"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #6.6

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,999 On Outback Opal Hunters: 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:07,599 Yeah, I don't reckon we wanna hang around here too long. Let's go! Let's go! 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,759 Desperate for a payday from a final load of opal-bearing dirt... 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:13,879 Are there any other ways to cross? Nah. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,919 ..the Cheals race against a storm. 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,039 See how it's coming across the lake to the right of us? 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:20,999 They got us surrounded. 8 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:25,079 New team the Geran Gang must protect their opal field... 9 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,319 That's beautiful. ..from an unwelcome visitor. 10 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,759 What are you doing, mate? This is our ground here, mate. 11 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,719 And a foot injury forces The Bishop to bring in help... 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,399 Thanks for coming to see me. 13 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,639 ..putting him to the test... Not too close. 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,799 ..in a dangerous, open cut mine. 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:42,879 That's a widow maker, that one. 16 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,079 # Money 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,079 # And fancy clothes... # 18 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,959 'You all right back there?' Yeah, all good. How are you going? 19 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,639 Little bit of rain last night. You'll have to be careful in that little truck. 20 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,639 It's not real good in the mud. Hopefully, the lake's not too wet to get across. 21 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,719 'Copy.' 22 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,519 On the outskirts of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, 23 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,239 Chris Cheal and sons Rory and Oscar 24 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:26,359 are heading to their opal mine 30 kilometres west. 25 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,479 Jeez, I hope we can get across this lake, bro. 26 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,959 In their way lies Coocoran Lake, 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,319 a normally dry seven kilometre wide basin. 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,279 The only way across: a rough dirt track. 29 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,359 What do you reckon, then, big fella? 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,159 Well, it looks all right here. I dunno about the other side. 31 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,159 There's been a couple of cars across. Yeah. 32 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,079 Truck's empty. I think we just run with it. 33 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,999 But if it's a bit wet in spots, we might just have to leave the load out here. Yep. 34 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,079 Righto. Let's do it. Let's go. 35 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,879 While torrential rain causes Coocoran Lake to flood, 36 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,959 on average once every ten years, 37 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,919 the lake bed is made of alluvial black soil, 38 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,719 heavy in clay and tens of metres deep. 39 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,799 When this black soil gets wet, it's just sticky, sticky as greasy. 40 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,119 It doesn't take much to make it impossible to get across. 41 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,719 Halfway through the season. 42 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,439 We haven't dug out as much opal as we had hoped. 43 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,079 But we've got two sets of gear going. 44 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,799 We increase our chances of finding opal by two. 45 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,959 You gotta watch the end of your pipe too cos you can just crush it like that. OK. OK? 46 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,359 We're under pressure for, basically, coming up with the fuel money. 47 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,319 We've got double the costs. We just wanna knuckle down 48 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,999 and get as much dirt out as we can and hopefully it's pay dirt. 49 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,119 Hopefully it's not too wet in the middle of the lake. 50 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,359 So far so good, boys. We just take it real slow. 51 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,359 It's soft up here, boys. Just be careful. Will do. 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,879 I reckon we're sweet to get across, bro. 53 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,319 If that's the worst of it, you know, that's pretty dry. 54 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,279 Yeah, don't talk too soon. We're only halfway across. 55 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,239 No but don't talk too soon. No, can't. It's criminal. 56 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,239 I hope you're right, though. Yeah, well, I think it's looking good. 57 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,879 I think we're going to be all right, boys. If I can get through, you can get through. 58 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,679 Yeah, no worries. You look good from behind. Erm... 59 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:30,959 Oh, my God! 60 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:35,199 Ah, it's good that we got through, big fella. 61 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,399 Yeah, well, you know, first day of the week so be good to get two loads out. One from each side. 62 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,119 Yeah. That's it. I reckon it's gonna be a good day. 63 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,199 I hope you're right. 64 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,159 Hey, boys. Yo. Hi, mate. 65 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,159 Got something a little bit different today. 66 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,319 How do you feel about being over here on your own? 67 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,999 That sounds good to me. I reckon we can handle it. Yeah. 68 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,319 So, your challenge today is to fill that big truck. 69 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,279 Can do. We can do it quicker than you can fill that little truck. 70 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,359 Not sure about that! 71 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,159 That truck's about three times the size of your truck. 72 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,479 Good luck. Let's go. 73 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,199 1,300 kilometres north in Opalton, Queensland. 74 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,399 It's late in the season. 75 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,279 The temperature's hitting 40 degrees. 76 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,959 Flies are in the millions. 77 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:44,679 Very hot. Get a bit sunburnt through the arvo and it's hot work. 78 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,079 We need some colour. 79 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,959 Yay! 80 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,639 The captain's here. Captain Stoney. 81 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,759 Well, we'll get through the ground better now. Oh, yeah. Good timing. 82 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:09,199 Hi! How the are we? How are you going? 83 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:11,279 G'day. How you been? Pretty good. 84 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,759 Good timing, mate. Good timing. Greggy. How's it going? Not bad. 85 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,239 We got colour. We got a bit hanging out here. 86 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,359 Nice trace. Yeah, eh? It's hanging out everywhere. Good colour. 87 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,959 For chopper pilot, Stoney Cain, opal guru Col Duff 88 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,279 and brother and sister Greg and Margie Geran, 89 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:34,119 starting late in the season has made their dig a race against time. 90 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,959 With this ground here, we need to prove it in the next couple of days. 91 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,559 Or... we've gotta drop it cos time's gonna run out on it. 92 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,159 In 14 days, 93 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,279 the team's massive exploration permit in Opalton expires. 94 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,599 Their hopes rest on one, tiny, 25 square metre section. 95 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,239 Plan B, we're calling this, to get some money together. 96 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:57,599 It's nice a shallow ground. 97 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,199 About eight foot deep. There's a bit of nice trace here right on the slip here. 98 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:03,319 This big piece of rock here will come off. 99 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,159 Want a hand? Aw, yeah. I'm not strong enough, Marg. 100 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,479 I'm hoping it'll be low expenses and we'll get some money together 101 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,519 and we'll head over to Middleton way. 102 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,559 Middleton, an outback ghost town. 103 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,639 Population: nine. 104 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,719 200 kilometres from Opalton 105 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,879 and the team's unfinished dream for finding their fortune. 106 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,079 We started out there 30 year ago. 107 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,959 The biggest pocket we got out there was 1994. 108 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,279 That was like two title loads of rock. 109 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,799 Here we are. Been a while, Greggy. 110 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,319 It has been a few years. Bloody-o. 111 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,199 We had a go at it a few years ago there. 112 00:06:42,280 --> 00:06:44,439 We dug what we could before it got too hard. 113 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,519 Look at her, eh? Eh? That's the cap we gotta move. 114 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,159 Yeah, it is a big job here. Pass the hill, move the cap. 115 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,319 But I think it's gonna be worth doing. 116 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,039 And every time that hill was dug, it produced... 117 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,239 Probably worth a million bucks back then. 118 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:08,839 For this mining team, Middleton means a real chance for finding big opal. 119 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:13,159 For Stoney, it'll mean more precious time with family. 120 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,879 You know, the flying, it's good money and it's plenty of adrenaline 121 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:18,959 but it's dangerous too and you know 122 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,199 there's no life with the family when you don't see them. 123 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:29,399 His parents, partner and three-year-old son Oscar, all call Middleton home. 124 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,679 I wouldn't mind doing a bit more mining. 125 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:33,799 Less flying and more time with Oscar. 126 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,439 Instead of chasing a cow around, chase a rock, eh? 127 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,879 It's a nice piece of rolling red flash, we call it. 128 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:43,839 This material's from over Middleton way. 129 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,239 Opalton's got some nice opal, beautiful opal 130 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,519 but we also need different material from different paddocks. 131 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,799 So, we can just get that good range in all our material, 132 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,159 cos that's what our buyers are used to. 133 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,239 To go to Middleton we really need some money. 134 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,759 Pure money... Moving... It's all an expense. 135 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:07,639 To transport their machines and start mining, the team need: 136 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,519 But we're gonna run out of time if we're here too long. 137 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,719 Just two weeks remain before they lose the lease to Plant B. 138 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,999 ..and see what we can find. 139 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:28,074 -== [ www.OpenSubtitles.com ] ==- 140 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,559 And there you go. It's a vertical going back. 141 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,599 Ooh, that's colour. That's much better. 142 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,119 Look at that. You can see the thickness of it now. 143 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,759 Now, if that was full colour, that'd be a stone. 144 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,919 Probably worth 300, 400, more 145 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,999 IF it was full colour. 146 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,999 1,300 kilometres west of Coober Pedy, 147 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,999 opal miner Greg Scully AKA The Bishop, 148 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,199 is working a 15 metre deep open cut mine 149 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,079 with just hand tools. 150 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,239 We've got material in the wall. 151 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,599 Thick material. That thickness is sellable if it goes to colour 152 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:11,999 but I can feel my foot throbbing so I'll go and have a break. 153 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,559 I'm a diabetic. I have been for 20 years. 154 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,559 Because of poor circulation, blood flow, nerve damage, 155 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,559 which happens in extremities when you're diabetic, 156 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,919 your wounds on your foot don't heal quickly. 157 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,999 I think you can probably see the weeping. 158 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,679 It is a diabetic ulcer and it's quite deep. 159 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,599 That's the wound I'm dealing with for six months 160 00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:36,519 and it'll probably be another six months before, 161 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,599 God willing, it will slowly heal. 162 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,479 So, I got some thinking to do. 163 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:45,079 I gotta weigh up bringing in a partner 164 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,719 and halving the potential opal that I've just found 165 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,039 OR putting up with this injured foot 166 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,399 and slowing the whole process down. 167 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,559 It might be time to bring someone in. 168 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,079 It might be time to bring someone in. We got up. 169 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:02,919 All right, Ivan, let her go! 170 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,399 So, I'm what's called a pillar basher, 171 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,639 which is the most inexpensive form of opal mining. 172 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,879 Using explosives is very cost effective... 173 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,759 ..and you go down into the cuts of former mines and you look for trace. 174 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,359 I see colour here very good. Look at the thickness of that. 175 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,599 Thicker than my thumb. I need that just to do what we wanna do in town. 176 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,879 An ordained bishop in the orthodox church, 177 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,799 Greg's dream is to convert an abandoned underground dwelling 178 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,839 into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. 179 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,279 This is why I opal mine. 180 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,639 I'm chasing 100,000 to 200,000 to do this 181 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,719 so if we can come up with $10,000 to $20,000 in opal as a deposit, 182 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,999 this will be the property for the mission. 183 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,199 To relieve some of his workload and help secure property, 184 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,199 The Bishop now has to find a partner. 185 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,479 There's only 1,500 people in the town. 186 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:03,159 A lot of the people here have forgotten what Christianity is. 187 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,039 A lot of ex-prisoners in the town. 188 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,439 People who've done jail time. 189 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,319 The pub here, that I used to work at when I arrived, 190 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,119 was rated the worst pub in south Australia by the police. 191 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:20,679 But I need someone else to help me so we have to consider this within, 192 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,439 pray about it, and make sure that we're making the right choice 193 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,519 so we're not bringing someone in 194 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,719 who's gonna hurt me or... or cause problems. 195 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,399 We should be all right, eh? Yeah. I reckon we can handle digging a load by ourselves. 196 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,839 Good luck, mate. Let's get it. 197 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,719 At their claim 40 kilometres from Lightning Ridge, 198 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,559 the Cheals are competing to see who can be first 199 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,799 to fill their trucks with opal-bearing dirt 200 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,719 for a case of beer and bragging rights. 201 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,079 Rory threw the challenge out. I couldn't resist. 202 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:01,319 I've got a smaller truck to fill and a bigger digger so it was a no-brainer to me. 203 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:07,799 Chris is using a two and a half ton super digger. 204 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:09,879 The biggest digger available. 205 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,919 The opal-bearing dirt is fed to his truck with a blower, 206 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,359 a huge diesel-powered vacuum. 207 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,159 Let's get some gems to show him up. 208 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,759 Rory is operating a smaller two-ton digger. 209 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,959 To clear the dirt, Oscar is using a bogger, 210 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,639 dumping it into their bucket hoist 600 kilogrammes at a time. 211 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,479 The boys and I are a bit competitive and they've been a bit cheeky lately 212 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:40,639 so... it will be nice to get one up on 'em. 213 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,639 Yeah, I think we're all a bit competitive, especially Dad. 214 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,959 He loves getting it over us so... gotta bit of work to do. 215 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,639 We're feeding the pipes a bit too quick. We've got a block somewhere. 216 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,119 Are you on channel? 217 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,559 Yeah, I'm on channel, mate. Have you been up and moved your truck yet? 218 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:11,359 Er, no. No, we're just about to. Oscar's putting on the 16th bogger load. 219 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,439 He'll go up and move it and I'll keep digging. I think my truck's full so... 220 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,239 I'm gonna go up and see what it's like. Righto. 221 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,319 Yeah, look how black it is, you know. Right around too. 222 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,399 It's erm... It's gonna come in. There's no doubt about that so... 223 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,119 I really just wanna get this truck and get out of here. 224 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,439 The only way to the Cheals' opal wash plant 225 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,879 is across the notorious Lake Coocoran, impassable after rain. 226 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,839 Get trapped and they'll have no income for weeks. 227 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:49,879 Hey, boys! 228 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,519 Yeah. My truck's just about full 229 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,079 and it's gonna be flogging down in about half an hour. 230 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,079 We've gotta get out of here. Righto. It's pitch black out there. 231 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,639 All right. No messing around. 232 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,999 You can already hear the thunder, Oscar. 233 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,079 Yeah, it's starting to rain. This is our last bogger. 234 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,239 We've got probably two thirds of a truck. It's a decent sized load. 235 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,639 We'll head up and get out of here as soon as we can. 236 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,199 Dad! What? It's starting to rain, bro. 237 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,279 All right. 238 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:21,479 That's the most important thing getting this truck back to town. 239 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,119 If the truck's stranded here, we can't wash or anything. 240 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,319 You go up and I'll send it up to you guys. 241 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:31,959 Yeah, I don't reckon we wanna hang around here too long but just for the record... 242 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,319 See the truck over there? It's chock-a-block. 243 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:39,119 This truck's only a little bit over half so...that's a carton of beer to me. 244 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,999 Hopefully this level don't dry up. 245 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,639 Hopefully it keeps going and we can go and dig the lease over at Middleton 246 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,279 and we'll get some more opal when we go and do that. 247 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,439 To fund their relocation to the opal-rich fields of Middleton, 248 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,519 200 kilometres away, 249 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,239 the Geran Gang are racing to find opal 250 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,879 on an expiring exploration permit. 251 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,199 They have just two weeks left. 252 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,279 Yeah, we're gonna see if we can pop 253 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,679 the lump out that's got that big face sitting on it. 254 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,679 Sometimes the bit hanging out of the wall 255 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,959 is the last bit that's left and... that's it. 256 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,359 The 1.5 metre opal level is laden with silcrete, 257 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,479 formed when dissolved silica cements sand and gravel together 258 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,279 to create solid rock up to six times harder than concrete. 259 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,319 It's pretty hard to break the stuff out. 260 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,959 It puts a bit of strain on the bucket. 261 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,399 Greg's 40-year-old excavator 262 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,159 is the only machine in the field powerful enough 263 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,719 to extract the opal-bearing rock. 264 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,079 I just hope it don't pack up and fall to pieces. 265 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,599 At the same time, he must be careful 266 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,879 not to destroy any valuable gemstone inside. 267 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,999 I'll tooth that little one first, eh? 268 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,279 That rock is so hard, it's just sort of exploded out. 269 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,039 Did you see where the face went, then? 270 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,479 The really nice bit's still in the wall so it'll be the next bite. 271 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,439 With the rock face remaining in tact, 272 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,719 Greg will have to try and extract the opal with the excavator teeth. 273 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,359 It's the one that was in the wall, Col. 274 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,159 Ooh, lovely. Yeah, we've just brought up this... 275 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:54,199 big rock with the beautiful face and we're just going through it. 276 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,559 We busted it up but that's good to see there's some other stones with it. 277 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,919 Looks like there are some at the back there. 278 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,319 Try through here. That'd be good. 279 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:08,119 Just gotta be real thorough cos they can be hidden all over the place 280 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,399 as well as those ones we can see. 281 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,559 Here's two. Oh, look, here we go. 282 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,079 Yeah, it's just... 283 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:20,119 Anybody home? Yeah, a little bit of stuff. Yeah. 284 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,559 Pretty good. Beautiful. 285 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,679 That'll be all right once we belt her in. Yeah, it looks the part. 286 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,119 Until their permit expires in two weeks, 287 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,399 any opal they find is protected by law 288 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,799 but even in such remote locations, 289 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,719 opal thieves or ratters are on the look out. 290 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,519 A few years back, a sneaky couple got the torch out 291 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,199 and every time the boys finished work in the arvo 292 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,399 and then drove, you know, five Ks home, 293 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,959 they'd slip down there with a torch on dark and go through it all. 294 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,679 That's why we camped on the job. Yeah, best to be. Anything can happen. 295 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:12,319 We're now just entering the property that I'm hoping, in the future, 296 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,999 will become the mission centre for this town. 297 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,439 With an injured foot, The Bishop, and his dog Rocko, 298 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,559 are on the search for a partner to help work his open cut claim. 299 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,399 How are you going? Good, how are you? 300 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,399 Good to see you, mate. How are you doing? 301 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,599 Good, mate. Thanks for coming. No worries. 302 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,239 I... I wanted to have a chat to you, Scotty, about a claim I got. OK. 303 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,559 It's producing some good material 304 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,599 but the trouble is I got a wounded foot and I'm hobbling around a bit. Yep. 305 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:45,079 I was thinking I'd like to have a partner come in and I thought of you. 306 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,359 Well, you know me, I'm quite willing to do work so... 307 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,679 Scott Stevens has lived in Coober Pedy for 12 years, 308 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:55,959 working as a pillar basher both underground and in open cut mines. 309 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,879 I was thinking, would you come in at 20 percent 310 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,199 if you were gonna work with us and do some hard yakka? Would you do 25? 311 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,279 25 percent? 312 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:12,399 I... I don't wanna lose you and I sort of got my back against the wall so er... 313 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,719 If 25 percent has to be, I'm happy to go for 25. I'm willing to work so... 314 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,199 I know you will. All right 25 I said. I'll accept that. It's a deal. 315 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,559 No worries. All right. Let's go. 316 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,439 13 kilometres west of town, 317 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,319 The Bishop is working the last remaining pocket of virgin ground 318 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,399 on his 50 by 100 metre claim, 319 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,119 originally done with heavy machinery by previous owners. 320 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,959 So, this is the work area, Scotty. Yep. 321 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,239 And yesterday I was just clearing above here 322 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,199 and we hit a vertical up in the wall here. 323 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,999 It looks very promising. I'm quite keen to get in there and have a dig, actually. 324 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,679 You could dig that and find money straightaway. Yeah, very true. 325 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,759 They're hunting white seam opal worth up to: 326 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:03,879 Millions of years ago, the opal formed when water deposited silica 327 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,119 into the fault lines of the surrounding sandstone. 328 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,999 It's still got a little bit of red, a bit of green. 329 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,999 Yeah, I can see a little bit of colour. Gotta just keep following it. 330 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,119 And hopefully she turns to full colour. 331 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:28,039 One of the issues with opal mining is trust between partners. 332 00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:32,039 So, even though I've known Scotty for a couple of years, 333 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:36,199 opal is opal so what I'll do today is I'll test him as well. 334 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,959 Scotty? Yeah. Why don't you have a break? 335 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,439 I'm gonna shovel some of this away. No worries. 336 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:43,999 And we'll get you back after you've rested. All right? 337 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,239 In the past, I had a partner who was an out of towner 338 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,039 and he actually stole some opal. 339 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:55,439 All right, here it comes, three pieces. 340 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,559 I'll put 'em where they can be seen. 341 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:03,239 If the stones aren't there and Scotty doesn't say anything, I'll be really disappointed. 342 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,399 It'll mark the end of a friendship 343 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,919 and it'll be a very quick partnership. 344 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,279 Let's hope for the best. 345 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,079 Look at that. Ah, yeah. Beautiful trace. 346 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,999 Middleton's getting a lot closer and easier. 347 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:27,839 I think we're gonna get to Middleton. 348 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,639 For the Geran Gang, the dream of relocating to opal-rich Middleton 349 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,639 is one step closer to becoming a reality. 350 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,599 We just need to keep finding opal and every rock we find, 351 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,039 is one rock closer to where we wanna be. 352 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:47,119 Three kilometres away from the dig is Bald Knob. 353 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,039 The team's permanent camp where fuel and supplies are stored. 354 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:54,159 Fuel pump. Need to pump some fuel. We need to fill up. 355 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,679 Ah, there's a car. 356 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,479 I better go and have a yarn and see who it is. 357 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,759 Might be a tourist lost or something. 358 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,079 Some people just don't read signs. 359 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,799 We've gotta protect our assets. 360 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,919 I've got no idea whose car that is. I don't recognise it. 361 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,919 While we're working, it's 'Stay away.' We like our privacy. 362 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:27,439 In between the dig site and Bald Knob are pockets of fossicking land 363 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,319 where surface opal can be taken by the public 364 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,199 but with no fences, borders are difficult to enforce. 365 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:38,079 You do get a few people that just barge in wherever and just try... 366 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:45,479 See, he's gone now. There's his tracks. He's taken off. 367 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,559 Yeah, a big sus. 368 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,839 Car up there noodling around the Knob, I think. Eh? Eh? 369 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,799 It was pretty strange. It happened quick. I'm up on the top. 370 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,119 I look over and jeez, someone's over there, 371 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,439 I better go and tell them they're on a lease and they were gone. 372 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,039 There's a thief snooping around here. 373 00:23:05,120 --> 00:23:09,079 Too much at stake to let some grub come in and noodling our fortune. 374 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,359 Yeah, Stoney, it was a... white station wagon. 375 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,439 'Could be anyone.' 376 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,959 What are you doing? I found a bit of fossick. 377 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:39,279 Mate, this is eh? Eh? What's that? 378 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:42,839 This is our ground here, mate. This isn't part of the... No. 379 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,599 This is not part of the fossicking area. 380 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,799 The boundary's just down there. About a couple of hundred metres there. 381 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,839 Have I gone past your peg, have I? Yeah, mate, you're on our EP, eh? 382 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:54,919 Oh, sorry, mate. It's all right. 383 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,639 I'm not going to shoot you or anything today but, yeah, keep it in mind, though, eh? 384 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:07,999 Yeah, well, that was just a noodler. Perv. Outside the fossicking area. Lost but... 385 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,559 I'm gonna make sure he gets going back over the boundary where he should be. 386 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,879 Copy, Dad? Yeah, mate. 387 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,359 It's pretty black behind us. I think it's creeping up. 388 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,719 I reckon if we get the after burners on, we might miss it a little bit. 389 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,919 Ah, mate. It's gonna be touch and go, I think. 390 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,839 In New South Wales, the Cheals have 391 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,159 a seven-kilometre journey across Coocoran Lake 392 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,559 to their wash plant with 30 tons of opal dirt. 393 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,639 It's wet through there. 394 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,559 But increasing rain is turning the surface to mud. 395 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,439 Are there any other ways to cross? Nah. 396 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,719 It'll be disappointing if we can't get it across. Oh, mate. 397 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:04,799 Dad would be so frustrated. 398 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,519 Coming up to the lake now, bro. Hopefully it's all right. 399 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,679 Yeah, well, if I think it is, I'm just gonna go. 400 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,639 Righto. We'll follow your lead, bro. 401 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,719 It doesn't look real good out there, does it? 402 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,199 Moment of truth, man. 403 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,439 Are we doing it? We are. 404 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,559 You can see, you can see where the rain is just over there. Yeah. 405 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,639 Can you see how it's coming across the lake to the right of us? 406 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,839 Oh, yeah. Yeah, on both sides of us, man. 407 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,919 They got us surrounded. 408 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,599 It's gonna get greasy for you guys. You need to stay on the track. 409 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,679 Don't get sidetracked. 410 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,359 This black soil, man, it's slippery. Slippery as hell. 411 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,879 You gotta get to the middle before it gets more rain on it. Yeah. 412 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,719 The middle of the lake, marked by a 90-degree bend, 413 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:07,159 is the lowest point of the land and the most dangerous, 414 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,559 as water fills here first. 415 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:11,639 Home stretch here, big dog. 416 00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:21,199 I can see the end. I can see the other end, thank goodness. 417 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,839 Are we good? Are we across? Yeah, nothing can stop us now, mate. 418 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:29,919 Yee-ha. Let's go! Whoo-hoo! Aw, good stuff, bro. 419 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,399 More arse than class, mate, I tell you that. 420 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:33,479 Whoo! 421 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,759 How bad was that? 422 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,879 Feels better now, bro. 423 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,599 How about we just call it a day, eh? 424 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,759 No, that's it. I need to go to the pub, I reckon. All right. 425 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:52,799 The Cheals will wash their 30 tons of dirt overnight in the agi 426 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:57,559 or agitator, filled with water, which will reduce the load 427 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,399 down to one ton of potentially opal-rich rock. 428 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,839 Do you reckon we're in with a pretty good chance or what? 429 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,319 I think. I reckon we'll get something. 430 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,879 Don't you? Yeah, I think so. Hopefully there's a couple of surprises in there. 431 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,199 We're pretty much relying on this agi here and the dirt we've got 432 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:19,319 and that's all we got to keep us going fuel wise and keep food on the table for us. 433 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,399 Here we go, boys. 434 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:31,199 Ooh. Whoo-hoo-hoo! Look at that, boys! 435 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,559 Holy already? You can say that. 436 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,359 Far out! 437 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,439 Off the bat. 438 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,799 How are you going, Scotty? Yeah, we're good, buddy. 439 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,919 Did you have a good break? A bit of a sit down, you know. 440 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,559 All right. I did some shovelling and I'll have a break 441 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,959 and you go and have a turn at the face, eh? No worries. 442 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,919 Don't do any shovelling, just chase that opal, eh? 443 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,799 We'll dig out the wall. Good luck. Thanks, mate. 444 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,599 After a bad experience with a former offsider, 445 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,679 The Bishop is testing whether 446 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,959 potential partner, Scott Stevens, 447 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,159 can be trusted not to pocket any opal he finds. 448 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,239 How are you going, Scotty? Hey, buddy. 449 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,999 Did you found anything? I found a rock. A rock? Yeah. 450 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,919 Nothing else? No, not really. That's it? 451 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,399 We're surrounded by rocks, mate. 452 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,319 I know. A rock. What can I do with a rock? 453 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,399 It's terrible, isn't it? Nothing else, mate? No. 454 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:39,239 Keep looking. Really? Just joking. What? 455 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,399 I found a little bit of opal. Did ya? Yeah. 456 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,559 Aw, you're a good man. Look at that! 457 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,959 Aw, good man. Thank you for being honest, Scotty. You're very welcome. 458 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,839 You're a good partner. God bless you. 459 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,959 Hopefully find more. God willing. 460 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,039 I can trust Scotty without a doubt now. 461 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,159 I could even leave him on this claim by himself 462 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:02,799 and know that if he found opal he'd bring it straight to me 463 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,879 and say, 'Look what we found, partner.' 464 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,039 Let's hope we find some, eh? 465 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,559 I keep mining because this is the only way 466 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,839 I can fund the centre that I wanna run. 467 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,159 I don't want government grants cos they tie you up. 468 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:21,799 I'm an independent churchman so I don't have 469 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,079 a whole church with millions of dollars behind me. 470 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,879 So, the only way I can fund what I wanna do 471 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:31,279 is if we hit a pocket of opal and we can get a start. 472 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:34,639 Hey, Scotty? Yeah. You better come back. 473 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:38,159 Sticking your head under there, there's loose rocks up here that worries me. 474 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,919 Fair enough. There's some chunks up there might hurt you. 475 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,639 The top of the face they're working 476 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,799 is six metres or two storeys above them. 477 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,719 Do you reckon I should try and get rid of some? Yeah, mate. 478 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,919 I think we push those loose ones off the edge 479 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,279 and we'll make this area completely safe, eh? 480 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,599 Just push 'em over, mate. I'll stay here and I'll keep an eye. 481 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,919 One of the dangers of opal mining on the face of rock is the widow makers. 482 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,919 They can come down and even though a few kilos of rock, 483 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,399 if it drops a fair distance, it'll hurt you. 484 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,159 Don't get too close. No. 485 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:19,239 Fall from this height and Scott could be instantly killed. 486 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:22,799 Is it about here? Yeah, mate. 487 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,879 Yep, that's the lot. That's it. 488 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,719 That's a widow maker, that one. 489 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:34,399 There's more to your right. Can you get those loose ones up there? 490 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:36,879 In here? Yep. That's the ones. 491 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:41,639 Very good. 492 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:43,439 All right, matey. Good job. 493 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,919 Come on down. Couple of doozeys up there. 494 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,199 If they'd come down when we're under it, we would have known it. 495 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,279 So, we'll get rid of these rocks 496 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,359 and clear the area and we can do some more work, eh? 497 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:57,919 Hey, Greggy. What, mate? Look at this. 498 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,039 Oh, you found material. Yeah. That's nice material there. 499 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:05,439 It's really, really thick, eh? It's come down from up above. 500 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:07,519 Rocks from heaven. 501 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:14,799 Drive it like you stole it, mate. 502 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,399 There's always a chance of finding better colour. 503 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,359 As long as you got colour trace to follow, 504 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,479 maybe we'll get better colour today. 505 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,039 With only two weeks left on their exploration permit, 506 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,559 the Geran Gang is hoping colour trace 507 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,199 leads to a pocket of high quality opal. 508 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,719 They don't have to be very big stones to be worth a lot. 509 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,519 This here's gonna be a pocket. It's gonna be smiling at us. 510 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,439 Jumping out of the wall saying, 'Here I am! Here I am! Come get me!' 511 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,519 Come to Daddy. 512 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,559 Oh, here. Look at this. This ending. 513 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,479 You got a bit of bright green there and a bit of blue. 514 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,799 We busted this big rock up. There's a bit of colour hanging out. 515 00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:59,999 We just gotta be careful we don't smash it. 516 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,439 A bit of purple and blue today. It's this nice, blue face. 517 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:09,519 So, we'll try to keep it in tact. 518 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,599 So, cutting from the back. 519 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,039 All right, here we go. 520 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,119 Get us excited. 521 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,919 I got a live rock here, Col. Yeah, that's better. 522 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,439 So, that's good to see. All material. 523 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,279 You don't know how much you got till we clean it up, have a look through it, eh? 524 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,399 The boys are gonna bring the rocks up 525 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,919 and we're gonna go through them, wash 'em down 526 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,599 and have a good look so I'm sure there'll be some surprises there. 527 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:39,639 Oh, look at that. 528 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:41,839 Some of these stones that have got a bit on 'em, 529 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:45,119 you don't know what's in the back so you need to run the saw through it. 530 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:54,519 See, there's the line there. That proves that one's running through here. 531 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,599 And I also think it's here too. 532 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:01,199 See? Pull it apart you see what you got, eh? 533 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,279 It's the only way to go. 534 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,559 Yeah. A nice line there. 535 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,719 Looks like we just hit another bar here. 536 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,759 Nice colour here. 537 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,239 Yeah, it's running. Very happy with the result. 538 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,599 So, there's definitely more material in the rock. It's good to see. 539 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:25,039 Plenty of nice blue greens there. Lots of green but no red at all, eh? 540 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:28,079 Remember that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can show the boys. 541 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:31,999 This was earlier. 542 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,039 Holy 543 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:35,959 Nice, eh? Eh? Crikey. 544 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,719 That's a little bloody dance. That's a dance. 545 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,799 Ey! That's beautiful. 546 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,959 The Geran Gang have found boulder opal. 547 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,519 Medium value, blue green in colour 548 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,159 with one stone featuring highly valued and rare red. 549 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,199 What do you reckon, Marg? 550 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,439 Good materials. Not low grade. 551 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,519 Look, I reckon 20, 25. I don't think that's ridiculous. 552 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,599 Whoo! Well done. 553 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,639 Three days of digging have made them an estimated: 554 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,079 towards the $40,000 cost 555 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:18,159 of relocating to Middleton. 556 00:34:18,240 --> 00:34:21,759 Middleton's looking closer but I think we might need a few more bucks yet. 557 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,119 Either way, we're heading in the right direction. 558 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:28,239 When that colour's coming, jumping out at you saying, 'Here I am, look at me.' 559 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:30,319 It's amazing, eh? It's a bloody real rush. 560 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,199 It's a really good start to see some nice colour 561 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,799 and definitely inspired to keep going in that hard ground. 562 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:46,239 Hey, look. 563 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,639 Oh, wow, you got more. 564 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:50,839 Look at that. Unreal. 565 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,959 What about this rock here? More. Oh, wow. Eh? 566 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,759 Got some here. That's nice and thick too, Scotty. Yeah. 567 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:03,359 The Bishop and partner Scott have discovered seam opal in sandstone boulders 568 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:05,439 knocked from the top of the mine wall. 569 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:07,519 Who knows what's inside? 570 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,679 That's thick enough to have... have more. Wow. 571 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:14,119 We gotta tumble this cos there's some good colour there. 572 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,399 Any more? Don't reckon, Greggy. 573 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,799 All right. We'll go and get this out of the rock, mate, and see what we got. 574 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,599 At Greg's home in town... 575 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:28,679 We got our material. We're gonna tumble it. See how much opal's in it. 576 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:31,719 ..the duo load up The Bishop's 20-year-old tumbler. 577 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,119 Two, three, four, five, six... 578 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:39,519 A perforated steel drum that will rotate the opal-bearing rock through water... 579 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,119 We're gonna turn it on and see if we can make some money. 580 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:46,679 ..at 60 revolutions per minute, removing the dirt and clay. 581 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:47,799 Very good. 582 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,879 A lengthy 12-hour process. 583 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:59,599 All right, tip her out, Scotty. Let's see what's there. Yeah. 584 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,839 Give it a knock on the concrete. There you go, see. 585 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:08,239 What have we got? Have a look, brother. 586 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:11,439 Oh, look. Wow. 587 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,279 Man, that's full colour. That's a nice one. A few more here. 588 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:17,519 Look at the size of it. Look. That's not full colour. Check this out. 589 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:19,599 Oh, that's a good size one. Wow. 590 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:21,639 Oh, yes. Look at that. 591 00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:23,919 Yeah. This is excellent, mate. 592 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,239 It's already a couple of ounces at least. 593 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,519 The Bishop has: 594 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,759 Streaked with blue, green and rare red. 595 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:40,759 That's awesome, man. Eh? How good is that? 596 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:44,919 Eh? We'll take it to Ivan and we'll see what he'll pay for it. Absolutely. 597 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:51,839 Stay in the car, Rock. 598 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:54,959 Hey, Ivan. How are you, Greg? Good. How are you? 599 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:57,799 Good, good. We got a parcel of opal. 600 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:02,319 Ah, right. We wanna come and see if we can get a good price. 601 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:07,199 No half million, no? Not today. Not quite. That'll be next week! One day. That's good. 602 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:09,999 Originally from the former Yugoslavia, 603 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,439 explosives expert Ivan 604 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,159 has been an opal miner for 42 years. 605 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:18,159 More recently, branching into buying. 606 00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:22,239 We got a few pieces here, Ivan. There's about eight pieces of opal there. 607 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,159 Virtually fell out of the sky. 608 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:31,079 Very nice. I need plenty more. 609 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:35,239 Well, we're gonna keep looking. How much you want for that? 610 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:40,839 Well, there's about three ounces there, Ivan. I thought we'd get $2,000 for it. 611 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:43,359 I'd be happy with 2,000. 612 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,399 A bit too much for that. Too much? 613 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,519 Too much. 614 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,519 What do you think, Ivan? 615 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,999 What about $1,500? 616 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:58,399 What do you think, Scotty? 1,500? 617 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:02,759 Yeah. Do we take it? Why not? It's our first find. 618 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:06,439 If you can't go any more. No, no any more. Sorry. 619 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:10,119 We'll take it, Ivan. OK. You're a gentleman. Thank you. 620 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:14,879 Thank you. For next time, better ones. You drive a hard bargain. 621 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,439 One, two... We took the money. 622 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:20,639 We don't have much choice as pillar bashers but we're still happy 623 00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:22,599 cos it's what we didn't have this morning. 624 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:26,559 The whole area out there has got material so we're very happy for that. 625 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:28,639 The rock that keeps giving. 626 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:37,679 I'm seeing flashes coming down. Yeah, me too. 627 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,719 There's another one in there somewhere. 628 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,519 Give us a look, mate. Far out. That's gem colour, mate. 629 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,719 On black too. It's broken but there must be another half of it here somewhere. Far out. 630 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:50,999 I better put my glasses on. 631 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:55,679 In their latest tail out, the Cheals have hit a pocket of black nobbies, 632 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:59,199 small pebbles of opal worth up to $43,000 a gram. 633 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:00,319 Oh, well... 634 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:06,839 We got rained out. There's only one truckload so for this week everything's riding on this one. 635 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:11,679 Oh, check this out. 636 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:16,759 Red. Yeah, on grey but like crimson but beautiful. 637 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:23,439 Boys. Check that out. 638 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:28,799 Oh! No way. Red on black, mate. That's what we're looking for. 639 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:32,359 Nice colour, man. That's close to the best colour we've found at our claim. 640 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,239 I know. That's just popping. Beautiful little stone. 641 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:39,159 Could be a few dollars there, bro. That could be what? Like... 642 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:44,479 You know, potentially that could be worth a lot of money. 643 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,999 We'll rub that today. I reckon that'll sell like that. 644 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:50,319 That'll give us the money we need to keep going. 645 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,159 There you go, bro. 646 00:39:55,240 --> 00:39:59,199 In Cheal fashion, we've got... no money so we've gotta get rid of something quick. 647 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,159 All right. Are we gonna go straight for the jugular or what? 648 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:06,679 Rubbing the opal to remove excess sand and rock 649 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:10,959 can double the value of the gem but it can also destroy it. 650 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:13,559 The colour they want to see is red. 651 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:16,039 The rarest and most valuable. 652 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:20,959 I like the look of that red poking out the top if we can get rid of that sand. 653 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:25,039 If it cleans up... we're laughing. 654 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,079 And if it doesn't... it's gonna be heartbreaking. 655 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:37,279 Come on. Come on. Just clean up. 656 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:45,559 Yeah. Sand might beat it, boys. 657 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:51,919 I might leave it as a rough rub and see what we can get for it. 658 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,359 You don't wanna risk it with the sand? 659 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:58,839 Well, we can rub down on it but once it's gone, it's gone, you know. 660 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,959 If we get offered ten grand for it, I reckon we should take it. You reckon? 661 00:41:05,240 --> 00:41:07,119 Yep. 662 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:09,199 The Cheals have: 663 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:17,799 It's been partly rubbed with specks of sand still remaining. 664 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,079 Let's do it, then, boys. Let's go. 665 00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:30,079 Chris is calling on one of his most trusted buyers. 666 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:35,599 In a century-old mine converted into an opal retail outlet... G'day, mate. 667 00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:39,519 ..is miner of 25 years and store manager, Trevor Hudson. 668 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:43,359 Two boys. How's it going? Rory, Oscar. Still better looking than the old man! 669 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,119 That's not hard to do! That's not hard to do! 670 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:50,479 Erm, so, look, we got a little piece I thought you might be interested in. 671 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:52,359 Just tailed it out today. Yeah. 672 00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:55,599 Just lightly rubbed it, OK. There's a little bit of sand here and there. 673 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:57,719 I didn't really wanna go any further with it. 674 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:00,399 I want you to have a look. You've always been honest with me 675 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:02,759 and always been fair. There's always a first time! 676 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:11,039 Beautiful. I'm a little bit concerned with that sand spot. 677 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:16,359 I'm not in the sand removal business. 678 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:22,319 If that wasn't there, you're looking at around 18, 20. 679 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,319 Mm. 680 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:26,399 15? 681 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:29,999 Take it around, shop it around? 682 00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,479 Yep. Let's see if it gets you better. 683 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:34,639 Give you a standing offer of 15. 684 00:42:34,720 --> 00:42:38,159 15 grand? 685 00:42:38,240 --> 00:42:39,719 Got two days. Two days. 686 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:41,959 Two days to shop you. 687 00:42:42,040 --> 00:42:46,959 I think, you know, I haven't got the means to cut it. 688 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:49,479 It's a good standing offer and... 689 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:53,599 I think we'd be happy enough to take it. 690 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:57,399 Thank you, sir. No worries. Thanks, boys. 691 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,359 Thanks very much. Cheers. Appreciate it. 692 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:03,599 Thank you. No worries. Thanks very much. See you. 693 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:07,719 A great result. I'm so relieved. The boys have made a bit of money 694 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:10,279 and we've paid our costs just in that one stone. 695 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:12,359 So, yeah, really, really happy. 696 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:15,479 We got that 15 to keep us going for now. 697 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,399 Hopefully, that's just the tip of the iceberg. 698 00:43:19,720 --> 00:43:22,759 The pressure's off Dad a bit now. We can worry a bit less about money. 699 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,519 I think we're gonna smash our season target out of the park. 700 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,639 Subtitles by Deluxe 701 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:51,999 # Money # 702 00:43:55,480 --> 00:43:57,479 # Money # 702 00:43:58,305 --> 00:44:58,585 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm