"Outback Opal Hunters" Trouble Underground

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,959 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,719 I wanna see sparks coming off the end of that shovel. 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,319 ..it's a trial by fire for the Bushmen's 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,719 new mining recruit... Hard on the gut. Yeah. 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,159 ..forced to work under a treacherous, unstable roof. 6 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,919 It's critical now. He can roll it over. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,679 The Tarantos' youngest member is in the hot seat 8 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:24,599 of a 47-tonne dozer... 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:26,679 JACK: If he's dug too deep, I'll get caught. 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,799 ..while their overworked excavator grinds to a halt. 11 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,399 I can't sluice. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! 12 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:34,639 We're in big trouble. We can't dig. 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,639 OSCAR: Hose is busted. 14 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,919 The Cheals' season is on a knife-edge 15 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,639 as their machinery is hit with crippling breakdowns. 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,999 That's been the story of the year, really. Just nothing but breakdowns. 17 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,399 Righto, that's the end of that. Shored the axle off.Oh, . 18 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:52,359 Without an agi washing the opal, we can't dig. 19 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,159 It could put us out for the season. 20 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:02,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 21 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,679 Well, this is a two-man team. It's old Les. 22 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,879 He's the good-looking one out of the crew. 23 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,719 He probably does the majority of the real hard graft 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,879 on the end of that pelican pick. 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,279 Our life is controlled by a little colourful stone. 26 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,679 Pipe's blocked, Les.LES: Yeah. 27 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,439 This pipe's constantly blocking up, so you're constantly walking up 28 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,479 and forward picking that big heavy pipe up. 29 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,319 It's a bit tough on the old fella with him not being 100%. 30 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,279 I don't want to give him too much. 31 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:58,959 Yeah, I'll get it. Look out. 32 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,119 Every bend is getting that mark of bloody dirt on it, 33 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,159 and it builds up until the pipe's blocked. 34 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,919 Well, yeah, that's what's happening all right. 35 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:12,559 Hey. 36 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,839 I don't really like sticking me hand up in here. 37 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:22,199 That's how Les busted the end of his finger off. 38 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,039 He had to get a big lump of wire stuck 39 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,279 down the middle of it to hold it together. 40 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,519 I didn't think I'd get caught like that, but, yeah, I did. 41 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,119 What can you do? 42 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,039 I stuck me hand up there and he throttled off. 43 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:39,719 I heard the rock coming. 44 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:44,799 It hit me across there and I thought, 45 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,919 'Oh, yeah, I'll wrap it up.' 46 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,639 But we cleaned it up and had a look at it, and I thought, 47 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,839 'I better go and get some doctor to have a look at it.' 48 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:05,359 I just done the same thing. 49 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,119 Just hurt a little bit. 50 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,759 The Bushmen, 74-year-old Les Walsh and Rod Manning 51 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,159 are on a hunt for black opal, 52 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,439 worth up to $43,000 a gram. 53 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,879 We need big find of opal 54 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,159 to get the old bloke a decent retirement. 55 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,359 This year I've gotta do it cos I don't think 56 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,039 he's got another year in him. 57 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:32,999 Righto. You ready?Yeah. 58 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,239 I know I'm slowing down. Whoa! 59 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:39,999 Back-pain been a big crook lately. 60 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,679 That'll do. One minute. 61 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,719 Spinal cord's pinching nerves, and when it catches, it goes snap, 62 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,999 and there's a hell of a pain goes through you. 63 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,719 Just clear crystal. 64 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,239 Yeah. Don't worry about it, Les. 65 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,039 It's not looking terribly exciting mate, is it? 66 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,799 Goes from, you know, looking brilliant to looking bad 67 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,519 in one swipe of the digger. 68 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,719 That might do us.OK. 69 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,519 We'll be sitting around having a few beers tonight, 70 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,359 and it's gonna get cold, and we don't like being cold. 71 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:37,679 Sooner or later you get too old for this. 72 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,839 While I'm not real flash underground because of the hip and the back. 73 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,999 I don't want to work with anyone but Les, 74 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,839 but the time comes, you know. 75 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,519 I got to go to the quack tomorrow 76 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,319 and see if they've found out anything. 77 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,639 I don't... I don't want to kill him. 78 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,119 That'll do. That's enough to keep us warm. 79 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,719 What have you got there, titchy boy? 80 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,239 Yeah, Barry, old dog. Mm? 81 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,039 We're all gonna face it one day. 82 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,439 Well, start a fire the Bushman's way, ay, Les? 83 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,599 Here we go now. That's how you light a fire. 84 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,599 None of this rubbing sticks together, mate. 85 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,599 How you battling under there, Les? 86 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,919 I don't want you to...Die? 87 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,679 Die underground, cos then I have to fill the hole in. Well, that's right. 88 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,479 If it's hurting you, then we'll try and get someone else 89 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,679 to come along and give us a bit of a hand. 90 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,719 I know a bloke that's coming up this way. 91 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,599 Oh, he's 50 or 60. 92 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,999 Sixty? I reckon we got enough geriatrics, don't you? 93 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,239 We ain't got no-one else at the moment, mate. 94 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,159 If he's willing to have a crack, we'll give him a crack at it. 95 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,039 Well, I suppose I'll have to share. 96 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,719 I ain't giving someone half of your percentage or mine 97 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,679 until they prove themselves. 98 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,919 Jack! I'll get you in here, Jack, 99 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,559 and push this ramp out so we can get the car down here 100 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,319 and just lift it up and I'll get the dirt away 101 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:22,999 from the front of your blade. 102 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,239 Will you start from up here and push down? 103 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,719 No, no, I don't want him to push down on that ground there, Micky. 104 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,959 Yeah.Cos there's level there. That'll be a test for you, dude. 105 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,639 That's not gonna be easy. 106 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,639 JACK: They've set me some pretty hard tasks. 107 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,999 I gotta come in on the angle 108 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,039 and make it tilt my blade that way 109 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,559 so I make myself, dad a ramp when he comes down to dig the level. 110 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,799 Fill your blade up and then fold it up. 111 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,799 They're both different the way they speak, 112 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,999 but they have... They do have good advice 113 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,839 cos obviously they've been mining a lot longer than me. 114 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,719 And I'm only, like, 16. 115 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,159 As a kid growing up, 116 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,199 he always was on the machines operating. He loves it. 117 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:06,119 It's not easy to push up a ramp. 118 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,639 He can get caught on it and twist himself around 119 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,399 so he can roll it over. 120 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,199 I allow him to do things like this 121 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,719 cos I know it's the only way you're gonna learn. 122 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,239 I've never really pushed a ramp, and I have a feeling 123 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,879 that if he's dug too deep, I'll get caught. 124 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,719 The Tarantos, Joe, fiancee Tash, son Jack, 125 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,679 brother Micky and his wife, Viviane, 126 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,119 are on a mission to recapture the glory days, 127 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,799 when Taranto's Valley was a world-renowned 128 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,759 million dollar opal field. 129 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,199 My dad and brother when they hit the opal, 130 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:46,879 I was seven years old. 131 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,479 I just remember pancake boulders coming out everywhere. 132 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:58,679 But the family's opal ambitions were almost destroyed 30 years ago 133 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,719 after older brother Joe suffered horrific injuries 134 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,479 in a car crash. 135 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,919 I lost everything because of the accident. 136 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,639 On the first impact, I flew out the windscreen. 137 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,959 I had problems stringing a sentence together 138 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:14,639 for the first five years. 139 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,479 It's been a long haul, 140 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,879 but life's out here to test us, I suppose. 141 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,559 Last month in their remote camp, 142 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,599 hundreds of kilometres from medical help... 143 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,279 Don't feel good. 144 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,239 ..the Tarantos, were struck down by illness... 145 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,119 OK, just do the 408. 146 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,039 ..cutting short their hunt for boulder opal. 147 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:44,279 Boulder opal is the strongest, it's the brightest. 148 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,679 When you're actually pulling it out of the ground, 149 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,399 it's just beautiful. 150 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,159 The best opal I've ever found in my life. 151 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,039 Just perfection. 152 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:56,679 That's all we got so far. 153 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,439 VIVIANE: Mick and I have big goals. 154 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,719 Don't spend it all at once. Oh, man, I want more than that. 155 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,999 Firstly, we have to go through some IVF process 156 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:07,879 and try to grow our family. 157 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,679 I think it's a matter of time and a little bit more patience 158 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,879 and hard work. 159 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,119 I need to find opal cos I want to hit it 160 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,799 like we did back in the day. 161 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,719 And I'm not gonna miss out on this big find this time. 162 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,639 We mine here, we cut it, we process it, 163 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,119 and then I bring it into the shop. 164 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,359 We opened this shop about two years ago. 165 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,919 People love Joe, and the shop just hit off. 166 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,519 Cos of the cost involved in mining boulder opal, 167 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,239 one day you could be rich, the next day you're broke. 168 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:46,399 Having my mining operation running at full steam 169 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,159 would be a dream. 170 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,319 I can't sluice. I don't know what's going on. 171 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,039 It feels like it's jumping. 172 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,079 Hang on. I'll come up and have a look. 173 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,359 I'll shut it down. No, no, don't shut it down. 174 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,079 Leave her running? Yeah, just lift up the bucket. 175 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,759 Tell me what it's doing. 176 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,919 Every time I lift it...Yeah? ..it won't go across. 177 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,999 Righto. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! 178 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,119 Anything? 179 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,639 I can feel metal fibres. 180 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,239 Feels like there's a tooth missing on that pinion cog. 181 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,239 So that cog spins the whole machine around. 182 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,999 It's, erm, not a good thing. We're in big trouble. 183 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:44,879 We're knackered. 184 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:49,079 We can't shovel the dirt out, we can't dig. We're stranded. 185 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,839 OSCAR: There's little bits of orange and red here.CHRIS: Yeah. 186 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,639 A bit more around the corner here. 187 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,039 It's like it's all through here up here as well. 188 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,079 RORY: It's good to see a bit of trace.It is. 189 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,399 The first time we've seen trace in a long time. 190 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,479 It's good-looking dirt with those white bands through it.Yeah. 191 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:21,639 Buster, get out of it. 192 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,199 Hose is busted. This one here, I think. 193 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,679 Just blew a digger hose. Just got going, saw a bit of colour. 194 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,799 That's been the story of the year. Just nothing but breakdown. 195 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,879 Fair dinkum. Can't really catch a break, can we? 196 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,599 We can't continue cos we'll lose all our oil, 197 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:46,679 so that's the end of the digging for today. 198 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,119 Oh! 199 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,759 After a successful season last year, 200 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,759 the Cheals have sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars 201 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,039 into mining equipment and a new opal business, 202 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,719 with Rory and Oscar stepping up 203 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,159 to manage online sales and marketing. 204 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,079 OSCAR: Look what arrived last night. New work shirt for you. 205 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:11,999 We had a great back end of last season. 206 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,039 But this season so far has been an absolute train-wreck. 207 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,399 New set of teeth and re-drill the hole. That's not a five-minute job. 208 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,199 Breakdown after breakdown. 209 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,319 Our season total is 150,000. We're nowhere near that. 210 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,479 The pressure's on now more than ever. 211 00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:28,639 If ever there's a time we need a pay, it's now. 212 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,639 We haven't covered costs for six months. 213 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,359 The hose has blown that drives the digger, 214 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,559 but this is where it's split right behind that fitting. 215 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,399 If we get it into town, I might be able to salvage it. 216 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,159 I'm over it to tell you the truth. 217 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,399 Had our arse kicked all year. Nothing but breakdowns and no opal. 218 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,439 RORY: Oscar and I have been calling dad the Wizard. 219 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,279 He's picked up a bit of a knack of just being able to fix anything. 220 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,999 OSCAR: When we got colour looking at us out of the face like we do down there, 221 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,759 the last thing we want to be worrying about is digger hose. 222 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:10,759 We got the old reusable fitting here, 223 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:12,719 and she's a bit pitted, a bit worn. 224 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,719 Got a new crimp-on fitting, so that's what we're gonna run with. 225 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,679 Yeah, so it's just crimped that barrel onto that fitting, 226 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:26,519 so she's nice and tight now, 227 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,599 and we should be able to get back to work. 228 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,519 Fits like a glove.So far so good. 229 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:40,639 We won't actually know till we turn it on 230 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,079 and it builds up that pressure to see if it holds. 231 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,159 Righto, stand back. Happy?Yeah. Well... 232 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,119 Go again. Righto. That's it.Start bogging out. 233 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,119 Dad's always looking for ways to challenge Rory and I. 234 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,079 We're taking out that pillar and just popping as we go. 235 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,519 It's the first time they've taken a pillar, 236 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,319 but they know what to do. 237 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,919 I've got all the confidence in the world in them. 238 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,999 It can be challenging, digging a pillar 239 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,319 cos there's props and other obstacles in the way. 240 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,999 Oh, . 241 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,519 Did the hose on the prop. 242 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,359 I've whacked one of the hoses on the side of the digger on, er, the prop. 243 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,199 It's frustrating. 244 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:40,119 That is metal, and it's supposed to be attached onto there. 245 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,439 Just can't really seem to catch a break at the moment. 246 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,719 Well, I reckon one more minute and he's going to be late, Les. 247 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,319 Yeah. Don't like these late people. Not on your first day. 248 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,759 He's not late yet, so I'll give him another minute. 249 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,039 With Les' health deteriorating, 250 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,039 the Bushmen are trialling retiree miner Guy 251 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,919 to help Rod in their dangerous claim. 252 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,279 I suppose I am probably gonna be a bit tough on anyone 253 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,719 that can come in to replace Les. 254 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,159 How you going, Guy?Hey, Les. 255 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,159 How you going, mate? Guy, is it? 256 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,119 Good to see you. Rod. Pleased to meet you. 257 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,479 Les, tells me he's roped you in to give us a hand, mate. Looking forward to it, mate. 258 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:28,919 I love this area Spent a lot of time 259 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,839 in the '60s and '70s up here with my family. 260 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,239 My dad had claims at Butterfly and and Pony Fence. 261 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,119 Just be careful getting on. We don't want to kill you on your first day. 262 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,759 And if you fall off the ladder, we just fill the hole in 263 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,319 and then, 'Guy who?' 264 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,639 This is a long way down this hole, though. 265 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:49,879 I got a couple of years till I get the pension, 266 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,479 so I came up here hoping to find a bit of opal, get down a hole. 267 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:58,079 Yeah, that's a climb. But, wow, look at this. 268 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,079 That's incredible. The amount of earth they've moved here. 269 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,959 This is the face. Guy?OK. 270 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:07,959 The job application's not the best. 271 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,639 You can go for months and months without making a quid. 272 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,759 There's a big possibility that you could kill yourself. 273 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,239 You just got to remember on that side of the digger 274 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,079 I can't see anything.OK. 275 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,519 So be always mindful I can swing it that way, 276 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,799 and if I hit you, it'll hurt. Yeah, yeah. I'll stay out of there. 277 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,039 Potentially, you can become a millionaire overnight. 278 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,319 Today's plan is to shift dirt, not kill Guy. 279 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,439 I've just retired. I don't want to be dead yet. 280 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,079 And find a big patch of colour. 281 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,719 But you got to be really dedicated to live this life. 282 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,839 One of the problems with the old fella is 283 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,239 he doesn't like giving up his pelican pick or his shovel. 284 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,239 Les! Get Guy doing that. 285 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,359 LES: Let the machine do the work. 286 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,079 Guy, just make... Make that sort of go in. 287 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:05,919 That's it. 288 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,239 What I'm thinking, mate, 289 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,519 it's only gonna come down a foot or two in front. 290 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,559 Whoo-hoo! What the was that? Far out. 291 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,199 Sounded like a collapse. That's what it sounded like. 292 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,999 Could have been over the next mine. 293 00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:39,839 JOE: Ah, look at that. 294 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,799 Yeah, look at these broken teeth. That's why he can't spin. 295 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,599 So that cog turns a 40-tonne excavator around, 296 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,999 and he can't shovel the dirt out without that mechanism working. 297 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:52,519 You know, if you cannot repair this, 298 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,799 you're just not gonna ever find opal, 299 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,559 and you're gonna be in a big disaster. 300 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,799 OK, that's our last bolt. There you go. 301 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,439 Pull her out, and let's see what the damage is. 302 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,679 Jack, you want to grab this? 303 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,159 Might have to grab the... 304 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,639 So he got it out. She looks proper rooted, ay? 305 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,839 There's a half a tooth missing here, 306 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,279 and there's another bit tooth missing there. 307 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:23,079 Let's check to see if we've got another one. 308 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,279 Because I've been in the industry for so long, 309 00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:27,839 I've always had a spare machine in the paddock. 310 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,959 That's the only way you can run this operation. 311 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,279 To dig now, the Tarantos' need to cannibalise 312 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:37,119 their 40-year-old retired excavator. 313 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,199 All right, let's see if it's on there. Let's have a crack. 314 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,319 We were very fortunate that we had an old relic. 315 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:51,559 From what I can see off this side of it, it's got all its teeth. 316 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:53,959 Oh, good. But I can't see the back end of it. 317 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,039 Right, here you go, Micky. Grab. 318 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,719 Let me have a look at it. There's a chip there. 319 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:07,759 That's, that's in good nick, Micky. 320 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,439 Phew, let's put her in and get some opal, ay?Yeah. 321 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,079 Micky and I have got a lot of history. 322 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,879 We've worked together for since he was, like, 13, 323 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,759 out here on the opal fields. 324 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:25,439 It goes in this way. 325 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,919 I'd like to see Micky, you know, get ahead in life. 326 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,479 With his wife being ill, 327 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,759 I feel I've got to provide for him as well 328 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,759 and make his life a lot easier. 329 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,959 Are we good to go there, bro? 330 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,439 Fingers crossed, ay. 331 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,479 Make sure you've got the revs up. 332 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:04,159 Thick here. She's starting to make a bit of potch. 333 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,519 It's nearly colour. Very close. 334 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,519 Boulder opal can be found on the surface 335 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,919 or up to 30m down. 336 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,479 It forms over millions of years when silica-rich water 337 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,879 has become trapped in cavities within ironstone rocks. 338 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,399 Oh, it's all in that area there. 339 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,759 Great looking rock. Great looking voids. 340 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,359 Just all the voids were empty. It's a bit disappointing. 341 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,599 The trace is not getting stronger. It's getting a little bit weaker. 342 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,639 Is there anything good in here? No. 343 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,039 Gee, it looked like opal, ay? Yeah, I know. 344 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:41,919 It's pretty heartbreaking. 345 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,999 Broke a lot of rocks. 346 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,319 God, break more rocks than you can imagine on this hole. 347 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:52,439 Shut her down, bro. I'm over it. 348 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:59,679 Yeah. I think you're right, mate. Let's, erm, enough is enough. 349 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,119 You build your hopes up and then you get let down. 350 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,239 It's, er, a horrible feeling. 351 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,599 RORY: Chris! 352 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:18,319 What happened? 353 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,159 I've done one of the hoses on the side of the digger. 354 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,159 Are the fittings broken? Snapped. 355 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,039 Yeah. Oh, well, just have to fix it. The load's nearly full. 356 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:28,239 Can we take that and put it in the agi so then 357 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,959 at least we go some spinning while we're stuffing around? 358 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,679 Yeah, may as well do that. Yous can start feeding it in, 359 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,519 and I'll go to town and fix this hose.Right. 360 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,479 The Cheals' agitator washes the opal bearing dirt 361 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,159 and is made up of decades' old parts 362 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,559 from end-of-life cement mixers and trucks. 363 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,159 Righto, that's the end of that. 364 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,879 Shore the axle off.RORY: Oh. 365 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:08,919 Something's happened here and it changed, 366 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,479 jumped a link or whatever, and it's shored the axle off 367 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,999 on the drive, so that's us. We're down now. 368 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,199 Won't get a tail out this week. Spewing. 369 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,719 That could be our season honestly. Mm. Well, it could be, mate. 370 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,239 I just can't keep pouring money in and not getting nothing out. 371 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,319 We know we've got opal in this load, too. 372 00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:30,759 It's frustrating. Really frustrating. 373 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,079 If it's not repairable, then I'm gonna have to try 374 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,359 and get another diff. It's a major job. 375 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,959 Like the other ones past couple of days 376 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:39,879 have been relatively quick fixes, 377 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,639 although they're inconvenient, but this is this is a season ruiner. 378 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,999 No. It's only gonna come down a foot or two in front of... 379 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,239 Whoo-hoo! What the was that? 380 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,879 Sounded like a collapse. LES: That's what it sounded like. 381 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:05,959 This one next door it is a dangerous mine. 382 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:10,439 Erm, I worked that years ago. I'll just check down here. 383 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,039 I can't see any problems. 384 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:16,799 I don't think it could have been a collapse there, Les, 385 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:18,879 cos there's no dust.No. 386 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,839 I don't know what that was but it all looks OK. 387 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:23,559 When we hear a noise like that, 388 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:25,919 we usually take off straight to the escape ladder, 389 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,959 but we never saw dust or anything, so we know nothing came down. 390 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,919 Well, I had to go into the doctor this week and get a check-up. 391 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,839 Come on. Move back. Come on buddy. It's OK. 392 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,439 He'll go and see the doctor but he, he won't tell me 393 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,159 what's actually wrong with him. 394 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,639 Righto, Guy. Head down, arse up. 395 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:52,039 You're doing the work of two now, mate. 396 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:55,479 I want to see sparks coming off the end of that shovel. 397 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,399 With Les' health failing, 398 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,879 Bushman Rod is relying on retiree miner Guy 399 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,559 to clear excess sandstone from the mine floor. 400 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,799 GUY: I hope I can keep up with the pace without Les here. 401 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,679 He's not a Les, but he's help. 402 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:17,559 Shovelling like that, you know, like, that's hard on the gut, yeah. 403 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,039 Hang on, Guy. 404 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:23,599 I'm just pulling the top out, see if there's anything in the roof. 405 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,079 It's a bit slabby, so it's likely to fall down in a big sheet. 406 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,159 I've been knocked out a couple of times down here. 407 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,159 Whoa! 408 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,519 JOE: Tash and I have been together for 12 years. She's been a godsend. 409 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,319 She's really pulled me through a lot of stuff. 410 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,239 Oh, you've done heaps of work since I was here last. 411 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,879 By finding opal, it allows us to have a wedding... 412 00:24:57,960 --> 00:24:59,559 It looks deep from here. 413 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,359 ..before her parents pass away. They're getting old. 414 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,879 I'll show you where the faults are in the wall here. 415 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,919 This ground looks like the ground alive. 416 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,159 That baby poo sandstone. 417 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,759 Yeah. And there's a really strong level below it. 418 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:15,959 Then that's good. What are you worried about? 419 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,039 Have you checked any of that level under it? 420 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:19,759 Not getting any opal. No. 421 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,039 No, but it could be on the level under it.Yeah. 422 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:24,119 Well, just follow it down. 423 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,959 We've gone to this much effort to get to this point, 424 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,599 but if it's not going to be here on this next level, 425 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,039 I think that'll be the end of the mine. 426 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:39,999 One more punt and then that's it. 427 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,559 When you're on trace like this... 428 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,399 ..it only takes one rock in this country. 429 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,399 JACK: Dad!Yeah? Colour right in there, Dad. 430 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,639 Where? In that rock right there. Green. 431 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,919 Oh, that's nice. What have you guys got? 432 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,559 Bring it in the sun, mate. I think the one.Good one? 433 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:10,839 Yeah. Green lines and stuff. 434 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,239 The green line and it's travelling through here. 435 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,119 It's a big face. Er, it's a good piece. 436 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:22,239 Good colour there, Joe. Yeah, er, yeah. It's the other half. Well, that's thicker. 437 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,719 Yeah, it's running right through. Right through. Hey, hey! 438 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,599 That's nice. Is is that all that was in it? 439 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,279 It's great. That's good. 440 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:35,559 Now we're talking a couple of thousand dollars. 441 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,639 Joe has been cutting opal for 20 years, 442 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,159 increasing their worth over just selling rough stones. 443 00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:47,879 But one slip with the diamond-tipped blade 444 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,279 could destroy the gem. 445 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:53,399 Revealing the opal and seeing where it runs 446 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,719 could increase the value by tenfold. 447 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:59,999 This is the one we want to cut. To be on the safe side, 448 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,279 I can cut it through there. 449 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,639 See the green here, you can see it through there. 450 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:14,479 And then I followed the seam right around, see, here. 451 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,199 Can you see the greens in that thin, thin line? 452 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,159 So now that's ready to be put on a little 453 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,319 6-inch saw blade and face. 454 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,159 So I'll put the good ones in this bucket. 455 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,559 We're making money. Make it all worthwhile. 456 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:36,679 160km from their camp is the Tarantos' opal shop, 457 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,039 including a specialised cutting room. 458 00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:41,359 We'll bring them down here on the 6-inch blade, 459 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,119 and then I might be able to put it through this splitter, 460 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:45,919 and we might be able to split it open, 461 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,599 so you can see what's in it. 462 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,759 You can see the colour here is nice greens. 463 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:04,439 The problem is that lines are joining on to that line. 464 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,839 That's gonna prevent it from splitting open. 465 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,999 So we've got to somehow get that to join, 466 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,399 to that join without cutting too much colour away. 467 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,119 It's been a week from hell. Set back after set back. 468 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,839 What snapped? Well, see all those studs? 469 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,559 The chain's grabbed, I'd say. I don't I don't know. 470 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:40,359 Man, she's jammed in there hard. Erm... 471 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:43,839 Without an agi washing the opal, 472 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,039 we can't dig, so this just stops all production. 473 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,559 The best trace we've seen all year. Oh, I know. 474 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,039 We've moved about 600 tonne of dirt. 475 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,519 Trouble is, it's in the barrel and it's wet now. 476 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,399 Mm.We've got to fix it to get it out. 477 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,119 If I can just get the hub out, clean it all up and weld it back on. 478 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:04,839 And whack it back on. 479 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,079 Yeah, but I don't know whether I can fix it or not. I can only try. 480 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,039 Rory and I call Dad, the Wizard for a reason. 481 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,479 When we have breakdowns and Dad doesn't know how to fix it... 482 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,399 That's that bit of it. 483 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,159 ..you can see the cogs turning, 484 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,919 thinking of different ways that we could fix the problem. 485 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,839 So stick this in the lathe, stick the hub in the lathe, 486 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,239 clean it up and try and get it all running true. 487 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,719 We might be able to get out of trouble. 488 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,599 We had good luck last year, 489 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,679 and this year is just what whatever we've done just been a battle. 490 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,719 When you get your good times, you're glad that you don't give up, 491 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,239 but it's really hard to sort of just keep digging deep 492 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:49,319 and getting your arse kicked constantly 493 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,279 and, erm, you know, have no money coming in. 494 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,519 It's really frustrating. 495 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,599 Chris' only hope to wash the 20 tonnes of opal dirt 496 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,719 is to weld a rim, known as a flange, 497 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,239 onto the hub that drives the agitator. 498 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:11,959 Dad and I worked into the night, 499 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,879 so fingers crossed that everything's sweet with the machine. 500 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:19,239 Righto. The flange broke up the hub that drives the agitator, 501 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,599 so we've turned all that back in the lathe and cleaned it up. 502 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:24,319 I think we should give that a go. 503 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,799 We've had a shocking season, no doubt about it. 504 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,679 We're gonna try and turn it round. We're not gonna give up. 505 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:40,759 Everything's riding on the next hour. 506 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:43,359 This could put us out, 507 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,159 and it could put us out for the season if it doesn't work. 508 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:56,519 JOE: This thin line here 509 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:58,839 I've got to get it to join into this thicker line. 510 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:00,559 That's where it's holding together. 511 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,039 It's not gonna let go if I don't get it to, erm, join on. 512 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:06,719 You know, I think it's gonna split. 513 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,719 With thousands of dollars and man-hours invested 514 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,919 in a massive open cut mine, 515 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,759 Joe Taranto is attempting to split one of the first pieces 516 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:19,199 of sellable opal for this season. 517 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:22,959 Nearly got it. 518 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,039 It's ready to go. This is the exciting part. 519 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,399 So this is my little splitter device I've invented. 520 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,879 What it does, it presses down on the opal itself. 521 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,079 It doesn't work every time, but... 522 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:50,799 See that. There you go. 523 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,559 That's how you split an opal. So that's a bonus. 524 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:57,279 Whoo-hoo! 525 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:01,759 In the rough, cos it's thin, you'd be lucky to get $200 for it. 526 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,359 Now that we've actually split it open, 527 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,119 it's worth at least a 1,000. 528 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:12,559 The Tarantos have boulder opal in the rough and partially cut. 529 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,319 One stone has been split 530 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:18,599 revealing attractive blues and flashes of red. 531 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,119 All up, the parcel weighs 10kg. 532 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,439 If there's anything that I really dislike 533 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,479 about the industry is selling. 534 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:28,599 It's just that bartering and fighting 535 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,319 for what you think it's worth, 536 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,279 cos you put so much effort and hardship into it. 537 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,919 When you see someone so passionate about something, 538 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,479 it's beautiful to be able to support those dreams. 539 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:52,119 I mean, that in itself it's nice. Split's well.Yeah. 540 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:54,919 And we got that other part of speccies there, too.Yeah. 541 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,959 So I'm saying three. So we'll start at six.Six. Nice. 542 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:02,439 We got Nick coming in. Nick's one of our opal buyers. 543 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,079 We gave him some really good parcels in the beginning, 544 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:06,759 and he's just kept coming back. 545 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,039 I like the rough opal. I like the fact that it's raw 546 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:11,999 and it's still got plenty of work to do. 547 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:13,999 I think that's the joy of cutting the opal, 548 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:15,799 to see what actually comes out of it. 549 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,199 But buying the rough is a risk cos you don't see what's inside. 550 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:23,399 Hey, Nick. Good to see you again. Excellent. Good to see you. Hey, Viv, how are you?Hi. 551 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,879 We split one piece of it. Here's the other piece.Yep. 552 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,319 So it splits well. See how thin that line is?Yeah. 553 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,399 Even those thin lines are splitting. So we're looking at six. 554 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:34,799 Six?Yeah. All right. Let's see how we go. 555 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:41,639 It's, erm, it's sort of tracey, isn't it? 556 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,999 Yeah, some colour there. Definitely some colour... 557 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:45,679 Yeah...on these veins. 558 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,279 All right, ladies. So you're saying six. 559 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,919 To be honest, cos I don't think that... 560 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,919 It's a nice split, but I don't think there's a lot in the rest. 561 00:33:55,000 --> 00:34:00,559 I'd be pushing, I'd be pushing 2,000, I think. 562 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:02,839 Sure. That's too low. What about three? 563 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:07,079 I do like these splits. 564 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,439 They're nice, aren't they? I'll be honest with you. 565 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,119 It's up to you. 566 00:34:13,240 --> 00:34:15,199 It's probably not exactly what I'm after, 567 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,479 but I reckon the money's there so I'll go 3,000. 568 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:21,919 Great.Deal? Deal.Thanks, Nick.Thank you. 569 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,119 We'll always look after you. I know you will. 570 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:26,959 See you, Nick.See you next time. Thanks, Tash. Thanks, Viv. 571 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,679 I'll take that home and start splitting it and working it 572 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:33,199 and get some good stones out of it. I can see good colour throughout. 573 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,399 Bit of money in Joe's pocket and a bit in mine at the end of the day. 574 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:39,639 Hey.Hey. How are yous? How did you go? 575 00:34:39,720 --> 00:34:41,359 What did you think it was worth? 576 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,159 Oh, would be lucky if we get a 1,000. 577 00:34:43,240 --> 00:34:47,799 You did a good job splitting it because we got what we was wanting. 578 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,599 We got three.No way. Oh, unreal.Oh! 579 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:53,999 That's your money.Thanks, guys. Your money. 580 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:04,119 OSCAR: So we're gonna give it a go? Very shortly. Yeah. 581 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,199 And look, once it's going, if it's spinning 582 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:09,679 and I give you the yell, run down and start the pump. 583 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:13,719 Make sure the fuel's on and pray that it doesn't let go. 584 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,239 It's gonna test it out right from the get-go. 585 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:18,479 Starting the barrel when it's full and wet. 586 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,799 There's a lot of weight in there, and it's a big strain on your drive. 587 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:24,959 Righto. Let's see. 588 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,079 Going to crank her? 589 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:47,159 Whoo-hoo! 590 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:48,919 I know we joke about it, 591 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,479 but the Wizard's actually worked his magic this time. 592 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,359 Feel a little bit better. 593 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,479 You know, I just... I'm still a little bit worried, you know, 594 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:01,239 that the chain looks a bit suspect, 595 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:03,919 so I'm not sure whether it's going to keep going, 596 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,679 but we can only hope. 597 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:14,719 We're about to kick off the tail out. 598 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:16,399 I think there's some opal in there, 599 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:18,719 but now's the time where we find out. 600 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,639 He's the final inspector. 601 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:27,999 Nothing gets passed him. 602 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:34,519 It's trying. 603 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:36,319 Trying but not hard enough. 604 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,959 Look at that... Gee, that's good man. 605 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:46,999 You can see it coming through the sand. 606 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,679 Flick of red through it. 607 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,759 We might go all right here, boys. Yeah, I'm a bit relieved. 608 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:54,719 It's really rewarding actually to see something, you know. 609 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:56,479 We haven't done it all for nothing. 610 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:00,399 All right. That's about it. 611 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,919 We've been up and down and a lot of downs 612 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,399 and then to finish on the high getting a bit of opal, 613 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:07,479 you know, a huge roller coaster. 614 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:13,039 The Cheals have found Lightning Ridge nobbies, 615 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,159 but to reveal their true value 616 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:18,799 they'll need to be rubbed to expose the opal. 617 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,679 It's always a really nervous process when you're rubbing. 618 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:27,359 It's pretty easy to look at something 619 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,319 and see the best-case scenario 620 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,479 and wheel it down and there's nothing there. 621 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:34,639 Hope we don't lose all the colour we just... 622 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:36,519 Fingers are crossed, toes are crossed. 623 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:42,239 There was a couple of surprises in there. 624 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:45,799 The Cheals have nobbies and crystal opal. 625 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:49,279 Predominantly blue-green with flashes of rare red 626 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:51,319 on a black and grey base. 627 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,759 Partially rubbed, there are seven gems 628 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:55,599 weighing 15gm. 629 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:01,359 You know you got five, seven and-a-half... 630 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:03,879 You'd have 10 or 12 grand there. 631 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,399 That's what I'd be asking for it. That's all right. 632 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,999 Mm. Bit of a relief, really. Yeah. From the week we had. 633 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:13,919 Out of that one load, it's a great result. 634 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:15,679 We ended up with 12 grand. 635 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,359 And it's not the massive find we're looking for, 636 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,679 but it keeps paying the fuel, it keeps food on the table for us. 637 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,639 It's not bad, ay? No, not bad at all. 638 00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:25,359 Well done. How good's that? 639 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:30,119 What do you reckon, Buster? Not bad? 640 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,399 He approves. 641 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,519 LES: What's going on? ROD: How you going, Les? 642 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:48,919 The roof's let go. Oh, that's not real good, that. 643 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:54,239 After an all clear from the doctor, Les has returned to help partner Rod 644 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,879 and retiree Guy make safe a dangerous roof. 645 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,799 I've got to try and bust through that bit of steel band there 646 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,119 so I can get on top of it to drop it. 647 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,159 But the steel band, 648 00:39:05,240 --> 00:39:07,759 it's compress clay that gets really hard. 649 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:09,959 It's about six times harder than concrete. 650 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:26,239 I can't get a bite. Oh, gee. What can we do? What can we do? 651 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:28,039 Hang on. I might have an idea. 652 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:32,039 Hope it's a good one. Yeah. So do I, Les. So do I. 653 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,959 We sort of had to go around to the unsafe side. 654 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:36,919 I reckon, Les, 655 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:39,919 if I get it to crack here in the middle, it's gonna come. 656 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:42,879 You don't know whether a big wad of roof's gonna come out 657 00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:44,559 or just a little bit. 658 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:51,719 A bit like Bugs Bunny cutting that tree branch down 659 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:53,639 and standing on the wrong side of it. 660 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:55,519 That's exactly what we was doing. 661 00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:57,919 I'm not sure what's happening. 662 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,559 It is cracking, but she's pretty tight. 663 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:04,199 If that dropped on your head, you'd be dead. 664 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:18,159 This what makes this stuff so dangerous. 665 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:20,999 That'd have to be 12-15kg, that little bit. 666 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:23,519 That'd break your neck without a problem in the world. 667 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:27,199 And, er... Little tiny bit there, Les, 668 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:30,599 but I think I can live with that. What do you reckon? 669 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:32,359 Yeah. Doesn't look too bad. 670 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:39,279 Opal mining's the simplest trade in the world. 671 00:40:41,240 --> 00:40:45,679 Shift dirt till you find colour and try not to get killed. 672 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,279 Hey, hey, Les. I can see colour, mate. 673 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:56,599 There's a bit of colour there in that wall, mate. 674 00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,999 I just dropped it. I scraped down here, 675 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,919 and I've hit this seam here, and then I saw it fall. 676 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:06,479 You know how sometimes when it's rolling 677 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:09,039 and you see that little flash of colour.Yeah. 678 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:11,799 So somewhere down in there. I'll have a look. 679 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:13,519 If Rod likes it, I like it. 680 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:17,999 It fell straight down mate. 681 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:19,959 You can have a look down there too, Guy. 682 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:26,399 Oh, yeah. Have a look at that. Did you get a bit?Yeah. 683 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:28,319 That's a nice little bit, Guy, in it? 684 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:30,679 It's just a great feeling to pick up a piece. 685 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:34,879 You beauty. It's lovely. 686 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,239 Greens, blues, reds, a bit of orange. 687 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:41,799 Oh, got a nice piece there. 688 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:45,839 Got red in it. Blue, green. Look at that.It's lovely. 689 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,999 You beauty. It's not big and cheesy yet, Les, 690 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:52,199 but we're getting there, mate. Colour's good colour at the moment. 691 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:54,199 Well, I think it's played out, Les. 692 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:56,879 So why don't we go upstairs and have a look at this stuff? 693 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:04,519 Righto. Chuck him in there. 694 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:07,479 Ah, a couple of little bits there. 695 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,639 She's only a small parcel. That one there. 696 00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:13,039 He's just got a thin bar going across the bottom. 697 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:15,799 That's the least valuable. 698 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:17,719 But this one here, that's potentially... 699 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:21,159 That's got black and that red colour coming through the side.Yeah, yeah. 700 00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:23,839 That's what we like to see. Some of that colour there. 701 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:25,799 Yeah.Good looking colour. 702 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:28,799 The Bushmen have seam opal, 703 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:32,079 the most valuable showing flashes of colour on black. 704 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:35,279 It's in the rough and there's 75gm. 705 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:39,239 So what do you reckon, Guy? What do you reckon it's worth? 706 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:41,639 I'm only going to have a guestimate. I don't know. 707 00:42:41,720 --> 00:42:44,839 Two and-a-half? Three? Sold... 708 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:46,559 Just that stuff there, 709 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,079 you'd be struggling to get 600 bucks for that.Yeah. 710 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:50,919 Cos they'll talk everything down. Yeah. 711 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:52,599 But this fella here, 712 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:55,239 that one stone's gonna kick it up to 1,100 bucks. 713 00:42:56,240 --> 00:43:00,119 That's hardly going to get you, er, retirement, mate, is it? 714 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:03,919 I hope tomorrow they pull an opal out, 715 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:07,519 cricket ball size and Les can retire. 716 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:10,439 The experience has been tremendous. I think I'll give it a... 717 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:13,159 Give it a miss for the moment... 718 00:43:13,240 --> 00:43:16,159 I was pretty pleased that Guy found a bit of opal, 719 00:43:16,240 --> 00:43:20,439 but there's not much future for him as an opal miner. 720 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:38,759 Subtitles by Deluxe 720 00:43:39,305 --> 00:44:39,403 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm