"Outback Opal Hunters" Rookie Mistakes

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,999 . 2 00:00:02,300 --> 00:00:06,039 In this season of Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,239 the world's toughest miners face triumph... 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:10,479 Beauty! 5 00:00:11,020 --> 00:00:14,119 ..and disaster... Big fella's down. 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,379 ..chasing one of the world's most coveted gems... 7 00:00:17,420 --> 00:00:19,199 Oh, my God. 8 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,199 ..opal. 9 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:24,139 New teams... Yee-haw! 10 00:00:24,180 --> 00:00:27,219 ..and new machines 11 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:29,259 battling the brutal Outback. 12 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:34,379 Risking it all... 13 00:00:34,420 --> 00:00:36,159 to find a fortune. 14 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,199 Look at this! 15 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,239 That's what this is all about. 16 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,239 # Money 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,119 # And fancy clothes 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,219 # Telling you what to do 19 00:01:04,260 --> 00:01:06,239 # With the life we live 20 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,279 # Where to go # 21 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:19,019 The Australian Outback, 22 00:01:19,060 --> 00:01:21,459 a vast parched landscape. 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,459 But millions of years ago, it was covered by inland seas. 24 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:31,379 Water seeping underground deposited silica in faults and cracks, 25 00:01:31,420 --> 00:01:35,139 gradually hardening to form opal. 26 00:01:35,180 --> 00:01:37,059 The most amazing gem in the world. 27 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:39,479 You don't have one colour, you've got all the colours. 28 00:01:40,020 --> 00:01:43,999 With 90% of the world's supply only found in Australia, 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,119 and prices doubling every five years, 30 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,039 a single piece can be worth millions of dollars. 31 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,079 More precious than diamonds. 32 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,999 Mined here since the 1880s, it's hard to find. 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,039 60% will go broke. 34 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,199 Big mining companies dare not take the risk, 35 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,179 leaving just small teams... 36 00:02:04,220 --> 00:02:06,139 We work for ourselves. 37 00:02:06,180 --> 00:02:09,439 ..living off the grid, 38 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,259 battling temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius 39 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:16,319 in one of the world's harshest environments. 40 00:02:17,420 --> 00:02:21,119 There's a fortune just waiting to be found. 41 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,279 When you catch opal fever, you're finished. 42 00:02:30,420 --> 00:02:32,419 Coober Pedy, South Australia, 43 00:02:32,460 --> 00:02:34,459 a bone-dry landscape. 44 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:40,039 The world's best source of white opal with its milky body tone, 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,139 worth up to $1,500 a carat, 46 00:02:42,180 --> 00:02:45,019 just one-fifth of a gram. 47 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,219 Last season, rookies Daniel Becker and Justin Lang 48 00:02:49,260 --> 00:02:52,239 smashed their $100,000 target. 49 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,139 That's not bad. 50 00:02:54,180 --> 00:02:57,059 This season, Dan and I are stepping it up a couple of notches, 51 00:02:57,100 --> 00:02:59,099 and we're going for 150 grand. 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,139 But things are already off to a bad start. 53 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:08,399 A lot of stuff's happened since last season. 54 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,999 This trip I've decided to come up by myself. 55 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,019 Coming up here on my own is quite difficult. 56 00:03:14,060 --> 00:03:16,399 I don't have Dan here to bounce ideas off of. 57 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,039 We get along so well, and we're best mates. 58 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,339 First stop is seeing mentor and godfather of Coober Pedy, 59 00:03:23,380 --> 00:03:25,039 John Dunston. 60 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,119 How are you, mate? Good. Good. How are you? 61 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,039 Where's your mate? Dan's back home. 62 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,379 He's looking after the kids and he's also moving house, 63 00:03:31,420 --> 00:03:33,279 so he couldn't get up this trip. 64 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,359 So I thought I'll come up and see if I can dig out a bit of opal. 65 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,239 You need to find some more, mate. 66 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,139 Is the ute still out the back there? 67 00:03:40,180 --> 00:03:42,019 Yeah, your ute's still here, mate. 68 00:03:42,060 --> 00:03:44,099 No worries. Perfect. 69 00:03:44,140 --> 00:03:47,139 Even though Dan can't come up this trip, you know, 70 00:03:47,180 --> 00:03:51,059 I'm still so excited to give it a good crack by myself. 71 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:54,439 I absolutely love Coober Pedy and I absolutely love opal mining. 72 00:03:56,060 --> 00:04:00,159 The big driving force why I'm out here is to find the fortune, 73 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,139 so I can provide for my family, 74 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:05,219 and I'm gonna keep digging that opal until I find millions. 75 00:04:05,260 --> 00:04:07,279 All around Coober Pedy, 76 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,459 areas with exotic names have been set aside for mining. 77 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,479 Get their pegs in any unclaimed section of one, 78 00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:16,199 pay $300 to register it for a year, 79 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,159 and whatever a miner finds is theirs. 80 00:04:21,060 --> 00:04:23,299 Last season, the rookies' biggest finds 81 00:04:23,340 --> 00:04:26,219 were in the underground labyrinth of 17 Mile. 82 00:04:26,260 --> 00:04:29,119 It's a lot more dangerous going to 17 Mile without Dan. 83 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,079 The dangers of going underground 84 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,419 in old abandoned mines are just the worst. Everything wants to kill you. 85 00:04:36,460 --> 00:04:39,199 You can have deadly animals that want a piece of you. 86 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:40,479 Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! 87 00:04:41,020 --> 00:04:43,099 You can have , and before you know it, 88 00:04:43,140 --> 00:04:44,999 you're squished like a cockroach. 89 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,999 The hope is that this proven hotspot 90 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,019 will get their season off to a flying start. 91 00:04:51,060 --> 00:04:54,079 Dan and I pulled thousands of dollars out last season, 92 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,299 and I know that it's a sure way of finding more. 93 00:04:56,340 --> 00:04:59,479 I could just drill into the wall and find another few thousand dollars 94 00:05:00,020 --> 00:05:02,139 just to start the season off. That's what I need. 95 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,219 Actually, where the hell is that claim? 96 00:05:07,260 --> 00:05:09,259 Ah, hang on... 97 00:05:15,180 --> 00:05:17,179 serious? 98 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,299 You're joking me. 99 00:05:23,340 --> 00:05:26,119 There's actually someone's peg there. 100 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,259 Some little has come out here. 101 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:31,379 That's not our pegs. 102 00:05:31,420 --> 00:05:36,079 Someone's come out here and pegged our claim. 103 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,019 Where I put my pegs here, someone else has put their pegs. 104 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:41,059 You're joking me. 105 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,039 If their claim has been taken by another miner, 106 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,239 Dan and Justin will have lost their only reliable source of opal. 107 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,459 1,000km to the north-east - Opalton, Queensland, 108 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,379 home of the renowned opal hunter Col Duff. 109 00:06:07,060 --> 00:06:09,319 That's nice green. 110 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,359 For 20 years, Col's been hunting opal 111 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,099 in some of the most remote parts of the Outback. 112 00:06:14,140 --> 00:06:16,419 Could be a million dollars. You never know your luck. 113 00:06:16,460 --> 00:06:19,079 Best mates Greg and Aaron 114 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,419 bring an extra 40 years of experience to the team. 115 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:26,239 Lot of people call it a lifestyle. It ain't a lifestyle to me. 116 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,319 It's a job and you gotta make money. It's just that simple. 117 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,139 Living off the grid 100km from the nearest town, 118 00:06:34,180 --> 00:06:37,139 Col's crew are chasing boulder opal. 119 00:06:38,020 --> 00:06:42,459 Unique to Queensland and identified by its brown iron-stone backing, 120 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,419 it can be worth up to $4,000 a carat. 121 00:06:45,460 --> 00:06:47,999 That's $20,000 a gram. 122 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,119 Last season, we finished up on a good note, 123 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,199 but we only just covered our . 124 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:56,179 A bigger victory for Col was beating a cancer scare. 125 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,039 I'm real keen to get on top of the game. 126 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,339 The clock's ticking. No-one lives forever. 127 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:07,259 We need about $120,000 to pay everything out 128 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:09,299 and keep going. 129 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,039 This season, they've taken over a legendary claim, 130 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,419 once owned by Aaron's dad, called Dragonfly. 131 00:07:22,460 --> 00:07:27,159 They're concentrating on a small section around the last shaft he dug. 132 00:07:28,380 --> 00:07:30,319 Dad passed about two years ago. 133 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,299 When they first came in in the late '60s, 134 00:07:32,340 --> 00:07:35,419 they found 44 drums full of opal. 135 00:07:35,460 --> 00:07:38,119 But back then, they got nothing for opal. 136 00:07:39,220 --> 00:07:42,019 With the value of opal now sky-rocketing, 137 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:44,459 Aaron and Greg are hoping to rediscover the seam. 138 00:07:45,300 --> 00:07:47,479 It's great. It's good to be digging here. 139 00:07:48,020 --> 00:07:50,099 It's a family lease, and it should be dug. 140 00:07:50,140 --> 00:07:53,459 Hopefully, we find a bit of opal, and we can keep the dream alive. 141 00:07:55,060 --> 00:07:58,399 But the opal layer is 15m below ground 142 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,399 in loose sandstone too dangerous to tunnel through. 143 00:08:08,180 --> 00:08:11,479 There's still a lot of opal here. It's just a lot of dirt to be moved. 144 00:08:12,020 --> 00:08:14,019 You need the gear to do the job. 145 00:08:19,180 --> 00:08:22,999 The boys have spent weeks digging down towards the opal layer. 146 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,319 It's taken a month to move it, 147 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,339 but we're getting there. 148 00:08:27,380 --> 00:08:30,319 But there's been no sign of Col. 149 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,299 I think he's happy. I think he's in love. 150 00:08:34,020 --> 00:08:37,319 I met a beautiful woman. I've been a town boy since then. 151 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,439 We've been really good friends for 15 years, 152 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,079 but circumstances have brought us together. 153 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,419 We're grinning from ear to ear, having a mad love affair. 154 00:08:44,460 --> 00:08:50,219 With Col absent, whatever they find, Aaron and Greg will split 50-50. 155 00:08:50,260 --> 00:08:53,419 But they're under pressure to recoup what they've invested. 156 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:56,139 8,000 litres of diesel so far. 157 00:08:56,180 --> 00:08:58,319 You've got to spend money to make money. 158 00:08:59,220 --> 00:09:02,059 This costs $15,000 to do this, 159 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:04,339 and with a bit of luck, we pay for that ten times over 160 00:09:04,380 --> 00:09:06,379 and we'll be out of this . 161 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,179 That'll do, mate. That's good enough? 162 00:09:13,220 --> 00:09:15,139 Yeah, good. 163 00:09:15,180 --> 00:09:18,419 After a week's hard slog, they've finally hit the opal layer. 164 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,039 Feels good, actually. If I had a beer, I'd go home and have one. 165 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:28,139 More good news - Col is on his way back to lend a hand digging it out. 166 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,079 But next day.... 167 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,459 He should've been here. Yeah. 168 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,239 ..Col is a no-show. 169 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,199 Where's the big fella? Might still be in his swag. 170 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:40,999 Oi, Col! 171 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,159 You all right? Nah. 172 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,239 You don't sound real good. I'm gonna spew. 173 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:54,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 174 00:09:59,060 --> 00:10:04,279 900km away on the flat plains of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, 175 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,219 third-generation opal miner 176 00:10:06,260 --> 00:10:09,239 and mother of three Kelly Tishler is back, 177 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,179 having just hit her target last season. 178 00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:15,459 The last few years hasn't been really good. We need to find opal. 179 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,299 Some days, you wake up and think, "Really, what are we doing?" 180 00:10:19,340 --> 00:10:23,139 Kelly's prize - black opal, 181 00:10:23,180 --> 00:10:26,039 the most expensive opal on the planet. 182 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,179 The darker the background the better. 183 00:10:28,220 --> 00:10:32,439 Worth up to $35,000 retail a carat, 184 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,999 one-fifth of a gram, 185 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,039 it's Lightning Ridge's speciality. 186 00:10:39,140 --> 00:10:41,459 Every day, it's a new dream and new hope. 187 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,239 I wouldn't change it. I don't care how broke I go. 188 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,099 It's the freedom, it's the love, it's the opal. 189 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,079 Couple of these ones might be worth just a quick hit. 190 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,059 In a male-dominated industry, 191 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:55,239 Kelly's one of only a handful of women. 192 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,279 This had a bit of sand in it. I thought it wasn't gonna come out, 193 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,179 but it's come up not too bad. 194 00:11:00,220 --> 00:11:04,059 She also cuts and polishes her stones, 195 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:07,199 more than doubling their value to prospective buyers. 196 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:08,339 And that's quite nice. 197 00:11:08,380 --> 00:11:11,239 Put a bit of gold around it, and Bob's your uncle! 198 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:18,359 Last season, Kelly was forced to sell $20,000 worth of stone 199 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,019 from her backup stash just to cover costs. 200 00:11:22,060 --> 00:11:25,259 Yeah, very happy to move that on and be able to pay some bills. 201 00:11:26,420 --> 00:11:31,019 With a family to feed, this season Kelly is setting her target high. 202 00:11:31,060 --> 00:11:34,399 What we need this year to make would be $150,000 just to break even. 203 00:11:36,420 --> 00:11:41,199 To hit her target, she's pegged a claim 20km north of Lightning Ridge 204 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,179 on a patch of land she believes may be sitting on a fortune. 205 00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:47,079 There's opal all the way around it. 206 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,119 There's people finding bits and pieces, 207 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,999 there's people finding reasonable material. 208 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,079 To reach the opal level, 209 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:59,059 she's going to have to open an old mine 8m below ground. 210 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,359 There is a lot of danger involved underground - 211 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,139 so many things can go wrong. 212 00:12:03,180 --> 00:12:07,019 This time, Kelly's teamed up with some muscle - 213 00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:11,059 brother-in-law Mark and mate Dwayne are veteran underground miners. 214 00:12:13,140 --> 00:12:16,219 Hoping to see something more solid. Try and go for the easy money. 215 00:12:16,260 --> 00:12:18,459 Easy money? What's that? 216 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,059 Mark and Dwayne are absolute digging machines. 217 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:24,019 I could not ask for anyone better. 218 00:12:24,060 --> 00:12:26,359 But they've put everything on the line too. 219 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,139 It's been a long time for them to even find opal. 220 00:12:29,180 --> 00:12:32,259 Opal, you're on a high when you go to work, 221 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:34,299 and sometimes, you come home on a high. 222 00:12:34,340 --> 00:12:36,219 Most of the time, you come home on a low 223 00:12:36,260 --> 00:12:38,199 because you got your butt kicked! 224 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,059 We don't want problems. We've been through enough. 225 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:44,459 We want happiness. We want rainbows and unicorns. 226 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,779 Unbelievable. Unbelievable! 227 00:13:13,820 --> 00:13:17,899 Justin's return to Coober Pedy has suffered a devastating blow. 228 00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:20,859 Who is this who's come out here and done this? 229 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:24,639 The underground mine that was the rookies' best source of opal 230 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:26,599 appears to have been taken. 231 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,639 Look, the sixth of the fourth. 232 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:31,719 That's only last friggin' week. 233 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,779 If they've lost this mine, 234 00:13:33,820 --> 00:13:37,759 they've lost access to the rich seam of opal it contains. 235 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:45,959 I wanna ring Dan. 236 00:13:47,620 --> 00:13:50,479 DAN: 'Justin!' Hey, Dan, how are you going? 237 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,519 'Yeah, good, good. How are you?' 238 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:55,739 Well, not heaps good. I just came out to 17 Mile. 239 00:13:56,900 --> 00:13:59,639 And you wouldn't believe it, I've just rolled up, 240 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:01,539 and we can't even go on our old claim. 241 00:14:01,580 --> 00:14:02,919 I just... 'How come?' 242 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,859 The first thing I noticed was some bloody steel pegs 243 00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:07,879 that had been put in the ground. 244 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,779 Right where we had ours, exactly the same spot. 245 00:14:11,820 --> 00:14:14,639 And I don't even know where our pegs are gone. 246 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:17,839 'So we've lost our claim?' 247 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,959 Yeah, 17 Mile is gone. 248 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,619 'Oh.' I can't believe it. 249 00:14:23,660 --> 00:14:26,659 I can't even drive on there cos it's someone else's now. 250 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:30,639 'Bloody hell. So what are we... Do I need to come up?' 251 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,919 Well, I'm not sure. I mean, I don't know what we should do. 252 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,619 I can't believe it. Our bloody... Our nest egg. 253 00:14:37,660 --> 00:14:39,659 'Yeah. Looks like maybe...' 254 00:14:46,860 --> 00:14:49,899 Feels like someone has just stolen something from us. 255 00:14:51,620 --> 00:14:54,679 The boys' claim was less than a week out of date. 256 00:14:55,940 --> 00:14:59,599 By not sort of keeping up to date with the paperwork 257 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,739 and making sure we re-registered that claim, it had expired. 258 00:15:02,780 --> 00:15:06,559 It took us so many years to try and find out about this claim 259 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:08,899 and we worked there and I spent so many hours 260 00:15:08,940 --> 00:15:12,579 reading the ground and learning the whole mine. 261 00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:14,619 I just feel cold. 262 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:17,799 With 17 Mile gone, 263 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,919 Justin and Dan have got just one claim left, 264 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,599 their 200x100m claim at Shell Patch. 265 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,639 The big problem with Shell Patch is that 266 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,779 we've only got jack picks and drills. 267 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:33,499 We don't have an excavator and we don't have the money to buy one, 268 00:15:33,540 --> 00:15:35,579 so we're sort of really stuck 269 00:15:35,620 --> 00:15:38,559 because we need one to keep digging at Shell Patch. 270 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:44,659 A brand-new excavator costs over $65,000, 271 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:46,559 way beyond the rookies' budget. 272 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,759 We're back at square one, right back at the very beginning. 273 00:15:56,740 --> 00:16:00,899 But mentor and local legend John Dunston has come to the rescue. 274 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:07,499 John is the man who found one of the most valuable opals ever discovered, 275 00:16:07,540 --> 00:16:09,939 the million-dollar Virgin Rainbow. 276 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,719 Got anything I can tell 'em or teach 'em, I will. 277 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,739 Now his knowledge may just tip the balance in Justin's favour once more. 278 00:16:18,780 --> 00:16:22,519 There it is. There, I can see it. Oh, gee, that looks all right. 279 00:16:23,940 --> 00:16:27,639 This second-hand excavator could be within the rookies' price range 280 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:29,699 and put them back on track. 281 00:16:29,740 --> 00:16:33,779 Buying an excavator will increase our chances to find opal massively. 282 00:16:33,820 --> 00:16:36,639 We really need one to move more dirt 283 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:38,879 to eventually find that big motherlode of opal. 284 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,539 I've had a bit of a look at the old finances in the bank. 285 00:16:44,580 --> 00:16:47,479 I've had to sell a couple of things, 286 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,799 and I sort of thought if I can manage to get together $20,000, 287 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,659 then I can potentially buy that excavator. 288 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:56,639 How you going, John? Justin. Hi, Justin. How are you? 289 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,739 Justin knows nothing about these machines, 290 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:02,519 and buying second-hand equipment is always risky. 291 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,579 But if the rookies want to mine this season, 292 00:17:04,620 --> 00:17:06,579 they're running out of options. 293 00:17:06,620 --> 00:17:09,499 Unfortunately, Dan can't get up here, and I'm not gonna stop. 294 00:17:09,540 --> 00:17:12,499 I wanna come up here, mine, find opal. This is my calling. 295 00:17:12,540 --> 00:17:14,539 I love it. I think about it, dream about it, 296 00:17:14,580 --> 00:17:17,719 want to be here 24 hours a day. And I'm just gonna make it happen. 297 00:17:19,700 --> 00:17:22,779 A good solid little bucket. Yeah, good digging bucket. 298 00:17:22,820 --> 00:17:25,519 Side cutters. Ideal for up here. Perfect. 299 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,919 I'll get you to start it. Yeah, right. 300 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,959 Sounds all right. 301 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:36,519 The tracks are really good. 302 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,499 There's a lot of meat left in the idler, 303 00:17:39,540 --> 00:17:41,619 but these chains have got a lot of life in 'em. 304 00:17:41,660 --> 00:17:43,659 Oi, I've spotted an oil leak. 305 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,779 Yeah, I can see there's oil there now. 306 00:17:47,860 --> 00:17:50,559 Oh, that's not a good sign. 307 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,619 You don't look real good. 308 00:17:58,660 --> 00:18:00,879 Where am I? 309 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,799 At Col's camp, the crew are due to start digging out opal. 310 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,559 But overnight, Col has become seriously ill. 311 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:11,779 Oh, no, please. 312 00:18:11,820 --> 00:18:16,499 He's showing signs of severe dehydration and fever. 313 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:19,539 Have you got the spews? Yeah. 314 00:18:19,580 --> 00:18:21,579 That's no good. I'll take him to town. 315 00:18:21,620 --> 00:18:22,959 Yeah. 316 00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:24,819 You wanna go to town? 317 00:18:24,860 --> 00:18:27,519 Gonna have to. We can't see you like this. 318 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,559 Get in the Toyota... 319 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,859 Oh, sorry. ..and I'll take you to town. 320 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:36,499 I'm gonna spew. 321 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:44,839 I've never seen him this crook. 322 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,579 The nearest hospital is over 100km away, 323 00:18:49,620 --> 00:18:52,859 and with no mobile signal their only option is to drive. 324 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:54,759 You need to get to a doctor, mate. 325 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,759 Yeah, but I'm sort of spewing away. 326 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,959 Well, if we've got a bucket, you can spew whenever you want. 327 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:05,499 Perfect. 328 00:19:06,780 --> 00:19:09,899 On your pins. 329 00:19:09,940 --> 00:19:12,919 I'll just chuck your boots in the car like this. 330 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:14,959 All right, go ahead. 331 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,559 Got your bucket there. 332 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,599 OK, let's do it. 333 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,759 Hey, good luck, Col. Get it sorted out, mate. 334 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,939 We had a miner that nearly died out here cos he was camping by himself. 335 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,479 You've got to check on each other out here in the bush. 336 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:40,599 Col and Greg now face a gruelling two-hour journey through the Outback. 337 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,599 If no-one had come along, who knows, he might have died of dehydration. 338 00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:04,179 Kelly's team have just a month to find opal before they go bust. 339 00:20:04,220 --> 00:20:08,139 We need to find opal. It's as serious as it gets. 340 00:20:08,180 --> 00:20:10,319 If it doesn't pay off, we're up creek. 341 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:13,059 I'll get the heavy end, mate. 342 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:15,279 That's good. 343 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,979 First they need to ensure the mine's fragile roof 344 00:20:19,020 --> 00:20:21,359 8m below ground won't collapse, 345 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,399 burying them beneath thousands of tons of rock. 346 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,159 Once an initial shaft is sunk, 347 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,239 miners dig a series of tunnels or drives outwards. 348 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,379 Digging away the walls between the drives 349 00:20:35,420 --> 00:20:38,339 leaves a large open area known as a ballroom. 350 00:20:40,380 --> 00:20:44,219 The wider the ballroom, the higher the risk of collapse. 351 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,959 Props of Cypress pine are designed to prevent 352 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:53,059 the layers of loose sandstone above from separating and falling. 353 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:56,379 It's a technique that hasn't changed for over 100 years. 354 00:20:56,420 --> 00:20:59,119 Yeah, I've set a prop in here. 355 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,099 Right there where that cap is. We'll gonna underneath that. 356 00:21:02,140 --> 00:21:05,959 Each prop is cut to size underground 357 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,099 and positioned by hand. 358 00:21:08,140 --> 00:21:09,979 They've got to put a prop in here 359 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:12,039 just to secure the roof, make it safe. 360 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,999 Looks like we're gonna need a few wedges for that one, Dwayne. 361 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,319 No, mate. Are they all right, you reckon? 362 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:27,359 Perfectly cut once again. 363 00:21:30,260 --> 00:21:32,379 If you had to cut that, you'd probably need six. 364 00:21:32,420 --> 00:21:35,159 Probably need a couple on this end, I think. 365 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,119 Mark, do you want me just to drag these hoses? 366 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:46,999 You want to pull that digger. 367 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,079 Well, we'll have to swing it first anyways. 368 00:21:49,120 --> 00:21:54,239 With the roof secure, the 800kg 3m-long digging machine 369 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,279 swings into action. 370 00:21:57,420 --> 00:22:00,419 A vertical hydraulic ram locks it into place, 371 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,979 whilst a twin-toothed articulated arm cuts into the wall. 372 00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:09,419 There is a lot of danger involved underground. 373 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:11,959 You know, that's a pretty big machine. 374 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,339 You've got a lot of tonnage there. 375 00:22:13,380 --> 00:22:15,259 You can repair a digger, 376 00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:19,039 but you can't fix someone if they're being crushed under one. 377 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,439 When you're moving these diggers around, 378 00:22:21,980 --> 00:22:24,339 you've got to make sure that you're keeping them level, 379 00:22:24,380 --> 00:22:26,419 and don't get 'em rocked to one side. 380 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,419 Otherwise they will go over on their side 381 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,399 and they're a real to get back up, so. 382 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,419 Basically, you tip the digger over, she's all over for the day. 383 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,119 You're making a mess. Yeah. 384 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,159 That's if it doesn't pin you. 385 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,399 So you do need to be aware of them. It can be dangerous. 386 00:22:55,340 --> 00:22:59,339 With the digger now in position, the hunt for opal begins. 387 00:22:59,380 --> 00:23:02,319 I reckon we should, yeah, probably push out past this. 388 00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:08,439 They're looking for hints of opal colour in the grey wall. 389 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,279 Mark's been an opal miner all his life, 390 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,299 and he's one of the best diggers there are. 391 00:23:27,340 --> 00:23:29,959 You know, you see him rip into that wall there - 392 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,999 like, those digger teeth, they're razor sharp. 393 00:23:41,260 --> 00:23:44,279 Opal's a funny thing. You can dig for years on end and get nothing, 394 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,319 you can drill for years on end and find nothing at all. 395 00:23:49,060 --> 00:23:52,999 It can be one foot away - you can't see it through the ground. 396 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,259 So many people have missed out on millions of dollars 397 00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:57,359 because it's been above or below 'em. 398 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:11,099 Stone right there! Something's happening. Hang on. 399 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,259 I'll get my little pick. 400 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:17,199 I'll get this out before you get here. 401 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,379 Told you it'd be here, didn't I? 402 00:24:31,140 --> 00:24:34,379 There's definitely a leak in there somewhere, but I don't know where. 403 00:24:34,420 --> 00:24:36,319 In Coober Pedy, 404 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:41,079 the excavator Justin wants to buy has just sprung a leak. 405 00:24:41,120 --> 00:24:43,439 No, I can't see where it's coming from. 406 00:24:43,980 --> 00:24:46,079 I don't know if you can. 407 00:24:48,980 --> 00:24:51,339 Oh, I know what it is. Those little hoses in here. 408 00:24:51,380 --> 00:24:53,299 You've got to take that plate off. 409 00:24:53,340 --> 00:24:56,979 You'll find there's a series of little hoses. 410 00:24:57,020 --> 00:24:59,059 Pretty easy fix, you reckon? I don't know. 411 00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:02,999 It'll be a little hose. But you know second-hand machines, 412 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,079 you can never tell how long they're gonna last. 413 00:25:06,120 --> 00:25:09,139 But the way this started up, 414 00:25:09,180 --> 00:25:12,419 the way it's running, the tracks are all good. 415 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,219 So there's a lot of life left in this machine. 416 00:25:15,260 --> 00:25:17,259 Justin's got to make the decision. 417 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,019 Owner John wants $25,000. 418 00:25:23,060 --> 00:25:26,199 But Justin only has $20,000 to spare. 419 00:25:28,220 --> 00:25:31,419 You've got about 20-25 or so on it. 420 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,139 If we can get that little leak fixed we spotted, 421 00:25:35,180 --> 00:25:39,339 I'm wondering if you'd sort of take around 20 grand for it? 422 00:25:40,380 --> 00:25:44,099 Look, you know, it's probably worth more than that up here, but... 423 00:25:44,140 --> 00:25:46,959 I've got 20 grand spare for this. Right. 424 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,059 Yeah? Yeah. 425 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:53,299 Gotta transport it out to the field, so I've got a couple of extra costs. 426 00:25:53,340 --> 00:25:56,219 Yeah, we want 22. I mean, um... 427 00:25:56,260 --> 00:25:58,439 Yeah... 428 00:25:58,980 --> 00:26:01,339 Well, if you took 20, I'd buy it today. 429 00:26:01,380 --> 00:26:03,379 You would? Yeah. 430 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,179 OK. And that includes GST on that. Yeah. 431 00:26:07,220 --> 00:26:09,379 All right. If you're cool with it. 432 00:26:09,420 --> 00:26:12,079 Best of luck. I just bought myself an excavator. 433 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:14,359 Good on you, mate. Congratulations. Thanks, John. 434 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,299 Thanks heaps for looking at it. Oh, it's unreal. 435 00:26:17,340 --> 00:26:20,099 I'm just in complete sort of... I don't know. 436 00:26:20,140 --> 00:26:22,179 I'm in shock because I'm so excited. 437 00:26:22,220 --> 00:26:25,139 Justin is finally ready to go mining. 438 00:26:26,420 --> 00:26:30,219 The excavator can haul a ton of dirt in each bucket. 439 00:26:30,260 --> 00:26:32,359 The rookies can now do in a week 440 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,239 what would take them three months by hand. 441 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:37,299 It's a big game changer for us, you know. 442 00:26:37,340 --> 00:26:40,079 All of a sudden, we've gone from using hand picks, 443 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:42,059 and, boom, now I've got an excavator. 444 00:26:42,100 --> 00:26:44,159 We can move tons and tons and tons of dirt. 445 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,199 And I've got this down. 446 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,139 It does feel quite different. It feels bizarre not having Dan here, 447 00:26:51,180 --> 00:26:55,379 cos usually we bounce ideas off each other and make decisions together. 448 00:26:55,420 --> 00:26:59,019 It's a bit unusual how I've just got to make a decision on my own now. 449 00:26:59,060 --> 00:27:02,179 But he'll be up here at some point. 450 00:27:02,220 --> 00:27:05,419 All I've got to do now is just dig a bit of opal out to pay for it. 451 00:27:19,140 --> 00:27:21,999 Just keep the bucket handy. You'll be all right. 452 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,279 Seriously dehydrated and with a high fever, 453 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,319 Col's being rushed to hospital. 454 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,139 You all right? 455 00:27:31,180 --> 00:27:35,099 And there's still 100km of dirt road ahead. 456 00:27:36,380 --> 00:27:39,359 I've never seen Col that sick ever before. Never. 457 00:27:44,140 --> 00:27:46,159 I was punching the speed limit on the dirt, 458 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,219 trying to get Col to the hospital as quick as I could. 459 00:27:50,420 --> 00:27:54,319 Then the steering went a little bit funny, and I thought, "Oh, wait." 460 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,039 And then she started going all over the place. 461 00:28:19,140 --> 00:28:21,259 She went bang. I just rode her out. 462 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,339 I did feel it, and the steering went a bit funny, 463 00:28:26,380 --> 00:28:28,379 and I thought, "Ah, well." 464 00:28:28,420 --> 00:28:32,039 So I just took my foot off the accelerator and just kept steering. 465 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:37,299 Oh, I've got a really bad headache. 466 00:28:38,260 --> 00:28:40,359 I feel like I've got a really bad fever. 467 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,239 I just keep being sick. 468 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,359 Wait, wait, wait. 469 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,019 That's not a good thing. 470 00:29:07,060 --> 00:29:09,059 Big fella's down. 471 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:23,959 Black too. 472 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,039 After an entire season without a find, 473 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,979 Kelly and her crew have finally hit black opal. 474 00:29:33,020 --> 00:29:35,019 Going to town... 475 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:37,979 Maybe... 476 00:29:38,020 --> 00:29:40,339 Celebrating's looking after your body, Kelly. 477 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,039 Go and do some exercise. 478 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,079 But they may have hit it too hard. 479 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,079 Mark's just made a bleed. Made a bleed. 480 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:58,139 That's a broken stone. Probably a thousand-dollar stone broken. 481 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,199 The worst thing is you don't see it, 482 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,259 and the digger tooth goes through it. 483 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:07,079 And you've been looking for it for so long, and then you smash it, 484 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,079 and it's the only one in the claim - 485 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:11,319 that's devastating. 486 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,359 Luckily, there are signs of more in the wall. 487 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,139 Let's dig some out. 488 00:30:19,180 --> 00:30:21,359 That's black too. 489 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,399 Get it out, mate. 490 00:30:25,180 --> 00:30:27,179 A little bit in there... 491 00:30:36,300 --> 00:30:39,159 Purply grey... And blue. 492 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,359 Beautiful trace. Money. 493 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,999 I've got a thousand-dollar stone in my hand. 494 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,039 Opal! 495 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,319 Yeah, all good. 496 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:01,419 Good. Real good. 497 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,379 Fossil. 498 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:21,179 After a disastrous last season, 499 00:31:21,220 --> 00:31:25,059 it looks like Kelly's fortunes are finally beginning to change. 500 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:44,799 Without partner Dan, rookie miner Justin 501 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,759 has just forked out $20,000 502 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:49,699 on a second-hand excavator 503 00:31:49,740 --> 00:31:51,719 with an oil leak. 504 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,579 Dan and I have both got a joint claim at Shell Patch. 505 00:31:54,620 --> 00:31:56,459 So if I take it out there, 506 00:31:56,500 --> 00:31:59,739 we've both got to be there to dig it as part of our partnership. 507 00:32:00,820 --> 00:32:02,759 But with an expensive shovel 508 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,539 and a bank balance shrinking by the day, 509 00:32:05,580 --> 00:32:07,899 Justin can't afford to wait for Dan. 510 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,679 I sort of feel like I'm in a bit of a limbo at the moment. 511 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,519 If Dan can't come up here, then I'm just gonna keep going, 512 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:15,759 and if I find a new claim out on another field, 513 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:17,799 I'll mine that myself. 514 00:32:19,900 --> 00:32:24,439 Justin's decision to go solo is a major one. 515 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,679 But first, he needs to find a claim. 516 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:28,579 Around this area, 517 00:32:28,620 --> 00:32:31,619 Olympic has some of the best opal you can find in Coober Pedy. 518 00:32:31,660 --> 00:32:34,479 But not far is Five Mile, 519 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,599 and that's where John Bailey, the guy I bought the excavator off of, 520 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:39,559 he recommended this spot. 521 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,819 He said that is the best place to find good crystals. 522 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,719 Five Mile is where I'm gonna go. 523 00:32:49,540 --> 00:32:51,499 Not wanting to miss out a second time, 524 00:32:51,540 --> 00:32:55,539 Justin heads out with mentor John to assess the new site. 525 00:32:56,740 --> 00:33:00,739 Five Mile is a 4x2km patch of land, 526 00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:03,919 literally five miles south-east of Coober Pedy. 527 00:33:04,460 --> 00:33:07,459 So his opal he found here. 528 00:33:07,500 --> 00:33:09,819 Yep. And he reckons it's even here. 529 00:33:09,860 --> 00:33:11,699 There you go. 530 00:33:11,740 --> 00:33:14,619 Material. Straight up. 531 00:33:14,660 --> 00:33:16,739 So there's definitely something going on here. 532 00:33:16,780 --> 00:33:20,439 But committing to a new claim without a partner 533 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,499 means Justin will be shouldering all the expenses alone. 534 00:33:23,540 --> 00:33:25,479 You've got good eyes. 535 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:28,839 He needs more proof opal is there. 536 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:36,639 An ultraviolet or black light makes opal fluoresce in the dark, 537 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:38,899 revealing deposits invisible by day. 538 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,779 Check this out! Look at it. It's like a Christmas tree. 539 00:33:42,820 --> 00:33:45,659 Look at it! Up here. Look at it all! 540 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:49,659 Give me colour, give me colour. 541 00:33:49,700 --> 00:33:51,639 My heart's racing. 542 00:33:52,740 --> 00:33:55,679 It's nice clean material. 543 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,639 No colour in it, which is a little bit worrying. 544 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,859 If we're gonna spend a bit of money getting this whole area cleaned up, 545 00:34:01,900 --> 00:34:04,699 I would love to see a bit of colour just to make sure 546 00:34:04,740 --> 00:34:06,599 that I'm making the right decision. 547 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,539 Oh, far out! 548 00:34:16,460 --> 00:34:18,859 Oh, my God! Oh, my God! 549 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:20,919 Look at that, look at that, look at that. 550 00:34:21,460 --> 00:34:23,559 That is some of the best crystal I've seen. 551 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:25,599 This has to be worth money. 552 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:30,479 It's crystal opal, worth up to $1,500 a carat. 553 00:34:31,820 --> 00:34:35,759 Crystal opal is one of Coober Pedy's most valuable types. 554 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:39,439 The stone has flashes of medium value green, 555 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,919 but it's thin and in the rough, bringing the value down, 556 00:34:42,460 --> 00:34:44,619 and weighs only two ounces, 557 00:34:44,660 --> 00:34:46,759 which makes its total value just $200. 558 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:55,459 But it's real worth is the promise it holds of riches below ground. 559 00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:57,699 This is one of the really, really good indicators 560 00:34:57,740 --> 00:34:59,599 that there's opal here. Great sign. 561 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,739 Until it actually happens to you 562 00:35:01,780 --> 00:35:05,679 and you feel the rush of knowing that there's opal here, 563 00:35:05,720 --> 00:35:08,459 and not only just opal but the best opal, 564 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:10,499 that just makes me want to cry. 565 00:35:10,540 --> 00:35:11,799 That's amazing. 566 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:18,439 One rock has convinced Justin he could be sitting on a fortune. 567 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,459 But his success going solo 568 00:35:21,500 --> 00:35:24,659 will have serious implications for his partnership with Dan. 569 00:35:24,700 --> 00:35:27,799 Now that he's bought an excavator with his own money, 570 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:29,679 and he's got his own claim, 571 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:31,579 it makes it a bit more difficult for us 572 00:35:31,620 --> 00:35:35,499 in our mining partnership as we had it before 573 00:35:35,540 --> 00:35:37,539 because he'll be mining that. 574 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:41,779 When I come up, how do we do it? 575 00:35:43,820 --> 00:35:46,859 From here on in, everything's a bit more complicated. 576 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:03,659 He don't look real flash there lying on the ground. 577 00:36:03,700 --> 00:36:05,599 I think he's pretty sick. 578 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,639 The sooner we get him in the better. 579 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,699 With Col in need of urgent medical attention, 580 00:36:10,740 --> 00:36:14,679 he and Greg are stranded on a sweltering Outback road. 581 00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:25,499 I've got to lift it up higher. 582 00:36:27,580 --> 00:36:30,579 I've either got to dig a hole, put the tyre on that way, 583 00:36:30,620 --> 00:36:32,679 or if he's got another jack, I'll jack it. 584 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:34,779 It's safer if we've got another jack. 585 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:42,639 Oi! 586 00:36:45,660 --> 00:36:48,559 You're lucky, Col. We had another jack here. 587 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:52,479 Or we would be snookered. 588 00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:59,899 It's good to carry two jacks. Can save a lot of drama. 589 00:37:09,820 --> 00:37:11,819 Now we've got her. 590 00:37:15,540 --> 00:37:18,579 Time to get him to the doctor's quick as possible. 591 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,759 I reckon he's very sick, Col. 592 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,859 He's got a bad headache, spewing his guts out. 593 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:41,679 Park here. 594 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:46,479 You all right there? 595 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:55,799 One opal hunter down. 596 00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:01,619 Col is diagnosed with Barmah Forest fever, 597 00:38:01,660 --> 00:38:05,699 transmitted by mosquitoes from infected kangaroos and wallabies, 598 00:38:05,740 --> 00:38:08,499 causing debilitating flu-like symptoms 599 00:38:08,540 --> 00:38:10,799 which could put him out of action for weeks. 600 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:14,879 But Aaron and Greg can't afford to stop mining. 601 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,639 Just gotta get back out there and find a bit of opal, 602 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,539 make a few bucks. 603 00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:23,919 With a target of $120,000 604 00:38:24,460 --> 00:38:26,579 and not a cent made, 605 00:38:26,620 --> 00:38:29,579 the boys will have to push on alone. 606 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:40,499 Ready to go and have a look at those bits?Yep. 607 00:38:40,540 --> 00:38:42,679 Kelly and Dwayne have a buyer due tomorrow 608 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,859 to view their haul of black opal. 609 00:38:45,820 --> 00:38:49,799 To make as much money as they can, they need to polish the uncut stones. 610 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:51,779 It's always exciting to see what it is. 611 00:38:51,820 --> 00:38:54,759 You don't know what you've got until you get it on the wheel. 612 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:58,659 Kelly's been cutting and polishing stones since she was eight. 613 00:38:58,700 --> 00:39:01,859 Get it right, she can earn the team more than double. 614 00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:04,679 Get it wrong, and she could lose them everything. 615 00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:06,639 Nice colour. 616 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:08,859 One opal has caught Kelly's attention, 617 00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:11,799 and could be worth up to $5,000, 618 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,679 if she can remove the black layer of stone. 619 00:39:17,780 --> 00:39:19,839 You gonna go hard on it? 620 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:22,919 You can't have it like that. That's gotta go. 621 00:39:23,460 --> 00:39:26,919 Kelly will need all her years of experience to remove the black 622 00:39:27,460 --> 00:39:30,559 without damaging the valuable rainbow pattern beneath. 623 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:32,779 If it doesn't play nice 624 00:39:32,820 --> 00:39:35,439 and that thing doesn't come out of the face of it, 625 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,579 we'd be lucky to get 20 bucks. Go for it. 626 00:39:38,740 --> 00:39:41,799 We're going for it, so it's got to come out. 627 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,559 I'm just trying to get it out. It's lifting, isn't it? 628 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,639 Without losing too much of the colour. 629 00:39:51,820 --> 00:39:54,599 Dipping in. Going... 630 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:56,619 Come on, be nice. Come on, baby. 631 00:39:56,660 --> 00:39:59,699 Should be able to roll it out... tight. 632 00:39:59,740 --> 00:40:01,599 Come on, baby. 633 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:03,679 It's lifting, isn't it? Or is it? 634 00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:05,859 You can't count your chickens before they hatch, 635 00:40:05,900 --> 00:40:07,919 but that's not looking too bad to me. 636 00:40:08,460 --> 00:40:10,459 Oh, that's coming up nice. Yeah. 637 00:40:10,500 --> 00:40:12,479 Twinkle, twinkle. 638 00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:13,899 She's pretty under there, Dwayne. 639 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:16,819 That'll be two-three carats, Kel, wouldn't it? 640 00:40:16,860 --> 00:40:18,719 Oh, that? 641 00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:20,759 No. That's six carats. 642 00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:24,919 Kelly's skill has turned a thousand-dollar rough stone 643 00:40:25,460 --> 00:40:27,499 into a six-carat opal, 644 00:40:27,540 --> 00:40:30,739 worth around $5,000 in its current state. 645 00:40:30,780 --> 00:40:33,579 We shifted 100 tons of dirt to get that one rock. 646 00:40:33,620 --> 00:40:35,899 Good end result for a lot of hard work 647 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:38,839 to see something that's as beautiful as what it is. 648 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:41,579 It's awesome. That's the end result you want. 649 00:40:41,620 --> 00:40:45,679 With more gems to polish, and the buyer due the next morning, 650 00:40:45,720 --> 00:40:47,719 Kelly's in for a long night. 651 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,799 How are you going, Kelly? 652 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,739 Hey, Carl, how are you going, mate? Good, thanks. 653 00:40:57,780 --> 00:40:59,779 With black opal so rare, 654 00:40:59,820 --> 00:41:03,599 local buyer Carl Babic is keen to see Kelly's haul. 655 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:05,779 Leading up to it, there's a little bit of nerves. 656 00:41:05,820 --> 00:41:08,579 Cos you're the one putting the valuation on the stone. 657 00:41:08,620 --> 00:41:10,779 He could turn around and go, "You're off your head. 658 00:41:10,820 --> 00:41:12,819 I don't believe it's worth that." 659 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:17,519 Kelly's stones are black opal, the most expensive type. 660 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:20,499 The greens and blues make them of medium value. 661 00:41:20,540 --> 00:41:24,619 Being semi-polished increases their price and there is a good haul, 662 00:41:24,660 --> 00:41:26,559 bringing the total value up to 663 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,599 $20-25,000. 664 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:42,719 I get on well with him. That's not a problem. 665 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:45,639 But when it comes to business, the business hat goes on. 666 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:47,679 That's what we do. 667 00:41:50,900 --> 00:41:53,459 Kelly's pretty tough. 668 00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:57,659 She always seems to know how to squeeze me for that last dollar. 669 00:42:01,500 --> 00:42:03,539 Well, I came up to 20. 670 00:42:05,540 --> 00:42:07,539 20? 671 00:42:07,580 --> 00:42:10,579 I've got an instruction that 23 is the bottom. 672 00:42:10,620 --> 00:42:14,499 23 I think, is just going a little bit too far, to be honest. 673 00:42:14,540 --> 00:42:17,839 I don't really want to even add another 500 bucks. 674 00:42:19,580 --> 00:42:22,799 So what are you looking at? 22,000 I can do. 675 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:24,839 22,000. All right. 676 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:29,559 Happy campers. OK, very good.Very good. 677 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:31,619 Thank you very much again, Kelly. All right. 678 00:42:31,660 --> 00:42:34,519 For me and what I do, this is an ideal parcel. 679 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:36,499 It's got a bit of variety of everything. 680 00:42:36,540 --> 00:42:37,899 A few, you know, nice pieces. 681 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:40,739 Might even be some profit. 682 00:42:40,780 --> 00:42:43,679 Good. Done. Sold. 683 00:42:43,720 --> 00:42:45,739 Yep. Make the call, let the boys know. 684 00:42:45,780 --> 00:42:48,639 They should be really, really happy, so that's good. 685 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:50,679 We live to fight another day. 686 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:54,919 With a target of $150,000, 687 00:42:55,460 --> 00:42:58,659 Kelly's haul of $22,000 is a great start. 688 00:42:59,700 --> 00:43:03,479 For that claim, the decision's been made that we'll definitely keep it. 689 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:05,739 We'll just put some more work in, some more props, 690 00:43:05,780 --> 00:43:07,839 and we'll just keep going. 691 00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:11,599 It's always a dream to go and find a million dollars, 692 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,759 but even that little $5 stone 693 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:17,499 still gives you that same little dose of happiness when you find it. 694 00:43:17,540 --> 00:43:19,539 Yeah. It's great. 695 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:23,439 # Money 696 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:25,479 subtitles by Deluxe 696 00:43:26,305 --> 00:44:26,563 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm