"Outback Opal Hunters" Against All Odds

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,359 On Outback Opal Hunters, 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,919 rookie Justin makes a mad dash 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,159 to get his 20-ton excavator across a busy highway. 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,799 Opal queen Kelly battles a new claim... 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,879 KELLY: You're here. ..with a new partner. 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,919 It's pretty tough going. It's some of the hardest... 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,519 Hey! 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,399 And the Boulder Boys... Hey! 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,279 ..are on a collision course. 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,879 Fuel. Stop. Stop. 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:38,074 12 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:01,999 Coober Pedy, South Australia - 13 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,959 an isolated town, surrounded by a vast and brutal desert. 14 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,839 Like thousands before him, rookie miner Justin Lang 15 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,079 is hoping to make his fortune on the opal fields of Coober Pedy. 16 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,839 But this second season in the game is not going to plan. 17 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,799 He's lost his mining partner, Dan, 18 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:32,039 invested almost $50,000... I just bought myself an excavator. 19 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,159 ..and hasn't made a cent. 20 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,279 Justin desperately needs a win. 21 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,959 Becky and I recently got engaged. So I've got to find opal. 22 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,799 I have to make it work. It is just so important, 23 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,119 because I need to provide for a family one day. 24 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,159 Justin is searching for a new claim. 25 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,039 I'm trying to work out the next step for me 26 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,799 and that's to go to the closest field to see if I can get some opal, 27 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,039 cos I'm starting to get a little bit desperate. 28 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:06,999 I haven't seen it in a long time 29 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,079 and I just need to see some opal in the wall. 30 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:13,519 The closest minefield to his current claim at Shell Patch 31 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,879 is Vino, just 5km away, 32 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,359 close enough for him to walk his 20-ton excavator. 33 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,159 The plan from here is to pick up the pegs, 34 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,399 make my way cross-country to Vino, 35 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,959 get down there and put the pegs in the ground 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,079 and, if I can, I'll start mining today. 37 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:38,039 Four boundary pegs are used to define each miner's claim. 38 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,759 Once they're in position, the claim registered 39 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,079 and $300 paid for a 12-month lease, 40 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,159 the ground is theirs to dig. 41 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,919 To get the excavator to the new claim, 42 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,719 Justin must first cross the main arterial route 43 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,479 from the top to the bottom of the continent, 44 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,199 the Stuart Highway. 45 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,559 Here, the famous Aussie road trains are a constant hazard. 46 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:15,919 Measuring up to 50m, weighing over 115 tons 47 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,199 and with a top speed of 100km an hour, 48 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,599 they take 200m to stop. 49 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,399 To get his excavator over the road, 50 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,199 Justin not only needs to dodge the traffic, 51 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,479 he must avoid damaging the road 52 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,799 or face the cost of fixing it. 53 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,559 You gotta lay all these tyres out, 54 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,359 so then the excavator tracks can go over the top of the tyres, 55 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,199 so it doesn't damage the road. 56 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,159 Time for some advice from mentor and veteran 57 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,799 Coober Pedy miner John Dunstan. 58 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,119 Hey, Justin, how are you going? Yeah, good, good. How are you? 59 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,839 So, how do you intend to cross the bitumen? 60 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,879 I thought I'll ask to see whether, you know, you had any advice 61 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,879 on doing it, cos I'm doing it by myself at this stage. 62 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,879 Well, that's dangerous. Yeah. 63 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,199 That's really dangerous trying to do it on your own. 64 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,879 All right. Because there's a lot of traffic on the road 65 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,999 and you gotta make sure it's all clear, 66 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,479 and you'll need at least one other person to help you 67 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,559 to shove the tyres on the road. All right. 68 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,159 And then quickly get them off, as soon as you cross. OK. 69 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,839 Unfortunately, I can't help you today. Yeah, that's all right. 70 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,679 John seems to think it's dangerous. 71 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,119 If you damage the road, you have to pay to get it fixed. 72 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,879 That's gonna really put a hole in my pocket. 73 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,999 Remember when you visited me about a week-and-a-half ago? Yeah. 74 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,959 I told you I found a beautiful belemnite? 75 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,319 That's right, yeah. I'll show it to you. 76 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,239 I love this. Right. There you go. 77 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:45,959 Whoa. Don't have a heart attack. 78 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,719 Wow. Oh, wow. 79 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,399 That's beautiful. That's stunning. 80 00:04:55,480 --> 00:05:00,359 An opalised cuttlefish fossil, over 60 million years old. 81 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:06,719 At 34 carats, this piece has an estimated value of $10,000. 82 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,239 That, pretty much, is exactly what I needed to see 83 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,079 to actually make me feel like I wanna keep going. 84 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,799 And it's the type of opal Justin is hoping to find at Vino. 85 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:33,479 Dragonfly claim, Opalton, 120km from the nearest town. 86 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,559 Here, the Boulder Boys are chasing $120,000. 87 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,919 After the death of his father two years ago, 88 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,319 Aaron has been renting this claim from his family 89 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,119 and needs his share so he can buy them out. 90 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:55,919 Yeah, I'm gonna pay the family and then buy that. Dad just died. 91 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,919 That's his lease, that's his house in town. 92 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,479 That's why I came here in the first place, to do it. 93 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,559 But after just one big find months ago, 94 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,679 things aren't looking good. 95 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,039 Oh, there's a bit of pressure on me at the moment. 96 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,079 I gotta sort of try and come up with a fair bit of money. 97 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,879 With just four months left to hit their target, 98 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,759 they'll need another big find. 99 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:23,519 And this time, 100 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,799 they're planning to dig an area they've called The Pit. 101 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,599 Yeah, we need lightning to strike twice to get another big find. 102 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,399 This season has seen big changes for the crew. 103 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,799 Partner Col Duff has suffered from constant ill-health. 104 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,239 Yeah, the partnership's over for this season. 105 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,319 And, you know, it's just bad luck. 106 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,559 I got sick at some crucial points 107 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,519 and, you know, I don't wanna get sick again. 108 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,239 Now the partnership's over with us and Col. 109 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,199 Enter new partner, Ron Selig. 110 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:03,719 In opal mining, having a partner you can trust is key. 111 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,239 Ron's worked with me before out Middleton way. 112 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,199 We've done a fair bit of digging out that way. 113 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,679 I like working with Ron. He's a good worker and a very honest person. 114 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,119 I've got on well with Greg all these years. 115 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,119 We go fishing together, we have a good time together. 116 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:21,919 We understand each other. 117 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,159 We've got both. 118 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,559 Ron hasn't invested money or equipment in Dragonfly. 119 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,159 He'll get just 10% of anything they find. 120 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,279 It's a breeze working with the boys, 121 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:35,999 because where I was before, 122 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,399 it was like walking on eggshells all the time. 123 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,439 Whoa! Look at that. That's bloody nice. 124 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,719 Yeah, Ron's had a rough run with some partners. 125 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,119 A nice green-purple, eh. It is. 126 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,759 He seems to keep getting a raw deal from people, 127 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,999 but he will be all right if he sticks with us. 128 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,639 Yeah, Ron's worth his weight in gold. 129 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,879 You know, if you got good partners, you gotta look after them. 130 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,919 Together, these three battlers might just strike it rich. 131 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,839 Whilst Ron levels the surface of the pit, 132 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,799 Aaron and Greg will dig test holes around it 133 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,559 to see how far the opal level runs. 134 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,999 Here, right? Right. 135 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,359 This should be a good hole. 136 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,959 Doing the homework before we start moving the dirt. 137 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:38,879 Their 40-year-old Coldwell drill uses decades-old technology. 138 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:43,999 It is notoriously dangerous, with limbs lost in its operation. 139 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,759 Pulling up samples from up to 30m below ground, 140 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,679 it can help them pinpoint where to mine next. 141 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,039 Just gonna have a look. 142 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,639 Maybe a bit of sandy boulder has come out of something. 143 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,319 Ron's a pretty smooth operator, as well. 144 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,919 He's steady, aye. It's good to see he's steady on the dozer, Greg. 145 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:14,959 Yeah, no, I know he's a steady operator. 146 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,559 It's sandy, isn't it? Yeah. 147 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,399 It's like a wood replacement. But it's soft stuff. 148 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,079 I love it. 149 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,319 The drill's a very good thing, cos it gives a good sample of the ground 150 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,879 and the depths your levels are at and how thick your level is. 151 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,879 So, basically, you've just gotta work out 152 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:38,919 exactly what bit of ground to take, and take it. 153 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,079 While Greg handles the cable that releases the load, 154 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:44,759 it's up to Aaron to control the drill 155 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,879 so it doesn't get overfilled with dirt and jam. 156 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,079 But the next load isn't emptying. 157 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,559 It's packed right in there. 158 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,439 Yeah, all the overload at the bucket, just packed right in. 159 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,719 With the bucket jammed, 160 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,039 their drilling operation is at a standstill. 161 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,279 Lightning Ridge, Outback, New South Wales, 162 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,719 a frontier town at the edge 163 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,639 of an unforgiving wilderness. 164 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,799 A town that exists for one reason only. 165 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:25,279 Black opal. 166 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:31,039 Rarer than diamond, black opal can be worth as much as $35,000 167 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,839 for just a fifth of a gram. 168 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:39,679 Just $28,000 towards her $150,000 target, 169 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,639 opal queen and mother of three Kelly Tishler 170 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,559 is heading out to peg a secret new claim. 171 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,919 It's a whole new area. Nobody knows this area. 172 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,239 No-one in town knows. I've got to keep it quiet. 173 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,919 There's a lot riding on it. 174 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,039 If it turns out to be a whole new opal field, 175 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,039 we don't know what's out there. It could be millions of dollars. 176 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:07,119 Recent test drilling has brought her to one particular site. 177 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,159 This is a whole new area, a whole new field. 178 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,319 We're a long way from other opals, so, effectively, 179 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,319 we've narrowed it down to this hole. That feels pretty good. 180 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,159 Now she needs to peg her claim 181 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,959 and mine the area before someone else does. 182 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,319 Opal lives here. 183 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,039 Kelly may finally be onto a winner. 184 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,439 With a 3m test shaft already dug, 185 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,839 Kelly now needs to get the bottom of the hole widened, or belled out, 186 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,319 to make room for a tunnelling machine. 187 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:50,559 It's tough work that requires experience and the right machinery. 188 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,599 With partners Dwayne and Mark already busy, 189 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:55,599 Kelly's in need of more muscle. 190 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,599 Josh Harrison and his father Ian 191 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:02,599 have been miners in Lightning Ridge for decades. 192 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:06,799 The pair are famous for hard work - and heavy machinery. 193 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,439 You're here. Hi. 194 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,959 That coming out... 195 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:20,199 Nice colour, eh? Oh, it's opal. It's opal, mate. 196 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,079 Kelly and Al have come through and drilled up some material 197 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,919 and they've now pegged it. 198 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,799 They asked us if we're interested in working the claim last week 199 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,839 and we agreed on a deal. 200 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,439 And so we'll come here and take a sample, 201 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,159 and see how it turns out. 202 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,239 Josh and his dad will work Kelly's claim 203 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,399 for a percentage of whatever they find. 204 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,839 I trust him totally, so he'll do a great job. 205 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,279 And he's got the machines and I'll just off 206 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,119 for a few days, come back, hopefully there will be some gems. 207 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,519 Well, I'll leave it all in your capable hands. 208 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,839 All right, then, we'll see you when you're back. 209 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,919 I hope you get some opal. Hopefully we get some bloody gems for you. 210 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,439 On the Dragonfly claim, Aaron and Greg's mining operation 211 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,599 has ground to a halt. 212 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,639 Aaron has packed the bucket full of earth. 213 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,959 Sorry, mate, it's well and truly packed in there. 214 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,319 Can you do it? No, you do it. 215 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,799 You fix it. 216 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,759 He forgot he already filled it. So he loaded it up and bang bang. 217 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,559 She's choc-a-block. 218 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,319 I'm puffed, Greg. Oh, are you? 219 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,839 It's not that bad, Greg. 220 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:47,879 Yeah, you're going well. Keep it up. We'll get there by Christmas. 221 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,119 New partner Ron has found opal trace. 222 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,799 Is it worth looking at? Of course it is. 223 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,639 OK. A drop of diesel. 224 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,319 It's at least something. 225 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,079 Ron found a bit of colour in the sand as he's pushing. 226 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,559 Yeah, this is the one that's got blue in it. 227 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:11,319 You're not just a pretty face. No. 228 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,639 I think we've got luck on our side since Ron's come here. 229 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,559 He's brought colour, he's brought luck, he's happy. 230 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,439 What more do you want in the Pedy? 231 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,799 Ron also has a range of handy skills. 232 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,719 Any chance of getting a fringe cut? No worries, mate. 233 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,879 For you, anything. 234 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,519 Dan slept with his scissors. Aarie has a fringe. 235 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,839 Starting to get a bit feral. 236 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:42,639 I'm gonna use the crease on your head. 237 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,719 Which one? Which one? Are you ready? 238 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,439 All right. All right. 239 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,559 Oh, look at that. 240 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:59,359 You don't want to go too high. No, he's doing a nice job there. 241 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,319 Can you blend the sides? Get it pretty straight? Yeah, he did. 242 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,479 Beautiful. 243 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,399 Straight? 244 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:11,959 Of course it's straight. 245 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,519 No, you just gotta move your head a bit to the right. 246 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,479 I mean, left. Now, it's straight. 247 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,119 I tried my best. 248 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,639 That's... But that's all right. 249 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,719 It's a lot better, it's not in my eyes. 250 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,279 I don't know if it's a lot better, but it's definitely not in his eyes. 251 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,479 Let's go and suck some more dust, eh. 252 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,439 Aaron's keen to get back on the hunt. 253 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,359 I need to find opal, I've got a lot of bills to pay, 254 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,039 sort out family, 255 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,959 and if we don't find opal, we can't keep going. 256 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,679 The boys want to dig where Ron found opal trace. 257 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,759 First, they must clear the area of tons of dirt. 258 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,039 But, as Aaron reverses, he's unaware 259 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,799 behind him is a 40-gallon drum of diesel. 260 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,159 Stop. Stop. Fuel! 261 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,519 You need at least one other person to help you. Yeah. 262 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,719 OK? Before you even attempt to do it. 263 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,159 OK. Cos that's dangerous. 264 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:24,559 Desperate for an opal strike, 265 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,239 rookie Justin's making a risky move. 266 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,159 He wants to take his 20-ton excavator, 267 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,959 with a top speed of 3km per hour, 268 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:41,959 across a busy highway with a top speed of 110km per hour. 269 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,359 Some of the road trains that are cruising through 270 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,239 have got three massive carriages on them. 271 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:49,759 And they take a while to slow up. 272 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:51,879 So I don't want to be in the road with them. 273 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,159 Not only does he need to cross it, 274 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,959 he has to make sure he doesn't damage it. 275 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,919 To get it over there, 276 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,599 I need to take the excavator right up to the road 277 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,639 and I need to make sure that there's about 12 or more tyres 278 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,759 stacked on either side of the road. 279 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,599 Really quickly, I've gotta just put them out across the road 280 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,279 so I don't damage the bitumen when I roll the tracks over it. 281 00:17:16,360 --> 00:17:19,479 It's a dangerous crossing to attempt alone. 282 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:26,399 He's in luck. A nearby truck driver might lend a hand. 283 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,719 Wondering if you could help me throw a few tyres on the road, over. 284 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,159 Justin. 285 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,839 You cool with helping me out? 286 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,919 I can drive the excavator if you want. 287 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,359 That'd be even better! All right, let's get crackin'. 288 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,199 I just gotta move this over the road and find some opal. 289 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,039 I wanna make sure that I time it perfectly, 290 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:50,719 so I can listen out for any traffic either end, 291 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,639 make that commitment to chuck the tyres down, 292 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,399 drive the thing over and get the tyres out of the way. 293 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,999 Hang on. 294 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,199 Wait. 295 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,519 I'm knackered. Lucky I did it, not him. 296 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,239 Thanks, man. No worries, mate. Awesome. I'll move it out the way. 297 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,679 These are the joys of working by yourself. You know? 298 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,799 You sometimes wing it, you can't plan too much 299 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,439 and just hope for the best that you find someone in the desert 300 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,199 to give you a hand when you need it. 301 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,879 Now for a gruelling 5km cross-country trek 302 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,519 to get to his new claim, Vino. 303 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,439 I gotta take this thing bush-bashing to Vino. 304 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,479 An excavator's designed to dig, not travel outback-style. 305 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,839 Every kilometre I do in this machine by walking it 306 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,839 is really causing it to wear. 307 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,599 I am really worried about getting to Vino 308 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:39,039 and finding out that I've damaged the excavator. 309 00:19:39,120 --> 00:19:41,679 The last thing I wanna do is damage the machine, 310 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,919 because that would mean, pretty much, I've got to stop mining. 311 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,479 Travelling on a level track is one thing. 312 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,039 This is another. 313 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:54,119 This does not look good. 314 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,399 At a secret location near Lightning Ridge... 315 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,719 Normally, I'd spend one or two days doing this, 316 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,679 but because the dirt's so hard, we could be here, 317 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,599 you know, probably, the rest of the week. 318 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:16,319 ..opal queen Kelly has left friend and mining partner Josh 319 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,719 in charge of her new claim. 320 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,559 Kelly's off to the big smoke. 321 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:23,639 So, hopefully, by the time she gets back, 322 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,839 we'll have a handful of gems for her. 323 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:30,159 Josh and dad Ian are preparing to dig out 324 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:34,159 a wide workspace at the bottom of a 3m test hole. 325 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,199 But they face rock-hard ground. 326 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,359 This job requires a combination of specialised machinery... 327 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,559 ..and good old-fashioned hard labour. 328 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,439 This will be my friend for the rest of the week. 329 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,439 The 3m shaft is just one metre across. 330 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,599 As he descends, the humidity increases 331 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,079 and the air supply decreases. 332 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,239 At the bottom, Josh starts digging or belling out, 333 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,199 putting man and machine to the test. 334 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,599 It's pretty tough going. 335 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,759 On the surface, the hard ground is also tough on the gear. 336 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,559 We'll probably have to beef up our wash plant, 337 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,359 weld a fair bit of steel into it to take the wear and tear. 338 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,159 The hard ground is very hard on all the machinery, 339 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,599 so you have to be making some sort of money 340 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:13,679 for it to be worth digging. 341 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,879 Like I said, with the hard dirt, 342 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,199 the wash plant will be going just about all the time. 343 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,199 And so we'll just keep chipping away at it. 344 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,399 More time, more effort and more money. 345 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:33,519 And, so far, they haven't seen a single scrap of opal. 346 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,359 JUSTIN: I don't think this is a good idea. Far out! 347 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,599 He's crossed a busy highway, 5km of bushland 348 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,079 and now Justin faces a steep descent. 349 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,279 One wrong move and the excavator could topple. 350 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:05,439 You know what? I'm gonna just give it a crack. 351 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,319 It's actually quite dangerous, doing this. 352 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,399 I'm a little bit worried about it. 353 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,399 Whoa. My heart's racing. 354 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,799 All right, we navigated that good. 355 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,959 Now we've got a bit more to go, another 100m. 356 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,399 Inch by inch. 357 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,239 I can feel it slip. Hey! 358 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,079 Now we're good, I think. 359 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,199 Ha! We're here. 360 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,239 Justin needs to peg his claim before it's officially his. 361 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,119 Ahh! 362 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,919 It's Justin's lucky hat. 363 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:15,559 Forget it. What a mongrel. 364 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,839 Justin needs something to go right. 365 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,599 He's banking on this 50x100m claim 366 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,839 to prove he's made the right decision to mine for opal. 367 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,239 I've had five claims now with nothing in it. 368 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,559 It is massively important 369 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,639 that I find something, 370 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,959 just to validate the fact that I'm here, to myself and to Beck. 371 00:24:57,680 --> 00:24:59,359 On the Dragonfly claim, 372 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,439 Aaron's about to back over the team's last drum of diesel. 373 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,599 Stop. Stop. Fuel! 374 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:10,919 I think he took it out. 375 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,999 Really? Nearly. 376 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,639 Right under his track. 377 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,999 Very close. He nearly took out a drum of fuel. 378 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,439 Nearly done 200 litres. 379 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,399 He's been known to be hairy and scary. 380 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:31,199 At $300 a drum, the boys can't afford to lose a drop. 381 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,599 You nearly ran over the diesel drum. 382 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,479 Did you roll it out of the way? Yeah, your tracks just dented it. 383 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,479 I know. I reversed, I didn't see it. 384 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,759 I nearly ran over a drum of diesel. 385 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,559 That's it, gonna be this close. 386 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,119 If I'd have done that, I'd have had to... 387 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,879 They teach you them things in the coal mines. Missed it by that far. 388 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:57,319 At the pit, the boys want to level the entire site. 389 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,759 It's a big area, costing them big in fuel. 390 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,599 Fill her right up, mate. 391 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,079 From the time we start really getting serious here, 392 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:10,199 we're gonna need a load of diesel. 393 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,439 You need a lot of diesel to take ground. 394 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,679 The boys need some quick cash to buy more fuel 395 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,559 and they know where to find it. 396 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,719 Let's do some diesel on the squibby and get it out. 397 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,079 Today is pay day, eh? That's it. 398 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,719 A squibby, or false level, is a shallow level 399 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,999 that produces opal in small ironstone rocks. 400 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,559 There's a squibby level nearby 401 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,159 at a spot they've called Aaron's Hope. 402 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,679 While the opal there is small, it's dependable, 403 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,679 like a piggy bank for the boys. 404 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,719 Yeah, we've made money there in the last five years. 405 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:53,439 Not big money, but survival money, 406 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:55,559 plenty to keep going with what we're doing. 407 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:01,159 Squibby levels, false levels, they're good, pay the bills. 408 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,959 Start to blow her up. All right now, good to go. 409 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,199 Get Josh on the hammer. 410 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:20,039 Lightning Ridge, Outback, New South Wales. 411 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:23,159 You're right about one thing, it's hard. 412 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:26,959 Josh and Ian are working Kelly's secret claim. 413 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,399 But the job is taking longer than expected. 414 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,759 The ground is hard as concrete, 415 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:41,159 taking its toll on Josh and his jackhammer. 416 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:47,919 It's pretty tough going. 417 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,079 Like into the third day, 418 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,039 I'd usually have the digger down by now. 419 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,879 Yeah, it's some of the hardest dirt I've dug. 420 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,559 Yeah, it's going to be slow-going, that's for sure. 421 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:16,199 The dirt is sucked up into the hopper that dumps into their truck 422 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,279 waiting to take the mined earth to the wash plant. 423 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:29,279 At last, a sign. 424 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:33,159 You know, a nice colour there. A bit of green. 425 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,959 Opal in the face is a welcome sight, 426 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,439 a good indicator there'll be more in the truck above. 427 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,839 There's places like that, you can just see the colour through it. 428 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,639 There's something in that, too. Look how hard it is to see. 429 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,279 This looks like a lump of dirt. You know? 430 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,719 We've got blue knobbies about halfway up the face 431 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,359 and I've just got some really nice green and orange up in the face. 432 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,839 So I'm pretty confident that I'm digging in the right spot. 433 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:08,279 The only way to find out is to wash the rock. 434 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:35,799 You can just start the aggie up, start the pump 435 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:40,599 and get the water running in, and just feed the loading. 436 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,879 The agitator is a converted cement mixer. 437 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:45,879 Ten thousand litres of water 438 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,079 is forced through the barrel as it rotates, 439 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,879 washing off the clay mud from the rocks. 440 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:54,999 Yeah, it's gonna be a slow process 441 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:58,519 and a lot of wear and tear on the gear. 442 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,959 In two days, the owner of the claim Kelly is due back. 443 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,399 For Josh and Ian to have any hope of impressing her, 444 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,919 the agitator will have to run 24/7. 445 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,239 Kelly will be back on Saturday night. 446 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,119 Hopefully, we can do a tail-out 447 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,519 and, yeah, we've got some gems to give to her. 448 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,359 32km from Coober Pedy, 449 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,439 Justin's heading out to start at his Vino claim 450 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,799 hoping it will turn his luck around. 451 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:33,919 But first, there's an important task he wants to complete. 452 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,079 I lost my $200 Akubra the other day. It went off my head. 453 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,639 So, today, I thought, before I start working, 454 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,639 I'll get the climbing gear out and go down that hole and get it. 455 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,919 Ten metres down, at the bottom of an old cut, 456 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,999 is Justin's hat. 457 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,919 No way I'm leaving that down a hole. It's my favourite hat. 458 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,399 It's my lucky hat. I've found a lot of opal with that hat. 459 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,079 I've got to keep it 460 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:00,559 and maybe it'll bring me luck when I pull it out the hole. 461 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:12,279 I've got the equipment, I've got safety gear. 462 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,559 All I need to do is bring the ute here 463 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,799 and move the winch here, start the genny up 464 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,159 and then I'll just nip down and grab my hat. While I'm down there, 465 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,799 I'll have a quick look around and see if I can find some opal. 466 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,799 Should have parked closer, 467 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,359 but I'm gonna keep my distance in case this gives away 468 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,719 and I end up with the car and all the rocks on top of me. 469 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,199 I'll keep this clipped in, just in case... 470 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:38,999 So I have to stack it. 471 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,399 Cos out here, if something goes wrong, 472 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,199 no-one is gonna find me for days. 473 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,039 All I want is my bloody hat back, you know? 474 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,199 I've never done this before in my life, abseiled. 475 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,399 There's my hat. 476 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,719 Look at that, full of rocks. 477 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,039 Bloody hell. 478 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:21,439 With his lucky hat back, Justin scours the cut walls 479 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,399 for any trace of opal. 480 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:25,599 I'm hoping there's something down here, 481 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:30,039 cos no-one's been down here before to check and with any luck... 482 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,239 That's beautiful! A little tiny bit of trace. 483 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,199 Wicked. 484 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,519 There's actually a bit more. 485 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,359 Tiny little bit. Look at that. 486 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:50,079 Oh, it's the first bit of bloody trace I've seen in months. 487 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,079 But my excavator's gonna struggle to get down this far. 488 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,599 To move this amount of dirt, it will take me weeks. 489 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:58,359 And it's probably weeks I don't have. 490 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:11,119 There's my hat! 491 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,119 I got my hat back and found some trace, 492 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,839 so it must be a lucky sign from the Opal God or something. 493 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,919 Down to their last drum of diesel, 494 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,959 the Boulder Boys need a quick pay day. 495 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,199 They're heading for a safe bet, 496 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:34,919 a squibby level at a spot called Aaron's Hope. 497 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:38,839 This is our bread and butter. 498 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,039 This is where we boys get a little bit of money 499 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,159 to keep the big jobs happening. 500 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,919 They're all over the shop, here, there. That's good. 501 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,279 Go, squibby, go! 502 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,639 Squibby levels only offer up small stones, 503 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,839 but the boys hope there'll be enough to cover diesel costs. 504 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:06,719 Save diesel runs on the job. 505 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:13,159 For Aaron, it's important that this season is a success. 506 00:34:13,240 --> 00:34:15,519 Yucky. 507 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:18,039 It's his last chance to buy out his family 508 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:20,999 from his father's Dragonfly lease. 509 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:24,719 We're gonna stay here till I get enough money to pay my family out. 510 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:34,839 Like nuts, every piece of ironstone needs to be cracked 511 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,199 to see if there's opal inside. 512 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:47,159 Look, it's hiding here, too. 513 00:34:47,240 --> 00:34:49,519 Yeah, I know, they're sneaky... 514 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,359 It's been producing opal every day we're digging here. 515 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,319 Not big bucks, but enough, a few hundred dollars a day. 516 00:34:58,040 --> 00:34:59,679 Yucky. 517 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,799 But today, nothing. 518 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:12,799 For Aaron, it's the final straw. 519 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:16,999 If you dig like that, you'd be there all day. 520 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:19,559 It's getting a bit boring for me. 521 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:22,799 Yeah, he was getting a bit frustrated today. 522 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:24,839 There's always been pressure and I can't... 523 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:26,959 I probably get up four o'clock every morning 524 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:28,959 thinking, "We're gonna find some opal." 525 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,319 Opal miners, sometimes, you know, you're here 24/7, 526 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:35,919 you're putting in heaps 527 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:39,559 and you think to yourself, "This ain't worth it." 528 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,439 Why be in the game? 529 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,559 In the 40 degree Outback heat, 530 00:35:56,640 --> 00:35:59,959 Greg and Ron continue to pick away at the squibby level, 531 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,279 looking for small opal-bearing stones... 532 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:08,439 ..while Aaron's had enough. 533 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:10,319 Ron will sit there and pick all day, mate. 534 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:12,759 Greg'll just sit there the rest of the day picking, 535 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,319 when there's excavators there. 536 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:19,119 It doesn't make sense to me. We need to get money. 537 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,559 Yeah, there is pressure on Aaron to find opal. 538 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:25,439 We will find opal here. We just gotta be very patient 539 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:27,479 and take our time. It's very important. 540 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:29,799 After I get this parcel out, I'll probably get a job. 541 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,119 It's not worth it, you get no money for your product. 542 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:37,079 Since I've sold opal, I've never got what I wanted for it. Never. 543 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:41,559 It's Greg who finally breaks the drought. 544 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:43,879 Here we are. Hey! 545 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:46,839 Yeah, I did find one today and it exploded. 546 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:48,519 There's colour everywhere. 547 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,199 You know, it's nice colour. It's a good thing. 548 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:53,759 See it flash? Yeah. 549 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,399 Looking good, isn't it? Looking beautiful. 550 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:58,399 Ah, that is nice. That is a nice colour there. 551 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:00,239 You've got one, too. 552 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:02,039 His brother! That's the next one. 553 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,159 We might be right near something. Squibby's doing what it does. 554 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:07,199 Now I like it again. 555 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:10,639 That is a nice colour, Greg. Beautiful colour. 556 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:14,639 We've been digging this false level and it's been spitting colour at us. 557 00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:17,879 So that should buy us some more diesel. Not a problem. 558 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:20,719 Chuck it in the lucky bucket. 559 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,119 In she goes. 560 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:28,599 The boys have a parcel of red, green, blue and purple opal, 561 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:32,519 with an estimated value of $10,000. 562 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:36,719 Oh, it's beautiful opal. It's nice, flashy, bright opal. 563 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,999 Yeah, it's good stuff. 564 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,039 $10,000. Thanks, boys. Minimum. 565 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,079 Thanks, Ron. 566 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,639 The team are well on their way to their season target. 567 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:53,759 And Aaron is one step closer to buying his father's lease. 568 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:55,719 Wasn't a bad few days' work, mate. 569 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,839 Yeah, not bad at all. Oh, squibby gave us squib. 570 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:11,559 At his Vino claim, Justin has, at last, a promising sign. 571 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:14,959 Best chance I've had. 572 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:17,959 I've just spotted a little bit of opal down here. 573 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,679 If there's a slip, then we might be in luck. 574 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:25,159 Just gonna move the dirt and hope for the best. 575 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:29,079 Nearly $50,000 in debt, 576 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:33,719 Justin is desperate for this sign to lead to valuable opal. 577 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,039 There's opal in here, as well, little bits. 578 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:42,959 Tiny fragments. That is what I'm gonna follow. 579 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,199 So, I'm gonna clean it up, take the excavator round to the other side 580 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:48,999 and then work that face until I can't do any more. 581 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,959 Opal tends to form 582 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,959 in dark, ironstone bands called slips. 583 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,119 This is exactly what I've been hunting for. 584 00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:06,719 This is an ironstone slip and it's a big one. 585 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:10,679 To extract any opal, 586 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:14,159 Justin needs to dig this slip out by hand. 587 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:21,519 It's not really a good day to work out here. 588 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:25,079 Oh, man. This dust is... 589 00:39:27,240 --> 00:39:30,319 The high winds are against him. 590 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:32,799 I'm done. I can't even see. 591 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,839 Today has worn me out. 592 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:39,559 I think, at some point, I'm gonna have to really think 593 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,999 about the methods that I'm going about mining, 594 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,519 because I'm not finding anything. 595 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,999 And then you start to doubt yourself. 596 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:52,759 And then, even today, you know, I'm not finding anything. 597 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:54,439 I'm starting to think, 598 00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:57,239 "What if I spend all week here and I don't find anything?" 599 00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:59,239 I'm starting to forget what opal looks like. 600 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:02,079 I wanna just keep loving what I do. 601 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:05,279 I've just got to find something to actually prove to myself 602 00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:08,279 that this is real, you can find opal here. 603 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:18,639 This has been going for two days and two nights now, 604 00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:20,399 with the two loads in it. 605 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:23,279 So it's cost a lot of money to work it. 606 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:25,799 Yeah, we need to get some sort of money. 607 00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:30,639 In Lightning Ridge, Josh and Ian have been processing 608 00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:33,879 the dirt they've dug out from Kelly's secret claim. 609 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:42,159 Kelly returns, hoping for an opal jackpot in the tail-out. 610 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:44,239 Rock and roll. 611 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,719 Here she comes, the movie star. Look at her. 612 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:50,159 I'm back. I'm back, you see. 613 00:40:50,240 --> 00:40:53,319 You're back. How are you? Good, how are you? 614 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,999 Here you go, babe. Very good, how are you, Your Majesty? 615 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:00,519 The agitator takes three tons of dirt 616 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:03,079 and washes away the mud and loose earth 617 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:07,039 to leave a ton of hard rocks and any opal. 618 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:08,919 Last lot of dirt we're doing 619 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,319 takes about 20 minutes, I'd say, so we'll be here for a few hours. 620 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:17,639 Yeah. The more eyes, the better. 621 00:41:17,720 --> 00:41:20,919 Spotting the faint glimmer of opal amongst hundreds of stones 622 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,079 needs a keen eye. 623 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:32,519 After gambling $3,000 on this new claim, 624 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:36,039 they can't afford to miss a single piece. 625 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:39,399 First shoot of about how many? 626 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,599 I reckon maybe six or seven. Six or seven? So, yeah. 627 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:45,479 We've got a long way to go. 628 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:59,519 It all comes down to this moment. 629 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:02,719 Look. 630 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:07,359 It's crystal opal, worth up to $25,000 a gram. 631 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:10,599 I think this piece will be worth a couple of thousand. 632 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:12,679 Beautiful colour. Lovely. 633 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:17,479 The opal comes in thick and fast. 634 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:26,599 I know, that's nice. That's it. 635 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:29,919 As good as it gets. 636 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,439 This shows now there's definitely gonna be some decent money there. 637 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:35,959 I'd say we'll be doing a significant amount of work now. 638 00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:38,599 Hm? 639 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:41,559 Where are we? Wow. Where's that beer? 640 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:44,639 You didn't get the beer? 641 00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:47,679 Oh, look! There's another one. There's another one. 642 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:49,599 That's awesome. That's so good. 643 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:51,959 What have you got there? It's another piece, 644 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:54,119 but they're getting a bit better and cleaner. 645 00:42:54,200 --> 00:42:56,679 That's not the same one. No. 646 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,039 It's his brother. It's his sister. It's his brother. 647 00:42:59,120 --> 00:43:01,439 Wow. That looks greener. 648 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:04,199 Look at that. They're opal. How large, looky. 649 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:10,359 Kelly's gamble on this new minefield has paid off. 650 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,639 Oh, that's just a cracking piece of opal coming out of there. 651 00:43:13,720 --> 00:43:16,439 I hope there's a minimum of 20 in it. 652 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:22,079 This $20,000 haul brings her total to $48,000. 653 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:24,879 Very, very nice. 654 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:28,239 And there's opal there, so we proved it right. 655 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:34,519 For Josh and Ian, all the hard ground and hard work has been worth it. 656 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:37,199 Yeah, we're more than happy with that. It's awesome. 657 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:40,959 It's the best start to a claim that I've had in a long, long time. 658 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:43,039 subtitles by Deluxe 658 00:43:44,305 --> 00:44:44,818