"Outback Opal Hunters" Against All Odds

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,039 On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,119 I have a good feeling about this. 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,039 Rookie Justin recruits fiancee Becky 4 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:11,399 to try and save him from financial ruin. 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,239 Do you even know how much you've spent? 60 grand. 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,319 Oh, Jesus. It's too much. 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,279 The Fire Crew face deadly reptiles... 8 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,359 Stop. Stop. There's a snake. Where? 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,719 ..and snapped suspension... Yes. 10 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:25,799 I haven't even touched a bit of opal yet. 11 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,559 ..in search of fabled blue fire opal. 12 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,439 We're not lost. We're geographically embarrassed. There's a difference. 13 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,759 And the Cooke brothers go 20 metres under... 14 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,199 Come on, opal, where are you? 15 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,759 ..desperate to get their hands on the first piece of opal for the season. 16 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,719 # ASH GRUNWALD: Money 17 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,199 # Money 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,599 # And fancy clothes 19 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:02,959 # Telling you what to put on your back 20 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,999 # And where to go # 21 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,074 22 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,999 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 23 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,199 The biggest opal-producing region in the country, 24 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:29,799 home of white opal, worth up to $7,500 a gram. 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,879 But with temperatures over 47 degrees Celsius, 26 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:36,639 making a living out here mining opal can be brutal. 27 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,159 I haven't found much this whole year. It's getting a little bit tiring. 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,319 I'm starting to forget what opal looks like. 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,279 After four straight months of back-breaking work, 30 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,359 and halfway through the season, 31 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:52,319 rookie Justin is still way off his $75,000 target. 32 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,399 Why don't we just call it quits, huh? 33 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,519 He's just split up with mining partner Dan, 34 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,959 blown thousands on busted equipment... Look at all that oil. 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,799 ..and every day, slides deeper into debt. 36 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:05,879 It is a little bit of a thing when 37 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,759 people around you, especially people you love, start to go, 38 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,999 "You're not finding something, you know. Are you all right?" 39 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,599 In his last-ditched attempt to make it as an opal miner, 40 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:20,039 he's banking on his latest claim at an old minefield called Vino. 41 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,519 It's an old field and it has produced a lot of opal. 42 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:27,799 Recently engaged, and with plans to start a family, 43 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,879 Justin's taking a big risk 44 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,079 sinking all his cash reserves into opal mining. 45 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,079 It is getting a little bit, sort of, tight. 46 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,159 Every trip's costing a lot of money. 47 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,879 But I've got positive hopes about this spot, and I think it'll be good. 48 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,039 He needs to find opal in the next few days 49 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,479 or quit, broke. 50 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,359 Desperate for help, 51 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,399 he's called in the only friend he can truly rely on, 52 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,959 fiancee Becky. 53 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,359 Becky's been here just once before, 54 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,919 and is even more of a rookie than Justin. 55 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,519 I haven't seen her for a few weeks, so it's sort of nice just to see her, 56 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,599 cos I miss her. I'm pretty excited. 57 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,159 Hello, hello. Hi, sweetie. Come here. 58 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,599 How are you? I missed you. 59 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:21,919 Pretty excited to show you this claim. 60 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,279 I think there's some opal there. Are you ready to do some work? OK. 61 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,239 There's a lot of pressure mounting, 62 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,319 because I haven't found anything all year. 63 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,839 And Becky and I have got engaged this year. 64 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,839 Having a family's expensive these days. 65 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,999 The last thing I want is to be broke, with a family, 66 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,079 and not being able to mine. 67 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,879 Gotta be able to prove to her that I can find opal, 68 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,239 at least, to give her a taste of opal fever 69 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,599 and to keep her onboard for a bit longer. 70 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,159 With just three months of the season left, 71 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,399 the new Rookies need to hit the ground hard. 72 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,879 Let's go. I wanna show you this claim, and here she is. 73 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,319 What do you reckon, Beck? 74 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,839 That's where I'm working. Straight ahead, behind these piles of dirt, 75 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,719 and that's where I think the opal is. 76 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,839 Justin is the most optimistic person you could possibly meet. 77 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,919 Sometimes, I think maybe too optimistic, 78 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,599 and he needs someone who's a bit more rational. 79 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,679 In the old diggings, 80 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,959 Justin has already found several diagonal faults known as slips, 81 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,439 that are good indicators of opal deposits. 82 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,119 The opal makes on the slips which are the ironstone 45-degree angle slips. 83 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,199 The actual rock that's either rubbed or separated over time... 84 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:40,319 Hm. ..the opal finds its way into that little crack, 85 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,559 as such, and it will then fill up that void. 86 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,039 This might be the one. Now that's becoming a bit of a joke lately. 87 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,599 I've found nothing all year, so fingers crossed this pays off. 88 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,119 But the pit that shows the most promise 89 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,359 is surrounded by dangerous piles of loose dirt. 90 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,199 They must be removed before mining can begin, 91 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,319 or they risk being buried alive. 92 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,839 The plan for today is moving all this dirt, 93 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,199 and I've got to move that to get to the opal. 94 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,799 See you soon. 95 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,279 I'm excited, actually. I like the look of the ground. 96 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,439 There's a little bit I learned last trip. 97 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,999 That looks more promising than the last one, anyway. 98 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,119 Every morning you've gotta trick yourself into believing 99 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,079 that there's gonna be a big amount of opal that you can find, 100 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,479 and keep your hope up, and then just keep yourself motivated. 101 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,919 Hello, darling. Hi, sweetie. 102 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,879 Becky's presence lifts Justin's morale, 103 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,919 and after just half a day, he's cleared the old dirt piles. 104 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,119 Next step, start digging the pit face. 105 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,279 I just hope to God that we can get the opal, 106 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,599 and then at least have enough money to keep going. 107 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,119 But to reach it, he has to move 108 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,639 his 20-tonne excavator down a steep slope. 109 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,359 So, now, I've gotta bring this excavator down here, 110 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,959 clean this area up, and then we can start mining. 111 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,639 Justin's new to excavator driving. 112 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,879 He's only owned the machine for a few months, 113 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,239 and never tried this manoeuvre before. 114 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:25,039 The only concern I do have is, this ground here is really soft. 115 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,839 You can see how soft it is, and you don't wanna sort of 116 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,359 have the machine sort of lose control there. 117 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,239 I'm concerned about how you'll get the excavator down. 118 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,479 You use the actual boom and the bucket 119 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,399 to stabilise yourself. So it's like three points of contact. 120 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,679 I'm not feeling very comfortable about this at all. 121 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:46,199 That looks pretty steep. Too steep. 122 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,919 I'm keen to get in there, and dig up some opal. 123 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,439 Deep in the Western Australian outback, 124 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,759 The Fire Crew is on an epic treasure hunt. 125 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,279 So far, this season, Dad and veteran prospector Pete's hunches, 126 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,759 have seen the team storm past their target. 127 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,359 Now he wants to raise the stakes 128 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,319 and gamble on tracking down an opal so rare, 129 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,399 he's the only person who claims to have ever seen it. 130 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,839 Blue fire opal. 131 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,559 This is the final part of the journey. 132 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,879 It's good opal, has it? Looks like it. Yeah. 133 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,879 It's hot. 134 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,479 Pete believes he saw blue fire opal 14 years ago, 135 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,559 at the bottom of a shaft he was digging with son Adam. 136 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,839 That's the platform we've made up. 137 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,319 The holes down there goes all the way down. 138 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,039 With the mine shaft unstable and infested with deadly snakes, 139 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,119 Pete was unable to reach it, 140 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,359 but Adam never saw it, and isn't convinced. 141 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,719 Down the bottom of that shaft, right, 142 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,239 it sort of looked bluish with the light. 143 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,719 There was a nice, big, thick chunk. 144 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:26,079 A beautiful blue lustre through it. Blue fire opal. 145 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,519 Well, I'm a bit sceptical on it, 146 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,079 cos it hasn't been found anywhere else in the world. This would be a first. 147 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,159 Yeah. And it was pretty hot out there. 148 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,359 We may have been out in the sun for too long. 149 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,439 With Adam now a trained firefighter, 150 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,639 he has the skills and equipment to finally reach it, if it's there. 151 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,439 We've got all the gear to go and have a look. 152 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,079 We'll know once and for all if it's down there or not. 153 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,919 Someone had to find diamonds once. Mm. 154 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,599 So, it'd be great if we could be the first ones to find blue fire opal. 155 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:58,359 It'd be priceless. I know that. 156 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,039 The Fire Crew will be searching in a remote section of desert, 157 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,799 100km from the town of Laverton. 158 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:08,439 Pete believes the blue fire opal 159 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,119 got its colour from the vivid blue cobalt, rich in this area. 160 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,199 We had to cross the river 161 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,079 and follow this track across the river which is just there. 162 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,959 Yeah. And the track's supposed to be off to our right. 163 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,319 We need to move camp to 164 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,079 position ourselves closer to this potential mine shaft. 165 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,519 It's over 100km drive easily, 166 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,999 between our Laverton site and where this potential site is. 167 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,319 We're gonna be spending a couple of days there. 168 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,839 But right now, the family are struggling 169 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,439 to find their way through endless kilometres of dense bush. 170 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,479 We're trying to find a spot from 14 years ago. 171 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:51,679 The track that we need to take to the north-east 172 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,879 doesn't seem to be here any more. So the old man's 173 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,199 having a quick walk-around to see if he can find 174 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,319 remnants of an old track somewhere. 175 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,319 We're not lost. We're geographically embarrassed. There's a difference. 176 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:08,519 For Adam's partner Cassidy, getting lost is not an option. 177 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,719 To me, every trip, we have to find something, 178 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,919 because it costs a lot to do this. 179 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,319 I need to know that we can do it each time, 180 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,599 so, you know, we can make a business out of this. 181 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,079 The good news is, I found the track which was out there, 182 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,879 where it should be. So, it's all good. 183 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:33,039 Look at that. Oh, that's cool. 184 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,199 Did you see that rock to our right-hand side back there? 185 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,999 Yeah, there it is. I can see it. We're in the right area. 186 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,439 Finally, Pete's found the old minefield 187 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,039 where he claims he saw blue opal. 188 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,359 Now they just have to find the right shaft and get to the bottom. 189 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,079 You wanna get in the hole, and you wanna find blue opal. 190 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,679 Kind of a good combination. What do you wanna do? 191 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,279 Just, you don't die. Yeah. That'd be great. I'll do my best. 192 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,879 We'll survive. Yeah. 193 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,399 Comin' up. 194 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,519 36km from the town of Lightning Ridge, 195 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,839 on the Cooke brothers' 50 by 50-metre Alloa claim, 196 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,679 Pete Cooke and 19-year-old apprentice Sam, 197 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,799 are getting ready to explore the bottom of a freshly-dug shaft. 198 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,399 There might be something there, we gotta have a look. 199 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,199 Time to get goin', find some opal. 200 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,319 To make ends meet, 201 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,679 Mick has had to take a paid drilling job out of town... 202 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,599 We have plenty to do. Just trying to get it all done. 203 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:52,399 ..leaving Pete and Sam to dig without him. 204 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,359 I got my little trustee sidekick Sam with me. 205 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,439 He's good. He's on the ball. 206 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,159 70ft deep. Yeah. You fall down there, you're not gonna survive. 207 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,439 We'll just put the dirt on top of you, 208 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,359 and tell your mum you went to the Gold Coast. 209 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,999 Yeah. No. You just gotta be careful. Safety's the most important thing. 210 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:18,039 With a $200,000 target, and not a find so far this season, 211 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,079 the boys need to go big or go home. 212 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:33,199 What they're hunting is Lightning Ridge's signature gem. 213 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,279 Black opal, 214 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:40,439 worth up to $35,000 for just a fifth of a gram. 215 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,359 We're gonna keep trying, basically, just keep trying. 216 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,559 We'll hit it one day for sure. 217 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,239 But to get it won't be easy. 218 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,519 The 20-metre shaft is only one metre in diameter, 219 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,839 and Pete's already suffered not one, but two heart attacks. 220 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,519 That should go in now, so... 221 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,279 To try and make life a little easier, Pete's built an electronic winch, 222 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,159 allowing him to be lowered to the bottom of the drill hole 223 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,239 in a harness. 224 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,759 I don't have to take it off the truck. I drive the truck beside the hole. 225 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:13,839 We'll just make sure it's strapped on good 226 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,239 to the back of the truck, so it doesn't fall off. 227 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,879 But today, he's going to test it for the first time 228 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,959 on himself. 229 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,039 I built it. I did the welding. 230 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,599 So, I'm the one that should put his life on the line. 231 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:27,719 I'll stand up the top, 232 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,199 and make sure everything's going well from up here. 233 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,759 I'll send Pete down there. There you go. 234 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,559 Yeah, it's the first time we've done it like this. 235 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,999 Just getting it worked out, how to do it safely. 236 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,919 The opal's been down there for over 100 million years. 237 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,999 It can wait another five minutes. 238 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:55,839 Pete will soon be hanging from a thin steel cable. 239 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,799 Oh, a little bit of trepidation, I suppose. 240 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,079 Little bit of, erm, wariness. 241 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:10,479 If the new winch fails, it's a 20-metre drop to the bottom. 242 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,719 At the Vino opal field... 243 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,559 The worst thing is it can just roll into this big pile of dirt, and that's it. 244 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,599 ..with fiancee Becky looking on... Or it'll crush you 245 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,119 if it rolls. No, don't think like that. 246 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,959 Rookie operator Justin is about to tackle a steep incline 247 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,839 in his newly-acquired 20-tonne excavator. 248 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,599 I just don't want you to rush it. All right, let me do it, and watch. 249 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,999 I feel like the incline's just a little bit too much 250 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,799 for a rookie excavator driver to tackle. 251 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,879 Oh, my God. He just wants to get to that opal. 252 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,599 Out here, there's no rules, so just go for it. 253 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,199 Ooh, I don't really like doing this, but I've gotta learn somewhere. 254 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,519 That's the tipping point right now. 255 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,799 Justin must use the bucket 256 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:15,919 to stop the excavator from toppling over. 257 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,599 Slow and steady is good. 258 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,519 Perfect. 259 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,799 Back to the grind. 260 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:46,879 Straight into it, no pause. 261 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,239 I'm glad you're alive! 262 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,359 No rest. 263 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,319 Now, closer to the face of the open-cut mine, 264 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,559 Justin can finish clearing the last remaining dirt 265 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,559 to expose the dark ironstone rock that bears the opal. 266 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,119 This is so exciting. 267 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,039 One strike of the pick is gonna change your life. 268 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,399 That's what I keep telling myself every day. 269 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,359 The stakes are high because Becky's here. 270 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,919 The pressure's on. 271 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,159 There's the level, Beck. Wow. That's the level, mate. 272 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,559 Wow, that's as deep as we have to go. 273 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,679 That's where we're gonna find opal as well. 274 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,759 All I've gotta do is find the big pocket, 275 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,519 and pretty much all the worries will go away. 276 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,879 The worries of being a bit of a failure. 277 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,599 We're close. 278 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,279 You're gonna love it when we see some opal. 279 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,359 I wanna experience it for myself. 280 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:59,479 You'll give up your whole life to come opal mining when you see it. You reckon? Yeah. 281 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,519 I can definitely start to visualise now, myself being up here, 282 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,479 giving Justin a hand. Have a look at this stuff, sweetie. 283 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,159 This is so awesome. 284 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,799 Imagine if we both find something together, you know? 285 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,759 Both chipping away. 286 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:25,359 So, we're gonna go and, er, 287 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,439 see if we can find this mine shaft that I was down 14 years ago. 288 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,399 We just gotta make sure the mine shaft's in good nick, and it's not fully caved in. 289 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,759 After 12 hours of navigating outback tracks, 290 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,919 The Fire Crew finally arrive at the area 291 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,559 of Pete's fabled blue opal sighting. 292 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,399 They did a bit of serious work here, didn't they? Oh, yeah. 293 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,439 They were getting a lot of material, they were chasing it. 294 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,879 But they must still find the right mine shaft. 295 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,119 The whole area is dotted with dangerous old diggings, 296 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,199 dating back 80 years, 297 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,719 where miners hunted for red fire opal. 298 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,959 Little opals there. Yep. 299 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,439 One, two, three. That's the height. 300 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,799 Just be careful, because if you fall down there, 301 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,599 you're gonna hurt yourself bad. Serious work for nothing. 302 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,439 If they can't find the right shaft, or can't access it, 303 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,439 they'll have wasted $3,000 on this trip. 304 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,799 So, which way is west? 305 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,799 And here it is. 306 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,999 This is where I was, 14 years ago. 307 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,479 Ah, it's full of water. 308 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,919 Bummer. Oh, my God. Might be in the shaft. 309 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,199 Is it full of water? 310 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,279 Yep. There is a bucket. 311 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,559 Adam, that is so deep. 312 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,799 It looks like Pete's dream of retrieving mythical blue opal 313 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,359 has drowned at the bottom of an old timer's shaft. 314 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,239 Well, it means the trip's a bit of a bust at the moment. 315 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,319 It's the worst possible outcome. Yeah. 316 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,959 We haven't got the pump to excavate all the water out. 317 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,399 We had to put a stop to it completely. 318 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,759 Yep. 319 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,039 At the Cooke brothers' Alloa claim, 320 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:43,759 Pete is dangling from a home-made winch, 321 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,679 above a narrow 20-metre opal shaft. 322 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:48,959 All good? I hope so. 323 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,639 Apprentice opal hunter Sam is guiding him down. 324 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:59,079 Stuck on that ladder... It's all right. It's OK. Let's go down a little bit. 325 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,319 We'll just have to watch out. The water? Yeah. 326 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,959 You all right? Yep. Almost. 327 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,559 If he can get to the bottom, 328 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,079 Pete's hoping he'll find some precious black opal 329 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,399 to get their season started. 330 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,999 How are you going, mate? Yep, on the bottom now. 331 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,239 20 metres above, Sam is Pete's lifeline... 332 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,279 Yeah, put the air back on, please, Sam! Yep! 333 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:44,679 ..controlling air, pumps and equipment. 334 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,239 Come on, opal, where are ya? 335 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,639 Need that nice, glassy sound. 336 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,719 Even with just a pick, 337 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:57,079 Pete's tuned ear can detect if he hits opal. 338 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:03,159 There's a bit of trace in the wall right there, look at that. 339 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,359 There's plenty of trace in the wall! Yeah, a bit of blue. 340 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,239 Trace is tiny amounts of opal 341 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,839 that could indicate larger valuable pieces nearby. 342 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,399 Rocks coming down! 343 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:26,119 But above, Sam isn't making life easy. 344 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,559 Yeah, I can't really have you standing there too close, 345 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,639 cos you're knocking rocks down on me. 346 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,679 Oh, righty-o. Yep. Put your boot on that. Yeah. 347 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,239 Temperatures in the shaft are well over 30 degrees. 348 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,679 Humidity is rising fast. 349 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,279 Pete's been down there for two hours. 350 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,799 Finally, his pick changes tune. 351 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,039 I found some opal! You say you found some? 352 00:21:57,120 --> 00:21:59,559 Yeah, I found one big ass glob, mate. 353 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,919 Oh, that's great. 354 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,719 I can even see a little bit of colour in the side. 355 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,119 Yeah, it's got a bit of green in it. Maybe even a little bit of red, 356 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,799 there's a couple of specks. This is all pretty exciting now. 357 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,279 I'm just waiting for him to get back to the top. That'll be pretty cool. 358 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:20,359 That one's in the pocket. I'll have that. 359 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:25,759 What did we find down there? Oh, that one's all right. 360 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,839 Yeah. Beauty. 361 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,799 I like that orange sitting on the black there. Yeah. I'm shaking. 362 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,799 I dropped it somewhere. Oh, my God. Where did it come from? 363 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,959 In here. Now we have to get more. 364 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,159 Check this out. You wait for this. Ready? 365 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,719 You wait for this. I have a good feeling about this. 366 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,239 Rookie Justin and fiancee Becky have finally hit opal. 367 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,199 It's trace, a sign larger pieces could be nearby. 368 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,919 But as quickly as it appears, it dries up. 369 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,239 It's a little bit sad. 370 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:33,959 If I don't find opal here, then I won't find opal anywhere. 371 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,119 With dwindling finances, and no opal this season, 372 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,919 some hard questions have to be answered. 373 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,719 Well, since we got engaged, and I'm sort of spending our money, 374 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,879 so I gotta be quite careful, especially if, er, 375 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,119 this mining venture keeps costing this amount of money. 376 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,399 Well, how much... Well... ..is it costing? 377 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:05,879 It's costing a lot of money, and there's no return on it at the moment. I know. 378 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,559 Do you even know how much you've spent? No. So far? 379 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,879 Well, this year, I think maybe like... 380 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,439 Hm? I think maybe 60 grand. 381 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,359 60 grand? 382 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,119 Oh, Jesus, that's too much. 383 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,359 I knew it was costing a bit of money, but I wasn't sure how much, 384 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,559 so it was a little bit of a shock to hear the raw sort of figures. 385 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,159 Doesn't that make you feel nervous? 386 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,239 I don't know. 387 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,239 How long can we do this for though, until it's too much? 388 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,839 And, like, if we don't find anything... 389 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,479 It's not a reliable income. It's not consistent. It's not predictable. 390 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,639 Yes, yep. Well, this must be what they mean 391 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,199 when they say people go broke. Mm-hm. 392 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,199 Oh, well. 393 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:11,639 It would have been amazing, but another time, 394 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,759 when we can do it safer, I think. 395 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,599 Erm, yeah, I would have been stressed the whole time. 396 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:18,799 The Fire Crew have struck out 397 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,879 on their search for fabled blue fire opal, 398 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,839 with the shaft filled with water, and inaccessible. 399 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,479 What we're gonna do from here is not completely waste the trip. 400 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,559 I mean, the old timers weren't silly. 401 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,719 They put their main shafts down where the good opal was. 402 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,239 I think what we should do is just this shaft here... 403 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,639 It's the only one that's not full of water. Yeah. 404 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,559 Might go down the bottom of that, and have a bit of a squiz. 405 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,199 Yeah, you'll find there'll be veins of quartz, 406 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,679 there'll be also veins of opal. Just have a little dig down there. 407 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:54,999 Scratch. Yeah. See what it's like. Yeah. 408 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,679 All right, so you're gonna finally use that equipment you brought. 409 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,799 To cut their losses, 410 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,919 Adam will go down another disused shaft 411 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,999 with red opal trace near the top. 412 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,079 An experienced firefighter, 413 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,199 Adam is highly skilled in climbing and rescue. 414 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,119 I don't like any of this. I normally listen to my gut. 415 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,999 My gut's always generally right, and I don't like what we're doing here. 416 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,839 Hang on a minute. Got the rope bloody... 417 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,999 But this descent is high-risk. 418 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:34,079 If Adam gets injured, they are 100km from the nearest town. 419 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,519 All right, we're going over. 420 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:43,199 You all right? Yep. Steady as you go. 421 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:51,879 Stop, stop. 422 00:26:53,360 --> 00:26:55,599 Stop. Stop. There's a snake. Where? 423 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,719 Definitely a snake. Where? 424 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,679 What did we find down there? 425 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,879 There's the prize. Look at that. 426 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,519 Look at that one. Ooh, that one's got some colour. 427 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,599 After two hours down a 20-metre shaft with just a pick, 428 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:19,679 Pete has returned to the surface 429 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,719 to examine a large opal he's chipped from the wall. 430 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,239 Green there. Yeah, that looks real nice. 431 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,759 It's pretty exciting. It's exciting to see some colour, 432 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,319 just straight up, just by going down with a pick. 433 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:38,639 Can't wait to have a closer look at this one under some lights, 434 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,959 and, yeah, see what it's got under it. 435 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,839 Who knows? Could be ten grand there. Hopefully. 436 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,879 They say that you never know until someone cuts it, I suppose. 437 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,719 Stone in pocket, Pete and Sam head back to town 438 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,839 to discover what lies within. 439 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,399 Into the room of truth, we'll find out what's going on. 440 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,519 Helen. How are you, Pete? Good. Good to see you. 441 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:04,799 Helen is Pete's go-to stone polisher and cutter. 442 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,079 Ooh, nice. 443 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:11,919 She's been working opal from rough to gem for over 30 years. 444 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,159 Yeah, it looks promising. Nice bit of colour. 445 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,239 Yeah, I'm hoping so. 446 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:20,559 Exciting. Yeah. It is exciting. 447 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,879 On a diamond-embedded cutting wheel, 448 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,719 Helen first has to rub away the outer layer of sand and rock 449 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,359 to reveal the opal colour beneath, known as the bar. 450 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,439 The thicker and wider the bar, the better. 451 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:35,879 This is the moment of truth, you know? 452 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,639 This is where all your dreams end up, in the cutting wheel tray. 453 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,319 This is where they can come to life or die. 454 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,799 Hold your breath, Peter. I am. 455 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,719 Oh, wow. 456 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,039 It's coming up now. Look at the colour coming through it. Yeah. 457 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,159 Looking all right, innit? Yeah. 458 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,279 To remove all the sand embedded in the gem, 459 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,879 Helen grinds away well over half of the stone's 20-gram weight. 460 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:06,959 Soft colours, pastel on black. 461 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,479 It is very nice. Yeah, it's beautiful. 462 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,759 Well, there you go, Pete. Have a look at that. 463 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,359 It's come up all right, hasn't it? Yeah. Pretty cool. 464 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,439 That's got some nice colour in it. 465 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:20,399 This finished piece is classic Lightning Ridge black opal. 466 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,519 It's blue-green with flashes of valuable red. 467 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,879 It's polished, and weighs in at just under seven carats, 468 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,119 giving an estimated value of $6,000. 469 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,719 OK. Thanks, Helen. Thank you, Peter. 470 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,919 Tomorrow, Pete will meet with a buyer 471 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,239 to get his hands on some much-needed cash. 472 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,119 Still got that stone? Yeah, still got that, mate. Still got it. 473 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,799 No, stop, stop. There's a snake. 474 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:00,119 Where? It's down. Just behind that little awning. 475 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,199 You'd better get out. 476 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,439 Hanging from a rope at the bottom of an old opal shaft, 477 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:09,919 Adam is dangerously close to a venomous reptile. 478 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,999 This one is a ringed brown snake. 479 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:19,759 Venom from its bite causes dizziness, collapse and convulsions. 480 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,319 We looked down there before, nothing, and then, I could see it moving. 481 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:29,119 Like, it must have come out from the noise and the vibrations or something. 482 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,759 With medical aid a two-hour drive away 483 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,719 in the nearest town of Laverton, Adam needs to get out fast, 484 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,399 or the shaft could become his grave. 485 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:42,399 Wrong way. It's all wrong. 486 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,719 To make matters worse, Adam's ropes are jammed. 487 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:49,959 You've got to come up. Come up where? 488 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,239 You've got to come up. Yeah, I'm coming. 489 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,039 His pulley isn't working, so he's rock-climbing himself out. 490 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,439 Here we go. 491 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:22,519 Well, that was lucky. No. Not worth it. 492 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,599 I don't know how we didn't see that before. 493 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:26,799 I have no idea what to do. 494 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,319 Probably a good idea that we leave. No more holes. 495 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,919 I think that's the universe trying to give us a sign. 496 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,999 No. Not a good idea. 497 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,399 With shafts now off-limits, 498 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,279 The Fire Crew has only one day left to find opal 499 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,239 before having to return to their regular jobs. 500 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:50,079 Nothing. I've got nothing. Haven't touched opal today. 501 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,639 It's not going to plan. We've done everything possible in this area. 502 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,719 We didn't leave any stone unturned. 503 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,359 It's just too dangerous in this remote environment. 504 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,759 The next day, the family regrouped 505 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,959 to discuss a last-ditch effort to find opal. 506 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,159 I did remember a place. 507 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,759 It's not that far from here. It produced some good opal. 508 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,079 You keep pulling these out of your back pocket. 509 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,159 Yeah. I got this spot, I got this spot. 510 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:26,959 Some of the opal that we found was literally under a rock. 511 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,039 Yeah. I couldn't believe it. 512 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,239 If we leave with something, I'm always happy. 513 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,319 Then it's worth the cost and the time away. 514 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,279 Rain could quickly flood the dirt roads, 515 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,479 making Pete's back-pocket site inaccessible. 516 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,559 They need to move fast. 517 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,039 All right. So that looks like one big cloud to me now. 518 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:54,719 Are we stopping for a reason? 519 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:02,519 Yeah. My fandangled suspension has blown out. 520 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:10,679 I reckon we just gotta chow through it, 521 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:14,639 and hopefully fill up a wheelbarrow full of opal. Just pick up the pace, I reckon. 522 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,479 At the Vino claim, Justin and Becky are on the brink 523 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,559 of financial ruin. 524 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:27,679 Let's have a look. I'll start this side. Go for it, Becky. 525 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,839 They must find opal soon, or go broke. 526 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:35,239 We can check this level. Hasn't turned into anything yet. 527 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,319 She's only up here for a few more days, 528 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:41,239 so I've really gotta work hard, and prove to her that opal does exist here. 529 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,439 They're searching through the darker ironstone layers 530 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,279 where the opal tends to form. No. 531 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:49,359 All right. Next gouge. 532 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,279 Any changes, Becky? It's not opal, yet. 533 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:03,239 Another gouge, Becks. 534 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,959 Away we go. 535 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:10,239 Let's have a look. Just keep checking. 536 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,559 Still the same. 537 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,279 Oh, man. I'm so exhausted. 538 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:34,119 After weeks of not finding a single piece of opal, 539 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,839 Justin has had enough. But with a beginner's optimism, 540 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,199 Becky isn't ready to quit. 541 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,519 It's like following bread crumbs. 542 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,519 I'm worn out, eh. 543 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:56,359 Oh, God. Oh, Justin, look at this. 544 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,079 I got opal! 545 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:08,159 Oh, my God. Sweetie, look! 546 00:35:08,240 --> 00:35:10,519 What the fig? It's like crystal. 547 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:15,119 It's crystal opal. It's everywhere. What?! Look. 548 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,679 Everywhere! Oh, my God! me! 549 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,239 It's fragile as hell, but... 550 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,879 I couldn't believe it. I know what Justin means now 551 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:27,279 when he says that when you see that colour amongst all that sandstone, 552 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:30,919 it's just beautiful, and it really was. It was just absolutely stunning. 553 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,599 It was nice that we had worked so hard all day together, 554 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,239 and then we got to experience that together as well. 555 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,399 Finding that little bit of colour at the end of the day was good. 556 00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:41,479 That's like Mother Nature saying, 557 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,719 "Here's a little taste of what's to come." 558 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:46,799 And I found it. 559 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,519 You're a good luck charm, all right. You're welcome. 560 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,279 She's got opal fever. 561 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:57,079 Might be a mild case of opal fever. 562 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,159 Ooh, yeah. She's got it. 563 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:03,319 Becky's crystal opal 564 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,559 are tiny green and blue fragments weighing half a gram 565 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,519 and with an estimated value of $200. 566 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,479 But their true worth is Becky's renewed faith 567 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:16,359 in Justin's dream to find a fortune. 568 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,959 I back Justin. He got us this far. 569 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,519 That was enough for me to sort of solidify that. 570 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,079 You know, what Justin's looking for isn't just 571 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,159 such a needle in the haystack. 572 00:36:28,240 --> 00:36:30,839 Thanks for comin' up. You're welcome. 573 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:32,919 He obviously needs me, but... 574 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:36,719 All right. Let's get out of here. 575 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,639 The bracket. The bracket that holds the suspension... 576 00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:03,079 Uh-oh. ..gone. Your new suspension. 577 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,039 That's... Yeah. 578 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:09,319 And he just got it done. 579 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:13,399 Racing a storm, and driving across rough dirt tracks, 580 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,159 Adam has torn off one of his shock absorbers. 581 00:37:17,240 --> 00:37:19,519 It's just sheared straight off. 582 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,599 One problem after the next. 583 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:23,679 Haven't even touched a bit of opal yet. 584 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,399 What I'll do is, I'll take this shocky off, 585 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,719 limp it to wherever we're going. 586 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,199 There we go. Got it out. 587 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,879 Just gotta take it easy. We got a storm rolling in. 588 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,919 Getting bogged isn't gonna be ideal, but we just keep pushing forward. 589 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:44,679 We haven't got much time left. 590 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,159 Further up the track, Dad Pete 591 00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:50,519 has signs of what they're looking for. Fire opal. 592 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,519 These are the signs that it's coming out of the ground, 593 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,599 around this area. 594 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,319 Uh-oh. Yeah. Rain's comin'. 595 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:03,239 With the weather getting worse, Pete and Mum Vikki call it quits. 596 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:06,599 We'll have a bit of a scratch around there. You head back, if you can. 597 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:09,079 All right. I'll get the fire going. 598 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,839 Really, from a more financial point of view, we need to find something 599 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,039 to recover the cost and justify the trip out, 600 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:17,959 because it cost us time and money to come out here. 601 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:21,879 A break in the weather 602 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:25,319 allows Adam and Cassidy to widen their search. 603 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,719 Finding a fair bit of trace over here, Cas. 604 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:31,799 Yeah? Oh, wow! That's jackhammer-worthy, I think. 605 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:34,359 Yeah. Just let's try to hit lucky, eh? All right. 606 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,759 Fire opal is encased in rock-hard granite. 607 00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:41,439 The best way to mine it is a jackhammer. 608 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,759 But fire opal is notoriously fragile. 609 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,199 Shattering it could render it almost worthless. 610 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:55,799 There's colour there. We're getting close. 611 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:57,879 It looks promising. Yeah. 612 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,879 There's colour there. 613 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,039 Bright orange, mate. 614 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:14,119 Whoa. Oh. Ooh! Yes! Yeah? Yep. Look at that. 615 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:21,959 There's one. Another one. Another one. 616 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,279 Oh, wow. Look at that. No, look at that! 617 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:29,879 I'm happy with that. That's something. 618 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:32,079 Well, there's a couple of good carats there. 619 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:34,239 That'll cut something pretty nice. Yeah. 620 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,119 We've got something that this trip wasn't a complete waste. 621 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,199 So this is our hero piece out of all of them. Yeah. 622 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:43,879 To be honest, I reckon you've got six and a half carats. Yep. 623 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:46,839 Well, what kind of quality do you reckon it is? Double A. 624 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,119 500 bucks a carat. Yep. Three grand. Three grand. 625 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:52,639 Their haul is red fire opal, 626 00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:55,599 Double A quality, weighing in at six carats, 627 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,159 worth just $3,000. 628 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:01,519 But even so, halfway through their season, 629 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,239 The Fire Crew are already well-past their target. 630 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:09,679 That'll cover our fuel, food, getting my suspension repaired. 631 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,199 Time off work. Yeah. Time off work. 632 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:18,439 It's a bone been thrown to us. Yeah. It's definitely someone throwing us a bone. 633 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:21,119 It's good, because if this is something we're gonna do 634 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:24,679 for a long period of time, and we're gonna make a business out of this, 635 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:28,519 we need to know just how volatile it can be, and this has been a good lesson. 636 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:30,599 I think we've been pretty spoiled... 637 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:32,679 Home time. ..the past couple of trips. 638 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:36,599 This stuff isn't easy. You can't come out here and go, "Oh, look. Fire opal." 639 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:39,079 It's, erm... It's hard work, 640 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:43,519 and I guess fate's gonna test you along the way. 641 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:47,239 Don't lose it. All right. 642 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:02,679 Pete and Sam are about to try and sell their prized opal find. 643 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:07,079 For apprentice Sam, this will be his first time witnessing a sale. 644 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,719 He's got to learn about it one day, so he can come in, 645 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:13,599 and look over my shoulder and see how not to do it. 646 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:15,759 I'm gonna go in pretty hard with him. 647 00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:19,079 I reckon 12 grand. A little bit more. 648 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:21,599 Realistically, maybe half of that. 649 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,279 Yeah. But we'll go in the Beemer. 650 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:27,599 Looking like we don't need to sell it. That's part of the fun. 651 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,519 The boys meet opal buyer Paul Sedawie. 652 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:47,079 We've got a nice little gem. 653 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:50,679 Just under seven carats. 654 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:53,919 Oh. You polished it. Yeah. All right. Yeah. 655 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:58,479 He's got this magic... 656 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:01,399 It's a secret. Don't tell anybody. 657 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:03,959 Using an industrial-strength light, 658 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,759 Paul can analyse the interior of the stone 659 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:08,919 for imperfections or fractures. 660 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:10,999 And all the faults jump out at you. 661 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:13,119 There aren't any faults, it's perfect. 662 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,479 What sort of money you got on it? I want two grand a carat for that. 663 00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:18,759 So there's six carats on it. Yeah. 664 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,039 I really don't see that's a lot of money there. 665 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,119 Mm-hm. Because it's not oval, 666 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:26,279 my customers won't pay that money. OK. It's not your market. 667 00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:29,319 Well, something like that, I'd still go $8,500 on it. 668 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:31,399 Yeah? Yeah. 669 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:33,479 I'm lookin' at a bit over 12. 670 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:36,079 Yeah. The figure's a fair way apart, isn't it? 671 00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:38,199 Yeah. Well, what if we 672 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:40,559 rounded it up to nine. What do you think? 673 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,719 Oh, yeah. OK. Let's do that. Do it at nine. Do it at nine. 674 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,679 OK. Deal. Done deal. Lovely stone. 675 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:53,759 Just get them oval next time. 676 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,919 I'll see what I can do. 677 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:59,719 Very good. I'd better get the Beemer serviced now. 678 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:01,799 Gotta put some fuel in it. 679 00:43:07,720 --> 00:43:10,399 This knobby that was in the wall, 680 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:13,959 I remember saying, when I looked at it, I hoped there was ten grand in it. 681 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,439 I got nine. 682 00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:20,759 Yeah. I'm pretty happy with that. That's great. 683 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:23,879 That's a good thing, isn't it? 684 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:25,959 The energy of trying to find 685 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:28,639 just that one piece of opal that could be worth, 686 00:43:28,720 --> 00:43:31,559 you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars, really just... 687 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:35,199 Yeah. It gets you running around, and it gets you keen to go underground, 688 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,359 and, yeah, just look for it. It's just so exciting. 689 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:41,399 It's hard to find the perfect gem, 690 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:44,919 and nature just does what it bloody likes. 691 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:48,079 Sometimes it'll make a mistake and make a gem. 692 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:50,839 Fire's happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy. It's good. 693 00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:52,919 Happy days. 694 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:59,719 subtitles by Deluxe 694 00:44:00,305 --> 00:45:00,617 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=-