"Outback Opal Hunters" Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,719 NARRATOR: 'On Outback Opal Hunters...' 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,319 Oh, my God. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,439 'Rookies, Justin and Becky, risk their lives underground 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,599 desperate for a find.' 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,479 If you work here, you could get buried alive. 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,079 Let's get out of here. All right, let's get out of here. 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,159 'And uncover a hidden prize.' 8 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:21,359 Whoo! 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,439 'And, Col's back... 10 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:27,079 ..taking on the outback... 11 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,879 ..hunting long-forgotten treasure.' 12 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:33,959 Yee-haw! 13 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:41,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 14 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,879 'Coober Pedy, South Australia. 15 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:09,959 With temperatures hitting 47 degrees Celsius, 16 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,519 home of the most famous opal fields in the world... 17 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,439 ..producing crystal opal and highly-prized white opal. 18 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,319 At $7,500 a gram, 19 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,519 it's worth over 100 times more than gold.' 20 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,439 'Rookies, Justin Lang and fiancee Becky MacAllan 21 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,279 have gambled their savings on striking it rich out here, 22 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:48,359 on their 50x100m claim, 32km north of Coober Pedy. 23 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,799 But with the season nearly over, they are way behind their target 24 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,079 and are struggling to survive.' 25 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,319 I've worked, probably ten times harder than I have last year, 26 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,759 and I've found ten times less. 27 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,519 'To make matters worse, their sole piece of heavy machinery, 28 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:14,319 a 25-year-old second-hand excavator, is bleeding them dry.' 29 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,679 An old machine isn't so cheap after all. 30 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,679 'They're now $60,000 down 31 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,999 and every day, falling deeper into debt.' 32 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:28,919 $10, $20, $50.... 33 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,519 So tomorrow, I'm gonna have to buy another $200 worth of hydraulic oil, 34 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,879 just so we can keep mining for few more days. 35 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,039 Financially, very strenuous 36 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,519 but mentally, very strenuous as well. 37 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,279 Doing my head in, this place... 38 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,639 Here we go. 39 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:50,719 When I scratch the face, 40 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,399 I drop it down like that and then bring it just back. 41 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,159 If I do see heap of really good quality opal in the wall, 42 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,199 then I know that the opal is only gonna be in pile at the base of where it came out. 43 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:03,879 Justin, what's that? 44 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,519 There's a horizontal band there, though small one. 45 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,799 Right there, straight ahead. 46 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,279 Yeah? All right. We'll have a look. 47 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,759 'Dark bands are fault lines in the rock where opal forms.' 48 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,839 Looks really good up here. 49 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:21,079 'It's these faults that Becky and Justin are hunting. 50 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:25,719 In a process taking millions of years, 51 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,839 opal is made as water seeping underground 52 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:31,759 deposits silica in cracks and fissures.' 53 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,079 I'm just desperately wanting to see something here. 54 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,879 Oh, Justin. Come here, come here. Oh, my God, look, look, look. 55 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,959 Look, look. Yeah, that's colour. 56 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,039 That's a shell. You're on to it. 57 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,119 Oh, my God. 58 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,199 That could just pay for the bloody hydraulic oil. I knew there was something here. 59 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,999 Ten minutes ago, I was questioning everything... 60 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,119 ..and was wondering why I'd bothered coming back at all, 61 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,079 and ten minutes later, you just... 62 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,319 Opal frenzy, straight off the bat. 63 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,919 Boom. I have a really good feeling about this spot. 64 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,679 'But the rock is fighting back.' 65 00:04:18,840 --> 00:04:22,679 Hell, this is harder ground. Like, you can't even dig through it. 66 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,759 Let's get the ripper out. 67 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:31,559 'The ripper is a massive iron claw that can tear through the hard rock. 68 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,239 But as Justin attempts to attach the ripper to the arm...' 69 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,679 Oh, you're joking. 70 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,319 '..there's yet another problem.' 71 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,599 If the quick hitch is screwed, that means we are not mining this trip. 72 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,119 I have no idea how to fix this. ! 73 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,159 'The quick hitch mechanism, used to hook the bucket and the ripper 74 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,399 to the end of the excavator's arm, isn't working. 75 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:09,119 Without the quick hitch, there is no ripper and no opal.' 76 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:14,839 The last trip, we spent ages fixing a massive hydraulic hose and... 77 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,919 ..and now we already got more problems, so... 78 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,159 COL: It's a long way to go and get rescued or walk and get help. 79 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,719 Don't hurt the car, is the main thing. 80 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,039 'After four months of illness, local legend Col Duff 81 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,719 is returning to the opal fields.' 82 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,799 I don't think anyone's been in there since the '70s and the '80s. 83 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,319 'But this time, he's prospecting solo.' 84 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,319 'It's been a rough year for Col. 85 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,599 Having just beaten cancer, four months ago, 86 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,039 he was struck down by mosquito-borne virus, Barmah fever, 87 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,679 leaving him weak and unable to work with old mates, Aaron and Greg, 88 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,319 ending their long partnership.' 89 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,599 A lot of these partnerships come and go, it's not like you're married. 90 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,239 And, good luck to them, so rather than muck them around, 91 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,079 better I go and find some more places for the future. 92 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:31,519 'For Col now, looking into the future is more important than ever before.' 93 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:32,959 You can only try. 94 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:38,319 'He recently found love with new girlfriend Peta and her kids.' 95 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:43,319 She has kept me fed, looked after me when I was really in a bad way. 96 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,559 PETA: I believe that, when he is well 97 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,439 and is out there physically doing the work, 98 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,079 I believe that he will succeed. 99 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,519 'With most of the season gone and a new family to feed, 100 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,759 Col's desperate to make up for lost time and money. 101 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:08,679 Satellite imagery is, former telecoms engineer, 102 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,599 Col's best source of new leads.' 103 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:18,159 We've got the data. We've got the high-detailed satellite imagery 104 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,319 so we can see where we are in amongst it. 105 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,439 I can see places to go to, so let's go and check them out. 106 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,599 'Recent developments mean satellite imagery can now show 107 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,759 potentially opal-bearing sandstone and ironstone rocks in red. 108 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:39,319 Col has pinpointed a remote area with promising rocks, 109 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,319 unlikely to have been touched by other miners for decades.' 110 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,519 I want to go to a place that I've been to before called El Dorado. 111 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,919 'During the boom years of the 1880s, 112 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,439 hundreds of miners from around the world 113 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,679 flocked to the legendary fields of El Dorado. 114 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,759 Today, all that remains of their work 115 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,399 are countless piles of dirt dug from deep below ground. 116 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:14,239 Col's banking on many of them still containing boulder and matrix opal 117 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,959 missed or discarded by the old-time miners. 118 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,439 But deep into the outback, 119 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,999 El Dorado is too remote for most miners to dare to venture. 120 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,879 For Col, now with a family to support, 121 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,679 it could be the lifeline he needs.' 122 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:36,679 The new plan, go and have a look where no man's been for a long time. 123 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,079 We're going to El Dorado. 124 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,199 'For most of this adventure, Col will be forced to go off-road.' 125 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,759 All the miner's roads are like goat tracks. 126 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,359 You're in the middle of nowhere and you got no-one 127 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,439 to help you straight away, so just don't be silly. 128 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,519 'In the one-tonne trailer, 129 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,079 Col has all the necessary equipment to survive out here. 130 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,719 But with no partners, if anything goes wrong, 131 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,199 he's on his own, over 100km from the nearest town.' 132 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,559 We'll have a look on the motorbike. 133 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,799 It's a bit easier to get around the paddock without getting stuck. 134 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,079 We're gonna go and find some opals. 135 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:27,039 I can feel it in my bones, somewhere here must be a good place. 136 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,119 Yee-haw! 137 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,079 Let's have a look here. 138 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,839 I can see some workings down here on the creek. 139 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,119 So I wanna see if they're old timers or backhoes. 140 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,079 See all this iron stone shedding? 141 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,239 So, it's just a matter of keeping your eyes open and seeing if it starts to carry opal. 142 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,119 This is El Dorado. 143 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:15,199 She's hard country. No opal here, it's just solid caprock. 144 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,999 'Col's arrived at El Dorado, 145 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,399 an oasis in the desert riddled with creeks and waterholes 146 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,679 and nearby, the workings of old-time opal miners. 147 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,599 Col hopes to find pieces of opal 148 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:35,759 the old-timers missed in their piles of tailings. 149 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,759 But in the 40-degree heat over rugged terrain, 150 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,719 his progress is agonisingly slow.' 151 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,399 There's some old-timers here that... They're very old holes. 152 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,839 So I'll just have a look and see what is over there. 153 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,159 Oh, beautiful! See all the purple fairystone? 154 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,679 Wow, that's beautiful. 155 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:04,479 Fairystone is where the sandstone has been saturated with opal 156 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:08,479 so we've got the sandstone that's all glued together with purple opal. 157 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:12,119 Needs a good scrub but that's beautiful. That's great trace. 158 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,479 This is where some old guys dug a hundred years ago. 159 00:11:15,560 --> 00:11:19,479 This wasn't worth anything then. Only the solid crystal opals were. 160 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:24,039 We can treat that and cut some big fancy stones. It looks a million dollars. 161 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,159 Oi. Oh, look at that. 162 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,319 Bit of a purple matrix. 163 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,559 They've thrown it away. They didn't lose it. 164 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,639 Nowadays, that's a beautiful piece we can do something with that. 165 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,639 Oh, look at that. Matrix. 166 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,039 That's a really good sign. That's got me excited. 167 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,399 So, underneath that bush, there will be some more of this. 168 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:49,319 'Col needs to clear the scrub from the old dumps.' 169 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:53,279 With a machine we'd just push it away. 170 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:58,199 But we're pretty safe here, so I'll burn this bit of spinifex here. 171 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,279 So, I'm gonna burn it. 172 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:05,679 'Burning isolated patches of spinifex is standard practice hunting opal. 173 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:10,479 But setting fire to tinder-dry bush always carries a risk.' 174 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:12,079 She burns pretty hot. 175 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,759 'If winds pick up, bushfires can burn out of control.' 176 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,199 'On their claim on the outskirts of Coober Pedy, 177 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,319 Justin and Becky's sole piece of heavy equipment, 178 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,519 their second-hand excavator, has jammed.' 179 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,599 ! 180 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,039 Beck's made the effort to come all the way up to Coober Pedy, 181 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,959 thousand kilometres from home, to go mining this week. 182 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,359 Last chance this year, and this thing's packed it in and won't work. 183 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,119 It's gonna be pretty annoying if we can't mine this trip. 184 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:01,599 'A busted quick hitch renders the excavator virtually useless.' 185 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,519 I really need this machine to work to find opal 186 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,919 and I don't wanna fork out another 30 or more thousand dollars to get another machine. So... 187 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,239 ..at the moment, it's a dead investment. 188 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,439 Bloody hell. 189 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,879 Once again, the excavator has a problem. 190 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,079 This old girl, she's doing all right, but bloody hell... 191 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,959 It just seems to be falling apart left, right and centre. 192 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,999 'With money slipping through their fingers, 193 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,959 Justin and Becky need to come up with something fast.' 194 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,999 You all right, Beck? How do you feel about going underground? 195 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:42,039 What do you mean? To mine? Mm-hm. What do you think? 196 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:46,559 I haven't been underground before but you always talked about how dangerous it is. 197 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,399 It is dangerous, but... So... 198 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,719 You just got to risk it a little bit to find that opal. 199 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:01,799 'To pay for the repairs, Justin and Becky must find opal some other way. 200 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,639 With no underground mine of their own, 201 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,799 Justin and Becky arranged to partner up with neighbouring miner, 202 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,639 Stoyan Rupaik and partner Max Jones.' 203 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:17,479 I've struck up a deal with Stoyan and Max to go mining underground 204 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:22,519 and the deal is 25% of whatever we find we get to keep. 205 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,159 'The last time Justin partnered with 206 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,519 another miner underground, it ended badly.' 207 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,679 Cos when you find opal, change, friendships can break. 208 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:39,199 'But for Justin and Becky, desperate times call for desperate measures.' 209 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,879 Hey, Stoyan. Morning. How are you going? Not bad, thank you. 210 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,999 Hi. MAX: How are you? Max, how are you going? Yeah, not bad. 211 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,959 You don't mind if we come underground with you? Not at all. 212 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,599 That'd be good. Come down and give it a go. Have a look around 213 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,479 at how we work. Yeah. Probably different from the way you do. 214 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,719 'Stoyan and partner Max Jones 215 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:03,679 are happy for Justin and Becky to share the risks and the rewards.' 216 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,559 On the fields, you can tunnel, tunnel, tunnel and find nothing, 217 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,679 but here, you might find a pipe, you might find some skin shells 218 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,479 which will get you by, paying for the next load of diesel. 219 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,999 I'm interested to see what it's like, but I'm also quite apprehensive. 220 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:19,999 Is that front or back? That's the front. 221 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,839 Through here? Yeah, mate. Yep. 222 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,799 So, I'm about to go underground for the first time. 223 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,399 Get down in one piece first, and then I'll worry about the next step. 224 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,959 I've no idea where this goes. 225 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,479 I'm guessing it clips on to something. 226 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,759 Sit there and put your full weight, and you slowly swing out. Yeah. 227 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,839 All right? You good there? Yeah. 228 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,639 'Becky is heading down a 12m mineshaft 229 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,879 with loose earth walls prone to collapse.' 230 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,999 I'm a bit worried about safety, cos there's a lot of things that can go wrong, 231 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,639 and if anything does go wrong, it goes badly wrong. 232 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,279 '1,000km to the northeast...' 233 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,479 Oh, it's a bit hot, aye? 234 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,519 '..on his first trip since recovering from a serious outback virus, 235 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:20,159 Col Duff has resorted to extreme measures to try and find opal.' 236 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,599 Spinifex burns hot. They call it kerosene plant. 237 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,599 The old boys were real wide-eyed. They wanted solid opal. 238 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,359 They threw away the matrix and the fairystone. 239 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,439 I've seen a guy find 20 grand, 240 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,199 and I've seen it broken in half, and left it there. 241 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,599 They didn't know how to cut them, wasn't worth anything to them. 242 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,999 So, where'd it all go? 243 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,519 Get excited and suddenly, it disappears. 244 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:05,599 'With a new girlfriend and two kids to feed, Col must keep looking. 245 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,319 His satellite mapping offers clues to another site, 246 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,799 50km away, deeper into the bush.' 247 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,399 So, we wanna go and have a look up this way. 248 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,399 See if it all opens up in these workings over here as well, 249 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,479 and see if it looks interesting. 250 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:27,079 'Col is now 80km from civilisation. 251 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,559 He's alone with no mobile phone coverage, 252 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,839 and weakened by months of sickness. 253 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,359 Get stuck out here, and he'll be dangerously stranded.' 254 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,919 'He's stuck fast.' 255 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,399 It's a long walk back to the road. 256 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,679 Suddenly, the road , and I got it stuck. 257 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,679 I'm just surprised how quickly it happened. I though it'd be fine. 258 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,199 But she's a bit of a washout and it's a bit of loose gravel, 259 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,399 and she just kicked into the hole. 260 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,759 Hopefully, I can kick it back out. 261 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,039 It's probably 80km back to town. 262 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:46,799 You got to carry water with you out here, 263 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,879 cos if you get stuck like this and you got no water, you're not gonna last very long. 264 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,879 'To stand any chance of freeing the ute, 265 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,919 he'll first need to lighten the heavy trailer and detach it. 266 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,359 Weak from a recent illness and down on his luck, 267 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,519 this is going to be an uphill battle.' 268 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,999 Oh, damn. 269 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,039 She's broken the clutch lever. 270 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:28,759 So, this makes it a bit more painful, fun and games for the day. 271 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,679 And it's just like, "Oh, what next?" 272 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:40,679 'Alone, in temperatures pushing into the 40s, Col will have to dig deep.' 273 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,999 Let's try. 274 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,239 Gonna have to dig that. 275 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,639 You stupid... 276 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,679 Once you're in, you're in. 277 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,159 And it's real hard rocky granite. It's real hot. 278 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,239 You're just trying to make a living... 279 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,519 ..have a better life, 280 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,679 but it shows, you got to be careful in the middle of nowhere. 281 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,959 Cos things can go horribly wrong. 282 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:29,399 So, I don't know if anyone appreciates 283 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,999 what we go through to find good opal. 284 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,359 It's hard on your body, hard on your vehicles, 285 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,439 hard on your wallet. 286 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,879 Now I need to find some opal, move forward in life. 287 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,239 I want to do the right thing with Peta and the kids, so, you know, 288 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,479 you've got to be able to cover your costs and have some money to enjoy. 289 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,479 You know, what else am I gonna do? Give up? No. 290 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,479 I have hooked up on the spring. 291 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,279 Maybe I jack it up and put a rock under the wheel. 292 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:09,359 That might work. 293 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,479 'To get out, Col needs traction. 294 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:17,479 His plan is raise the car with a jack and put rocks under its tyres.' 295 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,359 Very hot. 296 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:25,719 I think this will work, this pack of rocks under there. 297 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,399 Ah, let's just give it one try. 298 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:34,479 Oh, God. It might be 42 out there, but I think it's about 45 in here. 299 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,559 It's like a little oven. 300 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,679 Come on, baby, you can do it. 301 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,159 We got through that, but it worked. 302 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:30,879 What threw that axel there? 303 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,399 That one busted a spring. 304 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,679 Sure have. Oh, God. 305 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:40,999 'Yet another setback.' 306 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,599 That trailer's not going anywhere. 307 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,679 That's it. , show's over. 308 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:06,599 'Without the trailer, Col's dreams of El Dorado are gone.' 309 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,599 'In Coober Pedy...' 310 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,239 BECKY: Oh, my God. 311 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,319 '..Rookie Becky is descending 12m 312 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,519 into an underground mine for the very first time.' 313 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,239 It's creepy. Feels like a tomb, this place. 314 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,239 JUSTIN: Here we go. See you at the bottom. 315 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,999 'Stoyan and Max's mine is a sprawling network of tunnels 316 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,759 up to 16m deep, built over several years.' 317 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,279 Who wants to go for a walk? Yeah. 318 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:02,359 All right. Let's do it. 319 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,719 STOYAN: We'll just get out of this section first. 320 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,799 Check this out. Wow. 321 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,919 It goes down even further to five levels. 322 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,479 So, you've knocked out five levels here? 323 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,159 Wow. Fine machinery. 324 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,279 OK, let's go back. 325 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:19,959 'Underground mining is notoriously dangerous. 326 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:24,039 The soft sandstone that could contain thousands of dollars in opal 327 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:28,199 could also spell disaster for the careless miner.' 328 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,319 Now, as you come up here, this area is very dangerous. 329 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,199 There are some areas around here you can't go through, 330 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,439 because it can get collapsed, and get killed. 331 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,719 It's not worth my life. Mm. 332 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,799 I try and be as safe as possible. 333 00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:46,319 Now, have a look at the roof first. 334 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,399 See it all cracked... Oh, wow. 335 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,199 All cracked, all cracked, all cracked, all collapsing. 336 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,399 As you can see, the white on the pillars, 337 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,599 how it's splitting the pillars. You see where 338 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,679 the cracks are up there. I can see them. 339 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:01,119 That there can just drop any second. That way, I wouldn't go. 340 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,199 If you worked out here, there's a potential 341 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,279 that you could get buried alive? Yes. 342 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:07,359 All right. So, let's get out of here. 343 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,439 All right. Let's get out of here. 344 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,039 You can see how the soot comes through. 345 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,119 Yeah, I'm get... I'm getting out of here. 346 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,319 That is dangerous. That is an area 347 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,399 that I would stay well and truly out of. 348 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,119 I'll show you the spot here. 349 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,959 I reckon in here you've got a good chance. 350 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,719 Oh, yeah. This spot here's got some nice opal. 351 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,039 Five or six grand just here. Yeah, cool. 352 00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:43,959 So, the big one might still be in there. All right. 353 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,959 25% on whatever you find. 354 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,719 Once we knock it all out, we take it back, clean it up, 355 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,799 we either split the opal or split the money. All right. 356 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,719 So, we get 25%, if we find some opal here. Mm-hm. 357 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,799 Done deal. 358 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,959 And is there anywhere in here that's unsafe that we shouldn't be? 359 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,039 Yeah. All right. 360 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:06,799 Don't go past there... Yeah. 361 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:08,879 ..cos all this here... 362 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,679 Yeah, too dangerous. Pretty dangerous. Yeah. 363 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:17,919 Along this line here is where you got a good chance. 364 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:21,479 All right. Gonna have to set all this stuff up. 365 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,839 Got... We need power cables, drills. 366 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,199 I just need to get this... Run this electricity cable through... 367 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,799 ..cos I need to run power. 368 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:35,879 'The only problem is, 369 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,319 the source of power is on the other side 370 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,799 of the dangerously unstable corridor.' 371 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,919 That's the dead zone. 372 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,399 So, we need power, 373 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,319 so I'm gonna risk it. 374 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,359 That's the one spot we're not supposed to go. 375 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,999 I've been in so many more dangerous spots than this. 376 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,519 Well, you might have used up all your lives already. 377 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,839 I'm just gonna throw the power cord through to the other side, 378 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,039 through that dangerous tunnel. OK. 379 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:07,119 And, yes, it could collapse at any moment, 380 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,399 so that's why I'm just gonna throw it through. 381 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,519 Well, you're not bloody Indiana Jones, all right. 382 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:16,599 You gotta risk it to find opal, Beck. 383 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,679 We've already risked it just being here. 384 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:20,759 Justin, that's really stupid. 385 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,759 Apparently, Justin and I disagree 386 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,719 on whether finding opal is worth risking your life for. 387 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,639 This is what I would do without you here, OK? 388 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,199 Honestly, Justin, it's really not... 389 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,479 What do you wanna do? 390 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,919 Not go on the one place that Max told us not to. 391 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,999 He said, "Don't go digging this area." 392 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:46,719 Please, relax. You're making me nervous by going off your chops. 393 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:48,799 It just makes me really frustrated. 394 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,119 We've had discussions about where do you draw the line financially, 395 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,399 but where do you draw the line physically? 396 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,479 Like, for your own life for God's sake. 397 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,639 I don't know. It's just concerning sometimes 398 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,919 how much he's willing to risk just to find opal. 399 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:14,319 And that scares me because, you know, the worst-case scenario 400 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,399 is that that roof does come down on top of him, 401 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,959 and then I have to dig him out with my bare hands. 402 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:25,959 Safe. Lovely. 403 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,479 Come on, let's go. Let's find some opal. 404 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,719 It's not worth it, Justin. 405 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,159 Can you just put your trust in, you know, me? 406 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,399 And I know you're super worried because, you know, 407 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,479 we've got something so special, you know, we love each other, 408 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:51,559 and we don't want anything to happen. 409 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,079 I don't think it's worth it. I was fine before that. 410 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,439 You need to get the job done, the power through. 411 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,879 I know you just, you know, 412 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:03,479 you get excited and, yes, probably you'll find la-la-la-la, 413 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:07,079 but I just don't like it when you do risky things... 414 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,239 ..just so you can find opal. 415 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,559 If you're not feeling it, we may as well go then. 416 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:19,999 I don't think it's worth it. 417 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,079 Oh, man. 418 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,999 OK. 419 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,599 All right. I just gotta always remember 420 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:33,759 that Becky might be a bit nervous down here. 421 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,839 So, I got to be extra sensitive, 422 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,039 especially when, you know, she's well out of her comfort zone. 423 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:44,919 'With the area they're working being 16m below ground level, 424 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:49,639 an unexpected collapse could leave them trapped beyond help.' 425 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:53,599 Whoa. It's tough work, Beck. 426 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,799 Drilling opal is amazing, cos you never know 427 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,199 how close you are to the actual fortune. 428 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,799 All right. 429 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,279 So, opal is in this level in between all the holes. 430 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,919 I'm gonna dig out this nice sort of rectangular area. 431 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,359 I'm just gonna drop it out, and then I'm gonna see 432 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,439 if there's anything in it. 433 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:33,239 Justin. What? Come here. 434 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,519 You joking? Wow. Look at that. Oh, my God. 435 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,599 Bloody hell, Beck. There you go. 436 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:46,319 Look at the colour on that. It's amazing, aye? 437 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,879 Oh, wow. There it is. 438 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,119 Whoo! 439 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,359 That's a big pipe. Look. You can see the pipe. 440 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,799 It's got a little bit of a tinge of colour in it. 441 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,039 A belemnite fossil which has turned to opal. 442 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,239 It's a big one. Yes, finally. 443 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:10,799 'Rare belemnite pipes 444 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,719 are the backbones of ancient cuttlefish 445 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,399 fossilised in pure opal.' 446 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,319 Well, you found a pipe. That's pretty good. 447 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:25,199 That's, you know, a good day's work, finding a nice belemnite pipe. 448 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:27,679 The Virgin Rainbow sold for a million dollars. 449 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:31,319 So, these things can be worth anywhere up to that. 450 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:40,599 COL: That trailer's not going anywhere. 451 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:42,759 That means we gotta come back with a spring. 452 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,719 It's gonna be another mission to rescue it. 453 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,159 'In sweltering 45-degree heat, 454 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:54,199 80km from town, Col's trailer is out of action. 455 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,999 Without the trailer, he can't make it to his next target site.' 456 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,079 She's broken the spring there, 457 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,879 and if we try and drag it without doing it right, 458 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,999 we'll just break it worse. 459 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,079 Time's running out, 460 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:12,919 I'll get a mean bit of kit to make camping easy, 461 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:17,959 because it's got the fridge, the bed, the bike, everything I need. 462 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,159 But it's all right. We got the car out. 463 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,239 That's the main thing. 464 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,359 Yeah, I think we'll forget going this way for the moment, 465 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,039 and we'll go and find an easy one on the way home. 466 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,079 There's one more place I know we can stop in 467 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,639 and have a bit of a look. Maybe we'll get lucky 468 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:45,879 and get a bit of tucker money to fix up this stuff I keep breaking. 469 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,959 It's turning into an expensive trip. 470 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,759 Yeah, we need a bit of luck. 471 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,319 Oh, gee, a couple of grand would be nice. 472 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,079 Yeah, anything. Just don't give up. 473 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:04,919 'Col has just enough fuel to hit one more abandoned mine 474 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,279 on the way back to the safety of town. 475 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,839 This site is called Happy Valley. 476 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,559 Over the years, it's been an opal Mecca.' 477 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,639 I'm really lucky that, you know, I came out the other end 478 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:26,759 of cancer, and hopefully, it stays that way. 479 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,159 Just to survive, that's the best thing ever. 480 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,519 It makes you appreciate your family, people that love you. 481 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,919 Met up with Peta and started going out, erm... 482 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,319 So, yeah, it's like a new lease on life. 483 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,599 You know, nothing like being loved. It's just the best thing ever. 484 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:44,959 So, I'll just use that as motivation to, 485 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,319 you know, work harder, try harder. 486 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,199 We've all got a limited time. So, at the end of the day, 487 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,079 you'd better get it right and do what makes you happy, 488 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,039 or have a go cos the clock's ticking. 489 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,759 Just gotta find some opal. 490 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,039 There's a whole area here. You never know your luck. 491 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:06,439 Bust any likely looking ones, see what's inside. 492 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,279 All right, a little bit of colour there. 493 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:12,679 Where you get one bit, you might get some more. 494 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:16,199 'After an epic three days of struggle, 495 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:19,679 it looks like Col's luck has finally changed.' 496 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,479 Oh, yeah. That's all right. That'll cut a stone, I think. 497 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,559 Yeah, once you start seeing the colour, 498 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:26,639 don't hit it any more, use a diamond saw. 499 00:34:26,720 --> 00:34:29,359 I can do something with it. They're not big money, 500 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,839 but, you know, I could lock myself in the workshop, 501 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,479 and out of that, I might cut four or five stones. 502 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:36,639 Oh, look at that. Look at this. 503 00:34:36,720 --> 00:34:39,759 Good commercial green, so I can actually do something with that. 504 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:41,839 If we're lucky, there's a payday there. 505 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:44,719 Ooh, that's a nice, big chunk. 506 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:46,799 That's worth playing with, definitely. 507 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,799 I can get quite a few bits out of that. Now, that's all right. 508 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:51,879 There's lots of working material in there. 509 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:53,959 I could cut maybe ten stones. 510 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,279 Well, we're getting there. That's half a bucket. 511 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,999 'Col's haul is a mix of boulder opal 512 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:02,119 and ironstone matrix veined through the rock. 513 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,479 Popular for jewellery, a 10cm piece 514 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:09,359 can be worth up to $1,500. 515 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,039 But Col won't know exactly how much 516 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,639 until he's cut and polished it back at home.' 517 00:35:15,720 --> 00:35:18,039 I'm just glad we got something to play with. 518 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:21,719 There might be some bonuses in there we're not seeing yet. 519 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,479 You know, I'll hook in as soon as we're back into town, 520 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,039 I'll get the saw out, and we'll have a look and see. 521 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:45,359 'Justin and Becky 522 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:47,439 are following Stoyan and Max back to town 523 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:52,119 to collect their 25% cut of the day's opal haul.' 524 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:08,839 STOYAN: Come have a seat. JUSTIN: Let's have a look. 525 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,319 This is what we got after the clean. 526 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:18,839 'They need at least $500 to fix their broken excavator 527 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:21,159 and carry on mining.' 528 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:24,519 Split it into size. And we'll have a look at what we got. 529 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,279 So, this is all the best stuff from mining together, 530 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,239 the pipes and the smaller chips. Smaller stuff. Yep. 531 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,319 You've been doing this for a long time, 532 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:35,319 so you've got the world of knowledge in terms of valuing opal. 533 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:39,039 You know how we normally do, I put a price on them, but I don't tell Max. 534 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:41,199 He put's a price on, but he doesn't tell me. 535 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:43,919 You put a price on. Everyone puts their own price on it. 536 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:45,999 And then we go for the average on them. 537 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,159 That's a good way of doing it. That's good. 538 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:52,079 And then we'll take 25% of whatever the total is. 539 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,399 Correct. Yep. Yep. 540 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,679 'Rough opal is usually sold by weight, 541 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,279 and the standard measure is the ounce. 542 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:07,279 A pennyweight is one-twentieth of an ounce.' 543 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:10,599 MAX: Right, so we got one ounce, five pennyweights 544 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:12,679 in the small stones here. 545 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:15,399 Really good material, but it's small. Yeah. 546 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:18,199 All right. So, should we weigh the larger stuff now? 547 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:21,679 Yep. That's all we got. one ounce, ten pennyweights 548 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:24,439 of the larger stones there. 549 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:27,199 Hm. 20 pennyweights is an ounce. 550 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:33,079 'Rough opal is hard to value because it's combined with rock. 551 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:37,759 How much of any given stone is actually opal is guess work, 552 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:40,359 until it's cut and polished.' 553 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:46,359 Everyone puts their price on that. 554 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:48,679 What would you pay for that? 555 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:54,639 'Estimating value accurately takes a lot of experience, 556 00:37:54,720 --> 00:37:58,199 something Justin and Becky don't have.' 557 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:00,959 MAX: On the first one, I've got $20. 558 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,599 I put 80 bucks. Yep, because it's rare, 559 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:05,839 it's a stub nose, there's not many around. 560 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:07,919 I put $50. I got $60. 561 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:09,999 All right, number two? 562 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:12,679 I put 250 bucks. I put $450. 563 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:15,639 Ooh, I put $200. I've got $300. 564 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,519 I have no idea. I literally guessed the last one. 565 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:24,759 So, we'll tally it all up, and then we'll work out what 25% is, 566 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:26,839 and then... Mm-hm. 567 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,359 Then we know where we stand. That's what we've got. 568 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:31,959 Then we get to see what we get when we go to sell it. 569 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:34,479 This is probably quite enlightening. 570 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:38,959 15... Yep. 571 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:43,839 So, 15, 16, 17, 18, 1-8-5-0. 572 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,599 1.2... 573 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:49,039 Five. Five, yeah. OK. 574 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:51,319 All come to three grand on the whole passing. 575 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:55,039 And 25% of that is around 750 bucks. 576 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:57,119 That's not bad for two days' work. Not bad. 577 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:59,199 Pays for some more diesel, gets you going. 578 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,279 Gets us a bit closer to the million. 579 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:03,679 All right. Thanks, guys. Thank you. You're welcome. 580 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:07,239 Cheers, Max. All right. Thanks, Max. 581 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:12,479 'At $750, Justin and Becky's share is just enough 582 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:16,079 to get their excavator fixed, and get back mining.' 583 00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:18,559 It's been a pretty eventful trip, this one. 584 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:22,239 A lot of emotions in there, so, erm, yeah, it's... 585 00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:25,999 Looking forward to going home. 586 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:29,119 The big question is, are you coming underground next time? No. 587 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,319 COL: As long as we've got a couple of nice ones in there, 588 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:44,399 it will be very saleable. 589 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:46,479 'At his workshop in Opalton, 590 00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:50,719 Col's cutting and polishing his Happy Valley opal haul.' 591 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,879 We got a bunch of stones on the go. 592 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:55,959 Takes a little bit of work. 593 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:58,479 Depending on the stone, it might be ten, 15 minutes. 594 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,079 A real tricky one might be an hour or so. 595 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,159 So it's got to be worth the effort. 596 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:06,399 'With ceiling wax holding the stone 597 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:09,599 to the end of a rod, Col can begin to polish.' 598 00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:11,679 Sometimes it all looks good, 599 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,199 and, no, it's really something wrong with it. 600 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,879 Other times, it doesn't look much at all until you face it up, 601 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:19,039 and suddenly, there's this gem hitting you. 602 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:24,239 'Cutting and polishing opal can increase its value fourfold, 603 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,599 and involves three stages, 604 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:30,879 which, over the last 25 years, Col has mastered.' 605 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:35,359 When we cut stones, we're grinding them with a grinder 606 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:38,639 and then sanding them with a sander, and then we got to polish them. 607 00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:41,519 At the end of the day, we want a beautifully-polished stone 608 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:43,599 with not a mark or a blemish. 609 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:47,359 'After grinding the larger rocks down to a workable size, 610 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:51,559 Col shapes them on a coarse sandpaper wheel.' 611 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:53,639 Make it nice and level. 612 00:40:53,720 --> 00:40:56,439 If you get the cutting right, well, that's the best money, 613 00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:59,319 but if you haven't got it right, they'll soon pull you up, 614 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,399 and you'll get half as much. 615 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:03,479 That one is ready to polish. 616 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:08,479 'After the cut is the final stage, the polish.' 617 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:12,079 This is tin oxide on leather, a good way to polish the boulder. 618 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:15,079 'The tin oxide applied to a leather mat 619 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:18,599 sticks to the surface of the stone, and when rubbed, 620 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:21,879 forms a highly reflective surface layer.' 621 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:23,959 We got to polish every little bit. 622 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:28,719 It can't be a bit dull in amongst all the shiny bits, 623 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:32,599 or it'll stand out, and then suddenly...bang. 624 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,999 'As Col polishes the opal, 625 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:40,199 the true beauty and value of his haul is revealed.' 626 00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:45,079 Beautiful, like a turtle shell or a lizard skin. 627 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:47,159 There's a little rose. 628 00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:49,799 Yeah, they add up, and when you put them all together, 629 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,679 you know, we'll have a payday. Yeah, the way it's looking, 630 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:55,199 it'll be a few thousand, maybe $5,000. 631 00:41:55,280 --> 00:42:00,639 'Col's opal is mixed boulder and ironstone matrix opal, 632 00:42:00,720 --> 00:42:03,879 predominantly patterned with blue and green. 633 00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:06,519 There's over 50 stones that could fetch 634 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,039 between $2,500 and $5,000.' 635 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:12,199 So, definitely, it's taken the pressure off, 636 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:15,679 but ultimately, it's what makes it all worthwhile, 637 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:17,999 is that beautiful end product. 638 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,679 I think what everyone in life is searching for is, you know, 639 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:28,119 companionship and family. 640 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,199 So, yeah, I've got a second lease on life. 641 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:32,799 It just makes me more determined to find happiness. 642 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:36,559 When it comes down to kids 643 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:40,159 and families and relationships and that, your priorities change. 644 00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:42,399 And at this stage of life, 645 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:45,319 well, that's a great priority to have, I think. 646 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:47,399 Yay! 647 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:49,759 Keep the dream alive, keep looking, 648 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:51,999 keep digging. 649 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:54,759 All you can do is try your best, at the end of the day. 650 00:42:57,520 --> 00:42:59,519 I'm not giving up. 651 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:02,719 I think there's a lifetime supply of opal out there. 652 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:21,919 # Money, money # 653 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:23,999 subtitles by Deluxe 653 00:43:24,305 --> 00:44:24,385 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm