"Outback Opal Hunters" Rookie Mistake

1 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,439 Looks like I'm getting in here! Yeah. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,239 The machinery hasn't been started for a year, 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,039 so we're going to give it a bit of this professional choice, 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,639 get her going. 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,719 All right, ready? Yep. 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,279 Come on, come on! Yeah! 7 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,439 She's a goer! 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,839 This is the Normet, this is what hauls the dirt out of the holes. 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,439 Hasn't been started for a year. She started, no worries. 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,999 We'll get the gear down there, get all set up, 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,279 start moving some dirt. 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,519 Good to go, bro. 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,639 We've got Leif on the skid steer, doing the main digging. 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,039 We got Cozza on the Normet truck. 15 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,679 He's the one that hauls the dirt out. 16 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,639 Me, I do the odds-and-ends jobs, 17 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,359 trying to make sure everything keeps moving, 18 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,679 pretty much whatever Leif wants as we go. 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,159 We'll take this dirt out, load it up in the Normet, 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,679 dry it out, see what comes out of that. 21 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:19,359 It's good to see dirt moving again, good to be back, raring to go. 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,074 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,599 Get out of here, Leif - he's got no brakes. 24 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,839 Here I come! 25 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,639 ! Hit the pump brake! 26 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,719 Hey, hey, hey! 27 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,239 The Apocalyptic Australian outback. 28 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,199 NEWSCASTER: Black and as foreign as the moon. 29 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,159 Silent, charred, twisted. 30 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,839 NEWSCASTER: These three cars were swallowed this morning. 31 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,279 NEWSCASTER: This mouse plague is going to be devastating. 32 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,199 An isolated land of extremes 33 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,239 deadly to the unwary... 34 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,999 Whoa, whoa! 35 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,919 Whoa, watch out! 36 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,479 Old Les, he's going to love this! 37 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,039 ..relying on ancient machinery... 38 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,439 , hey! 39 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,919 ..and battling dangerous... Watch out, it's coming down! 40 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,719 ..brutal terrain. Whoa, ! 41 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,679 Look out! You trying to get yourself killed? 42 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,519 The hunt for opal... 43 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,319 Look how bright that is! 44 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,959 Scotty, look at that! 45 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,439 Hey! 46 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,679 ..tests the very limits of the miners... 47 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,799 Whoa, Jesus! 48 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,919 ..brave enough to seek their fortune in the unforgiving earth. 49 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,519 If you want to make your dreams come true, this is what you want 50 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,679 and this is what you need. 51 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,559 COLIN: Hey, hey, hey! MATHEW: Hit the brakes! 52 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,199 Oh, Christ! 53 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,239 You all right, man? 54 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,839 Yeah, I'm all right! 55 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,879 Your back all right?Yeah, mate. We lost all gears and brakes! 56 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,679 On the edge of the desolate Andamooka opal fields, 57 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,879 brothers Mathew and Colin Kathagen 58 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,519 and team leader, Leif Tanzer 59 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,119 are just beginning their mining season. 60 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,879 I come over the top of the crest there and I lost brakes. 61 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,479 The gears were holding me up, but halfway down the ramp, 62 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:12,439 the gears decided to let go as well, and off we came. Very close call. 63 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,679 Without this machine, we're not getting dirt out, 64 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,239 targets won't get met. 65 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,559 Let's hope that it can be an easy fix. 66 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:25,719 One of the lines, the oil lines, has come loose, it's losing pressure. 67 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,719 Hopefully, we can tighten it up. 68 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,279 I think we're good to go. Awesome, man. 69 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,399 Top it up with oil, it should be right. 70 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,559 Matty and Cozza are mates I've had half my life. 71 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,519 I met them when they came to Mooka. 72 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,079 Cozza's my brother. 73 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,679 We've worked and travelled and lived together most of our lives. 74 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,319 Mat's my brother, we're close. 75 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,479 We left Sydney together, I was just 18 and he was 20. 76 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,559 We didn't know what we were going to do at that time. 77 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,399 We came here, got taken through a couple old claims, 78 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,319 and couldn't believe what's here and open for us to do. 79 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,039 We just stayed here. 80 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,039 Leif's dad, Paul, was the owner of everything we've got here. 81 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:14,559 Dad and I were partners, working together for a long time. 82 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:21,319 Leif's father, Paul Tanzer, began mining in Andamooka in 1980. 83 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,679 He taught Leif, and then Matty and Cozza, how to find opal. 84 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:31,119 Me and Cozza met Paul. He put the pieces of the puzzle together. 85 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,199 We owe him everything of our opal-mining careers. 86 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:38,079 We'd still be wandering around aimlessly if it wasn't for Paul. 87 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,559 November will be two years since I lost Dad. 88 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:46,279 Paul Tanzer was caught off-guard during a disagreement, 89 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,319 and died from his injuries. 90 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,719 The way he said goodbye was dying in my arms on the way to hospital. 91 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,079 I kept my promises to him. 92 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,679 That's, not giving up on anything, and pushing forward 93 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:02,759 with everything I do. 94 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,599 Leif and his old man ran a tight ship. 95 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,079 It's going to be hard to fit in here. 96 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,279 Let's just hope that I've got the spot for it. 97 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,879 I've invited Matty and Cozza to continue the mining we were doing. 98 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,599 Our goal is to uphold the standard Dad would have expected. 99 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,519 It's hard to keep a partnership together. 100 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,119 It's important to show Leif that we're up to the challenge. 101 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:31,919 I'm a full-time opal miner. 102 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,759 My goal is to feed the family, put some money in the bank. 103 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:38,839 We're hoping for the 60-grand mark. 104 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,159 We'll get moving on this season, and see if we can make it. 105 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,879 You want to put the spike on, man? Sure, yeah. 106 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,519 All good, bro. 107 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,959 That's our big superspike. Leif will go in and spike the wall. 108 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,839 Leif is reading the face the whole time. 109 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,919 It's very important he does, because we could go straight through opal. 110 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,119 If we're going straight through the opal every day, 111 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,679 we'll never meet our target, that's for sure. 112 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,319 Whoa, whoa, whoa! 113 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,079 Is that the spot, bro? Yeah, that'll do it. 114 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,879 Dad, at the moment, he's up fixing the agi. 115 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,999 Rory and I worked out a spot we want to drill. 116 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,879 Just got to get her in a position, 117 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,959 whack a hole down, and hope for the best. 118 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,879 Are you happy, mate? Yeah, I reckon. 119 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,439 Righto. 120 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,759 I'll shut the truck off, start the rig up, and get into it, eh? 121 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,839 Sounds good. Righto. 122 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,159 The ground that Oscar and I are drilling is uncharted. 123 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,999 I'm happy with that, bro. That's good. Put her down. 124 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,519 We're pretty hopeful that we can find another run of opal. 125 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,039 Fingers crossed, eh, mate? 126 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,999 Tell you what - fingers crossed, toes crossed. 127 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:14,759 If anything stuffs up on this and we can't use it, we're a bit stuck. 128 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,959 This is our last hope at the moment. 129 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,319 Dad's left us in charge of the drill, 130 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,879 the most important piece of equipment. 131 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,599 We don't want to break anything on it - I don't think he'd be happy. 132 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,039 The level underground is around 24 to 26 foot. 133 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,359 Once we see sandstone, we know we're coming into opal level. 134 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,559 What happened, did you touch anything? 135 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,439 I don't think so. 136 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,599 She just turned off? Yeah. 137 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,319 We just blew a digger hose. 138 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,879 The Cheals - Rory and Oscar with dad, Chris - 139 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,719 are fighting for their survival as opal miners. 140 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,119 So far this season, we've been going absolutely rubbish. 141 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,199 We've had trouble with the diggers. 142 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,039 Everything that could go wrong went wrong.That's the end of that. 143 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,519 The axle on the agi, that cost $600 for a bearing, 144 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,479 which normally costs $70. 145 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:12,959 With parts so rare, there was only two in the country. 146 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,359 We're close to rock-bottom. 147 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,359 The 27,500 we're at now, 148 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,799 that's just covered costs. 149 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,359 We've made nothing out of it personally. 150 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,119 This hole is the one you were talking about, 151 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,959 that they dug too hard? Yeah. 152 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,039 They did get nice opal, they just couldn't dig it - 153 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:31,679 the digger was too small. 154 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:37,359 Last season, The Cheals lowered their 2.5-tonne superdigger... 155 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,079 Hey, Rory. 156 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,919 ..into their megalease, planning to tunnel 50 metres 157 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,759 to an abandoned mine. 158 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,319 The opal didn't run out, they just couldn't dig it out. 159 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,199 The superdigger should get through it. 160 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:57,359 But while waiting for parts to repair the agitator, 161 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,719 they're unable to wash opal dirt, stopping the cash flow they need 162 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,479 to finish their tunnel. 163 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:08,959 I've just poured a lot of money in diesel and costs. 164 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,999 With all the breakdowns, added costs, 165 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:18,679 I want to go away and get some work and get some more money for diesel. 166 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:23,239 Hopefully, while I'm away, the boys can drill something up. 167 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,199 How'd you go - still fuelling it? 168 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,639 There's 3" or 4" of fuel in the bottom. 169 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,639 It's got plenty of juice. 170 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,479 Drilling is a lot cheaper than digging 171 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:38,839 because you're not running all the big machinery. 172 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,879 Oscar and I are going to drill without Dad. 173 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,639 It makes me a bit nervous. 174 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,039 If we find something with the drill, 175 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,599 it warrants us digging to the old workings 176 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,359 we've been digging all year. 177 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,839 I'll take this fuel line off, we'll blow back through it, 178 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:55,999 and see if anything might push it out. 179 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,759 Hopefully, we don't have to call Dad. 180 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,799 He's trusting us with the rig, 181 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,559 last thing we want to do is break it on him. 182 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,599 With old machines comes many problems. 183 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:10,719 Dad's not out here, it's just Oscar and I. 184 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,759 So, yeah, we've just got to sort it out. 185 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,599 It's getting cold now. 186 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:29,879 It's a nice change from the 48 degrees 187 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,559 and 50 degrees butt of summer. 188 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:37,079 Just going over to see if our Les is ready for work. 189 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,519 He's not been real good, you know? 190 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,919 He reckoned he was going to be all right, but we'll see. 191 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,399 Some days I'll go to pick him up, or he'll come over home, and that's OK. 192 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,159 Other days, you know, he's just too crook to work. 193 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,799 He's just gotten a bit long in the tooth for like this - 194 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,879 it's a hard game, you know? 195 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:07,119 We all have to get put out in the paddock one day. 196 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,879 Ed, what are you doing? 197 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,799 How you going, mate? Oh, yeah. 198 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,399 Want to go to work?No, mate, my leg's giving me . 199 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,359 Really? Yeah. 200 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,039 What, your hip again? Yeah. 201 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,239 I'll go and see the quack. Yeah? 202 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:34,439 Yeah. 203 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,279 All right, mate, well, let me know what the quack says. 204 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:39,879 I will, yeah. 205 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,599 If he's going to put me down, I suppose you'll want a certificate. 206 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:46,759 , yeah. Righto, I'll see what I can do. 207 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:51,079 I need plenty of notice too so I can dig a hole. 208 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,559 That's it.All right, mate, well, you look after yourself. 209 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,119 Yeah. 210 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,839 Yeah, I've been in the wars. 211 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:02,719 Something's gone wrong with my hip, 212 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,599 and the pain is... It's a job to walk. 213 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:10,599 It goes right down my leg, you know? I don't know what it is. 214 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:14,599 I have to see what the quack's got to say for himself. 215 00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:19,919 This season, The Bushmen - Rod Manning and Les Walsh - 216 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,479 are chasing $260,000 217 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:27,039 on their 50 X 50-metre Billy Goats Claim. 218 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,759 The goal for this season is pretty much the same as it was last year - 219 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,359 we want to get enough money to see the old fella out. 220 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:40,119 In their hunt for life-changing black opal, 221 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,359 worth up to $43,000 a gram, 222 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,959 74-year-old Les has suffered numerous injuries. 223 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,839 He burned the skin off both arms and legs and his chest. 224 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,999 He has very few comforts over at his camp. 225 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,559 I'd like to retire him with some comfort - 226 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,639 an air conditioner and hot-water system. 227 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,599 We need a bit of cash to do that. 228 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,519 We ain't been finding much. 229 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,239 We've just got to keep hammering forward, 230 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,199 I've got to shift more dirt. 231 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,279 With Les unable to work full-time, 232 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,079 Rod has begun the search for a new mining partner. 233 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:23,039 Head down, arse up! You're doing the work of two now, mate. 234 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,079 The guy's a good bloke. He had a crack but he won't make the grade. 235 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:28,919 You need someone younger. 236 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,959 It's harder to find a mining partner 237 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,839 than it is to find opal, to tell you the truth. 238 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,519 It's real tough, it's real tough. 239 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,239 Rod's going to go and see if he can find this other bloke. 240 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,679 Hopefully, he'll give him a hand. 241 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,559 A friend gave me a young bloke's name 242 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:56,279 that he reckoned would be interested in coming and giving us a hand. 243 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,559 He said he's a good kid. 244 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,679 I don't know the kid real well, 245 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,799 but I know his old man and uncle are all right. 246 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:07,599 I've got a fair idea of what he looks like and where he's at. 247 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,679 I think it's just down here somewhere. 248 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,799 How're you going, mate? Good. Yourself? 249 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,359 Damien, isn't it? Yeah. 250 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,319 Rod. What brings you? 251 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,599 I've got a bit of a deal to offer you.Yeah? 252 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,319 We're struggling. We're trying to find someone 253 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,439 that potentially can come in and give us a hand now, 254 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,639 but potentially go on with it. 255 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,079 I've heard some pretty good things about you.Yeah. 256 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,519 Damien's a young bloke from town. 257 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,119 He's sort of wanting to have a crack at opal mining, 258 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,199 so he's giving it a go. 259 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,759 My great-great-great grandfather 260 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,679 was the first to start digging in Grawin. 261 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:52,879 Also, my father, he's an opal miner. My uncle, my pop. 262 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,239 It would be very good for me to join that family history. 263 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,319 What we're looking for is someone that's reliable, 264 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,399 that wants to make something of himself, 265 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,799 and not afraid of hard work. 266 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,639 Well, Rod, it sounds very good, mate. 267 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,039 Good onya, mate, that's fantastic. 268 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,559 He's camping pretty rough out there, he's got an old caravan. 269 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,359 I don't think it's even got a door on it. 270 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,279 It's freezing at night-time when she drops temperature. 271 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,999 You've got all the critters outside cos there's no door. 272 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,119 There's mice, snakes, centipedes. 273 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,519 That shows he's got dedication and a bit of heart and is a bit tough. 274 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,439 This kid might be good for us. 275 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,959 It's pretty hard to just bring a young kid in and do what we do, 276 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,159 but we're a little bit desperate at the moment. 277 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,479 You just don't know till you give him a go. 278 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:04,919 Whoa, whoa, whoa! 279 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:09,639 Hang on, mate! Maybe we'd better cut the tunnel out a bit, eh? 280 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,519 Yeah, take that ramp down. You all right? Sweet. 281 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:14,759 Too much dirt going up the ramp. 282 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,839 If you've got the thing too high, she'll pull it up. 283 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,399 Yeah, too much dirt. 284 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,719 The Mooka Boys - Leif, Matty, and Cozza - 285 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,039 are searching for opal at Lunatic, 286 00:17:27,120 --> 00:17:32,279 two adjacent claims on one of the most isolated fields in Andamooka. 287 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,799 Yeah, that's good, mate. 288 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,159 We've dug about 17 feet. We're going to go a little bit slower now. 289 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,479 Leif will start prodding the face a little more gentle. 290 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,599 Hey, boys! What's that? 291 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:01,119 Found something in the wall, I think so.Oh, you beauty! 292 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,959 Oh, man! We've got the angel stone. 293 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,839 Angel stone is a silicate-rock conglomerate. 294 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,959 When you get enough silicate in it, it can form opal. 295 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,719 You have to take it nice and easy. We'll get that stone out, 296 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,879 and hopefully, there's some opal behind it. 297 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,999 See any trace, Matty? 298 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:30,239 That's why they call it Lunatic - it really can be hit-and-miss. 299 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,319 There has been good money found on this field. 300 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,359 It wasn't what we wanted. 301 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,959 We haven't seen signs of seam opal in the mud, 302 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,479 but it could have fallen down in the patch. 303 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,159 We'll take this dirt out, and see what comes out of that. 304 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,719 The Mooka Boys' noodling machine is 4km from their mine site. 305 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,719 It uses a system of conveyor belts to sort through opal dirt. 306 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,959 This is the darkroom. 307 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,799 The opal comes through here on the belt. 308 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,319 We've got black lights for the area. 309 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,239 The black light shines it up, 310 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,599 makes it easy to spot that opal, even if it's got mud on it. 311 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,959 Leif inherited the noodler and all the other machines from his father. 312 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,959 Mum and Dad built this machine 35 years ago. 313 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,959 Most of it was bits and pieces, whatever they could find around. 314 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,679 They turned it into a pretty good machine. 315 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,799 Dad had very high standards. This is about continuing on Dad's work. 316 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,079 Right, here we go. 317 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,399 We get our conveyor belt, 318 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,399 now we fire up the load bin, hope for the best. 319 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,719 All right. Fingers crossed, that's all going well. 320 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,519 Is that long conveyor going? 321 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,319 Nah. 322 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,519 We've got a bit of a jam in our long-feed conveyor. 323 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,079 What's going on? 324 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,039 I reckon that joiner is stuck again. 325 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,079 Dad was very thorough, he was meticulous. 326 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:02,639 It's important to keep things working the way he would want it - 327 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,999 keeping the maintenance up, keeping things running smoothly. 328 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:12,599 Turn it off, we'll pull it backwards.You won't pull it. 329 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,799 Kill her now! Roger. 330 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,439 This is why you need to empty the dirt off, 331 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,599 or you'll have problems. 332 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,639 She's a little bit jammed up from last season still. 333 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,639 From now on, that machine gets cleaned every day, every shift. 334 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,759 It's full of dirt. There's no way. 335 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:36,359 Dad didn't do that, that's not how I'm going to do it either. 336 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:45,039 Do you want to crack that blade screw?Yeah. 337 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:50,639 The fuel's cut out in the rig. We're not 100% sure what's going on. 338 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:55,039 This lever pumps all the fuel back through the lines. 339 00:20:55,120 --> 00:21:00,439 Any air that's sitting in the lines should come out of there. 340 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,479 Seeing anything? Nothing's coming out. 341 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,239 You pumping?Yeah, I'm pumping. There's not a lot of pressure. 342 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,399 Maybe that's the issue - 343 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:14,079 if the engine's not getting fuel, it's not even pumping through. 344 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,079 Dad has a lot of in his truck. 345 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:21,799 I think he might have a little 12-volt fuel pump onboard. 346 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:26,479 Any major issue with the drill rig that Rory and I can't fix 347 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:29,439 could put us in real big trouble. 348 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:32,639 There it is. 349 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:36,159 We've got that pump here. Oh, gun! 350 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,759 We're trying to dig this dirt out. 351 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,159 If we don't get anything, we're going to run ourselves broke. 352 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,479 This should start pumping. 353 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,279 Can you hear it ticking along? 354 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:52,639 It's going, we've just got to wait for the air to come out. 355 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,759 There we go! 356 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,959 Righto, let's give it another go. 357 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,799 Well done, mate, that's the go! Good work! 358 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,879 Oscar and Rory Cheal are using the last of their cash, 359 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,799 drilling for opal just metres away from an abandoned mineshaft. 360 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,599 We've been told that the people that were digging in that area 361 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,799 found opal, about 20 grands' worth. 362 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,639 The dirt was too hard for their digger at the time. 363 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,959 We're going to go chasing it. 364 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:26,119 Oscar? Yo. 365 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,199 Look at this big nobby. 366 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,959 Holy ! Did you just pick that out? 367 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,439 Look, there's more in there, literally everywhere. 368 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,079 Look at that black nobby, bro! They're all black as. 369 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,359 A nobby is where silica-filled water is formed into a ball. 370 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,999 They can cut really good stones. 371 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,159 There's a lot of material here for sure. 372 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,119 Just look at that colour! 373 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,119 If you have a colour bar with that black potch, 374 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,359 you could have a few hundred thousand. That's a big stone. 375 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,199 I think this is enough to stop Dad going away for work. 376 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,519 I reckon we give Dad a call and just hook in.Yeah. 377 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,879 Because that's the best we have all season. 378 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:21,039 It is freezing. 379 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:24,199 I've never, ever seen it this cold out here. 380 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,359 I've got young Damien starting this morning, 381 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,999 just going to go through things with him. 382 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,799 Bushman Rod is trialling a new apprentice, 383 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:40,119 fourth-generation miner, 16-year-old Damien McBride. 384 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:45,159 Damien's done mining, but he's never worked with big machinery. 385 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,199 The digger is the main thing I've got to be watching. 386 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:54,719 They're very dangerous. My father's told many stories about them to me. 387 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:57,799 All right, mate, this is it. 388 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,679 At least it's a little bit warmer down here.Yeah. 389 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,359 We're 60 foot down. 390 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,839 Come down here, and I'll show you the digger. 391 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:12,959 This is where we're at, mate. 392 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,479 When I start digging and everything, 393 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,839 I can't see a lot from behind the digger. 394 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:25,159 So, what you're looking for is any sign of potch or any sign of colour. 395 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,359 What I might get you to do is, grab your pelican pick, 396 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:33,199 pull these around, and kick that pipe over that way a little bit. 397 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:41,119 He's going well. 398 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,999 Bang your pipe, mate. 399 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,879 Bang your pipe. No, the end of your pipe's blocked. 400 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,999 They all go well for the first one or two days. 401 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,639 We'll see what happens after three or four days. 402 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,039 Righto, mate, back over here. 403 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,199 Take a step forward or back. 404 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,279 You don't want to be right alongside this, just in case, 405 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:12,039 when I put pressure on. 406 00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:15,439 Superdiggers are pretty dangerous. 407 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,679 If you're in the wrong position, 408 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,879 I can throw you across the drive pretty easily. 409 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,559 Being around a digger, one little swipe, bang, you can be dead 410 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,119 or you can be knocked out. 411 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:31,599 Be very careful, listen to the boss, hopefully, I'll get up that ladder. 412 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,919 The roof bolts are on that bit of a drop-off there. 413 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,439 They're not going to hold real well. 414 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,119 She's going to kick around a bit until she settles in, I think. 415 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,559 This is the drive we've been doing all season, 416 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,879 working towards those old workings. 417 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,119 We must be getting close. 418 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,319 We measured 78 feet, I think, so we shouldn't be too far. 419 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,439 I was worried we might be digging here for nothing, 420 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,759 but after what youse drilled, we're in with a real good chance. 421 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,239 Chris Cheal has rejoined his sons 422 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:16,919 in a last-ditch effort to dig to a 3'-diameter mineshaft 423 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,559 before their cash runs out. 424 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,959 Try and find the three-footer, 425 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,599 move the blower over, then we'll have the suction 426 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,119 to get out to where youse drilled that stuff. 427 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,279 It's barely doing the job now. 428 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:34,639 Their operation relies on a 140-horsepower blower 429 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:41,359 which, at its limit, sucks rocks 40 metres up to the surface. 430 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:46,039 Buster, get out of it! You'll get sucked up that pipe. 431 00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:49,039 If they can find the bottom of the old shaft, 432 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:52,999 it can be used as a new access hole for their blower. 433 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,559 We can move the blower and reset the pipes. 434 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,399 That way, we can go out in any direction, 435 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,279 and we're not going to struggle with the pipes, 436 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:03,879 like we are at the moment. 437 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,279 Broken through, boys. 438 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,959 We'll go and have a look, eh? 439 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,759 Looks like we're a bit in the floor. 440 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,319 There is a bit of a drop. 441 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,079 There's not a whole lot down here, eh?No. 442 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,839 There's our three-footer. That's what the blower will go over. 443 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,239 Come look at this! That's not bad, eh? 444 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,719 Another one there, look. 445 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,319 We'll have a little gouge. 446 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,919 We're onto really good material already, good potch. 447 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:43,519 All we need now is colour. 448 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,879 But we can't go any further until we move the blower over. 449 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,799 I really took for granted having Dad around. 450 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:02,639 He'd keep on top of the maintenance, everything like that. 451 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,799 You'd just rock up and work. 452 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,519 Leif's got a bit of responsibility, filling his dad's shoes - 453 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,079 big shoes to fill. 454 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,199 Dad had very high standards. 455 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,559 He was always on the go, keeping things up to maintenance. 456 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,879 When things aren't working, I get frustrated. 457 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,799 It's important for us to show Leif that we're serious about this, 458 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,759 and we want to do this for a career. 459 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,599 Our long belt is a bit jammed up. 460 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,079 We're going to change the power around, 461 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,479 run the machine backwards, get it off its stuck point. 462 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:38,759 You swap the phases on the gen set, everything will run backwards. 463 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,639 Ooh, don't run too long! 464 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,759 Ahh! Oh, that's why. 465 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,679 One of our joiners has come loose off the belt, 466 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,999 and as it's turning around, it's catching on the feed bin. 467 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:09,119 Cut that with a grinder for now, then we'll just run it. 468 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:21,919 Out of the way? Yeah. 469 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,879 All right, that's what we want! You beauty! 470 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,959 The noodler seems to be going good now. 471 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,959 For a 40-year-old machine, she still goes pretty strong. 472 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,919 When everything's at full speed, 473 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,599 we can push through about 100 tonne of dirt a day. 474 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:45,679 Rabbit food. 475 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:50,159 We're not doing too bad, but we're not getting a whole lot just yet. 476 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,079 I'd like to see more size coming through. 477 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,039 This is getting to be the last bits of dirt that we dug out. 478 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:02,239 Call it a day, and hopefully, the boys have got diesel money in there. 479 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,799 Right. 480 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,439 I'm pretty sure we pulled out some half-decent concrete here. 481 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:11,679 It'll need a good wash to make sure. 482 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,319 Here we have concrete, which we find all through the level. 483 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,439 It's more limestone or more rock than opal. 484 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,519 It looks just like concrete. 485 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,719 Here, we have a piece of matrix, 486 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,799 which we also find in the same sort of areas. 487 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,479 This one is probably more opal than rock. 488 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,759 They're pretty worthless as they are. 489 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,999 They do have a little bit of colour but not a lot of value. 490 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,039 After we clean them and get them into sugar and acid treatment, 491 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,279 darken that host stone they're in, 492 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,639 it could be worth a hell of a lot more. 493 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,359 That's the concrete and those matrix pieces. 494 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:54,599 No worries. 495 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,959 Let that heat up for a bit, see how she goes. 496 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,919 Cooked at roughly 80 degrees Celsius, 497 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,119 the porous limestone host rock absorbs the sugar. 498 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,959 We've had the concrete and matrix in the sugar solution 499 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,759 for a couple hours. 500 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:16,399 I'll pull it out, give it a quick wash, and we'll put it in acid. 501 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,119 After adding the sulphuric acid, 502 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:24,399 a chemical reaction begins with the sugar in the host rock. 503 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:30,039 The acid changes the sugar's hydrogen and oxygen molecules into water, 504 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:34,239 leaving the black carbon molecules embedded in the stone. 505 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:38,759 The more vibrant the opal colour against the blackened host rock, 506 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,199 the more valuable the gem will be. 507 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,879 This could be worthless right now. 508 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:49,119 If it comes out really well after treatment, it could have value. 509 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:54,759 Top-quality concrete can be worth up to $200/kg, 510 00:31:54,840 --> 00:32:00,559 while the best matrix can sell for $600 a gram. 511 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,839 We haven't found a great deal of opal. 512 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:08,479 This week's success hinges on a few of these coming out just right. 513 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:23,119 I've been in to have a check-up 514 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,079 and see if I can find out what's going wrong. 515 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,119 The doc gave me some pain-killers. 516 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,959 Hopefully, that'll take the edge off the pain for a while 517 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:34,759 so I can do something. 518 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:40,959 How're you going, old fella? 519 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:44,359 Not too bad. They changed my pills over.Oh, yeah? 520 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,959 Are you working today? 521 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:48,599 Yeah, I'll have a go. 522 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,519 Young Damien needs guidance from you on the tools...Yep. 523 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,559 ..how to use a pick properly and that.Yep. 524 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:02,239 I can see how I'm going down here this morning, mate. 525 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:07,879 Bit of a strain on my muscles. 526 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,399 Ahh! Where are you, old fella? 527 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:17,199 Eh? What are you doing? 528 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,279 Just pulling the wire through. 529 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:26,239 I did that bit of pull-around, then I ran out of air real quick! 530 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:28,319 You all right? Yeah. 531 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,839 Don't go keeling over on us. 532 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,799 If you're struggling, take it easy. Yeah, I am. 533 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:38,399 We've got Damien and that. You all right?Yeah. 534 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,839 Well, if you keel over, I'm stuffed if I'M giving you mouth-to-mouth. 535 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:45,919 Damo, that's your job. 536 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,079 It gets a bit hard there at times. 537 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:53,839 Yeah, dunno why. One minute, you're good, 538 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,999 next minute, there seems to be a lot of pressure. 539 00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:58,679 Hey, Damo? Yo. 540 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:01,639 Pull us a little bit of dirt there back, mate, 541 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,039 and we'll pull the pipe over just a tiny bit. 542 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:09,199 I need to put in a lot of work down here, trying to prove myself. 543 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:13,839 It's tough work, feeding the blower pipe. It's good to have Damo here. 544 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:15,759 He's doing the majority of it, 545 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:20,079 but Les has to do a little just to make himself feel good, you know? 546 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,839 All right, boys, here we go. 547 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,439 And watch that overhang, Les. 548 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:33,039 I might clear some of that out of the way, then I'll drop that top. 549 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,799 Righto. So don't get under there. 550 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,759 Look out! 551 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,719 Did I get your leg? No, it's all right. 552 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,559 I'm just going to turn it a little bit. 553 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,079 Oh, hey! 554 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:48,639 Don't go in there, Damien! ! 555 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:51,919 You trying to get yourself killed? I saw colour. 556 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,799 That's OK, we'll get to it. Your life ain't worth colour, mate. 557 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:01,279 Hoy! And that's why you don't walk underneath it, Damien. 558 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:03,279 I just got a bit excited, 559 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,479 went to go in to get that bit of colour to shout the boys, 560 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,759 but I shouldn't have did that. 561 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:13,279 Lucky that Les was here. I'm still breathing. 562 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,799 Youse can have a look at that if you want to. It's safe up there now. 563 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,039 Oh, Rod! 564 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:24,639 Good find, Damo! 565 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:27,759 Oh-ho, we got colour, Les! 566 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:29,399 That sounds good! 567 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:38,439 It is, Damo. Whoa, yay! 568 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,519 Looking better. 569 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:42,599 We've got cheese! 570 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,079 Yeah! 571 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,279 Here you go. 572 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,759 Absolutely red gem. 573 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:58,679 If you want to get your dreams come true, this is what you want 574 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,759 and this is what you need. 575 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:10,999 This is the dirt out of the break-through area. 576 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,319 We've gone into the old workings at the end of the drive. 577 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,439 Using their newly repaired agitator, 578 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,679 the Cheals are gambling on finding enough opal 579 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,359 to keep their operation alive. 580 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:27,279 I was going to get some work just so they can keep drilling, 581 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,519 but they drilled up some handy material, 582 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,399 so we just decided that we'll stay 583 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,599 and give it one more roll of the dice. 584 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,359 It's good, black potch. 585 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:57,279 We've only just started. I'm hoping that it gets a bit brighter. 586 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,039 Nothing to get excited about in this so far. 587 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:05,599 Mixed-up nobby. It's got green in it.Oh, yeah. 588 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:09,079 Is that worth anything? Not going to cut a stone. 589 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:13,159 It's good, what the boys drilled, but we've got to dig over to that. 590 00:37:13,240 --> 00:37:16,759 Just got to find enough to get us out there, 591 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,919 I reckon we'll be all right. 592 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,599 All we really need is a few of these to clean up. 593 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,879 A couple colour bars, and we're all right. 594 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:27,879 Whoa, oi! 595 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,519 Jeez, look at that one! 596 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,519 Blue's fine. Wonder if it's going to be sandy. 597 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:38,319 Looks pretty solid up the top there. 598 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:41,919 You want to have a look? Yeah, let's have a look at him. 599 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:54,199 The Cheals have found Lightning Ridge nobby opal. 600 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:59,319 It shows greens, blues, and purples, and it's in the rough. 601 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:03,079 To be honest, boys... 602 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,439 ..I think there's a couple of grand there. 603 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:12,639 2,000 is better than nothing. It keeps us going, doesn't it? 604 00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:15,239 We're still in the game, mate. That's it. 605 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:18,639 That's enough to keep you back here, mining with us. 606 00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:21,199 Hopefully, the best is yet to come. One day, 607 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,759 we've just got to keep in the game long enough. 608 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:45,719 I just got a bit of wood to light the fire up. 609 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:49,799 Bushman Les is back on the power tools 610 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:53,559 while still recovering from chronic hip pain. 611 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:56,679 The doctors don't have to know all I'm doing. 612 00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:00,279 They never really told me I couldn't, 613 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,439 so, while I can, I will. 614 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:11,999 Good old stove, this one. I've cooked a lot of meals on it. 615 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,039 Found it down the local rubbish dump. 616 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,479 I don't know why anyone would want to throw away a good stove, 617 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,559 but I'm glad they did. 618 00:39:23,240 --> 00:39:26,879 Righto, let's see what we've got here, men. 619 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,559 Not a bad day's work, I guess, Rod. 620 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,839 Not bad at all! That would have been nice in a big stone. 621 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:40,599 The Bushmen's parcel is Grawin crystal opal. 622 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:44,959 It features blues and greens with flashes of valuable red, 623 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,919 and it's in the rough. 624 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,279 All that is pretty good. Even the bad pile's not that bad. 625 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:55,839 It's blues and purples, but some of them in there 626 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:59,999 have got a little bit of red, bit of orange, bit of nice green. 627 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:02,399 What if... 628 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:06,319 ..we'll ask for five? Good price, yeah. 629 00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:12,279 Still not a bad day's work, and better than we've been having. 630 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:17,159 That's right.So, mate, there's a spot in the team for you 631 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:19,759 if you want to go ahead with opal mining. 632 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,439 You keen? Yeah, I'm very keen. 633 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,039 It's just, school's the other thought. 634 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,239 Think about finishing your schooling?Yeah. 635 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:30,359 He's got a little bit of time 636 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:32,879 before he would have to go back to school, 637 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:36,679 so I'm hoping he'll come with us short-term, anyway. 638 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:38,799 Righto, boys, come and get it! 639 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:42,159 It's a phenomenal feeling to see opal in the wall. 640 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:45,319 Hopefully, I will be going digging with them again. 641 00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:47,839 The fire's nice too. 642 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:50,959 That's one of the things about the life out here. 643 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,799 You can sit outside and have a beer and a feed with good friends. 644 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:57,839 You can't ask for much more in life, I don't reckon. 645 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,159 Well, here's to you, Damien. 646 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:15,839 We've had the rocks in the acid for a good hour or so now. 647 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:18,399 That's about as much as we'll need. 648 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:20,999 I'll pull them out, we'll have a good look, 649 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:23,199 and hope we got some decent results, 650 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,959 otherwise we're in a little trouble this week. 651 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,719 This week has been tough. We've come to the end of our fuel supply. 652 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:34,439 We're hoping that we can at least get enough to cover the costs. 653 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,639 All right, guys, everything comes down to this for the week. 654 00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:44,279 We've got some concretes coming out, showing a bit of red, 655 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:46,119 a bit of colour, not too bad. 656 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:47,879 A bit of a bar. 657 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,559 A few matrixes came out all right. 658 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:55,959 This matrix has the most beautiful rolling flash I've ever seen. 659 00:41:56,040 --> 00:42:01,519 The Mooka Boys have cooked Andamooka matrix and concrete, 660 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:05,559 predominantly red, blue, and green, 661 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,959 with the matrix featuring vivid colour. 662 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:13,279 It will be processed in acid again to further enhance the colour 663 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,399 before being cut and polished. 664 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,719 What do you reckon that opal's worth, Leif? 665 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:21,759 We've got a bit of cutting to do. 666 00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:24,279 I think, cut stone... 667 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:29,919 ..say, 7,000. An easy seven grand. 668 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,079 Not a bad start to the season. Good job, boys. 669 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:35,159 How about we fire up the barbie 670 00:42:35,240 --> 00:42:38,319 and have a couple beers? I thought you'd never say! 671 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:41,239 Awesome way to finish the week. 672 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:45,759 This first load, it'll get us diesel for the next few weeks. 673 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:49,079 Here we go, boys, ready to go. Here we go. 674 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:51,479 The concrete and matrix saved the day. 675 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:54,679 We'll get cut stones out of that, and make some money. 676 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:58,399 I think Dad would be satisfied with the effort we put in. 677 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,639 We came together as a team, and got the result we wanted. 678 00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:13,439 subtitles by Deluxe 678 00:43:14,305 --> 00:44:14,945 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm