00,719 Our family's had a rough few years. 324 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,839 I want to be able to help the boys and my daughter out more financially. 325 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,319 They're sort of putting themselves through uni and college at the moment. 326 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,919 If we can find a pocket, we will... I guess I can help the kids out a bit more. 327 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,559 Yeah, I just wanna be able to keep digging, basically. 328 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,959 And I can't dig without the money coming in. 329 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,079 There is a possibility, you know, that we could see something 330 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,239 on our way down to the level. It would be absolutely unreal if we did. 331 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,719 I guess it would kind of solidify our thoughts about what can be down there. 332 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,079 So, yeah, fingers crossed we see something. 333 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,239 To get to the level two metres below their feet, 334 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,039 the Cheals have to excavate at least 60 tonnes of rock, 335 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,159 then remove it with the bogger. 336 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,119 Dumping it into the 600-kilogram capacity hoist, 337 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,199 which is sent 13 metres up the shaft 338 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,319 to the waiting truck. 339 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:56,519 What's that, Rory? 19? 19, yeah. 340 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,399 Three more till we move the truck. 341 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,879 Oi, oi. Ooh. What? 342 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,599 Check this out. What is it? A bit of greensand. 343 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,079 Ooh, . 344 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,519 That's not bad, eh? That's unreal. 345 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,999 Yeah. That's-that's good trace. 346 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,479 Yeah, we've come across a little bit of seam. 347 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,999 So, that's a really good indicator that's telling us there's, um... 348 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,279 coloured seam down here. I'm pretty happy at the moment. 349 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:33,679 Seeing good coloured trace like that 350 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,039 is a very, very good sign for where you're headed. 351 00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:38,639 I'm pretty happy to see that, not gonna lie. 352 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,199 Every load the Cheals excavate 353 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,399 needs to have the sandstone clay 354 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,839 cleaned off to reveal any opal. 355 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,519 Their agitator wash plant, or aggie, 356 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,599 is 40 kilometres away. 357 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,879 Each load costs $200 to process. 358 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,639 So, we've just decided to dump the dirt that we dug yesterday. 359 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,679 It costs a lot of money to drive that big truck all the way into the aggie and back. 360 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,199 The chance of it having opal is a lot less than, you know, 361 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,279 other loads we might dig today. 362 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:10,679 Timewise and costwise, it's the best option for us - 363 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,799 just to dump it and come back to it later. 364 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,119 And, you know, hopefully get some better dirt in the aggie. 365 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,279 ! 366 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:23,479 Went to dump that load and the hoist won't come back down. 367 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,559 Controlling is... I think it's done a little low ring. 368 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,479 So, yeah, I'm just in the middle of trying to fix it. 369 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,919 You know, obviously, if the back doesn't come down 370 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,399 then we can't dig a load. It's a bit frustrating, 371 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,999 but nothing you can do about it. 372 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,039 If Dad can't get this going, we're in trouble. 373 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,719 Something has popped out of place on the digger, 374 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,279 so we're not too sure, exactly, what's gone wrong there. 375 00:20:57,360 --> 00:20:59,719 So, just more mechanical problems 376 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,799 that we don't really need. 377 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,079 The Young Guns' second-hand $12,000 digger 378 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:09,039 has torn an arm off one of its hydraulic rams. 379 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:12,559 I think that's just free swinging now, isn't it? Yeah. Why can't... 380 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,839 I wouldn't be able... Be able to control it. 381 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,199 Control left or right. Mm. You can feel it. 382 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,119 Feel how bad it is. So, the problem is a little bit more serious 383 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,759 than we initially thought. The thread is pretty much all worn out, 384 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:25,839 except for a little bit left at the end. 385 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,839 So the chances of that popping back off again are quite high. 386 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,159 So, to fix that, basically, we are just gonna weld the eye 387 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,279 directly onto the ram there 388 00:21:34,360 --> 00:21:36,759 so it doesn't happen again. 389 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,999 Having an investor now has raised every stake. 390 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,839 Not only do we need to find opal, but we need to find more of it than before. 391 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:45,919 We're covering a fourth person, as well. 392 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,599 Unable to mine until the digger is repaired, 393 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,999 the Young Guns are taking the ram to Jaymin's grandfather, 394 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,039 and opal mining veteran of 47 years, 395 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:57,199 Ron "Pop" Doughton. 396 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,759 How's it going? Better than you. I bet. 397 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,039 What have you got this time? All right. 398 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,799 I think... Put it on the bench. I think this is actually a... 399 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,399 Pop, he's considered a bit of a mining legend out in White Cliffs. 400 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,079 He's put in some solid hours as a young bloke. 401 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,039 You know, always helpful with a lot of people starting out. 402 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:17,919 $50, at least. Obviously, he's my grandfather 403 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,159 so he gives us a little bit extra help. 404 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,319 Thanks very much, Ron. That's gonna keep us digging. 405 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,639 Well... Yeah. again. Look at that. 406 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,359 Yeah, look at that. She's good to go. 407 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,399 The mine we have now at the back of our camp, it's definitely frustrating. 408 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,679 It's on its last legs. Very limited, going one direction 409 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,519 because of how unsafe it is on either side with the roof. 410 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,919 And you don't wanna be wasting time on a mine that's not producing anything. 411 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,999 The opal level is... You can see this white band 412 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,399 running, like, all the way around the wall. 413 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,239 Here, it's this one direction and it's this one opal level. 414 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:58,119 At the moment we are digging a bigger hole, 415 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,239 but we are not finding much opal. 416 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,799 As in any. There is no opal coming out of the ground right now. 417 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,119 So I think the best option for us at this stage 418 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,199 is just gonna be look for some new ground 419 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,479 and set up a whole new mine in there 420 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,559 that's hopefully gonna produce some opal 421 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,639 and give us more options. 422 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,319 Moving opal is not the easiest task to perform. 423 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,399 There's a few hard days of labour. 424 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,159 You've pretty much got to get on your hands and knees and dig it out. 425 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,519 Recently forced to leave their homes in the town of Mintabie, 426 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,039 the Blacklighters and their families are relying on Coober Pedy's 427 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:42,839 opal fields to start a new life. 428 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,519 We've spent a lot of money in moving here. 429 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,759 We basically had to start a lot of stuff from scratch. 430 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,479 With the first of their four claims running dry of opal, 431 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,879 the plan is to tow their ten-tonne processing plant, 432 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,479 Opalzilla, to Bedframe claim. 433 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,719 I've seen a lot of crystal come from the area 434 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,039 and it's, like, really good quality, so... 435 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:06,679 you don't need a lot from there to make a decent amount of money. 436 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:11,079 But, yeah, Opalzilla is very buried. 437 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,359 It's just the way it goes. 438 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:16,479 We don't want to dig too much underneath it. 439 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,239 Yeah, it could tip it over, and if it turns over, 440 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,399 it's a bad day for everyone. 441 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,199 She's a bit out of balance, so it takes a lot of dangerous work. 442 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,479 Anything could go wrong, really. 443 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,599 Ugh. 444 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,159 Oh... Miles to go. 445 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:43,039 It's all about just keeping everything flat and straight. 446 00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:46,119 Get stuff out from under these wheels, 447 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,919 so we can actually get it to move. 448 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,399 How has it not fallen yet? 449 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,399 Oh, here we go. 450 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,759 Yeah, I can see daylight under there, so that's pretty good news 451 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,719 for us, so hopefully by today we will have it moving 452 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,799 and punching through some dirt tomorrow would be good. 453 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,199 How the did that happen? I don't know. 454 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,839 That can't be good. That's pretty holy, eh? 455 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,079 I'd say it's just caught a bit of the edge of the bucket 456 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,639 where it's been dug out. It's so easy to do. 457 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,999 There's that much dirt over it, you don't know where the tyre is. 458 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,719 Yeah. The ruptured tyre 459 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:29,919 will make dragging Opalzilla out 460 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,239 with the six-tonne loader even more difficult. 461 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,319 This is the plan, anyway. 462 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,639 We're gonna hook the loader up, pull it forward, get it free. 463 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,959 Should be all right, I reckon. ..a bit worried about that flat tyre. 464 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,319 Would help to have your tyres pumped up when you're doing this. A bit, yeah. 465 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,079 Yeah, don't tip it over, eh? Oh, I don't want to. 466 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:53,399 It is pretty scary stuff now. Now we are about to try 467 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,559 and pull Opalzilla out. 468 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,919 I just don't want to roll it, cos, yeah, 469 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,759 that'll be pretty hard to get it up. There's no bulldozers around 470 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:02,959 the place so we're on our own out here. 471 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,399 We're just gonna to be careful and sensible. 472 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,479 Are we ready to go? 473 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,679 Good to go. Ball's in your court! Ball's in my court! 474 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:12,759 Right-o! 475 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,479 Nah, she ain't gonna go. 476 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,719 All right, it's not gonna go. 477 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,559 I went to dump that load and the hoist won't come back down. 478 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,039 I've got another old control here with me. 479 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:50,999 I'll try and rig it up, so you get the body to come back down 480 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,439 and hopefully dig another load and get it to town. 481 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,879 The hydraulic hoist on the Cheals' only truck 482 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,159 is jammed at full extension. 483 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,239 I'm a bit frustrated with it. 484 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:06,039 We've got to get some dirt in the truck and get it back to town 485 00:27:06,120 --> 00:27:09,079 to wash it, and when the truck is like this, it's not gonna happen. 486 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,519 So, it's quite worrying. 487 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,319 What did you do? You were just standing there. 488 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,759 It was definitely there when I shut it back down. 489 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,399 Well, it should be here, then. To make matters worse, 490 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,639 Chris' eldest son Rory 491 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,959 has lost a small but vital part of the replacement controller. 492 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,799 Not there, though. We need it. 493 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,079 It must be on the ground here. 494 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,639 I was cleaning a piece there and dropped a little ball bearing. 495 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:36,799 And we can't get the truck started without it, 496 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:38,879 so I'm just on the ground, 497 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:40,959 having a look around for it. 498 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,039 All I needed was just to put that back together 499 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:48,799 and plug it in. So I need to find that ball bearing. 500 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,919 The pressure's on a bit. You know, we just want to get going 501 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,759 and get digging and get down in there further and see if there's opal there. 502 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:03,239 I feel like it would have been shredded down by now. 503 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,879 Oh, yes! Got it? 504 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:08,999 Yes. Rory. 505 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,079 Oscar... 506 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,159 Eagle eye Oscar found the ball bearing 507 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,239 that I dropped, so that was good. 508 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,839 Well done, buddy. Back in business, boys. 509 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,199 Right. 510 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,039 Replacement controller assembled, Chris needs it to work 511 00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:29,679 or he could face costly time-consuming repairs. 512 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,199 Down she comes. 513 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,239 With the truck working again, the Cheals can head back underground 514 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:47,399 to continue filling it with dirt from the promising Z fault. 515 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,839 We've gotten into the Z fault far enough 516 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,519 where we can open it up and, at least by the end of this load 517 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,599 we should be on that opal level. Um... 518 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,399 You know, deep enough where we should start seeing stuff, so... 519 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,479 fingers crossed we do. 520 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,839 Nothing, mate? Nah, I thought I saw 521 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,199 a little, like, flash. 522 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,639 I hope we start seeing something pretty soon, mate. 523 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:19,719 Yeah, me too. 524 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,759 There's a few loads in there now. Made a fair hole, so... 525 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:28,679 it'll be disheartening to think there's nothing in in, but you don't know until you wash it. 526 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,159 I'm thinking I'm not really liking the lack of trace. 527 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,239 That's not gonna pay the bills. 528 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,679 We've got deadlines to meet. 529 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,799 We've got an investor to look after. 530 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,559 And we haven't seen opal in a whole week. 531 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,919 So, obviously the problem with the mine we're working at right now... 532 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,039 Yes. ..is that now we're using the hydraulic digger, 533 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:57,999 we're finding a lot of the areas are unsafe to use 534 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,799 by pinning into the roof. So we definitely want to open up our options 535 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,599 and look for, you know, another claim, at least. 536 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,799 My advice would be that you've got to look for a bit more... 537 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:09,879 virgin ground. 538 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,039 With their current mine not producing, 539 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,399 the Young Guns are relying on Jaymin's grandfather, Pop, 540 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,039 to help find a new opal-bearing claim. 541 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,319 All that ground there is all virgin ground. 542 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,719 That's getting right up the top end. This was near this claim here. 543 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,159 Yeah, that claim there. So... 544 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,639 go for a drive around up there and have a look and see, 545 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:30,719 see what you think. 546 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,359 Pop's advice is West Field, 547 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,879 three kilometres from the Young Guns' camp, 548 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,839 scattered with mines up to half a century old, 549 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,079 surrounded by virgin ground. 550 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,639 It's like going through the forest to get there. I know. 551 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,079 If the Young Guns think a potential mine shows promise, 552 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,479 they can claim it for $230. 553 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,839 Jeez, that looks a bit ominous. A bit scary-looking. 554 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,119 Jeez, look at that dead kangaroo. 555 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,999 Look at that. Smells a bit. Sussed it out. 556 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:03,159 So far it's not looking too good. 557 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,239 Who knows inside? Oh, it's a bit tight. 558 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:10,679 There's bones everywhere, man. 559 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,679 Come on, look at that. I don't wanna see that. 560 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,999 Look at that! It's gross. 561 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,279 Keep going. 562 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,039 Was this dug by a midget or something? 563 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,119 Old timers, man. 564 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,199 Small and skinny. 565 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,479 So far I'm not seeing much hope here. 566 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:33,559 My legs are kind of cramping up. 567 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,759 There's not much space to do anything, really. 568 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,159 Look at that. The worst part is it looks sketchy. 569 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:42,839 How about down there? Yeah, well... The whole thing's caved in. We're looking for safety, not... 570 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,399 I don't like sketchiness. I've seen nothing in the wall here at all. 571 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,479 I have a feeling this has been dug and left 572 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:51,559 because there was no opal in here at all. 573 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,199 I'm not seeing anything down this end, either. We'll move on. 574 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,039 The roof here looks a little bit sketchy, as well, which I'm not liking. 575 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,759 Yeah, over here it's heaps sketchy. I don't like it. 576 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:01,919 It's just too much work to even turn it to a mine 577 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,239 that we can use all our stuff in right now. 578 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:06,679 Yeah, I don't think this is the place for us. 579 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,599 I think screw that. No way. No way. 580 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,359 We need to find something that's decent, 581 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,439 and that's just horrible. 582 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,919 Yeah, I think we need more digging, man. 583 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:40,359 The first of the Blacklighters' four claims has run dry. 584 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,199 They are now struggling to move their ten-tonne processing plant, 585 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:46,839 Opalzilla, to the next claim. 586 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,159 Didn't quite get the axle wheel dug out enough before, 587 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,839 so give it one more go, eh? 588 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:56,919 Still a little bit underneath here, 589 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,799 so might take a little bit of shovelling but... 590 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,879 we'll get it done. 591 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,839 Right-o. Second attempt here. 592 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,039 Yes! Yeah! 593 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,119 Yeah! 594 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,159 Keep going, just keep going. 595 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,079 Whoo! Take that, baby. 596 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:35,799 Beauty. It's moving! 597 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,999 They now have to tow the 13-metre-long, 598 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:41,559 five-metre-wide Opalzilla... 599 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,639 A bit of a wobble there. 600 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:45,959 Stay upright. Please stay upright. 601 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,719 ..700 metres over narrow, broken roads 602 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:51,799 to the new claim. 603 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:55,479 You've got open cuts all over the side of this little road. 604 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:59,079 I don't want to have to stop in a hurry and have it pushed into the cut, 605 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,159 which would really suck. 606 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,319 Right through here. 607 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,399 Can we just go for it or what? 608 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,799 Yeah. , why not? 609 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,279 I've just got to make sure the back wheels get around. 610 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:20,279 Oh, oh, oh. Oh, easy. Easy. 611 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,759 Hold up, hold up, hold up. Whoa, whoa. 612 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,199 I'm just about through, man. 613 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,479 Yeah, I know, but the arse end has possibly come down here. 614 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,279 Yeah, if we do fall in there, it's game over. 615 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,479 I don't think we will ever get it out. 616 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:37,919 Are we gonna stay on the road or not? 617 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,759 Well, you're on the edge here, and there's a big mound here 618 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:44,119 and look at the hole I'm standing in. That slides down in there, 619 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:46,439 just up the front here, it's all over. 620 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,479 You just have to take it a bit higher. 621 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:53,559 Yeah, I can go back. 622 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,319 Straight back. Don't bother turning. 623 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,399 Just keep going. 624 00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:11,439 Just take it really wide 625 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,599 and really careful. 626 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:16,199 Come on, Zilla. Ooh, ooh, ooh. Anything? 627 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,119 Keep going that way. Go, you Zilla! 628 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,199 Come on! 629 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:28,719 It's all right, we're through. 630 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:31,319 Yeah! ! Beauty! 631 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,279 Whoo-hoo! There she is! 632 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,599 yes! Come on! Yeah! 633 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:44,319 Yeah-hey! Yeah-hey! You beauty! We made it. , we made it! 634 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,679 Oh, that is gold. Well done, mate. Yeah, . 635 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:49,799 Well done, well done. Sweet, man. 636 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:52,799 That is bloody good. What a relief, eh? Ho-ho. 637 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:56,679 Now we can start thinking about getting some opal again, eh? I'm thinking about a drink. 638 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,679 I'm thirsty. Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm thirsty first, too. 639 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:01,759 It was an awesome relief 640 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,719 to just be on the claim we want to be on. 641 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,439 Very exciting. Yeah, there's a lot of good-looking dirt there. 642 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,199 It's a pretty good feeling, cos we've all worked pretty hard 643 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:14,519 to get it there, so we are all pretty happy, 644 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:17,079 and, yeah, I think everyone deserves a nice cold beer 645 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,479 after the day we've had. 646 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:23,359 Fingers crossed, the next few weeks, we are sitting on the opal. 647 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,759 I'm trying not to let any stress or pressure get to me. 648 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:36,119 But there's definitely an underiding feeling 649 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,079 of we've got a lot more on our plate now. 650 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:41,879 We are not just trying to cover our own backsides. 651 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:45,279 We've actually got to pull opal out and pay back our investor 652 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:47,759 and hopefully get him a really good return. 653 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,359 With their mine running out of opal, 654 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:55,559 the Young Guns are searching for a new claim in West Field 655 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,879 on the advice of Jaymin's grandfather, 656 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,999 a White Cliffs mining veteran. 657 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,119 Ooh, there's a mine. 658 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,399 I mean, it's always dangerous when you're going down these old shafts. 659 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:10,439 You don't know what's at the bottom, you don't know what's waiting, you don't know the condition of it. 660 00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:13,479 Hopefully we've got enough ladder to get down there. 661 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,679 Easy does it. Oh! Ooh, ooh, ooh! 662 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:17,759 Watch it. It's in there. You guys got it? 663 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,839 Grab it, grab it! 664 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,799 That was our bottom rung that just fell off. 665 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:27,719 Bottom two rungs of the ladder hit the ground and bounced back off. 666 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,959 So me and Noah are gonna stay up here. JC's gonna quickly climb down. 667 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,399 You know, that's probably what? 15-foot or so from the bottom. 668 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,439 So he's got a 15-foot drop between him and the last rung of the ladder, 669 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:41,079 and he's got to reach across, grab that and hook it back on. 670 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:43,959 How are you going, JC? Hanging off of the ladder, 671 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:46,439 trying to pick it up and turn it around. 672 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:48,519 This is scaring me right now. 673 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:51,999 If JC falls and is injured, 674 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,239 the closest major hospital 675 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,799 is 240 kilometres away. 676 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:59,039 Yeah, definitely getting the butterflies. 677 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:01,079 This bloody rung... 678 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:05,879 Going down a mine is sketchy in itself, 679 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:09,519 just hopping on a ladder. So when you put a ladder into place 680 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,759 and the bottom rung drops off, it's hard to deal with, 681 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:15,799 but somebody's got to get down there and grab it. 682 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:18,359 And going down, you need to have your wits about you, 683 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,439 cos, ah, it can be terrible. 684 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,079 One slip and, you know, broken bones. 685 00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:31,719 How is it looking down there, JC? 686 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,919 All right, I think it's good to go. 687 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:37,839 See you down there, buddy. 688 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:44,759 How are you going? You about halfway now, I reckon? 689 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,599 I'm... . I think I'm almost there. 690 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:49,719 I'll come down now. 691 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,959 Ooh. There is a bit of space down here, isn't there, boys? 692 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,279 That is huge. Look at that roof, nice and solid. 693 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,639 Yeah, it's a solid roof. If I can't knock it down, 694 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:04,519 then nothing's gonna knock it down. All right, first one to find 695 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:06,599 a good opal wins, I reckon, boys. 696 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,919 You know, X marks the spot. 697 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:15,999 Ooh, I found opal. 698 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,159 Yeah? It's actually nice, eh? Uh-huh. 699 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:20,239 There's more opal around this side, too. 700 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:24,519 It runs straight through the wall, all here. . Oh, nice. 701 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:27,159 We've got some blue, green, nice bit of trace. 702 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:31,319 The Young Guns have found crystal opal. 703 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:33,399 It's a blue, green seam. 704 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:35,679 And in its rough state, can be worth up 705 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,199 to $500 a gram. 706 00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:41,279 I think we're getting excited now, aren't we, boys? Yeah. Yeah. 707 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:44,479 I think we are going to have to peg this. It's too good to let go. 708 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,239 This mine is seriously shaping up. 709 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:50,559 Hopefully this will be the next venture for the Young Guns. 710 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:52,959 The whole mine looks really safe and stable, 711 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,919 and the ground looks great. We are so excited to actually 712 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:59,839 get into a new mine where we can just dig our hearts out. 713 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,119 We got the investor, so I think 714 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:04,359 we are all really keen just to get started. 715 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:07,999 We have not seen opal trace like this anywhere else. 716 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,279 Next step is pegging the claim and then getting the gear down here, 717 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,479 which is gonna be a massive challenge. 718 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:17,319 All right, boys, I think we've got ourselves a whole new mine. Whoo! Yeah! 719 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,759 That's it, Noz. That's it. 720 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:22,839 All right, let's get out of here. 721 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:33,839 50-60 tonne of dirt. We saw that little bit of green. 722 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:37,399 You know, fingers crossed. After three days of mining 723 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:39,839 and over $1,000 in costs, 724 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,959 the pressure is on for the Cheals' truckload of dirt 725 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:45,039 to show signs of opal. 726 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:48,999 40 litres of diesel runs a wash plant for the day, 727 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:51,439 and then you've got the price of running the truck. 728 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:54,039 They are the same there. You know, that could cripple you. 729 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:57,439 If you're not finding opal, the money goes out pretty quick. 730 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:01,879 You never know. It could be... You know, a pile of dirt 731 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:04,079 could have $100,000 in it. 732 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:06,839 The team are looking for seam opal - 733 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:08,919 formed when silica-rich water 734 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:11,879 produces opal in long, narrow voids. 735 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:14,679 And nobbies - solid pebbles of opal 736 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:17,159 created in a hollow, round crevices. 737 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:28,999 Ooh, that's bright. 738 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:33,679 We've got some green seam. Pretty much what we... 739 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:35,759 plucked out underground. 740 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:39,079 This is what we call trace. This is what you look for 741 00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:42,879 when you're looking for opal and, you know, it's encouraging to see that. 742 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:45,039 It's a good sign. It's a really bright colour, 743 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:49,559 so hopefully we can get a few nobbies with a similar colour and we'll be all right. 744 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:01,719 There's a nobby. Look, that's what I wanted to see. 745 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:04,439 One nobby with colour in it. We've got it. 746 00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:07,039 Check that out, Dad. 747 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:09,279 Looks like it's got red in that one. 748 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:11,799 Yeah. That's nice. 749 00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:15,119 Oh, bright flash in that. Look at that. Far out! 750 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:17,399 Another little nobby. 751 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:20,319 Oh, bazinga! A bit of red in that one, eh? 752 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:25,319 I'm pretty happy, you know. That's really positive, what we're seeing there. 753 00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:28,719 We've proved there's nobbies and colour down there under that fault. 754 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,599 That means, to me, there's a really good chance down there 755 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,879 of finding some decent money. 756 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:36,799 I think this definitely, you know, gives us the confidence 757 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,719 to go back there. Yeah, I'm pretty relieved to see that. 758 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:42,759 I was thinking, jeez, we've been burning a heap of diesel. 759 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:44,919 I mean, if we don't see nothing, 760 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,999 it's a little bit disappointing. 761 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:49,239 But if you get them larger nobbies, 762 00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:51,359 you got a lot of money very quickly. 763 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,999 The Cheals have found seam and nobby opal - 764 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:57,959 blue, green with flashes of red and yellow. 765 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:00,679 It's in the rough and there's eight grams. 766 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:04,679 There might be two or $300 there, but the value for me in that 767 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:08,079 is knowing that the colours are carrying down underneath. 768 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:10,879 And no one else ever has worked down that deep 769 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:14,199 under that Z fault. We're the first to have a look there, so... 770 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:17,119 Mm-hm. ..you never know, it might be the best thing we ever do. 771 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:20,159 Hopefully. There is still pressure on us, 772 00:43:20,240 --> 00:43:23,759 but I think with what we've got there, it's a promising sign 773 00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:26,519 that there could be a lot of money there. 774 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,719 I don't think we are too far off. I'd say we're all pretty keen 775 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:31,919 to get down that little bit deeper in the floor. 776 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,079 And I'm really excited. I'm pumped, actually. 777 00:43:35,160 --> 00:43:37,199 I've got a really big gut feeling 778 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:39,399 we haven't drained it out and seen the pocket 779 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:41,759 underneath that Z fault. And, look, to be honest, 780 00:43:41,840 --> 00:43:44,239 I just think it's a matter of when we do. 781 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:46,319 I guess we will wait and see. 782 00:44:03,720 --> 00:44:05,719 Subtitles by Deluxe 782 00:44:06,305 --> 00:45:06,643 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm