"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #6.5

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:01,999 . 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,479 On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:08,839 Deep in their new mine, The Young Guns fight to avoid suffocation... 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,959 It's still getting really intense just with no oxygen. 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,479 ..battling to open up a crucial ventilation shaft. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:17,879 Yeeew! 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:19,759 We struck oil, boys! 8 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,159 We don't need these breakdowns this late in the season. 9 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:28,399 In Lightning Ridge, Pete and Sam have one last chance to find opal... 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,679 Can't keep doing it for the love of it. 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,079 ..to keep their partnership alive. 12 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:36,319 It's got to pay the bills. And the Boulder Boys... 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,399 Money! The money! 14 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:41,799 ..hit the best opal they've seen all season. 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:43,879 It weighs 22,000 kilos. 16 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,319 Before ageing machinery stops them in their tracks. 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:48,999 Oiii! 18 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,079 # ASH GRUNWALD: Money 19 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,199 # Money... 20 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,319 # And fancy clothes... # 21 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:07,074 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org 22 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,119 We're going to our open cut claim 23 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,599 at Old Nobby's just on the edge of town. 24 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:16,999 It's... 25 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,039 showing a bit of colour at the moment, getting a few nice stones. 26 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,559 So I just want to get as many trucks out of here as quick as we can. 27 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,799 Me and Pete, between the two trucks, 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,599 we could do six trucks a day... 29 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,839 which is just way more than we could get out underground mining. 30 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,759 No, me and Pete have done OK this year, 31 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,919 but I can assure you I would have made more money 32 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,679 doing something else, so... 33 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,959 Really need another find after Fire And Ice. 34 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,479 Fire And Ice is Pete and Sam's 45 carat black opal 35 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,439 valued at $55,000. 36 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,439 We've got what we call the king stone, 37 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,079 the best stone in our parcel... 38 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,839 and these come up two or three a lifetime. Yeah. If you're lucky. 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,119 Yeah, it's a good, good start, 40 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,839 but the opal needs to be a bit more consistent, you know, 41 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:14,439 I need one of them every month, not one a year. 42 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:22,039 They found the unique stone at their 100-year-old open cut claim. 43 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:26,599 Old Nobbys is one of the original fields of Lightning Ridge. 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,039 Nobbys is a colloquialism or a corruption of the term nodule, 45 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,199 a nodule of opal, 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,759 which got turned into nobbys of opal, 47 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,399 and now that field, 48 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,479 because it's one of the very first where they found a heap of nobbys, 49 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,839 I guess that's why they called it Old Nobbys. 50 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,519 This bit of apparatus here is what we call a grizzly, 51 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,639 and it's just basically a huge sieve. 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,959 So we drop the material on top on the angle. 53 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,679 All the big boulders that won't fit through 54 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,959 roll to the back, and the good dirt goes underneath. 55 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,399 We scoop it out of there and then onto the truck. 56 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,199 It's just a way to get these big hunks of sandstone out of the mix. 57 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,039 We're just going to get a few trucks of this dirt, 58 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,359 and hopefully we've left the gems in it. 59 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,439 Then we'll wash it all down and find out. 60 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,759 We've just got two trucks, taking them to the agis, 61 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,719 so everything's good in that regard, but... 62 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,359 God, we need to find some more opal. 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,119 Can't keep just... doing it for the love of it. 64 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,119 It's got to... gotta pay the bills. 65 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,559 Pete and Sam's grand plan 66 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,719 is to install multiple wash plants, 67 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,879 known as agitators, 68 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,959 which wash away sandstone to reveal opal. 69 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,159 Fed from a central hopper, an array of five agis 70 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,959 would allow them to contract wash for other miners, 71 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,759 splitting any opal found for a more steady income. 72 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,159 It's about volume and production. 73 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,239 But with their season nearly over, 74 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,439 and only two agis completely operational, 75 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,919 Pete and Sam are at full capacity, 76 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,719 and just with their own mined dirt. 77 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,519 But we've reached a bottleneck situation now. 78 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,999 The hopper's full, both trucks are full, 79 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,079 the two agis are chock-a-block. 80 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,439 We've got two agis spinning round, 81 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,359 I'm getting pretty close to getting agi three coming online, 82 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,799 and that'll stop the bottleneck happening 83 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,879 when we just get everything full. 84 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,759 The hold-up in production, and lack of opal... 85 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:38,999 That is a nice house, isn't it? That's a nice one. 86 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,879 Again, probably out of our price range. 87 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,679 ..is putting pressure on Sam's other partnership, 88 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:47,759 with girlfriend Corinne. 89 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,399 I want to buy a house for me and Corinne, 90 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,119 and... Yeah, I'm just not sure 91 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,799 whether open mining's going to allow me to do that. 92 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,759 I need to find, you know, a bit more of a consistent income. 93 00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:03,239 If Sam leaves, 94 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,759 it would be a major setback for me, no doubt about that, 95 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:08,959 but at the end of the day, it's his decision, 96 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,239 and...he'll do what he needs to do. 97 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,439 All right. Hang on. That doesn't look so good. 98 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,279 Motor's going and no agis happening, mate. 99 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,599 That's, er...not good, Sam. 100 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,359 It's spat the chain, the drive chain off the agi, 101 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,039 which isn't a good situation. 102 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,719 It's jammed in here though, look at this. 103 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,479 Far out! 104 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,559 Oh, I don't need this. 105 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,679 We were digging here before. Yeah. And we were finding a bit of trace, 106 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,039 you know? Up through here. 107 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,959 But in here, isn't the oxygen a little... I mean, you can feel... 108 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,319 Yeah, that's why we couldn't really do much work, 109 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,079 cos there's no oxygen flowing through. Yeah. It just means 110 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,559 we have to open up a shaft. There's one straight across there. 111 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,279 If we can get this shaft here open, 112 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,679 that should give us enough airflow down into there, 113 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,359 we can run some ducting. It looks pretty loose. 114 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,919 14m underground, 115 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,319 Young Guns Jaymin, Noah, and JC 116 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,239 are keen to expand their operation into the furthest reaches 117 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,279 of their 50 square-metre paydirt mine. 118 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,319 I think anywhere we go in this, 119 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,999 in the back of this mine is going to have ventilation issues, so... 120 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,319 going to have to sort that out. Such a challenge, 121 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,999 to work down in here, because the air is so thick, there's no oxygen, 122 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,599 just because there's no airflow going through to here. 123 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,319 Low oxygen levels make this area difficult to work. 124 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,519 Their diesel-powered loader could make it deadly. 125 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,879 Its exhaust produces poisonous carbon monoxide. 126 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,119 In enclosed spaces, 127 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,919 it can unwittingly lead to suffocation 128 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,519 after just a few minutes of exposure. 129 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,119 If we're using that loader to then shift the dirt with, 130 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,719 we're going to be in trouble. Just from fumes, you know, 131 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:08,799 it's not worth it. 132 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,759 To fix that, we'll have to open up a shaft, 133 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:13,879 run some ventilation down here, 134 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,599 and get, you know, air moving through this part of the mine. 135 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,159 If we don't do that then, you know, we risk dying. 136 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,399 We're not even halfway to our season target yet and we're, 137 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,879 you know, more than halfway through the season, so... 138 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,759 It's going to be an uphill battle to actually meet that target. 139 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,319 Obviously we're always aiming high, but 100 grand 140 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,879 is where we have to get to to actually be comfortable. 141 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:38,999 Adding to the pressure to find opal, 142 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,159 an investor has bankrolled most of their new machinery. 143 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,279 Be good if we can start shifting a lot of dirt 144 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,519 because, you know, we got bills coming in 145 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,919 and we trying to move forward with the operation. 146 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,119 John Jennings paid $50,000 for a 25% cut of any opal. 147 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,559 It'll be good if we can find some opal this week. 148 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,679 Not just for us but for John as well. 149 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,159 Creating airflow through all of the mine 150 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,519 is a crucial, labour-intensive job. 151 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,319 But JC is still unable to work. 152 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,679 I don't know, they've gone round heaps of antibiotics 153 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,399 and painkillers and stuff so... You don't want to overdo it. 154 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,559 Yeah. Yeah. Well, I've got a doctor's appointment today anyway. 155 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,039 A week ago, JC cut his ankle, 156 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,239 and the wound has gone septic. 157 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,159 I'm going to be pretty useless, I think. 158 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,559 Yeah, well just set up your foot. Yeah. 159 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,519 Anywho... 160 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,719 All right. Not feeling too much better. 161 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,479 It's been a while, now, on the antibiotics but... 162 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:45,879 I don't know what's going on with me. 163 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,639 I think I'm just having a bit of reaction to the antibiotics. 164 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,719 I don't know, I just feel sick. 165 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,679 Hand-clearing the 50-year-old shaft of 14m of backfilled dirt 166 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,599 will fall to Noah and Jaymin. 167 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:03,279 Whoa! How's it going, Noz? 168 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,479 Slow going. 169 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:07,639 Yeah, well...I got the big one. 170 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,719 BOTH: One, two, three... 171 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,839 We don't want to stand underneath it. 172 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,639 If we stand underneath it and all of it comes down at once... 173 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,719 That's crushed, that's game over. 174 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,959 We've taken out some of the loose stuff, 175 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,119 but there's a lot of wet dirt in there. 176 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,519 Here's hoping that, you know, it is doable. 177 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,879 Noah, hold on one sec. 178 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,759 What do you reckon? Progress is slow. 179 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,039 Now, because all the dirt's stuck up in there, we're basically 180 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,639 just got the bar sitting on the end of the pocket. 181 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,759 We're going to use the hydraulics to drive it up into that loose dirt. 182 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:48,919 Hopefully it'll all come down. 183 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,879 The Young Guns' respirators 184 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,559 filter out the harmful carbon monoxide. 185 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,319 The fumes are getting pretty bad down there as well. 186 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:17,879 We've got our masks, 187 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,279 and we've got air coming in and air being sucked out, 188 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,999 but it's still getting really intense just with no oxygen. 189 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,399 That's why we're doing this, to get better oxygen, 190 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,999 but if we gas ourselves in the meantime, that's no good. 191 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,799 Our bar's not strong enough, and the ground's too tough, so... 192 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,479 try a bit of timber, see if we can give it a poke with that, 193 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:36,559 see if that makes any difference. 194 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:46,679 Oh... 195 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:48,799 Snapped our bit of wood. 196 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,399 I don't think it's long enough. 197 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,319 She's not sounding good. 198 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,519 She's stalled again. 199 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:16,599 thing! 200 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,719 I think she's sucking a bit of air somewhere, mate. 201 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,839 For Boulder Boys Aaron Grotjahn and Ron Selig... 202 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,599 ..the last month has been full of frustration. 203 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:41,639 Their 25-year-old 30-tonne excavator keeps stalling. 204 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,399 We might have to put a new fuel line in it. 205 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,799 And their 50-tonne loader is under repair, 206 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,079 with its gears jammed in reverse. 207 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:55,319 The switch up top that you go forward and into reverse 208 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,519 is very, very worn. It's... 209 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,279 I don't know, 20-something years old. 210 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,639 We've been without it for a month, now. 211 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,079 You can run that hose up through here, Ron. 212 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:12,599 The mechanical issues have slowed their opal hunt to a crawl. 213 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:15,799 There's no point beating your head against a wall, you know? 214 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,759 You just gotta fix it and...carry on. 215 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,479 Aaron and Ron are working 216 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:26,759 the huge 800 by 600 square-metre double claim Badlands, 217 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,839 owned by Eric and Kris Hume... 218 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,279 Yeah, boys, hey! How are you, Eric? Kris? 219 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,879 ..who are on a 70% cut of any opal found. 220 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:41,519 The lack of opal, and an $80,000 debt Aaron owes to Eric 221 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,719 is putting strain on the partnership. 222 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,039 Things are going to have to improve a bit, 223 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,119 otherwise...she's all over, boys. 224 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,799 We need a bit of luck at the moment. 225 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,919 We've got to find opal to pay bills and... 226 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,119 keep everyone happy, and keep the job going. 227 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,439 We're well into our season, now. 228 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,599 We've got a long way to go to get to our 150 target. 229 00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:10,439 But at least we've found a level, and it's a bit of a change, 230 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,239 and it's going to give us the opportunity maybe to catch up. 231 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:14,759 Cola! 232 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,119 Oh! 233 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,719 Look at that! Look at that. 234 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,959 These two pieces of opal are the Boulder Boys' reason for hope. 235 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,879 $40,000, and a sign there could be more. 236 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,599 That rock doesn't form in a vacuum 237 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:34,879 in that structure. No. Yeah. 238 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,839 So it's obviously going to keep going. 239 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,559 Oh, course it is. 240 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,239 Usually if there's one around, there's a few more around. 241 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,239 They usually come in a little pocket. A group of a few rocks. 242 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,199 I'm hoping for... 243 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,519 for great things out of the next 10 days. 244 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,239 We replaced the hose, so hopefully she'll go good. 245 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,199 Take it easy, because there could be another piece around somewhere. 246 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,559 Right ho, mate. No worries. All right. 247 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:07,639 See how we go, eh? 248 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,999 Somewhere in here lurks a beautiful opal. 249 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,519 We'll have to sneak in on it. Looking very promising. 250 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,719 We've had a bit of a disaster. 251 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,999 The drive chain for the agi has come off its sprockets. 252 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,119 Pete and Sam's chances of ending their season on an opal high 253 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,239 have been dealt a heavy blow. 254 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,719 This cuts our operation in half, only having one agi spinning round. 255 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:47,879 We're washing half the amount of dirt. 256 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:49,999 Yeah, got it. That's good. 257 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:56,439 The 400kg, $1,000 chain is used to rotate the agitator's drum. 258 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,079 Without it connected, 259 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,159 39 tonnes of unwashed rock remain stuck inside, 260 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,159 while two truckloads of opal-bearing dirt 261 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,519 wait to be offloaded. 262 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,799 Cos the agi's full of dirt, 263 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,239 I'm just not strong enough to spin it round 264 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,519 so that we can get this chain to go back on the drive sprocket. 265 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,119 So the plan now is we'll get the excavator over there, 266 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,679 and use the excavator to pull this back gently, 267 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,039 and then we should be able to get this... 268 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,159 throw this chain over the drive sprockets. 269 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,079 We don't need these breakdowns this late in the season, 270 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,599 we just want them spinning around, washing dirt 271 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,759 so we can find some gems. 272 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,279 Just gets so frustrating. Not a day goes by 273 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,599 where something doesn't break out here. 274 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,239 Just try pulling the excavator a little bit. 275 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,319 Just nice and gentle. 276 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,519 Keep going! 277 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,959 Right-o, she's on. She's on. Beautiful. 278 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,319 All right. She's going around again. That's good. 279 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,719 So what we've got to do is top up 280 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,999 the two agis that we've got running at the moment, 281 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,599 and then I want to do a bit of work on agi three, 282 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,679 try and get it up and running. I'd like to put some dirt in it today, 283 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,799 so that we can...alleviate this bottleneck problem we're getting. 284 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,759 Digging six truckloads of dirt a day, 285 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,159 Pete and Sam need at least three agitators up and running 286 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,719 to handle the 120 tonnes of unwashed dirt. 287 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,439 I'm trying to get fuel efficient, 288 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,319 so I'm putting a small, three-cylinder diesel on this one 289 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,479 which happens to be a welder, in its former life. 290 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,559 The test will be putting 20 tonne of dirt in it 291 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,079 and seeing if it can still power that. 292 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,679 If it doesn't work, I'll have to put a bigger motor on it. 293 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,639 How much fuel do you reckon this thing'll save us 294 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:01,119 compared to agi one? Well, agi one, what's it, four litres an hour? 295 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,559 An hour. This thing, I'm hoping, should use...two. 296 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:08,439 If we pull this one off, it means we've got three agis up and running 297 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,079 washing dirt. 298 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,199 I want to get as many trucks through as we can, 299 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,319 that's the name of the game at the moment. 300 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,479 More dirt, more gems. 301 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:27,799 JC? 302 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,599 Yo. How's it going? 303 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,399 Yeah, all right. You ready to go to the doctor's? Yeah. 304 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,479 Let's go. Thanks, dude. 305 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,439 Yeah, down the bottom there it's slow going. Really? 306 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,759 We've just been trying to bar that shaft. . 307 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,839 Yeah, it's not been going too well. 308 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,599 We're going to end up getting the drill down there, I reckon. 309 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,039 The Young Guns' mission to open up a ventilation shaft... 310 00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:54,119 is on hold. 311 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,559 JC is feeling worse from his infected ankle, 312 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,919 and needs to see a doctor. 313 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,759 It's feeling pretty rough still, so... 314 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,839 hopefully they can sort me out. 315 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,519 I think I've ever seen him looking this bad. 316 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,319 We're just hoping it doesn't turn into something way more serious. 317 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,959 They don't want me in the mine. 318 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,279 Did they give you a timeframe at all, or...? 319 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:21,639 Yeah, they wanted me to finish the antibiotics 320 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,399 which is another two days. Well, you got to do what you got to do. Yeah. 321 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,959 After trying in vain to open up a backfilled shaft from below... 322 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,959 So right now we're just trying to clear all this dirt out of the way 323 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,159 to locate that shaft. 324 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,519 Jaymin has called in the big guns, 325 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,039 to see if they can clear it from above. 326 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:56,759 We've got the drill rig coming over soon, 327 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,319 and we need to know where to put that drill 328 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,159 straight down through the shaft to loosen all that dirt up. 329 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:07,079 Jaymin's father, and mining veteran of 28 years, Graeme Dowton 330 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,319 has agreed to help out with his drill. 331 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,599 At a cost of $200 a hole. 332 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,799 We want to be self-reliant, and not have to rely on Dad, 333 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,359 but it's not a free handout. We have to actually, you know, 334 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,759 pay for the work to get it done. 335 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:23,279 And you stand here... 336 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:26,159 Without airflow from the shaft, 337 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,559 half of The Young Guns' mine is too dangerous to work. 338 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,959 But finding where the buried shaft hits the surface, 339 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,279 14m above, could be a challenge. 340 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,679 Not simple for us. What was it, 31.80? 341 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,399 Straight down there. 342 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,759 We've tried to get it right, but we're obviously still not 100%. 343 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,639 Hello, hello. How are you going, you guys? 344 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,999 Do you think this is the spot that we're looking at? 345 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,839 Well, like, according to the measurements, it's about... 346 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,679 you know, about where that little dip is, maybe a bit closer. 347 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,679 Whose... Whose measurements is this one? 348 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:03,799 Noah's. Noah. OK. 349 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:05,839 JC: That's all open area. 350 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,079 That's if that's in the right spot. Yeah. 351 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,879 So if I'm putting two drill holes down, I'm charging you double. 352 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,839 Well, I've just got to put a head on. 353 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,199 The rig uses a nine-inch diameter auger bit 354 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,799 to drill down up to 27m. 355 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:32,119 We've just started drilling. 356 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,199 Hopefully we've got it in the right spot! 357 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,519 I will tell you actually right now it is no shaft. 358 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,079 You have missed the shaft. Your measurement is kaput, you know? 359 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,239 No good, Noz. No good. 360 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,559 Ta, mate. Here. 12 mil? No, yeah, I need a 12 mill. 361 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,519 Here it is. I've got to take the fan... The fan belt's . 362 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,599 The Boulder Boys' mechanical woes keep coming. 363 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,519 Now their vehicle needs a new fan belt. 364 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,039 Oh, ! What the hell you done? 365 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:11,479 Oh, you've bloody cut yourself! 366 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,959 Yeah? Oiii! 367 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,719 Chopped there. Ooh... Yeah, you cut yourself. 368 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,039 Ohh... I'll get the aid box. 369 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,479 I just hit it on the corner of that bonnet. 370 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,639 Oh, you took a piece out! 371 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,079 Finding a bit of red opal today, mate. 372 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,839 In their recently dug pit, 373 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,199 Aaron and Ron have been following a promising fault in the ground 374 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:42,599 called a slip. 375 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,679 There's the change of ground. 376 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,919 Sandstone, clay. 377 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,679 That's a slip. Well, if it's going to make opal, 378 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,559 you've got movement in the level. That's where it'll make. 379 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,959 The positive thing is that the slip we are following here 380 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,359 is carving around the corner. Yes. 381 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:04,119 And it's starting to head to the big trench where the money was found. 382 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,399 We've got to follow it, mate. Yeah. 383 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:09,079 20 years ago, 384 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,879 the previous mine owners hit nearly $1 million in opal 385 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:17,679 just 100m away, on a possible continuation of the same slip. 386 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,319 That's where that million-dollar parcel came from, 387 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,399 on the end of one of these slips. 388 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,719 But to keep chasing the slip, 389 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,119 they need to move the mountains of dirt they've piled up, 390 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,719 and for that, they need their broken 50-tonne loader. 391 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,519 Mechanics from Townsville, 800km away, 392 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:42,159 have been called in to see if there's an easy fix. 393 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,599 I'm trying to get my baby going! 394 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,599 Worst-case scenario, the whole gearbox will need to be replaced. 395 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:50,079 Drop down. 396 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,079 Quite possibly could be 30-40,000. 397 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,639 By the end of today, we'll know where we stand. 398 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,799 Do we have the loader, 399 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,519 or are we going to have to wait another two weeks? 400 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,719 We'll have a yarn, Ron. 401 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:09,439 Another obstacle is standing in the way of the ground they want to dig. 402 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,999 Yeah, that'll do, eh? Yeah, I think she's all right. 403 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,279 We'll have to shift the opal Queen, 404 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:18,679 the little excavator that's been sitting there for 20 years. 405 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,839 Because where we're going to be digging here is 406 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:23,919 directly underneath the opal Queen. 407 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:28,719 Two decades ago, after a serious breakdown, 408 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,679 this 22-tonne excavator was abandoned where it stood. 409 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,639 We're just going to hook a big chain on it and skull drag it. 410 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:39,919 Drag it with the 100-tonner. 411 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,119 It is a heavy chain. 412 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:48,599 But then we're skull dragging something and... 413 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,519 ..it weighs 22,000 kilos, so... 414 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,039 Wahey! 415 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:00,279 Oops. 416 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:07,839 All good! 417 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,399 Pete and Sam's final push for the season is back on track. 418 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,119 Yeah, it's great! 419 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,999 It's bloody noisy, but other than that it's working like a dream. 420 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,679 With their third agi online, 421 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,559 six truckloads of washed, opal-bearing dirt 422 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,639 are now ready to be checked for gems at Pete's yard. 423 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,959 There's got to be something in these bags 424 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,279 to show me that this claim's going to consistently pay. 425 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,919 Be nice to find a bit of money, 426 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,519 to encourage Sam to hang around a bit longer. 427 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,599 Little bit of trace, what we call a pea nobby. 428 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,359 Just, you know, small, but it means there could be some bigger stuff 429 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,079 and better stuff there, so it's good to see even little bits like that. 430 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,359 Certainly hasn't paid the fuel bill yet, has it? No, not yet, mate. 431 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:06,999 Well, we're not through it yet. 432 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,839 Little bits and pieces... Oh! Here's one. 433 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,799 Oh, yeah! Yeah, look at that! 434 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,999 Oh! Oh, that's good, mate, you've done it! That's it! 435 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,079 Well done, mate. That's the way. 436 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,199 This is what we're looking for, this sort of thing, 437 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:24,679 with sort of an electric blue top sitting on black there. 438 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:28,039 Nice, big Lightning Ridge nobby. 439 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,439 Look at that one in there, Sam. I can see that from here! 440 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,519 You got him? Yeah, look at that! 441 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,039 Whoa! 442 00:25:37,120 --> 00:25:38,999 This is big. Yeah. 443 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,039 Bright as bright, nice broad pattern across it. 444 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:44,919 Yeah, that's a gem, mate! Looks good, doesn't it? 445 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,319 This proves a point. That the old-timers didn't get it all. 446 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,559 When you get stuff like this, it just makes it all worthwhile. 447 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:54,279 Oh, yeah! 448 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,279 Oh, yeah, look at that one, mate, look at him. 449 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:00,919 Look at that! Wow! 450 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,879 Why do you get all the good ones up your end? 451 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,839 You've got some red on that one. Two blue ones and now this red one. 452 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,079 Yes, mate! We did it again! Again! 453 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,159 This is what it's all about, isn't it? Finally. 454 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:21,879 Me and Pete had found two... two good stones in two years, 455 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,559 and now we've found another two in two minutes. 456 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,399 I could have given up, with the couple of hard years that we've had 457 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,639 not finding much opal, but... 458 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,159 it's good to see it's finally paying off. 459 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,239 Happy times. 460 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:50,239 I just want to know if it's in the mine at all. Yeah. 461 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,559 The Young Guns have missed an old, blocked shaft 462 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,759 they're hoping to clear to bring fresh air into their mine. 463 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,159 But this off-target $200 drill hole 464 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,879 can at least provide some useful information. 465 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,879 Hopefully this isn't a wasted drill hole, 466 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,159 hopefully it gives us an idea where the shaft actually is. 467 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,479 There's a lot of anxiety. 468 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,759 We'll radio you. Dodging drills. 469 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:21,199 Where the drill breaks through will give them a reference point 470 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,879 for re-drilling the old shaft they were originally aiming to hit. 471 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:26,999 Shh... 472 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,359 I feel like we've... 473 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,199 we've not put it in the right spot, I feel like it's, you know, 474 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,319 through the wall there, which is not good. 475 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:39,879 It's kind of impossible to tell, hey? 476 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:41,999 It's kind of like a horror movie right now, 477 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,119 it's like it could pop out anywhere, at any time. It's kind of scary. 478 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:52,559 Goddamn it, just breakthrough! 479 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,519 Come on. 480 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,439 Woo! Tell him to stop. 481 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,279 Oi, stop. Bring it back up. 482 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,159 How far off are we, Noah? 483 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:08,519 We're about 2m off the shaft. 484 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,199 We're lucky that it wasn't a foot or two in that direction, 485 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,319 that would have send us right off, right in the middle of a pillar, 486 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,919 so we got lucky, and we're right on the edge. 487 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,319 How are you going? Hello? 488 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,919 Now with a reference point top and bottom... 489 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,559 Yeah, like that, that's perfect. 490 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,119 ..it should be simple to locate the much wider shaft, 491 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,519 then start unblocking it by first drilling it out. 492 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,919 I'm going to say that's it. That's the one. Pretty soft looking. 493 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,679 It is the shaft? The shaft? Oh, yeah, 100%. So we're in? 494 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,119 We're in. 100%. Oh! Geez, thank God for that. 495 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,359 We did it! Yeah! Found it! 496 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,799 Down a day's mining and $400 drilling costs, 497 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,239 they still have to manually excavate the shaft. 498 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:55,079 It's up to you guys now to start burrowing it down from the top. 499 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:58,879 Oh, wow. 500 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:07,599 Oi, we can't take a trick, can we? No! 501 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,839 We broke the tooth on the excavator 502 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:11,919 towing the little opal Queen out the way. 503 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:14,439 Oiii! 504 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,679 The Boulder Boys have racked up yet another urgent repair job. 505 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,959 Yeah, the chain was here, and it's just... 506 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,199 broke it. 507 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:27,959 A broken 25kg steel tooth on their 100-tonne digger 508 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,119 is once again putting their opal hunt on hold. 509 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,199 We need a wedge, too. 510 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,399 But luckily we had a spare one. 511 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,519 We are in business, then. 512 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:46,839 That was a quick fix. 513 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:52,439 The repair to their 50-tonne loader, stuck in reverse, isn't as certain. 514 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,719 The control valve directs transmission fluid to the clutches 515 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:05,799 to allow gear changes. 516 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:06,999 Ready? 517 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:11,959 Fingers... Everyone got fingers crossed? 518 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,039 If this doesn't work, 519 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:18,639 it'll mean a major, $40,000 rebuild for their partners to cover, 520 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:22,879 and no mining or income for weeks for Aaron and Ron. 521 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:28,999 You beauty! 522 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:30,439 Yes! 523 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,159 I've got gears! Yes! I've got gears! 524 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:36,079 Ronnie's baby's done. Good stuff. 525 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,999 Finally, the Boulder Boys can clear the 400 tonnes of waste dirt, 526 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:48,559 and continue chasing the same opal seam 527 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,599 that delivered riches one week ago. 528 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:57,239 We've piled up a lot of stuff, 529 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,959 it looks like the back end of the moon, there, at the moment. 530 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,879 Got a heap of dirt that we've been throwing up there 531 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,639 with the excavator, so... it'll just make it a lot easier 532 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,119 to move it with the loader. A lot quicker. 533 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,399 Couldn't come at a better time. 534 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,679 It's meant to be, see? Opal gods are making it happen. 535 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:24,919 I'll just take little bites. 536 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:27,639 You're going to have to. I'll just go steady here, mate. 537 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:38,519 Hang on! 538 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:40,119 Er... Oi! 539 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:43,639 LOOK AT THAT! 540 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:45,999 The other half! The brother! 541 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:50,599 Isn't that nice? That's his mate. 542 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:52,719 Oh, look at the colour! 543 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,639 Well, won't Kris be happy with that one?! 544 00:31:57,720 --> 00:31:59,719 He was right. There's a piece there. 545 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,119 You don't get them too often like that, do you? 546 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:03,999 Ha-ha! 547 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,399 How good's that? Not in looking for it, 548 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,639 and there it is. Woo! 549 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,039 Definitely got some nice colour, hey? 550 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,559 After successfully drilling out a buried shaft 551 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,639 to get air into their mine, 552 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,279 Jaymin and Noah have just discovered traces of opal 553 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,639 at the very base of the hole. 554 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,639 We had no clue it'd be there, a very good sign, 555 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,639 so we'll just quickly dig this out, see if it turns into anything. 556 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,919 Oh, here we go, bit of a seam running in there. 557 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,039 It's just very thin. 558 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,119 I think it's getting... 559 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,159 a bit too sketchy us working directly underneath this. 560 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,359 I think we're probably best off leaving that for now, 561 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,639 we'll clear all this that out and then, you know, 562 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,119 get back in here with the digger. Yeah. 563 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:58,679 Hello? 564 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:00,999 Yeah, I'm here, can you hear me? 565 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:04,039 Yeah, I can hear you. I can't see anything down the hole yet. 566 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,839 I'm almost at the end of my antibiotics, 567 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,159 so I'm starting to feel a lot better. 568 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:11,319 Getting active and involved with the guys, 569 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,839 and just being able to do things I think's taken my mind off things. 570 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:18,279 To get the proper airflow, 571 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:23,599 The Young Guns still need to widen the shaft to its original, 2m size. 572 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,799 It's a dangerous operation. 573 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:30,999 Hidden beneath JC's feet, 574 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:36,039 tonnes of loose, unsupported dirt that could give way at any second. 575 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:40,639 Trying to just find where the edges of this shaft are 576 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:43,519 so we can set up a bit of a perimeter and... 577 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,599 So I'm not really standing above it in case it does drop. 578 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,919 You can feel the fresh air coming down now, 579 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,439 which is kind of good. I mean, it just gives us access 580 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:57,759 to so much more of the mine that before was kind of off-limits 581 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:00,119 because, you know, there's no air to breathe. 582 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,239 It's like unlocking a new stage. A new level. 583 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:04,319 A new level in the game. 584 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,239 Oh! Whoa. Here we go, take a step back, eh? 585 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:17,599 Holy heck! 586 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,879 Yeeew! 587 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:29,919 We struck oil, boys! 588 00:34:34,240 --> 00:34:35,439 Holy moly. 589 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,519 Did that all just drop? 590 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,039 It's just not stopping. An ocean of dirt. 591 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,399 Hopefully JC doesn't come down with it. 592 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:47,359 And basically it's a safety hazard right now 593 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,479 so I'll try and sledgehammer it down. 594 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,599 Drop it so there's an open shaft here, 595 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,079 and then we're going to put about 10 fans on top 596 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:58,079 to blow a ton of air down. 597 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:02,439 Obviously he's just trying to now find the shaft on the surface 598 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,479 so it's just instead of making a small hole, 599 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:06,759 I think he's trying to make it into the big square, 600 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:09,359 and that's why you hear the big thunk before he does it. 601 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:15,359 Can you see me, you dogs? 602 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,399 Oh, there he is! Can we see? 603 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:19,119 Hey, boys! 604 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,639 Guess what! We found some opal, buddy! 605 00:35:21,720 --> 00:35:23,719 It's just behind the shaft. 606 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,319 Wait, so it's in the wall? Yeah! 607 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,119 Oh, you're joking, mate! 608 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:31,999 Wooo! 609 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:34,879 Well done, fellas, that's bloody unreal! 610 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,359 I mean, what a relief. We finally got that shaft open, 611 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:40,799 you can feel that breeze coming down here. 612 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:44,999 It's going to be a lot safer to use that loader underground. 613 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:50,119 We've got airflow down into the part of the mine where we want to dig, 614 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:52,919 and the boys have found opal down there. So... 615 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:55,199 Oh, man, this hole's a winner! 616 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,879 Yeah, I'm rapt, mate, that's another nice rock. 617 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,759 Last week's stone's brother. 618 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,839 At least a value of last week, maybe more. 619 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:19,879 We finally found a bit that makes it worthwhile 620 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,039 saying we're opal miners. 621 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:26,199 After regaining access to a slip that delivered opal a week ago, 622 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:28,759 Aaron and Ron have stuck colour again, 623 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,599 and in almost exactly the same spot as last time. 624 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,359 It must have broke off there. There must be some little bits 625 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,079 that go in here. Well, little blue bits. 626 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:42,399 Smaller shards from the same stone are still missing. 627 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:43,919 They've fallen off. 628 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,399 We're just going to have to systematically go through 629 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:50,399 with the picks from the bottom, and work our way up through to the top. 630 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:52,519 There's going to be more there, mate. 631 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,479 We can see... Oh! Oi! 632 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:57,919 Oh-ho-ho! There you go! 633 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,079 There's his brother. Well, eh, doesn't that feel good? 634 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:02,239 Whoa! 635 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,399 They're nice, they're making nice spaces. 636 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,039 Oh, there you go! 637 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:09,159 There's his mate. 638 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:11,239 Oh, isn't that good? 639 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:15,239 # We're in the money! # 640 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,319 Dollars! Moolah! 641 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,479 We're in the money, honey. 642 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:20,879 BOTH: Money! 643 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,119 Money! The money! 644 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:28,119 Some nice product there, Ron. 645 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,439 Look at the size of the stones, mate. Mm-hm. 646 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:34,359 Aaron and Ron have ironstone boulder opal, 647 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:38,199 in colours of brilliant green, indigo and purple. 648 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,479 It's in the rough, with a total weight of 12kg, 649 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:46,879 the largest estimated at a chunky 200g. 650 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,359 45 grand, I reckon. 651 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:53,559 You wouldn't let it go for anything under. 652 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,639 Lucky that we fixed the loader without having to get a tranny, 653 00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:01,559 otherwise that one there would be going to... 654 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:03,879 ..fix the loader. That's it. 655 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:07,599 I think you'll get a lot out of these, Ron. That's my opinion. 656 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:09,559 57. Yep. 657 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:11,279 You'd have to ask that. 57. 658 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:13,439 No worries. Done and told. You want to buy it? 659 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:15,319 Better ask Kris. I'll go get the money. 660 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,959 At $57,000, the Boulder Boys' cut is $17,100, 661 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:27,359 bringing their season total to over $32,000. 662 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,719 It was good to find that bit more opal 663 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:32,879 because every time we find an opal 664 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:35,039 we're getting more ahead, everyone's happy. 665 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:38,039 Oi! Oi, Ron, have a look at this. opals galore! 666 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,159 Ron, look at this bugger! I could see it from down here! 667 00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:43,479 Kris, Eric, me and Ron, 668 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:45,199 we're all getting a payday. 669 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,279 What did you do, hit it with your teeth? No, I hit it with a hammer! 670 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,519 She's in pieces! 671 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:54,039 At least we've finally found the slips and the levels 672 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:59,879 where it can produce one rock that's worth £2-300,000. 673 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,319 No worries, mate. Ha-ha! There's going to be more! 674 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:04,439 Come on! 675 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:09,119 I believe we'll find pockets that will put these rocks to shame. 676 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,519 Money! The money! 677 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:25,759 So red or blue first? Er... 678 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:28,159 I'll go red. Red. 679 00:39:28,240 --> 00:39:31,079 Thank you. So how much does this weigh? 680 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,159 That's just on 25 carats. 681 00:39:33,240 --> 00:39:34,879 Yeah, right. 682 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:37,559 As their mining season draws to a close, 683 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,159 Pete and Sam are keen to sell their opal. 684 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:42,639 They have two large stones. 685 00:39:42,720 --> 00:39:45,559 One blue, the other with precious reds, 686 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:47,959 together weighing 10g. 687 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:50,599 I can't say for sure what those stones are going to do, 688 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,759 but I reckon there could be 20 grand just in those two stones. 689 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:58,079 They've come to see local opal buyer Vicki Bokros. 690 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:02,359 So I think it's more on the lighter side of opal, 691 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:05,319 like, it's not a black opal, it's not a dark opal. 692 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:11,079 You're probably going to have to lose part of this. 693 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:14,799 Mm-hm, yeah. To get the commercial sort of colour in there. 694 00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:22,879 Vicki's assessment of the quality is not what they hoped. 695 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:25,159 So what are you guys asking for the two? 696 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,199 I think... Yeah, 15. 697 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:31,199 15. 15. 15. 698 00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:33,439 I'm thinking... 699 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,399 maybe 12. 700 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,479 What do you think about that? 701 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,559 Push it to 13 and we can do business. 702 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:44,799 What do you think? Erm... 703 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:49,799 Well, lucky 13. Lucky 13? Sounds like a deal. 704 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,039 We can do a deal? Yep. Sounds good. Terrific. 705 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:53,359 Thank you. 706 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,359 With $13,000 made on two stones, 707 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,359 Pete has one last play for the season. 708 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:04,559 He also had Fire And Ice, currently valued at $55,000, 709 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:09,359 worked on further by Vicki's fiance, opal carver Andrew Kemeny. 710 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:11,639 I did have high expectations for it, 711 00:41:11,720 --> 00:41:14,559 I could see a hidden gem hidden underneath it, 712 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:17,719 and that's why I knocked back that first offer of 55,000. 713 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,799 ANDREW: So... 714 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:25,279 ..here it is. A little opal that you haven't seen for a few weeks. 715 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:29,239 I give you Fire And Ice. Oh, wow. Wow. 716 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:34,759 Wow, Andrew, you have done a... magnificent job on that. Thank you. 717 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:36,999 That is just... 718 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:39,159 Look at that opal! 719 00:41:39,240 --> 00:41:41,279 That is beautiful! 720 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:42,999 Oh... 721 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,079 Wow. 722 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:49,799 What do you think that's going to retail for? 723 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,919 Roughly about 3,500 a carat. 724 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:56,639 OK. So you're looking at just over 120,000. 725 00:41:56,720 --> 00:42:00,159 120 grand. Yeah. I like that. 726 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:03,919 I like that very much. That is... 727 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:05,799 120 grand! 728 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:08,479 Oh... Well done! 729 00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:11,639 Thank you! Thank you. Thank you very much. 730 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:14,399 120 grand, that is incredible. 731 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:17,599 Wow. Fire And Ice. Fire And Ice, yeah. Check it. 732 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:19,919 How great is that?! 733 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:23,879 To get an evaluation of $120,000 for it, that's... 734 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,559 That's just a dream come true for us, this is... 735 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:30,999 This is the time of my life, it's great. 736 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:32,359 One of a kind. 737 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:35,439 You will never see another stone like that. And it's double-sided! 738 00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:38,639 You're getting two stones for the price of one. It's just incredible. 739 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:43,839 Fire And Ice's massive $120,000 evaluation 740 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:49,039 means Pete and Sam have double their season target. 741 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:51,919 This season opal mining has just shown me 742 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:54,199 that you can make a living out of it, 743 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:56,279 and if you keep putting the hard work in, 744 00:42:56,360 --> 00:42:58,199 you will finally get rewards. 745 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:00,959 I'm certainly not leaving Lightning Ridge now. 746 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:03,599 Me and Corinne have bought a house here, 747 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:05,999 so that's all exciting times for us. 748 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:08,359 We've delivered, 749 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:11,239 we've found a couple of hundred thousand dollars, you know? 750 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:14,319 Where else in the world do you do that sort of stuff? 751 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:16,799 This is just great, and I'm glad he stayed, it's good. 752 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:19,719 It's been fun. Oh, yeah, had a great time. 753 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:21,839 You know, that's our motto, mate. 754 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:23,959 Get it done but make it fun. 755 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,799 Subtitles by Deluxe 755 00:43:31,305 --> 00:44:31,570 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm