"Outback Opal Hunters" Race Against Time

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,039 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,319 Look at it. It's out. Is that hydraulic fluid? 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,559 ..the Rookies... Say. ..battle busted hoses... 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,839 Whoa. Oh, there's a pipe. Beck, there's a pipe. 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,919 ..and finally hit treasure. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,999 Oh, my God. 7 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:20,079 The Boulder Boys... We're gonna go broke, the way we're going. 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,359 ..bring in an old monster about to self-destruct. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,279 What's wrong, mate? We're gonna have a fire, electrical. 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,479 Go get your fire extinguisher on the dozer. 11 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,799 And, at their wash plant, the Cooke brothers... 12 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,559 I thought we had enough left in the dam to finish that. 13 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,279 ..race to beat the worst drought in a decade. 14 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,999 You're making it hard on me! Look at that. 15 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,079 Opal. 16 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:46,639 # Money 17 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,959 # And fancy clothes 18 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,639 # Telling you what to do 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,679 # The right way to live 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,799 # And where to go # 21 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:10,074 22 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:15,359 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 23 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,999 With temperatures reaching up to 47 degrees Celsius, 24 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,599 it's a brutal desert landscape. 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,319 It also produces more opal than anywhere else in the world. 26 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,879 32 kilometres north of town, at Veno minefield, 27 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:39,439 rookies, Justin Lang and fiancee Becky MacAllan, 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,519 are struggling to reach their target, 29 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,199 after a series of unlucky claims that have yielded them no opal. 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,159 Is that something in the wall on that top level? 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,239 There's a few bars or something. 32 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,479 Nothing, darling? No. 33 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:14,079 Justin is convinced their new claim at Veno has great potential. 34 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,679 It's an old field, and it has produced a lot of opal. 35 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,719 But it's the toughest ground they've ever tackled. 36 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,279 It's just slow going. The time it takes 37 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,679 just to get those few extra metres 38 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,959 is really draining mentally, actually. 39 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,319 This is a mammoth job to get through, you know? 40 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,519 It's not like a small trench you're digging, 41 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,679 you're actually moving, you know, tens of thousands of tons of dirt 42 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,519 with a small excavator, probably not intended to do that. 43 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,159 Already $60,000 in the red, 44 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:53,399 every day without opal costs them an extra $200 in fuel. 45 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,959 The pressure's on because the last thing I want 46 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,919 is to be broke with a family 47 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,719 and not being able to mine. You know, that would suck. 48 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,279 So, I've gotta make enough money for a family and also, to keep mining. 49 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,359 That's my dream. 50 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,919 Oh, I feel so bad. It feels like I'm doing burnouts 51 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,999 in an old car that I like. 52 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,679 It's just windy, it's hot, the dust. 53 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,839 It's tough. It's really, really tough. 54 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,559 The ground is just too hard to penetrate. This is . 55 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:31,639 Justin only recently bought 56 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,239 this 20-year-old second-hand excavator, 57 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,759 and he's pushing it to the limit. 58 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,559 Yeah. Flaming mongrels. 59 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,399 I do worry about it because, without that excavator, I can't mine. 60 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,479 I'll be finished. 61 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,239 What the hell... I cannot believe it. ..was that? 62 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,599 Oh, man. 63 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,359 Look at it everywhere. 64 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,799 Biggest hydraulic hose burst. 65 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,879 Dragonfly claim, Opalton. 66 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,919 A 900m by 300m patch of opal-rich ground, 67 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,839 120km from the nearest town. 68 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,159 Partners, Aaron Grotjahn, Greg Geran and Ron Sellick, 69 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,799 are hot on the heels of their season target. 70 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,319 Tiring making rocks, Greg. It is. 71 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,719 Nice blocky sandstone here. All the way through here. 72 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,239 With temperatures now rising rapidly, 73 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,719 they have just a few months mining left 74 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,599 before the searing heat makes work impossible. 75 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,039 A bit cooler today, Greg. It is, eh? 37 they reckon. 76 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,799 Nice cool 37. Aye, with a breeze, mate. 77 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:02,159 Nice day. 78 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,359 The team are working a promising area of their claim 79 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,439 they've nicknamed The Pit. 80 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,599 A lot of people had dug here over the years. 81 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,319 We can see where they've produced opal. 82 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,239 Three to six metres below ground is a layer of clay, 83 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,399 where the ironstone boulders that contain the opal are found. 84 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,199 But the ground is covered with dumps from nearby digs. 85 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:27,199 First, they must clear these with the bulldozer. 86 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:30,519 Then, use the excavator to dig down to the clay 87 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,599 and opal level. 88 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,719 Bit of luck, we'll produce some nice opal. 89 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,279 It's been 5,000 litres to do this. 90 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,319 We'll try and to do the job properly, take the whole lot. 91 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,399 Make or break. 92 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,599 Aaron's father dug here decades ago. 93 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,559 Dad found good opal in there over the years 94 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,919 and we're just probably doing what he would've liked to. 95 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,759 We're sort of following his tracks again. 96 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:02,839 Yeah, I'll just bring her in. 97 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,479 I'm always thinking about Dad when I'm out here. 98 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,759 Many a times we'd be nearly broke, even as a family, 99 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,319 and Dad would come in with another load of opal. 100 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,719 He probably left a bit for us. You watch. 101 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,839 Have a look at this, Aaron! Oh, what? 102 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,599 Last time they followed in his father's footsteps... 103 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,799 Have a look at that. ..they hit big opal. Whoa! 104 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,319 And they're hoping for another big score this time. 105 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,279 After an hour's digging, Greg is three metres down... 106 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,479 ..and the signs are looking good. 107 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,759 I think that's level. 108 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:49,079 Come and have a look, Greg. See what you reckon. 109 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,919 Top of the level. That must be top of the level, Greg. 110 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,439 Yep. What do you reckon, Ron? 111 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,639 That's what you're after. Yeah, I know. 112 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,279 That's not bad. 113 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,799 Well, it's level, we just need a rock. We'll keep... 114 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,679 We gotta dig it out. Then we'll trench back. See if there's any rocks. 115 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,439 We have to find the ironstone rocks. 116 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,559 We're starting to make ironstone rocks. 117 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,399 They're hunting for brown ironstone rocks amongst the clay. 118 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,359 Inside these rocks is where the opal gradually forms, 119 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,679 deposited by silica-rich water 120 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:30,759 in a process estimated to take as much as 110 million years. 121 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,119 I think it must be pressure 122 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,999 that makes levels sort of press in and make the boulders. 123 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,799 There. Yeah. That's our level. 124 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,679 But there's bad news. 125 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,159 Not a rock in sight. No. 126 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,639 No ironstone rocks means no opal. 127 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,719 It's all mixed together. Yeah. 128 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,399 It's a blow for team leader Aaron. 129 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,479 It's not making much sense to me. 130 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,959 Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. 131 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,719 Home of opal hunting brothers, Pete and Mick Cooke. 132 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,799 We never really do it the standard way. 133 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,839 We're always trying to reinvent the wheel. 134 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,599 They're chasing the most expensive opal of all, black opal. 135 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,799 Worth up to $35,000 for just a fifth of a gram. 136 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,399 This season, the brothers have barely scratched the surface 137 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,799 of their $200,000 target. 138 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,639 We got a fair way to go to get anywhere near that. 139 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,039 But now that can be one truck. One truck can have 140 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,119 a couple hundred grand of opal, if it's the right dirt. 141 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,119 In Lightning Ridge, the opal forms in thick clay 142 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,879 that must be washed away in a repurposed concrete mixer, 143 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,999 called an agitator, to reveal any gems. 144 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,879 Plenty of water going through. 145 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,599 It'll wash all the dust and that out first. 146 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:09,399 They need 10,000 litres of water 147 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,799 just to wash a single truckload. 148 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,919 Our sort of opal, you've gotta wash the dirt to find the nobbies. 149 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,919 Different places like Coober Pedy, or even Grawin - 150 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,119 seam opal, it's not quite as critical 151 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,639 cos you will see it in the face as you're digging. 152 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,799 To ensure a constant supply, 153 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:29,039 miners must dig their own dams that fill up with the winter rains. 154 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,279 But a six-year-long drought has hit the entire state hard, 155 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,839 and the brothers' dam is nearly dry. 156 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,039 We haven't had a decent rain here for a couple of years now 157 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,719 and there's no forecast of rain in the near future. 158 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,639 Erm, yeah, it's a drought situation. 159 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,039 Without water, everything stops. 160 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,439 The water stopped. Stopped? 161 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,799 I thought we had enough left in the dam to finish that. 162 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,559 Oh, I don't know, we're gonna have to do something. 163 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:10,639 We gotta get water. 164 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,359 The water level is normally, up around those skis. 165 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,439 And I can zoom around the dam. 166 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,719 But, yeah, we haven't had rain for a while. 167 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,199 They haven't planted crops or anything. It's hard times for everyone. 168 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,279 And we can't process without water. 169 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,839 She's dry as a witch's down there. Yeah. 170 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,279 It's all pretty sad, isn't it? 171 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,479 Won't wash much dirt with that. We've gotta come up with a solution. 172 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:41,999 If they're going to keep their operation running, 173 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,519 the brothers will need to find a new source of water...fast. 174 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:48,879 If we don't wash our dirt and don't process it, 175 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,959 we won't find the opal, you'll just miss it. 176 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:52,759 It could end up on the dump site 177 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,039 and potentially throwing away thousands and thousands of dollars. 178 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,519 32 kilometres outside Coober Pedy, 179 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,359 a burst hydraulic hose has brought Justin Lang 180 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,559 and Becky MacAllan's mining operation to a standstill. 181 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,639 What... Is that hydraulic fluid? 182 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,239 Sake. 183 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,879 Already $60,000 in debt 184 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,959 and with costs mounting by the day... This is ridiculous. 185 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,839 ..it's an additional expense they can barely afford. 186 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:43,119 What a day. And I don't know why it's happening to me. 187 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,039 With the hydraulic shot, the excavator 188 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,759 and their mining operation, has ground to a halt. 189 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,999 So, that was hydraulic oil that just went spurting... 190 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,479 It's probably a couple hundred dollars or more worth of hydraulic oil. 191 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:02,559 And then that hose will cost nearly... 192 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,039 ..close to $1,000 to fix. What?! 193 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:14,519 It couldn't have... It couldn't have been any worser timing 194 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,199 than right now. Oh, mate, I wanna cry. 195 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,039 Bloody hell. 196 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,279 The excavator's out of action. 197 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,439 OK. 198 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,079 That's what happens when you have an old machine. 199 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,679 Yeah. 200 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,599 All right. I'm just gonna make a phone call, Beck. Yep. 201 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,399 Justin needs Coober Pedy's only hydraulics mechanic. 202 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,679 VOICEMAIL: Hi, the person you have called is... 203 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,359 No answer. Great 204 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:00,919 Looks like I'm on my own doing this. 205 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,639 Come on, Penny. What are we gonna do, mate? Dam's dry. 206 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,319 In Lightning Ridge, lack of water 207 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,679 has crippled brothers Mick and Pete's opal business. 208 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,519 We can't wash our dirt. So, if we can't wash our dirt, 209 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,799 we're not working, we're not gonna find any opal. 210 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:28,919 The brothers need a plan. 211 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,719 We could run water from my block in town. 212 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,479 Yeah, yeah. We just gotta pay for it, that's all. 213 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:38,839 That's 1.5km of polypipe, mate. What are you gonna do? 214 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,759 You're not gonna make any money if you can't wash dirt. 215 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,959 Their nearest main supply is at Mick's workshop, 216 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,359 nearly two kilometres from their agitator wash plant. 217 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,079 To get the water there, they must lay a pipe 218 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,919 under regularly-used trackways, across the main road 219 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,959 and through the final kilometre of dense bush. 220 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,399 It's not gonna be easy either. It wouldn't fun without a challenge. 221 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,639 To take on this challenge, the boys need help. 222 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,719 Enter lookalike Gavin. 223 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,279 I get this quite regularly - "Am I a long-lost 224 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,239 or a missing brother of the Cookes?" 225 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,359 I can assure you I'm not a brother. 226 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,239 We're here. We're here, and we've gotta go up to here. 227 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,119 Where it crosses any tracks, I want it underground, 228 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,079 so it's not getting run over by cars. 229 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,559 We'll have to cross the road and look for a culvert up here somewhere. 230 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,839 Then we've gotta get from there... To there. 231 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:31,919 ..to that high spot on the tank. 232 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,959 It's a big task. It's a huge task. 233 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,519 Moving nearly two kilometres of pipe 234 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,879 will take all the brothers' ingenuity. 235 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,719 We'll put this pipe on this decoiler, 236 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,159 hook the quad bike onto it and just drive off into the sunset. 237 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,399 It's Pete and Gavin's job to drag 238 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,799 the polypipe to the agitator wash plant. 239 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,439 But if I get going too fast and stop, 240 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,039 it will keep uncoiling and end up in a . 241 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,119 Just try that, Pete. 242 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,159 Not much break happening. 243 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,039 Yeah, a bit more adjustment, I think, Gav. 244 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:12,839 Give that a go. 245 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,959 That looks really good to me, not overcoiling. 246 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,919 Bringing ahead the big guns, mate. Got the big gear now. 247 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,159 Mick's job is to dig a trench for the pipe under every trackway. 248 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,599 This is where we drive in, I don't wanna crush the pipe. 249 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,159 So this would just protect it, put it underground. 250 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,319 Pete and Gavin take the shortest route possible. 251 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,399 Pete and I sort of took a bit of a direct route. 252 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,959 Where it's all clear, no trees. So I've just gone and done that. 253 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,719 But up ahead, a danger sign 254 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,159 just under the surface - communication cables. 255 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:58,119 Hit one of these and it could be a $26,000 fine. 256 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,599 I was drilling a contract hole for a guy. 257 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,839 Put the bucket in the ground and brought up 258 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,759 all these colours - red, blue, green, orange. 259 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,359 It was a telecom... It was a telecom cable. 260 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,479 Yeah, wrong sort of colour. 261 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,239 Yeah, Mick? 262 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,479 Why's that? 263 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,079 Yeah, but telecom should be 600 deep. 264 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,919 Pete and Gavin will have to start from scratch. 265 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,719 All right, OK. 266 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,119 All right, Mick's having a pink fit back there. 267 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,479 He reckons we're too close to the telecom wires. 268 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,679 So far, what we've experienced going in 269 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,759 doesn't look real good to me. 270 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,999 120 kilometres from civilisation at The Pit, 271 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:05,439 Aaron, Greg and Ron's first trench is a dud. 272 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,519 Have you got rocks in it? 273 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,039 There's no sign of the ironstone rocks 274 00:17:10,120 --> 00:17:12,119 that contain the opal. 275 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,199 So, it's from here... 276 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,159 ..to there, the bottom of the bucket. 277 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,359 Three metres from top to bottom, 278 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,999 this clay band is too deep for the opal boulders to form. 279 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,279 I don't know what it is, it might be compression, 280 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:27,679 but you only find opal when this level goes to... 281 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,799 Instead of three metres, it's a metre, metre and a half. 282 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,119 They need a thinner band of clay. 283 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,759 So what do yous reckon? Is it stupid to trench that way? 284 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,239 But finding it is now just guesswork. 285 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,079 I don't know. You don't know much, do you? 286 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,759 This thing's not real good for trenching. 287 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,519 She's bloody mixed-up the level here, innit? Yeah. 288 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,559 Eh? Too mixed-up. 289 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,519 Well... ..we have to try a different hole. 290 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,599 I'm about as deep as I can go. Nearly about full depth. 291 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,919 to me, anyway. 292 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,039 Former coal miner, Aaron, is leasing this claim from his family 293 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:08,919 and needs it to pay off, so he can buy them out 294 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,599 or they will sell and Aaron will lose everything. 295 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:17,079 You can't mine that, Greg. I don't reckon it'll be viable at all. 296 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,799 Aaron needs to rescue this disaster. 297 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,239 Maybe we put the machine in and go and drill another one up further. 298 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,319 That's why we got it. 299 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,199 We've just gotta go where the opal lives - and it ain't living here. 300 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,239 So, what we're gonna do is, fill in this hole and then 301 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,319 we'll keep trenching backwards till we hit where the level sets a bit more. 302 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,599 Then we'll probably start mining there. 303 00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:51,359 He's hoping this second trench 304 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,319 will reveal a thinner band of clay and opal. 305 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,639 But still no ironstone boulders. 306 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,319 And no opal. 307 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,879 Just more money down the drain. 308 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,479 I don't know what to think of it. 309 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:17,559 We're gonna go broke the way we're going. 310 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,279 I'll have to have a yarn. 311 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:24,519 For Aaron, the pressure is starting to tell. 312 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,839 This hole's . It's been a waste of money and time. 313 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,759 OK, I'm gonna have a cigarette. I'm stressed. You do that. Calm down. 314 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,199 Aaron's hope of keeping his father's dream alive 315 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:39,039 is falling ever further into a deep hole. 316 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,359 Laying two kilometres of emergency water pipe 317 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,639 to their agitator wash plant, 318 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,559 the Cooke brothers and mate, Gavin, have hit a snag. 319 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,559 Mick wants Pete to start all over again. 320 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,399 Why not back there, mate? You're making it difficult. 321 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,599 Mick was driving the excavator. So, if he dug up telecom, he'd be responsible. 322 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,639 I reckon it'll be fine but never mind, we'll do it your way. 323 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,079 Pain in the ass. He should have said he wanted it that way. 324 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,199 Pete and Gavin will have to drag back one kilometre of pipe 325 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,479 already laid, and re-route it through the bush. 326 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,159 All right, we'll hook on the rope here, 327 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,279 pull the thing all the way back out there somewhere 328 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:35,079 and can go where he wants. Righto. 329 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,159 We'll get there in the end, hopefully... 330 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,439 ..before we kill each other. 331 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,519 Righto. 332 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:45,359 That's good, Gav. 333 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,399 Two hours later... OK. 334 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,559 ..Mick is finally happy 335 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,639 and he can safely bury the pipe. 336 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,879 One kilometre down, one to go. 337 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,959 But now the boys face one of their biggest hurdles - 338 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,039 crossing the main road. 339 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:23,679 Pete finds a handy culvert. All right. 340 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,759 But getting the pipe through it safely 341 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,839 has its own challenges. 342 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,759 I need something so that I can get this pipe. 343 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:33,839 I've gotta get it at 90 degrees 344 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,479 without putting a cut in it, if I can avoid it. 345 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,919 Here we go, this is a bit more like it. 346 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,159 Something like this would do. 347 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,199 Have the pipe run round there. Yeah, that might work. 348 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,279 Poking it in through there might do it. 349 00:21:56,360 --> 00:22:00,639 A discarded wheel hub guides the pipe safely under the road. 350 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,959 We'll see how we go. 351 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,879 Finally, on the home stretch, 352 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,279 the last kilometre is through dense scrubland. 353 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:20,039 We've gotta try and get a bearing, 354 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:23,519 take the shortest possible route, obviously, to save the polypipe. 355 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,919 Well, I've got the two waypoints. OK. 356 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,119 OK, so... Which direction? ..we're here at the culvert. 357 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,199 There's your direction there. 358 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,359 Just 15m short of their goal... 359 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:49,679 ..the pipe has run out. 360 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,959 We're a bit short in our estimate. 361 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,959 We gotta go to town and get another 300m of pipe, really. 362 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,519 That... That GPS thing must have lied. 363 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,919 Justin and fiancee, Becky's, hydraulic pipe nightmare... 364 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,199 I can't believe it, eh, Beck? 365 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,799 ..is continuing. Unable to reach a mechanic, 366 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,479 the rookies must fix the problem themselves. 367 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,519 It's gonna be a messy job. Oh, it's gonna be a beast of a job, that one. 368 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,479 Before he can remove the damaged pipe, 369 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,279 Justin must clean the area around it. 370 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:37,879 To keep mining, I need to get this fixed. 371 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,919 We don't really have the right tools for anything, really. 372 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,839 We're just sort of improvising at the moment. 373 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,999 It's really important you don't allow dirt into the actual pump. 374 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,079 I've gotta make sure that it's all clean 375 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,399 and then I wanna try and take it off. 376 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,479 I cannot believe this, eh? 377 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,879 A-ha. There it is. 378 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:02,679 That's it. That's the culprit. 379 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,679 Completely wrecked. 380 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,439 We've gotta get back into town as quick as we can, Beck. 381 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,839 Next stop, Coober Pedy. 382 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:17,159 A 64km round-trip to track down a mechanic, 383 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,679 wasting yet more valuable mining time. 384 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:26,039 See, we might be able to weld up that fitting 385 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,119 onto another one of mine. 386 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,119 I can get this welded up by tomorrow. 387 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,039 Yeah, let's get that one done. 388 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:35,519 That would help us out heaps. Yeah, no worries, mate. All good. 389 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,679 A whole day of mining has been lost. 390 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,479 Next day, Justin and Becky 391 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,679 are keen to make this fix a quick one. 392 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,439 All right, it's gonna be difficult. 393 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,399 Can you see that pipe? Yep. What you do is hold that pipe. 394 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,239 Ah. 395 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,639 OK, there... 396 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:11,599 Maybe just do one nut first so you have... 397 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,479 Maybe I'll just do it myself for a second, hang on. 398 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,919 No need to get cranky. Yeah, I don't need 399 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,519 a bit of your advice every 0.4 of a second. 400 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,199 I'm not. I'm listening to you whinge every 0.4 of a second. OK? 401 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,959 Got it. I'm certainly not trying to prove you wrong. 402 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,599 I'm trying to help. When your arm's deep in diesel 403 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,879 inside of a motor, you know, you can't coach someone else 404 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,799 while you're trying to concentrate. I wasn't coaching. I can't coach. 405 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,399 If it came across too hard because you were asking too many questions, then sorry. 406 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:52,559 Now, we're down a day-and-a-half. So, a bit disappointing. 407 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,519 The loss of time mining, and the $500 repair, 408 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,959 pushes Justin and Becky further to the brink. 409 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,319 It's definitely worth having a look now. 410 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,239 Finding opal is now make or break. 411 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,719 Whoa! Oh! There's a pipe! 412 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,879 Beck, that's a pipe. Oh, my God. 413 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:23,879 That's a belemnite. 414 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,879 Highly-priced, rare belemnite pipes 415 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,439 are the backbones of ancient cuttlefish 416 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:34,399 fossilised in opal, in a process taking millions of years. 417 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:39,119 The most valuable ever found was worth a cool $1 million. 418 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:45,039 This is not the first belemnite pipe Justin has unearthed. 419 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:47,119 Do you see that? Yeah. 420 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:49,759 I think I might have moved it. Oh! 421 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:51,839 But it didn't end well. 422 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,439 I broke it. No?! Oh, no! 423 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:57,639 So, you gotta be really careful. 424 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,799 Just make sure that you get it out in one big chunk. 425 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:04,119 If you crack it, that's it. 426 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:16,799 There we go. In one...nice piece. 427 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,999 It's so heavy. I wanna hold it. I wanna hold the belemnite baby. 428 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,799 Can I have that? Can I hold it? Look, it's crystal. I know. 429 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:28,799 Don't drop it. Don't drop it. I know. 430 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,519 Ooh, it goes back into the rock. 431 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,599 I know. 432 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,839 What a treat. At the very end of this trip, 433 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,399 bang, when we were least expecting it, 434 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,479 we found a bloody good pipe. 435 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,039 1,200 kilometres to the east, 436 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:55,079 the Cooke brothers' pipe dream is turning into a nightmare. 437 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,159 You're making it hard on me, Gav. 438 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,799 The two kilometres of water pipe they desperately need 439 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,719 to restart their operation is 15m short, 440 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,959 meaning more pipe, more time, and more money. 441 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,319 Even then, they don't know if their pipe plan will work. 442 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,519 I'm not sure how much of a flow we'll have at this end. 443 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,599 I don't think it'll be a huge amount. 444 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,839 We need maximum water when we first put the truckload of dirt in. 445 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,559 As the final join is made, 446 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,039 Pete's still worried, the main's water pressure 447 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:30,439 won't be up to task. Righto. 448 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,839 1,700m of polypipes it ended up being to get here 449 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,359 and that's a lot of friction. 450 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,439 Pete waits at the wash plant 451 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,999 while, nearly two kilometres away, Mick turns on the mains. 452 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,079 Righto. It's coming on now. 453 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,719 It will take nearly five minutes before they know 454 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,959 if it's been a success. Look at that meter spin. 455 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,879 We'll hear from them in a minute, unless it pops off somewhere. 456 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:06,919 Six joints, nearly two kilometres of pipe over rough bushland 457 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,479 and under a main road, it's the moment of truth. 458 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:26,599 Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! 459 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:31,519 Yay! OK, it's coming out of the end of the pipe. 460 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,839 Pretty good flow, pretty good. Whoo-hoo! Very good. 461 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,359 With a flow of 50 litres a minute... 462 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,439 Mission successful. 463 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:41,719 ..the Cookes are back in business. 464 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,959 The Boulder Boys have spent four weeks 465 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,279 and $5,000 in fuel 466 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,279 digging the pit - and found nothing. 467 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,839 Aaron has a tough decision to make. 468 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:02,519 I've seen enough of this. You have? Yes. 469 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,199 OK. So, it's drill day. Yes. All right. 470 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,399 And if three of us get into it, we'll get three hours a day. 471 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,839 Well, we'll just do it. 472 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,279 They abandon The Pit. 473 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,719 Spent five grand on diesel and it's a dud hole. 474 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,119 It's a waste of time and money. 475 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,359 The team go back to basics, 476 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,199 prospecting a different part of the Dragonfly claim 477 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:30,319 with their 40-year-old Caldwell drill. 478 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,399 We know that ground ain't good, where we've done the big pit 479 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:36,159 We're gonna put a series of holes heading that way. 480 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,079 The old Caldwell drill can dig test holes 481 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,999 down to 24m deep. 482 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,439 If it pulls up signs of opal, they will bring in the excavator and bulldozer. 483 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,799 Don't stand there, Ron, eh? Watch out there, Ron. 484 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:55,239 But the clumsy machine is dangerous 485 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,519 and has seriously injured people in the past. 486 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,359 Now how are we hanging? Right? Yeah. 487 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,959 It is dangerous. You gotta watch your hand, fingers, everything. 488 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,319 And if anyone's around it, you gotta explain to 'em what's going on. 489 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:19,879 At the end of a ten-metre arm, 490 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,999 the 1.7-cubic-metre bucket rotates, 491 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,479 digging out over a ton of earth at a time. 492 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,319 On the surface, as the bucket ascends, 493 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,399 Greg attaches a release wire to empty the dirt. 494 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:37,519 That's yellow. 495 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,439 He doesn't like yellow. 496 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,279 A bit mellow, yellow. 497 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:48,759 Aaron is pushing hard to find opal. 498 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,119 What's smoking? What? 499 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,119 Go get Ron. 500 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:01,599 An out-of-control engine fire could destroy the entire drill. 501 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,159 Greg! 502 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,439 Aaron can't let go of the brake handle to help. 503 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,159 Wait a sec. Greg disconnects the battery. 504 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,919 Greg! That's it, take it all off. But the truck is still smoking. 505 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,879 What's wrong, mate? Gonna have a fire, electrical. 506 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,319 Go get your fire extinguisher on the dozer. 507 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,399 Yeah, have a look at it, Ron. 508 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,359 What's going on here? Is there a starter motor there? 509 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:37,319 It's electrical. Just disconnect the battery, mate. 510 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:39,879 I have. Oh, well, that's all right. 511 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,519 We've had a short. I could smell something before, eh? 512 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,959 What is it? Is it a short, a dead short? 513 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,439 Yeah. Where was it? 514 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:53,359 Oh, there it is. It's in your wire here. 515 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,159 It's the wire. Starter-motor wire, Ron. 516 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,319 I'm not gonna touch it for now. Yeah, I know. Don't leave it. 517 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:02,519 We weren't even using the truck. 518 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:04,599 Where's it go to? All the way up here. 519 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,919 You can see it. It's all the way up. We have to replace the whole lot. 520 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:11,479 Eh? Your whole system's burnt here, I think. 521 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:14,799 All this here is burnt out. Yeah. So... 522 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:19,279 So, somewhere in the line, it shorted out and then melted the rest of 'em. 523 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:21,519 me. 524 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,519 With the truck dead, the drill is useless, 525 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:26,599 stuck in one spot. 526 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,279 Out of options, Aaron has just one way 527 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:32,359 to cover their costs this week. 528 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,119 I might ring Eric and see if he wants to buy some opal. 529 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:38,679 Yeah, well, give him a ring. An opal buyer is visiting the area. 530 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,079 He's in the paddock. I think he's going next week. 531 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:45,039 Might as well get him before he goes. I'll sell him what I've got, 532 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,119 then we'll get some diesel. All right. 533 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:53,159 Selling some of his stash of opal is Aaron's last roll of the dice. 534 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:04,159 At Lightning Ridge, the Cooke brothers' ingenuity has got them water. 535 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:08,399 Now all they need is opal. 536 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,839 We've got water, we can start washing. 537 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:13,479 The drought's broken, so to speak. 538 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,719 With only $9,000 so far this season, 539 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:21,119 the brothers need to find quality stones fast. 540 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,799 It cost a couple of thousand dollars in polypipe, 541 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,719 but we're gonna wash dirt and find a few gems now, hopefully. 542 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,799 This truckload is 15 tons of dirt, 543 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:33,799 representing several days of hard work. 544 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,159 It could hold a fortune... or nothing at all. 545 00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:39,719 It can be pretty frustrating. You keep doing this 546 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,079 and I've done it 100 times and found nothing. 547 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:45,559 But, the next one, that could be a quarter of $1 million. 548 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:47,639 I've seen it here on the tray. 549 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,439 Now putting the agi into reverse 550 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,799 and it'll unwind and the tailings, they'll come out the shoot, 551 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,239 and we'll have a sort through it and see how many gems we find. 552 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:05,679 They're looking for the tell-tale flash of opal colour. 553 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:14,279 This is when they find out if all their hard work has paid off. 554 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:18,679 Look at that. Opal. 555 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:20,759 Whoo-hoo! 556 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,359 Look at that one. Now we're getting somewhere. 557 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,599 That is beautiful. That's what opal is. 558 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:28,119 A bit of beauty. A bit of blue. 559 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:30,519 Oh, yeah, look at that. 560 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:34,359 Yeah, starting to pay off. That's a bloody good thing. 561 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,959 It's a dream come true. We'd just like to have more of it. 562 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:40,479 Look at the red in that. Ooh. 563 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:45,319 I'm not gonna kiss you, but it's good. Don't kiss me, kiss the opal. 564 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,399 Mwah! 565 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,079 We haven't put a dent in that and we spent a couple of grand, at least, on it. 566 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,559 With the entire load washed and checked, 567 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:57,679 15 tons of dirt has come down to just a handful of opal. 568 00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,839 Oh, God, that's beautiful. 569 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,159 That is a beautiful piece of fossil. 570 00:36:02,240 --> 00:36:05,319 Good result. Beautiful blue. 571 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:09,719 It's a bit hard to guesstimate, but maybe ten grand if we're lucky. 572 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,559 Whilst a haul of $10,000 is a great outcome, 573 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:15,959 it's still well short of their target 574 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,799 of $200,000. 575 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:22,959 But, for the brothers, right now, any win is worth celebrating. 576 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,959 Back at camp... Have a look at this opal, Greg, eh? 577 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:43,759 Oh, yeah. ..with $5,000 wasted on digging The Pit, 578 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:48,519 Aaron must now sell some of his opal to cover their costs. 579 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:53,359 He's selling a mix of boulder opal and less valuable sandy opal. 580 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,319 It's blue-green and only in the rough 581 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,519 but he has four kilograms of it, 582 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,399 making its value between $6-9,000. 583 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,759 I'd like to get four grand for this lot 584 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:06,839 and four grand for that lot. 585 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:08,959 $8,000 all up. $8,000 all up. 586 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,759 But, at the moment, I'd probably take six or five. 587 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:16,359 What do you reckon, Ron? 588 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:19,359 Oh, I think it's worth more than six. 589 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:23,199 I reckon that. I reckon a minimum of 7,000. Yeah. 590 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,319 But haggling isn't Aaron's strong point. 591 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:29,759 Aaron's got a very caring and loving heart. 592 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:33,039 He's generous. And that's his downfall. 593 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,719 Let's get rid of it. If I got five grand, I'd be happy with that. 594 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,199 This one here, right. 595 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:40,959 Look, it's bright. 596 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:43,839 That's a bloody good stain. 597 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,119 I'm selling you your own opal. OK. 598 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,199 Maybe you need Ron to be head negotiator. 599 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,239 He starts too low and he leaves himself no room but down. 600 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,959 We're slowly getting him in to the mode of start higher, 601 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:00,479 and you've got some room to move. 602 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,879 Start at eight. Eight, nine. Minimum. Yeah. 603 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:05,999 And then you've got room to rumba. Yeah. 604 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:08,079 OK? Yeah. 605 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:10,399 So, righto. I'll start at about nine. 606 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:12,559 It'd be nice if I could get $6,000. 607 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:16,039 Be better if you got more, but if your lowest is six, 608 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:18,319 don't ask six cos you won't get it. 609 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:22,759 Looks like he's coming here. Here's Eric now. Here's Eric now. 610 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,039 Oh, that's looking at us, too. It's not too bad. 611 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,519 Get ready to wet it, Greg. OK, I'll wet it. How you going, Eric? 612 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:32,839 Yeah, I'm good, mate. Good. How you been? 613 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:35,279 Yeah, good to see you again. Yeah. Yeah. 614 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:38,039 The big hole, the big level, it looks nice, 615 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:40,679 but no rock at the moment. Yeah. Doesn't matter. 616 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:42,799 Well, that can change, eh? That's it. 617 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:47,199 Ron, how are you? I'm good. G'day, Eric. How are you going? Good, mate, how are you? 618 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,759 Got a bit of sandy stuff here and a bit of pancake. 619 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:52,079 Yeah, OK. All right, mate. 620 00:38:54,800 --> 00:39:00,439 You know how some people get stage fright? They're all good, they know their lines, everything. 621 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:03,039 That's the better of the stuff up this end. Yeah. 622 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:08,119 The curtain opens, the buyer rocks up, and it all flies out of the window. 623 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:11,279 Unfortunately, a lot of these pieces here 624 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:15,359 are not the quality that I'm looking for. 625 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:18,759 Er, and a lot of pieces are gonna be quite small. 626 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:20,879 Yup. Yup. Erm... 627 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:25,399 But I'm still interested in the... You're selling it as a lot, right? The whole lot. 628 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:27,279 You're selling the whole lot? Yep. 629 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:29,559 He's already got his mind set on something, 630 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:33,959 and then, if it doesn't come through, he does what we call panic sale. 631 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:38,159 Well... 632 00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:40,599 Er, I can give you an offer on it. 633 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:43,879 Er... 634 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:47,999 I can offer you five. 635 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:50,519 Five thousand. Whole lot? Yeah. 636 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:53,919 All right. If you're happy with that, I'm happy with that. OK. 637 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,799 I'll give it a go. Yeah. I'll write you a receipt, eh? 638 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:58,879 OK. Thanks very much. 639 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,559 Yeah, well, that's how it is. Opal's worth what it sells on the day. 640 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:04,799 It's up to you what you take. 641 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:07,919 If you need it, well, you gotta take it. 642 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:12,479 And a teardrop. Yeah, a big teardrop. 643 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:17,479 Aaron's already allocated that money to getting a drum of oil and diesel, 644 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:19,839 so that we can keep going through 645 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:22,599 and finding the pocket that we're looking for. 646 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:25,319 With their fuel costs this dig covered, 647 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:27,599 Aaron, at least, is happy. 648 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:29,759 Well, now I can get more diesel and oil. 649 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:32,039 That's what we want at the moment. 650 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:34,639 We're looking at the bigger picture. 651 00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:36,719 That's opal mining. A week later, 652 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,279 you might be jumping up and down, you know, happy. 653 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:50,679 It'd be nice to at least get a couple of thousand bucks for all this, 654 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:54,279 once we've cleaned it up, just to sort of at least put it towards diesel. 655 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:57,799 Justin and Becky are hoping to maximise their profit 656 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:00,999 by cleaning up their week's haul for sale. 657 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:03,319 That's a better size. 658 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,999 First step is clipping off any worthless rock. 659 00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:09,079 The colour in it is just incredible, eh? 660 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:11,559 Yeah, that's a good chunk, that one. 661 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:16,359 It's a bit like selling a house. Presentation's everything. 662 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:20,599 Washing what's left is the final stage. 663 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:22,879 We should be left with just opal at that point. 664 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:24,959 No more sandstone? Hopefully. 665 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:31,599 Next morning, Justin and Becky's haul is ready for sale. 666 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:35,079 Good day, Nick. Justin, Becky, how are you? Hi, Nick. Come in. 667 00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:38,639 Nick Troisi is one of the Rookies' regular buyers. 668 00:41:38,720 --> 00:41:40,959 Straight from the field? Pretty much, yeah. 669 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,399 We cleaned up a bit of opal to show you, 670 00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:46,999 and see if we can potentially sell it to you. What have we got? 671 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:50,639 Their first offering is a bag of small opal chips, 672 00:41:50,720 --> 00:41:54,199 a mix of white and crystal opal in the rough. 673 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:58,799 At two kilograms their estimated value is $1,800. 674 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:03,679 Erm... For me, erm... 675 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,479 It's not for me, material like this. 676 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,199 OK. OK. So you're not interested in that stuff. 677 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,519 But there's a lot of opal chip jewellery makers in town. 678 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,999 This is gonna appeal to them. They're gonna put 'em in little vials, 679 00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:20,519 they're gonna put 'em in resin and into jewellery. 680 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:24,039 The big reveal. Yeah. This is what Becky found. 681 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,719 We actually cleaned it up a little bit as well. 682 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:31,439 You did the work, and you've recovered it like that and presented like that. 683 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,959 This is even... Hm. Even better, er... 684 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:40,639 Wow. Justin and Becky want $3,500 685 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:42,719 for this opalised belemnite pipe. 686 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:44,999 It's really nice and it's lovely presented. 687 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:47,239 This is the best bit about things like this. 688 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,199 It crosses both markets - fossils as well as opal. 689 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:52,279 These are so rare. They are. 690 00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:56,759 What were you looking at? 691 00:42:56,840 --> 00:43:00,199 Well, we're hoping to get $5,000 for that one. 692 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:02,279 OK. OK. 693 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:06,039 Look, I'll be honest with you, I'm interested in it... 694 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:10,279 ..for three. Mm. 695 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:17,839 Well... Tell me what you feel 696 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:20,319 and, yeah, we can work with that. 697 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:22,919 What do you reckon, sweetie? I'm pretty new to this. 698 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:28,119 If we can go four and a half, you got yourself a deal. 699 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:32,479 Erm... 700 00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:35,759 Let's do it. Four and a half? Yeah, four and a half. We can do that one. 701 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:37,839 Perfect. Thanks. Thank you, Becky. 702 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:40,319 Hopefully we'll see you with some more. Thanks, Nick. 703 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,439 This sale brings Justin and Becky's total up to $5,000. 704 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:47,799 We were aiming for $3,500 to cover those costs 705 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:49,879 and, in the end, we hit $4,500 706 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:52,319 and, you know, we made some money, which is good. 707 00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:58,639 It looks like Justin and Becky's luck may finally have changed. 708 00:43:58,720 --> 00:44:00,719 subtitles by Deluxe 708 00:44:01,305 --> 00:45:01,267 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm