"Outback Opal Hunters" The Value of Misfits

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,119 On Outback Opal Hunters - 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,839 Probably one of the most dangerous things we've done. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:11,639 With their old claim drying up, the Young Guns make a drastic decision... 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,199 Holy ! 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:19,359 ..to take out the floor that separates two levels in their mine. 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,999 You good down there? 7 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:23,799 You did say it was rusty, and it's rusty. 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:29,199 Pete and Sam head further into the red, buying a second-hand truck... 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,279 The smoke! 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,999 ..desperately needed to scale up their mega wash plant operation. 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,799 We're in risk of a major collapse. 12 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,679 And in critically unstable ground... 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,959 This is as bad as it gets. 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,519 If I don't make this, you can have my cowboy boots! 15 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,599 ..the Bushmen risk mine collapse in the hunt for opal. 16 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,959 # Money 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,719 # And fancy clothes # 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 19 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,759 Today might be the day, mate. Yes. 20 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,799 Couple of nice stones, give me enough money to get the new car. 21 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,999 Radiator is ! Alternator is ! 22 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,639 Tyres are ! But other than that, it's a goer! 23 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,079 It's the biggest heap of , this thing! 24 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,719 He's always gotta be fixing something on it. 25 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:46,159 It's got no brakes. It's got more rattles than a millionaire's baby. 26 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,239 He's got a couple of logs jammed in the back of it, 27 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,839 holding the roof up, and all the roof is sheets of corrugated iron. 28 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,559 Yeah, she's just about a retirement job. 29 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,439 Les deserves a turn in luck. He really does, you know? 30 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,999 He's... He's a good old bloke, and... 31 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,559 you know, he's had such a tough run the last few years. 32 00:02:08,640 --> 00:02:12,079 It'd be good to see him start to get up on top. 33 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,159 Righto. 34 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,519 We've got a... a real problem with the roof here. 35 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,959 You can see this crack coming across the top here, 36 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,439 right across there in my light? 37 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,959 It's a fault that runs through here. 38 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,079 And the big slab there is hanging, there's not much holding it. 39 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,359 It's about to let go. 40 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:54,599 The Bushmen are 11 metres underground in a claim known as Ploughboys. 41 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,759 Owned by business partner Martin Hutchison, 42 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,279 the deal gives Rod and Les half of any opal they find. 43 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,959 Ha-ho! 44 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,719 So, we're creeping up there with the target, you know? 45 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,639 This is the good thing about Ploughboys. 46 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,839 You only have to get a pocket and you'll get 70, 80 grand out of it. 47 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,159 Just come out from under there, Les. Just come around behind me, mate. 48 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:24,119 But the more opal Ploughboys gives up, the more dangerous it becomes. 49 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,799 Lot of weight up in there and running up into the roof. 50 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:32,079 So, you can get a big section there will come down. It's just when. 51 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,639 Can we get a crowbar down here? Yeah, down around the corner. 52 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,479 I might try and bar it off. 53 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,999 I've seen roofs come down, and there's no escaping them. 54 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,079 They come down with a thud, and if you're under it, you're dead. 55 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,759 That's all there is to it. 56 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,239 There's a big section there wants to come down, Les. Yeah? 57 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,639 Well, that didn't make it look any better! 58 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,039 Not looking good at all, no. It's very, very dangerous. 59 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,679 I'm going to try and pop it out with the digger. 60 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,159 Hang on. Might just be a little tiny fall, 61 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,919 or it might be a massive fall, we don't know. 62 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,439 So, if anything goes wrong, 63 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,639 skedaddle that way and up that drive. 64 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,919 Yeah. So, just be ready to go. 65 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,359 Righto, Les, you ready? Yeah, mate. 66 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,799 If I don't make this, you can have me cowboy boots! 67 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,039 JAYMIN: It's gonna be a big week for us. 68 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,919 Today, we're going down into the mine, pulling the digger back out. 69 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,319 All right, boys. 70 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,879 I reckon the plan for today is get this machine out of the hole, 71 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,119 back to the shed so we can do repairs on it, 72 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,479 and get the new control panel in place. 73 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,479 Just take it slow and easy, JC. Thanks, mate! 74 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,319 The digger's fantastic. 75 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,919 It's really changed how quickly we move dirt, which is really good. 76 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,719 On the other hand, we've got oil leaks all over it. 77 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,239 With their precious second-hand digger in need of repair, 78 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,959 the Young Guns face a delicate operation 79 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,799 to get it out of their old claim "World's End". 80 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,839 It is quite frustrating to have the machine 81 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,519 we've spent all our money on 82 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,959 continuously having problems and breaking down. 83 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,959 Watch out for that bit of ducting right above you. 84 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,719 We don't want to end up pulling down the whole vent. 85 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,399 JC: This is one hundred percent careful time. 86 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:44,039 It's so top heavy, this machine, if you're on one little angle wrong 87 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,879 and press a control the wrong way, 88 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:47,999 you could have the whole thing topple over. 89 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,399 Not only could that break the machine, but it can crush someone. 90 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,519 Careful there. 91 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,119 That's looking good, JC. You're doing well. 92 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,559 Nice work. You've got it out of the underground. 93 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,559 It's just bubbling all over the place now. 94 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,759 There is a bit of oil coming out, eh? Yeah. 95 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:09,239 Crossing the fulcrum now. 96 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,239 There we go, flat bit. Mate, good work. 97 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,959 She's out. Didn't even tip it over, not once! 98 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,759 In just their second season mining, 99 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:21,559 the Young Guns recently found their best haul yet... 100 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,039 Is that colour? Where? 101 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,279 Yeah? That's colour, baby! 102 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,599 32.5K! Whoa! 103 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,839 ..and received a windfall of $50,000 of machinery, 104 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,879 courtesy of new investor, John Jennings. 105 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,639 Hey, John. 'How's it going, fellas?' 106 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,079 Yeah, good, mate. All the gear has turned up. 107 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,279 NOAH: John investing has given us, you know, 108 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,279 pretty much 50 grand and all this gear. 109 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:55,319 But John's investment comes with the expectation of opal. 110 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,319 A 25 percent share of anything found. 111 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,359 A massive weight on our shoulders. If he doesn't see a return, 112 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,839 we don't want him to rethink the partnership and pull out. 113 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,199 And we need to find opal. We need to make money. 114 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,039 We can't use the digger down the mine right now. 115 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,119 The roof is, you know, unstable, unsafe. It's spongey. 116 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,199 We can't go into the new mine cos we're waiting for paperwork. 117 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,319 One week after finding a new claim in West Field, 118 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,359 the Young Guns are still waiting for approval of their mining permit. 119 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,639 It's frustrating. We know there's opal there. We want to get digging, 120 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,119 but can't touch the ground until that paperwork goes through. 121 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,319 We've gotta do something. We can't just sit around wasting our time. 122 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,919 Can't use the digger and we don't have the other claim. 123 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,519 So, jackhammers, unless we wanna use a pick. 124 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,279 Do we just have one last look down there? Yeah. 125 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,199 See if we can drop a bit of wall that's in a safe spot, 126 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,039 even if we have to use the handsaws? I reckon we should do it. 127 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,919 Let's head down there, see what there is. 128 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,319 This mine is, uh... It's pretty much had it now. 129 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,199 We're gonna give it one last crack, 130 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,039 see if we can find any, you know, last bit of opal in there. 131 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,999 SAM: Good-looking ground we're digging through now. 132 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,079 There's plenty of faults, slips. 133 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,799 There's heaps of movement in the ground, really good sign. 134 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,879 I'll come around with the bogger. Yeah. 135 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,319 Take a couple of loads out of here. Yeah. 136 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,599 There's a lot of pressure to find opal, 137 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,519 and we're doing what we can towards that end, by moving more dirt. 138 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,959 I've just found a nice purple trace in here 139 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,759 and there's nice thick black potch in here. 140 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,199 Really, really good signs. 141 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,199 Last time we found a bit of trace in the wall, 142 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,759 there was a $49,000 nobby in the wash. 143 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,119 So, we'll be hoping for the same again out of this lot. 144 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,679 Pete Cooke and Sam Westra's season took off 145 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:03,079 when they found a rare black opal, which they sold for $49,000. 146 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,959 But since then, their promising Allawah claim has only teased them. 147 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,199 Nice bit of trace in the wall. 148 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,239 There's seam. Yeah, a little bit of green and blues in there. 149 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,159 Another couple of nobbies in the wash. That's it, mate. 150 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,239 Well, we know what happened last time! 151 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,999 Since selling that stone, 152 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,039 I've managed to reinvest the money in a bit more mining equipment. 153 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,159 Two agis going at once, that's good. That's a bonus. 154 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,879 Pete has risked thousands, expanding his mega wash plant, 155 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,639 to try his luck at contract work. 156 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,559 I wanna take on contract washing. 157 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,879 It's where other miners have dirt that they've dug, 158 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,479 but they don't have the capability to process it. 159 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:49,679 So they get someone like me to process that dirt, 160 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,759 and then we do a percentage basis of what opal comes out. 161 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:58,519 A 50 percent share of any opal found is a common deal. 162 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,839 But Pete and Sam have to collect, cart, 163 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,999 and wash the dirt at their own expense. 164 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,839 It's a gamble. But if you don't take risk, you're not gonna get rewards. 165 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,279 In Lightning Ridge, opal is often encased in sandstone 166 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,159 that needs to be washed away in a converted cement mixer or agi. 167 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,479 Pete currently has two agis. 168 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:25,159 His dream is to have five. 169 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,839 Washing dirt, for anyone, it's all a gamble. 170 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,319 All that's guaranteeing me is more dirt to wash. 171 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,919 And so it's increasing my chances of, uh, being involved in opal. 172 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,039 Righto, Sam. There's a load in the truck. 173 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,279 We'll take it into the, uh, wash plant. 174 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,279 'Let's see how this drive over hopper performs.' 175 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,279 They're about to trial a new unloading system. 176 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,879 If it works, it will give them the capacity 177 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,959 to feed up to 20 tonnes of dirt into their wash plant every hour. 178 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,759 Moment of truth. We, uh, haven't tried it out yet! 179 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,999 To find opal, we've gotta wash a lot of dirt. 180 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,319 But it costs money to cart that dirt and to wash it, 181 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,559 so we're just trying to work out a way 182 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,959 to make it as efficient as possible. 183 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,479 Perfect, mate. All good. 184 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:20,199 Loading the agi. 185 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,799 This is a crucial part of the whole system. 186 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,959 Instead of the dirt coming out of a hole in the back of the truck, 187 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,639 the whole tailgate opens, 188 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,559 and all that dirt is out virtually straightaway. 189 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:36,719 First time we've tried it altogether, so could be interesting! 190 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,839 We'll open the tailgate, dirt will go down into the hopper. 191 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,159 It's got a very slow conveyor belt, 192 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,639 which transfers it to the radial stacker, 193 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,999 onto the next conveyor, and into the agi. 194 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:56,919 That's how it works in theory. 195 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,959 We're about to find out if it works in, uh, real life. 196 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,119 ROD: I think the only option we've really got 197 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,239 is to bring it down in a controlled bloody fall, 198 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,159 and just hopefully not too much comes down. 199 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,359 The Bushmen are attempting a controlled collapse 200 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,239 of a dangerous section of their mine roof. 201 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,479 You're probably looking at a tonne of dirt. 202 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:29,799 That comes down on top of your helmet, 203 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,079 right on top of your head, it'll kill you. 204 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,879 It breaks your neck. 205 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,199 It's safe enough now. It's not 100 percent safe, but it's safe enough. 206 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,159 But just for now, it'll hold. 207 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,039 It looks like we've got to put a heap of props in 208 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,239 before we do anything else. 209 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:53,919 Let's get out of here, mate. 210 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:58,759 To keep mining this section, 211 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,479 Rod and Les need to return with timber props to support the roof. 212 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:05,519 All right? 213 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,399 You've got to make it safe. 214 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,559 But yeah, it's hard work getting props down there 215 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,159 and carrying them around and putting them up. 216 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,479 You've either gotta put a chair in here for me, Les, 217 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:23,999 with a backrest, or get a new car. 218 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,999 For old Les, it's definitely time for a new car. 219 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,519 We only need to find a small pocket, 220 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,279 then hopefully you'll get enough to get your car. Yeah, well that's it. 221 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,559 I need to get hold of a good car, 222 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,959 something that won't break down on me! 223 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,679 And then I can go down and see my daughters and my grandkids. 224 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:58,439 Les' daughter and her family live 1,500km away in Adelaide. 225 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,959 Hi! How you going, Teresa? 226 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,439 Good. How you doing? I'm doing good. 227 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,799 He last visited them two years ago. 228 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,719 Hey, little Lucy! 229 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,599 Little Miss Chatterbox has suddenly gone all shy! Oh! 230 00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:16,479 She doesn't recognise you, Dad. 231 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:18,759 I'm gonna have to get down and see you soon, 232 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,599 so you know me better. How's that? 233 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,959 I can't get down there with the old car. 234 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,039 It's, uh, not going real well. 235 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,159 I know, Dad. We know you'll get down when you can. We miss you a lot. 236 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,839 Yeah. Bye, Papa! Bye bye! 237 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,679 Mwah! We love you! Love you! 238 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,399 ROD: Old Les, I know he misses his daughters 239 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:46,439 and he doesn't like not seeing his grandkids, that's for sure. 240 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,359 They mean a lot to him and it's hard just living so far away. 241 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,639 JAYMIN: There's not a lot of options down here. 242 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,919 Up there is too dodgy, too sketchy in there. 243 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,919 Really, the only option left is go through this sketchy bit of ground 244 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,079 and into those old workings that we never really touched. 245 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,159 That's the only spot we haven't dug out. 246 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,719 I mean, it could be worth a bit of a jackhammer. 247 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,519 But it's gonna be dangerous. 248 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,639 The Young Guns are under pressure to find opal for their new investor. 249 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,679 But with their digger in need of repair, 250 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:32,719 they've been forced to scout for ground they can dig with hand tools. 251 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,559 It is a bit sketchy in here. 252 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,879 Cool. We've never worked an area like this before. 253 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,559 We've got two different drives, one underneath and one up the top, 254 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,039 and then we've got about a foot, two foot of level in between. 255 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,079 The plan is to pretty much come in, 256 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,679 take out that in-between level and make one giant drive. 257 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,759 All right. Going to smash this edge, here. 258 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,599 Right now, the biggest danger we face is, you know, 259 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,359 the floor collapsing under us, 260 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,279 us falling down and someone getting seriously injured. 261 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,799 If we find anything, it'd just be, you know, 262 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,199 a really good way to finish off the mine. 263 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,119 Holy ! 264 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,199 You good down there? Yeah, we're good. 265 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,639 Definitely could've been standing further back! But that's all right. 266 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,839 Yeah, that was a little bit closer than we thought it was gonna... 267 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,639 it was gonna come down. And he took off a massive chunk! 268 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:36,599 But, um, yeah, jumped out of there real quick! 269 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,159 Oh, shaking a little bit! 270 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,639 I guess that shows you just how dangerous it can be, 271 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,519 working these two different levels. 272 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,079 I think I might head back to the shed and start the repair work. 273 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,519 It's a bit tight in here for the three of us. 274 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,079 With two jackhammers, we'll keep digging. 275 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,879 So, it was a really big call to go out and buy this $12,000 digger. 276 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,279 It was pretty much our entire season's mining budget in one go. 277 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:09,079 JC: He was the one that was all guns blazing for buying the digger. 278 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,839 And now that it's having so many problems and so many leaks, 279 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,799 I think he's really feeling the responsibility of it. 280 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,479 We got it back in one piece. 281 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,519 So, what we're gonna be trying to do is change over this new spool valve. 282 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,719 The spool valve works like a tap. 283 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,639 As a lever is pulled, pressurised hydraulic oil 284 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,759 is channelled into the part of the digger that needs to move. 285 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,159 Yeah, so I've never changed a spool valve before. 286 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,039 Right, so we've got all the hoses off. 287 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,319 Now I'm just going to pull that control panel off. 288 00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:54,999 Oh, it's got some weight. There we go. 289 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,399 After I'm finished, 290 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,879 I'm thinking about giving it a coat of paint and surprising the boys. 291 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,679 SAM: Rightio, you ready? PETE: Yeah. 292 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,599 It's working great, just how we thought it would. 293 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:20,879 Dirt's going in the agi, 294 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,799 and the truck is empty in, you know, one or two minutes. It's perfect. 295 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:30,359 Very pleased. It all ended up in the agi way over there. That's great. 296 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:37,119 Pete and Sam's drive-over hopper is proving a success. 297 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:42,279 They can now load two agitators from one central drop-off. 298 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,239 But they still want more efficiencies. 299 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,519 Oh, it'd be nice if we had two trucks, mate, 300 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,199 then we could move double the dirt in the day. 301 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,279 What I've, uh, been thinking about 302 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:57,159 is getting a dog trailer to tow behind this thing. 303 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,359 Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea. 304 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,279 So, um, I've actually bought one. 305 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:07,279 What, you've bought a new trailer? Yeah, mate. 306 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:12,479 Eyes right, check it out, new rig! Oh, new truck AND trailer, mate? 307 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,919 Yeah. The truck came with it. 308 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,399 We'll pull some dirt now with that! 309 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,719 You ripper! Not just a trailer, the truck as well. 310 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,639 Nine cubic metres in the body. Ten in the back. 311 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,559 Bought it from eBay and a photo, mate. Whoa! 312 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,599 Pete's already accepted his first contract washing job of the season 313 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,799 for 50 percent of any opal they find. 314 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,279 Maiden voyage already! Yeah. 315 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,319 Oh well, see if the old girl holds up. 316 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,439 He did say it was rusty. So... Yeah. 317 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,519 So... And it's rusty! 318 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,239 He needs this 50-year-old truck and trailer to be up to the task 319 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:01,399 or he's cost himself $18,000 and his reputation as reliable. 320 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,039 These front corners... Yeah? 321 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,679 ..you can see a lot of daylight through 'em. Won't be a pretty job, 322 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,159 but it's just to stop the dirt falling out, mate. 323 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,279 I'm pretty keen to get this contract washing up and happening. 324 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:16,719 Just cut and fold, shut and screw in, 325 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,239 and just got to stop all the gems from falling out. Yeah, that's it! 326 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,479 That's how we have to do it up here. 327 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,279 We're not a great big mining company with unlimited resources. 328 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,039 We're just a little two-man show, and you've gotta be resourceful, 329 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,879 you've gotta find these worn-out bits of machinery, 330 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,199 re-purpose them. Do whatever we have to do 331 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:43,879 to make it work and make it fit. 332 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:49,719 Rightio. 333 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,999 Oh well, see if she starts! 334 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,359 Look at her! Bit of smoke! 335 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,799 Well, Sam, she's a bit of a beast, mate, I tell you what! 336 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,319 She's smoking me out in the cabin a bit. 337 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,079 I'm glad we've got the windows down! 338 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,919 At least all the indicators work, mate. 339 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:19,879 She's travelling all right. 340 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,879 I don't know how comfy it is, but it looked all right from here. 341 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,519 How about not comfy at all! 342 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,599 Tally-ho, and off we go, mate! Go and get a load. 343 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:37,199 All right, mate. We're here. We'll get her loaded up. 344 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,279 Sam's just got his excavator ticket. 345 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:45,119 He gets to play in this nice new 32-tonne excavator. 346 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:49,399 He's got a big smile on his face. I think he's enjoying it! 347 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,759 I just love driving big machinery. It's why I'm out here! 348 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,239 It's a lot of fun playing with these big toys. 349 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,039 It's a big bucket. It won't take many scoops and it will be full. 350 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,239 We've got about ten cubic metres of dirt in the front, 351 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,799 a similar amount in the back trailer, 352 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,239 and then off to the mega wash plant. 353 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,679 It seemed to, uh, drive here empty OK. 354 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:22,839 We'll see how it performs with a load. 355 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,479 That's the, uh, that's the test. Yeah, contract washing is good. 356 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,279 It's nice and quick and easy like that. 357 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,319 It only takes, you know, half a day. 358 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,439 So, hopefully there's some opal in it and it can pay its way. 359 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,759 Double the dirt in one trip, so we've gotta be happy with that. 360 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,559 It's not a bad old bus, mate. Bit of an old rocket. 361 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:49,839 With light fading, it's a 4km drive back to Pete's wash plant. 362 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,239 That went all right. Yeah, very well. 363 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,879 Get the dirt unloaded. Get it happening, mate. Let's get into it. 364 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,199 Just be careful the gate doesn't suddenly come and get you. 365 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,279 I don't know if it'll go! 366 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:17,959 I can't open this! 367 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,639 JC: Another day, another dollar. Let's get down there. 368 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,159 Jaymin's gone to the house to go work on a digger. 369 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,599 While he's doing that, we can dig some more 370 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,719 and hopefully find some opal. 371 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,839 If we find one more bit of opal in the mine we're in now, 372 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,839 it'd just be a bit of a morale boost. 373 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,799 Even a bit of a find before we leave. 374 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,119 We still haven't really pulled out much for the investor. 375 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,999 After desperately digging out a section of floor 376 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,239 in their 100-year-old mine, 377 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:53,479 but finding nothing, JC and Noah are now searching the walls. 378 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,199 There's a little bit of opal. It's just potch, but hey, Nozza! 379 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,919 What? I've got a bit of trace. 380 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,479 Little bit there. Anything in the rock? 381 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,959 Can't see anything. Little bit of trace, which is always a good sign. 382 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,519 Not really worth looking for though, just potch. 383 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,559 I'll see if it turns into anything. 384 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:23,679 The Young Guns are hunting for white seam opal, worth up to $7,500 a gram. 385 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,399 Just trying to search around to see if there's any, you know, 386 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,599 solid seam that's formed around it. 387 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,199 We've been finding heaps of this trace. 388 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,039 Just tiny thin stuff, so it might just be little bits. 389 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,119 You know, nothing might come of it. 390 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,879 Still, it's the best find you can get in the ground, 391 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:43,679 so we're gonna keep tracing it. 392 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,919 Nozza! What? 393 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,999 Oh! 394 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,959 It's not trace, mate, it's colour! What do you mean? 395 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,639 Whoa! It goes around the whole lot! 396 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,719 What the...? 397 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,919 Oh, dude! 398 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,799 Look at that! I'll go get Jaymin. 399 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,839 I'm gonna go give him a call. Look at that! 400 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,879 I thought I'd just picked up another bit of trace there. 401 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,959 Pushed it a little bit apart, 402 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,639 and there's a whole row of stones along there! 403 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:20,839 That is the dream right there. 404 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:25,759 Woo-hoo-hoo! It's coming out of everywhere here. 405 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,439 I don't want him to pull it all out by himself. 406 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,439 What did youse find? Look at this bit! 407 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,159 Oi, oi, come here. How much more have you found? 408 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:35,679 Look at this! 409 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,759 Brought you a bucket! Look at that bit, Noz, Jay. 410 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:40,559 What have you got? 411 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,959 Oh, my god! Look at that! 412 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,079 How many stones will come out of that? 413 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,719 We've got a few, eh? That one looks like a massive, just a massive one. 414 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,039 Last dig of the mine, and it's come through one last time. 415 00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:55,439 We've found a bit of opal. Couldn't be more stoked at the moment. 416 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,959 I've got some other good news, boys. Yeah? Yeah? 417 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,119 Look what I got from the mail. What's that? 418 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,119 We have our claim sorted. Ooh! 419 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,439 That means we've got the new mine ready to go. 420 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,679 We just need to get our gear in there. Mate! 421 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,639 That's it, our claim? Ground's secured. 422 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,359 No-one else can bag it. Oh, mate! 423 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,239 Mate, slap us some. Jesus! Good stuff. 424 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,199 So, this is the end of the claim. 425 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,679 We honestly didn't expect to find anything. 426 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,399 We thought we'd give it one last go 427 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,959 and, uh, the mine came through for us one last time, 428 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:26,759 which was absolutely perfect. 429 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,079 ROD: After you, sir. 430 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,479 We've got a few problems down there. 431 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:43,279 It's not a good roof. 432 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:46,359 So, we've got to be very careful of the roof. 433 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:47,999 What's happened here, Les? 434 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,479 That wasn't here last night, I mean, when we knocked off yesterday. 435 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,799 That looks like it's all ready to fall out there. 436 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,719 Oh! Hang on, stand back, Les. 437 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,759 This column is all cracked. 438 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,199 Oh, this other one's cracked too, Les. 439 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,999 Oh, mate, we've got a real problem. 440 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,999 The weight has come down on the roof. 441 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,879 The column we've got on this side, 442 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,679 and the column on the other side have both cracked. 443 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,479 And some of it's fallen out. You see all these cracks here? 444 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,399 That's pressure. To get pressure to crack your columns, 445 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,559 your roof has got to come down. 446 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,759 And this is as bad as it gets. 447 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,479 We're in risk of a major collapse. 448 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,159 Oh, what do we do, Les? 449 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,439 I don't even like being in here, Les. No. 450 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,439 It's not worth dying for. No. Can't spend it dead. 451 00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:42,359 Les, what do you reckon our options are, mate? 452 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,399 I reckon pull out of it and go somewhere else. 453 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,319 We've got too much life in us to get killed under here. 454 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,599 Yeah! Not going to die doing this. 455 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,439 What we wanna do is just get our digger out of here 456 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,039 before the roof comes down. 457 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:58,559 Could come at any time and we don't wanna have it buried. 458 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,119 So, we're going to try and get it out. 459 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:03,999 Take your roof jacks down. 460 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,599 Righto. Ready for a catastrophe, Les? Mm-hm. 461 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,119 Right, well that's got us out of danger. 462 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:33,719 At least if it comes down now, 463 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,559 this won't be buried, and neither will we! 464 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:42,039 Rod and Les have walked the digger north to safer ground, 465 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:46,919 still following the fault line where they're most likely to find opal. 466 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,599 Plenty of ground under here to dig, 467 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,999 if we can find another spot that might pay us some money. 468 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,199 A foot in there, there could be a hundred thousand. 469 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,279 This one here potentially could deliver, 470 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,639 because anything on the fault line here produces. 471 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,599 Les! 472 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,679 What? I've got the twitch. 473 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,039 It's going to happen, mate! You watch! Yeah! 474 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,959 The opal fever tingle! 475 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,479 When you're about to get close sometimes, 476 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,239 you get this twitch, you know? 477 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,319 You start twitching and you know it's not far. 478 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,079 And I've been twitching! 479 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,319 This is black opal country. 480 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,079 As the most valuable opal in the world, 481 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,359 it can be worth up to $43,000 per gram. 482 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:46,119 You all right, Les? Yeah. 483 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,319 Righto, go in a bit more. 484 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,679 Take about six inches. 485 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,599 Oh, oh, oh! 486 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:05,399 A little bit of colour it's just starting to make. It is, yeah. 487 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,999 I'll undercut that side a little bit for you, Les. 488 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,119 That'll do. 489 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,559 Pull out. Nice seam, Les. 490 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:19,959 Whoa-ho-ho! Call me grandmother, Les, look at that! 491 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,599 That's good! 492 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,839 Left turn! 493 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,039 Off out the top. 494 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:39,159 A bit of a tailgate malfunction. We nearly lost the tailgate. 495 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,319 Pete and Sam's first contract wash job of opal dirt 496 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,239 is jammed behind a rusty tailgate 497 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,879 on their newly purchased 50-year-old truck. 498 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,039 Might have to tip it up a little bit. 499 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:55,959 Righto! 500 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,399 It's all teething problems, first time. 501 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,359 Can't get it perfect. 502 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:04,479 It's all gone! All gone? 503 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,039 All gone! That's perfect! 504 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:08,959 That's how it's meant to work! 505 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,999 Working a treat! Perfect. 506 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,119 Yeah, that's great. That's what we wanna do, 507 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,559 get that dirt roaring on these conveyor belts and into the agi. 508 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,199 We've got agi one spinning round washing dirt, 509 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,999 agi two is loading up ready to wash dirt. 510 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,159 If you find some gems, all this is worth it, no doubt. 511 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,599 And, um, time will tell. 512 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,879 Next morning, the washed dirt from their own mine 513 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,959 is ready for the tailout. 514 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:48,039 We've tailed out agi one. So yeah, this is the pointy end. 515 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,679 This is where you're hoping you find the gems. 516 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,719 Ten tonnes of dirt have washed down to one tonne, 517 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,319 transported in a bulk bag. 518 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:00,759 We did see a bit of trace when we were digging 519 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,599 and that's always encouraging. 520 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,559 You've gotta have that trace before you get any real opals. 521 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,799 You only need just one good stone in a tailout 522 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,559 that makes it all worthwhile. 523 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,999 All right, mate? Let's give it a rinse off 524 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,079 and, um, see what we've got, eh? 525 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:24,119 If there's another $50,000 opal stone in their haul, 526 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,079 this is where they'll discover it. 527 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:28,919 You got a little bit of potch, did you? 528 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,999 Yeah, a little bit of black in there before. 529 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:33,919 Cool. It's in one of that. 530 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,959 It's the stuff we were seeing underground, that real black. 531 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,359 Yeah. No colour. 532 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:42,079 No colour though, is there? No colour, no. 533 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,919 No money, I'm afraid. 534 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:48,519 Colourless opal known as "potch" is worthless, 535 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,519 but it forms under the same conditions as precious opal 536 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,119 and is often found close by. 537 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:56,959 None of this. 538 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,799 So, uh, more of this nice black potch, 539 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,519 but, uh, just no colour, mate. 540 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,159 Very ordinary, young fella. 541 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,799 Nothing much there. A pretty ordinary sort of tailout. 542 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,039 Wasn't it ever? I think we'll just, uh, 543 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,439 put that one as practice! Yeah! 544 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,319 Still got our client's dirt in the agi washing away. 545 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,159 There's every chance there could be opal in that. 546 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:22,719 We'll just have to see how we go. 547 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,999 That's just the way it is. Opal mining, there's no guarantees. 548 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,199 It's a gamble. The dirt is in the agi spinning around now. 549 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,279 Looking forward to tailing that out, 550 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,959 hopefully it'll be better than the one today. 551 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,239 JC: What do you reckon, Jay? Have we got money there? 552 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,279 I definitely reckon we've got some really nice stones. 553 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,559 We've gotta get the stone out of all the dirt behind it, 554 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,879 so we're gonna grind down this edge here 555 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:52,479 until we get back to the opal. 556 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,559 You just grind it down to the opal, don't take any more away... 557 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,719 otherwise we're losing money. 558 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:02,839 Basically, the biggest reason we're cutting this at the moment 559 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,319 is to sell it as a more finished product, make a bit more money. 560 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,359 Desperate to show a return for their new investor, 561 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,119 The Young Guns are trying to add value 562 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:17,879 to the last opal to come from their World's End mine. 563 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:25,599 Starting to look good. It's looking nice. Nice shape. 564 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,999 It would be good to take it to our usual cut stone expert, Macca. 565 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,599 Unfortunately, he's not available at the moment, 566 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,519 so we're going to sit with Dad and see if he can work out 567 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,159 a price as to how much it's gonna be worth. 568 00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:39,879 This is what you've been working on, Jay? Yeah. 569 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,279 Jaymin's father Graeme is White Cliffs' biggest opal dealer. 570 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,239 That's pretty. Yeah. 571 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,359 We're pretty much just looking to see what you reckon about, 572 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,839 a total value for these ones. 573 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,079 Do you know how heavy you are? 574 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:58,359 Ah yes. All up with these three here, we're at 100 carats. 575 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:02,679 It's pretty material. I mean, just given what I'm seeing there, 576 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,239 easily be looking at three to four thousand. Oh, nice! 577 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:08,279 Yeah, I know. That's pretty good. 578 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:11,719 We've also got this one here. Little bit different. 579 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,599 Yeah, he's unusual. Yeah. 580 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,239 I'm gonna say fifteen hundred. Fifteen hundred? 581 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,519 Yeah. So, we're looking at about $5,560 all up. 582 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,919 Lot better than you were thinking? A LOT better than we were thinking! 583 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,999 That's brilliant. 584 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,679 The Young Guns have blue green crystal opal. 585 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,319 It's cut and polished. 586 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:38,879 There's 100 carats or 20 grams, with an estimated value of $5,500. 587 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,759 Well, thanks for that, Dad. Get back out there. 588 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,399 Go find some more. Yeah, will do. That's it. 589 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:46,399 A great way to finish off the mine. 590 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,519 We had one last dig down there and managed to pull a bit of opal out. 591 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,239 And, you know, to cut that and have it valued, you know, 592 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,719 over $5,000 is phenomenal. 593 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:00,039 I've been working pretty hard on the digger. Ah, it's ready to go. 594 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:02,719 Boys, I've got a surprise for you. JC: What have you got? 595 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,159 Mate, the bin chicken is dead. 596 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:08,999 Have a look at the Iron Man. 597 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,359 The Iron Man, eh? What? 598 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,639 Is this even our digger, mate? I'll turn it on, you have a go. 599 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:17,399 You ready? Ready. 600 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:18,879 Iron Man! 601 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:21,479 Look at this, mate! Have a look at that! 602 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,039 Mate, that's brilliant! 603 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:26,719 What do you reckon, Noz? Mate, it looks awesome. 604 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,559 How fast does it go? Bit faster because it's red! 605 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,319 Yeah! 606 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:35,119 Five spool control. It works like a charm. 607 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,639 That's unreal. This is gonna change the game! 608 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,039 I just want to get it underground now. 609 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:53,919 Pete Cooke and Sam Westra's last chance of making money this week 610 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,199 rests with their contract wash job, now ready to tail out. 611 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,239 Rightio, gentle, gentle! 612 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:03,919 So, it's a gamble. 613 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:07,119 It's almost like putting money in a poker machine, in some way. 614 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,999 You've gotta put diesel and money into the agis and into the trucks. 615 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,599 And we'll find out in the tailout room 616 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:16,119 whether or not it was worthwhile. 617 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:24,759 I didn't like the sound of that! 618 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:26,959 I don't trust it at all! 619 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:30,519 Don't put your head or your arm under it when you're up there, OK? 620 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,079 No. That didn't sound good! 621 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,319 Get it up there before it bursts! 622 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,279 Pete and Sam need to find opal. 623 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,319 So far, this has cost them two days' work, 624 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,519 $600 in diesel and $18,000 on a second-hand truck. 625 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:52,599 The odds are definitely against you in this opal mining caper. 626 00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:56,439 Yes, a little bit more grey potch. OK. 627 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,999 The odds aren't a million to one, they are millions to one! 628 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:06,479 No, not much so far. Bits of trace and potch, which are good signs. 629 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:09,999 But, uh, no money or nice stones yet. 630 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,999 The gem quality black opal is so rare, it's just so precious. 631 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:16,679 You just don't see much of it. 632 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,639 You've gotta move a lot of dirt to try and find that elusive opal. 633 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,399 There's a bit of colour. A little nobby. 634 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:28,519 Oh right, yeah. Just a flick of green on it. 635 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:30,879 Yeah, green, purple, but... 636 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,279 I don't think you'll get a stone out of it. 637 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,159 Something to show our client. That's it. 638 00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:38,199 Although I'll be, um, thinking twice 639 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,239 whether to wash more of this ! 640 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:42,319 Yeah. Not much in them, is there? 641 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:47,119 You'd, um, want to see a bit more for your time, wouldn't you? 642 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,119 This is, uh, pretty ordinary. 643 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:52,479 What you got there, mate? 644 00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:55,279 Well, I think it's the king stone for the day. 645 00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:58,279 That's it, mate! That's the best one we got? 646 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,599 Yeah. Won't even pay the fuel. 647 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,959 No. I don't think you can retire yet! No. 648 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:07,879 Big find early in the season. 649 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,239 We thought we'd smash our season target. 650 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:13,359 But the last few tailouts have been pretty dismal. 651 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,999 I wouldn't say we're desperate, but certainly keen. 652 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,959 That's how I'd put it. Just damn keen! 653 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:21,799 No opal in that, mate? No, mate, no. 654 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,319 She's a bit ordinary. But what can you do? 655 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,719 Just another truck. 656 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:28,919 That's it. Keep washing. Yeah. 657 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,639 With nothing to show for their efforts, 658 00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:36,359 Pete and Sam's target remains a long way off. 659 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,759 I got a bit grandiose with our season target. 660 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,639 You can't tell. You can't tell what's gonna happen. 661 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:52,479 ROD: Whoa-ho-ho! 662 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:56,039 Call me grandmother, Les! Look at that! That's good! 663 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,079 We've got quite a nice electric bar on the top. 664 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:01,319 And there's still more up here. 665 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:03,279 Oh, this is it, Les! 666 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,759 Life don't get better than digging colour out of the wall, mate! 667 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:12,759 After risking a mine collapse, The Bushmen have hit pay dirt, 668 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,439 a rich seam of blue green crystal opal. 669 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:18,999 Look at that, Les! Bloody good green. 670 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:20,679 Look at that! 671 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,359 That's what I like to see! 672 00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:26,839 Oh, Les! 673 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:29,559 It's big and it's cheesy! 674 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:31,919 Oh! 675 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:34,999 Oh, ha ha! Look at this! 676 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,279 How good is this, mate? 677 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:38,999 All colour. 678 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,079 We're going great guns here. 679 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,759 We've mainly got a grey base crystal. 680 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:47,759 It's got patches that are very, very nice. 681 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:49,719 Righto, Les. 682 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:51,839 Let's collect our wealth! 683 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,679 Well, Les. Let's see what we've got, eh? 684 00:40:57,760 --> 00:40:59,999 Let's see how rich we are. 685 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:02,759 Righto. 686 00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,599 This is it, Les. Moment of truth, mate. 687 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:09,999 Better see what she weighs, mate. What are you betting? 688 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:13,359 Six hundred. Six hundred? 689 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:17,959 Not even close. Huh. 690 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:21,439 368 grams. 691 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:26,639 That's a real nice parcel of crystal, I reckon, don't you? Yeah, yes. 692 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:28,999 Put that on a sandwich, you could eat it! 693 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:31,119 I reckon I can get 15 for that. 694 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:33,639 Yeah, yeah. Yeah? Happy with that? 695 00:41:33,720 --> 00:41:36,759 I'm happy with 15. And that's some good stuff in there too. 696 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:40,599 I like some of that. I'm thinking... I'm thinking 20. 697 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,039 Twenty? Twenty for the bucket. 698 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:45,919 Yeah? And it's 15 for that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 699 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,279 Yeah. That's 35, isn't it? 700 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:50,119 Yeah. It was when I went to school. 701 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,759 That's a good week's pay. She's a bloody ripper, mate. 702 00:41:54,920 --> 00:42:00,039 The Bushmen's two parcels of blue-green grey based crystal opal 703 00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:03,999 have a combined weight of 1.6 kilos, 704 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:07,959 and an estimated value of $35,000. 705 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:14,799 With a 50 percent share, that's $17,500 for the Bushmen. 706 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,799 We're well and truly on our way to that season target! 707 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:30,879 What's this? Oh! 708 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,959 Something good! Finally! 709 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:35,639 Yes! Well done, mate! 710 00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:38,999 Yes. She's a nice little wagon, mate. Wow! 711 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:41,719 What a beauty! 712 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:45,159 I've got my new car and I'm happy with it. 713 00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:50,039 Looks great. Now I can go down and see my daughters and my grandkids. 714 00:42:50,120 --> 00:42:53,879 That's been a priority for a fair while now. 715 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:55,679 Up, up. 716 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:58,119 Let me in! 717 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:02,119 She's very flash, Les! 718 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:04,119 She's a flash car, mate. 719 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,959 You've even got brakes in this one, Les! 720 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:11,759 Well, the dogs seem to like it, Les. Yeah, they're all happy. 721 00:43:11,840 --> 00:43:16,799 Right, old fella, see if you can fishtail it up the road! 722 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:21,239 It's just the start for us at Ploughboys. 723 00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:25,679 We're gonna do very well out there, I reckon. 724 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:27,999 Subtitles by Deluxe 724 00:43:28,305 --> 00:44:28,557 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm