"Outback Opal Hunters" Make Or Break

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,919 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters, Rookie Justin... 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,439 How you going, Jamie? 3 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:07,959 ..must haggle with a veteran... 4 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:10,039 Oh, yeah, you've got a bit of stuff. 5 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:12,399 ..who got the better of him first time around. 6 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:13,999 He's asking way too much. 7 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:15,879 The Boulder Boys... 8 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,519 Money going out, better hope we get some opal. 9 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,119 ..race to save their claim from a monsoon flood. 10 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,039 Yeah. 11 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,119 And on their last dig of the season... 12 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,839 ..the Cooke brothers finally hit pay dirt. 13 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,999 Oh. Look at the colour in that. 14 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,079 That's what we're after, innit? Yeah. 15 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:46,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 16 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:11,719 NARRATOR: Coober Pedy, South Australia, 17 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,719 a fiery furnace of rock and sand, 18 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,759 over 300km inland. 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,919 Hitting 47 degrees, summer temperatures are so high, 20 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,559 many choose to live underground. 21 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,399 But with opal finds of roughly $15 million a year, 22 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,559 it's the biggest opal producing region in the world. 23 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,439 Famous for white and crystal opal, 24 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,559 worth up to $7,500 a gram, 25 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,159 32km north of town, at Vino Minefield. 26 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,759 This is really important for me, this last week. 27 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,039 Just to give it one last crack, 28 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,879 before the summer sets in, and that's it. 29 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,479 Rookies Justin Lang and fiancee Becky MacAllan 30 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,039 have had a disastrous first season together, 31 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,239 finding barely any opal. 32 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,679 Facing expensive breakdowns... 33 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,119 Oh, mate, I wanna cry. 34 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:10,599 ..and grave dangers. 35 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,479 It's not worth it, Justin. 36 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,039 Their relationship has been tested hard. 37 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,319 Please relax. You're making me nervous by going off your chops. 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,719 Doing my head in, this place. 39 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,839 Becky has returned to Adelaide, over 700km away. 40 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:30,679 Justin's workload has just doubled. 41 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,279 Gotta prove to myself. I need to prove to Becky that I can find opal. 42 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,479 But within half an hour you can fill this bucket up, 43 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,799 and you can have a million dollars. That's the beauty of this mining. 44 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,039 I've seen some warning signs pop up on this machine. 45 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,279 All I can do is hope like hell that the machine keeps going. 46 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:58,839 When I scratch the face, 47 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:01,399 I drop it down like that and then bring it just back 48 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,639 so then if I do see a heap of really good-quality opal in the wall, 49 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,319 then I know that the opal is only gonna be in that pile 50 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,399 at the base of where it came out. 51 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,479 What is that? 52 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,479 Smells like oil burning or something. 53 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,319 It's a, sort of, real eggy sort of smell. 54 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,759 The other weird thing is, I can hear this sort of hissing down here. 55 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,959 This is where the battery is. 56 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,959 Whoa. Whoa. What the hell's that? 57 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,359 Something's wrong with the batteries, I think. 58 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,359 Whoa. 59 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,999 I can't win at the moment. 60 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,199 NARRATOR: Justin must call the nearest mechanic 32km away. 61 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,679 Man, this sucks. There's always something. 62 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,119 Every day there's something. 63 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,799 MAN: Justin. Hey, how you goin', Quentin, yeah. 64 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:02,239 Do you know much about batteries in the excavator? 65 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,279 I was noticing this, sort of, eggy sort of smell for a while. 66 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,039 Oh, jeez. Bloody hell. 67 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,919 Without the excavator, rookie Justin's mining season will be over. 68 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,839 1,000km north east, 69 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,639 central Queensland is a blistering dry landscape, 70 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,119 with temperatures hitting 46 degrees. 71 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,279 But every December, for three months, 72 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,399 the monsoon rains arrive. 73 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,399 In a single day, 10cm of rain can fall, 74 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,919 and with it comes the end of the mining season. 75 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,559 Dragonfly claim, Opalton. 76 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,199 Boulder Boys Aaron Grotjahn and Greg Geran... 77 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,279 Here's the level. That's it there, yeah. 78 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,239 ..have just a few weeks left to hit their target. 79 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,759 For Aaron, it's especially important. 80 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:17,199 He needs enough money to buy the lease on the claim from his family. 81 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:20,199 If they fail, he will lose everything. 82 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,159 AARON: Well, I've invested everything I've got into this job, 83 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,719 if we don't find any opal, I'm gonna have to do something else. 84 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,799 Sell some machinery or sell something. 85 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,359 Get a job, go back to the coal mines or something. 86 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,479 Aaron and Greg are targeting a dangerous area 87 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,039 of their claim called The Wall. 88 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,639 They're hunting a seam of opal 16m below ground level, 89 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,239 that's given them their biggest find to date. 90 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,799 Have a look at that. Oh, what! Whoa. 91 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:51,959 That's what this is all about. Look at this. 92 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,039 Now that is opal, mate. 93 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,759 Boulder opal worth up to $20,000 a gram. 94 00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:01,399 This single find was worth $80,000. 95 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,479 Eh, that's what it's all about, Greg. 96 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,559 Yeah, that's right, eh? Pinfire. 97 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:07,839 You beauty! 98 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,479 NARRATOR: But while big money's been coming in, 99 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,919 it's also been going out. 100 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,319 GREG: We've been working very hard to put this pit down 101 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,119 and a lot of fuel and time. 102 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,559 Machine hours, big effort to get there. 103 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:28,839 In the last three weeks, 104 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,799 we would've burnt 7,000 litres, if not more, of diesel. 105 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,999 NARRATOR: At over a dollar a litre, that's $12,000. 106 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,919 AARON: We decided to drill a big hole 107 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,199 and as soon as we decided to do it, the diesel went up to $1.70. 108 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:45,279 76, isn't it? 109 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,679 Money going out, better hope we get some opal. 110 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,119 I'm just gonna take the dozer down the bottom, 111 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,199 we need it a bit deeper. Clean that out 112 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:54,839 probably another half an hour, we're on bloody level. 113 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,039 This claim was mined by Aaron's dad decades ago, 114 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,719 and is riddled with unexpected tunnels or drives, 115 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,799 making it highly dangerous for the 40-tonne excavator, 116 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,319 and the 60-tonne bulldozer. 117 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,119 Aaron, Aaron. 118 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,239 I think you've fallen through. 119 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,799 You've fallen through into the drive. 120 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,039 Caught in a collapsed tunnel, and unable to get traction, 121 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,119 the 60-tonne bulldozer... 122 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:42,839 I'm down, mate. 123 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,079 ..is now stuck fast. 124 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,639 Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, 125 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:56,759 500km from the coast, 126 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,559 it's home to the most expensive opal on the planet. 127 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,999 Black opal. 128 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,359 Worth up to $35,000 for just a fifth of a gram. 129 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,559 It's the last dig of the season for mechanical maestros 130 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,919 Pete and Mick Cooke. 131 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,879 Plagued by breakdowns... 132 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,199 they're nowhere near their original target. 133 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,879 Freshly broken bolt, you can see it's just been broken. 134 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:25,999 Ah, . 135 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,839 The water's stopped. Stopped? Bull-. 136 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:33,519 They're heading out to a new claim in a last ditch effort to survive. 137 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,679 We've got to start finding a bit of money. 138 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,759 We need some opal. Little bit more. 139 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,039 This season they've been trying out an apprentice for the first time. 140 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,719 19-year-old Sam Westra. 141 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,599 I'd worked in a supermarket. I'd started a couple of apprenticeships. 142 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:51,319 I hadn't really found what I wanted to do. 143 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,399 I'd quit me job, 144 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:58,279 I was ready to go to the Gold Coast and ready to go lie on a beach. 145 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,839 I knew Pete was up here, so I thought I'd drop in for a night. 146 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,959 He showed me opal mining and it's something I didn't know much about. 147 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,319 Yeah, I've been here six months now. 148 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,199 You gotta keep an eye on the young blokes, he's pretty good 149 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,839 but you still gotta keep an eye on what they're up to. 150 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,679 In case you're undoing something instead of doing it up. 151 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,599 NARRATOR: To break even, the brothers have revised their target 152 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:23,679 down to the bare minimum. 153 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,359 If it's fair dinkum mining, it's a $1,000 a week. 154 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,439 Yeah. Without any trouble. 155 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,759 So, mine for a year, 50 grand. 156 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,919 They're hoping digging this new 50x50m claim 157 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,279 right on the edge of town can get them over the line. 158 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,039 With opal mining, all it takes 159 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,479 is one truckload of dug dirt, to make a fortune. 160 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:48,559 Look at that. 161 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,359 One truck can have a couple of hundred grand of opal in if it's the right dirt. 162 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,519 NARRATOR: In a process taking up to 110 million years, 163 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,439 opal is created when water carries silica 164 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,759 from the surrounding earth into cracks and faults underground, 165 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,479 gradually hardening to form the precious gem. 166 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:13,119 This time the brothers aim to get to the bottom of an old lead. 167 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,199 MICK: There is a story of the neighbours 168 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,559 put down a three-foot hole for a toilet. 169 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,439 And after they've been using it for a month or two, 170 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,719 they looked at the drill dirt and found some blue on black knobbies, 171 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,799 but it's too late to go mining in that hole. 172 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,159 So we've decided to drill these holes virtually in a straight line, 173 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,239 through the toilet hole. 174 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,999 We're hoping the fault runs straight through there. 175 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:42,159 No-one ever said opal runs in straight lines, but it might. 176 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,559 NARRATOR: With his super drill Megatron stuck in the workshop, 177 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,279 Mick will drill test holes in line with the old toilet, 178 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,719 using their decades-old investigator drill. 179 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,719 MICK: She's a bloody 1943... '43 or '44 Deutz engine. 180 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,239 It's older than me dad. 181 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:08,039 NARRATOR: To explore the test holes thoroughly, maverick inventor Pete, 182 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,119 has come up with a new prototype. 183 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,399 PETE: It's a down-hole rotational reamer. 184 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,679 I just call it the cookie-cutter, that's my nickname for it. 185 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,799 The cookie-cutter will be lowered down the exploration holes, 186 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,879 to the opal level. 187 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,719 An expanding drill arm widens or bells out the hole, 188 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,439 dropping the dirt into a pipe-like bucket, 189 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,959 so it can be pulled to the surface and checked for opal. 190 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,039 No-one's built a machine like this before, 191 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,519 it doesn't owe anything to anyone, it's all my own idea. 192 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,239 But if Pete's $10,000 invention doesn't work, 193 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,239 it will be money they can't afford, straight down the hole. 194 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,759 Little bit trepidatious, I suppose, would be a good word for it. 195 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,879 Just hope it all goes to plan. 196 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,559 I think the alternator, or the batteries or something. The rams need doing. 197 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,119 So these old machines aren't so cheap after all. Ha! 198 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,519 NARRATOR: Rookie Justin Lang's excavator has ground to a halt yet again. 199 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,959 And with it, his one-man mining operation. 200 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,879 I've learned a lot about excavators, I tell you what. 201 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:34,279 If it can't be repaired, his mining season will be over, 202 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,359 leaving him $80,000 in the red. 203 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,759 Local mechanic Quentin Sparrow is his last hope. 204 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,839 So it's just up here. 205 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,599 Certainly got...17... 17 and a half volts. 206 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:55,599 Wow. Then you got the one battery. It's only nine. 207 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:58,799 So these batteries are cooked, eh? Yeah, mate, they're cooked. 208 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,319 The alternator's just pumping out too much power. 209 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,599 Yeah, they've been cooked. 210 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:09,119 NARRATOR: Yet another crippling expense. 211 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,759 Oh, look at that. That's more money. 212 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,119 Oh, really? Look at the fan wobbling around. 213 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,759 That's bad. It's ready to fly off. 214 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,359 When they fly off, all the blades break, 215 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,439 and they go through your radiator, 216 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,119 then your radiator's buggered. 217 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,839 You want me to stop lookin'? Nah, keep lookin'. 218 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,599 The main thing there is the fan, and the water pump... 219 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,399 Just when I think I'm getting closer to opal. 220 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,479 You can't use it like that. 221 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:44,319 It's just gonna come apart, fly apart on you. You're lucky we found it, you know. 222 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,399 Wow. 223 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,879 The alternator, the battery, the water pump are all knackered. 224 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,279 I reckon I'm looking at about five grand. 225 00:13:56,360 --> 00:14:00,319 25% of the value of this machine, so... 226 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,919 NARRATOR: Already $80,000 down... 227 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:04,999 Silly bastard I am. 228 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,319 ..Justin's hopes of finding that one lucky bucket-load of opal 229 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:09,719 are fast disappearing. 230 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,839 It will take most of his last week and $5,000 231 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,919 to repair the excavator. 232 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:27,039 Justin needs to find another way of making a profit. 233 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,799 I try not to think about how much I've invested this year 234 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:31,879 but I think about $80,000. 235 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,599 So, I've gotta make this work, rain, hail or shine. 236 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:43,999 NARRATOR: At Dragonfly claim... 237 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:49,919 ..Aaron has got the 60-tonne bulldozer stuck in an old mine shaft. 238 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,799 His efforts to free it only make the situation worse. 239 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,799 Hey, you're goin' down deeper. 240 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,119 Mate, use your ripper, see if you can reverse out. 241 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,199 Yeah, I'll have to, mate. 242 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,119 NARRATOR: His last chance is to use the clawed arm or ripper, 243 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,639 at the rear of the bulldozer, to drag the dozer out. 244 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,639 She's out, Greg. 245 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,719 All right, you're out, mate. 246 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,279 Just goes to show, now you know how deep you are. 247 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,759 With one emergency over, 248 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,999 Aaron and Greg are just about to hit another. 249 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,599 We're worried about weather. With the wet season, rains around. 250 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,439 Pretty mad-looking clouds out there. Everywhere. 251 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:05,479 Look at that over Thornborough. Looks like they're gettin' a shower. Yeah. 252 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,799 NARRATOR: With torrential rain expected in less than 24 hours, 253 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,639 their 19m deep pit risks being flooded, 254 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,079 making mining impossible. 255 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,879 We might have to do something down there to stop a bit of water, eh? 256 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,359 Get the machines out? Yeah. We will, eh? 257 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,439 Like you say, build up a few levee banks. 258 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:28,519 Stop water getting into the main hole. 259 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,639 We'll do that, eh? Yep. Well, we got to. 260 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,479 NARRATOR: Aaron and Greg will have to race the clock 261 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,839 to build two levees, protective earth barriers, 262 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,439 to stop the rains flooding their dig. 263 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,559 Pays to be prepared, mate. That's it. 264 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,079 It won't stop it all, but it will stop some. 265 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,679 It might make the difference between being able to 266 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,839 get back down in the hole and dig, or not being able to do it. 267 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,959 If they can't get the levees built in time, 268 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,999 their season will be cut short, and Aaron will lose his dream 269 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,359 of buying the lease from his family, 270 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,359 and following in his father's footsteps. 271 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,279 Drought-stricken New South Wales. 272 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,119 What I can do with my invention, is to put it down this hole, 273 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,359 and open it up, and have a lot better look. 274 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,279 NARRATOR: It's the first attempt for Pete's $10,000 invention, 275 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:27,839 the cookie-cutter. 276 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,079 Try running it across again. 277 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,639 It's early days, still figuring out how to do it. 278 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,799 Whoa, whoa! There's no instruction manual 279 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,759 or book with this sort of thing. We're making it up as we go along. 280 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,519 Little bit more, OK. 281 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,519 What can go wrong, Sam? 282 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,039 For some reason, this isn't going down the hole. 283 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,079 It's very frustrating. 284 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,879 It's the last dig of the season, 285 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:09,399 and the underground drilling system is stuck in the test hole. 286 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,919 Not 100% sure what we're gonna do, 287 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,759 the cookie-cutter just doesn't quite fit down the hole. 288 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,479 NARRATOR: Seriously behind this season's target, 289 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,559 this could ruin what's left of it. 290 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,239 That doesn't wanna go. It's not gonna go down. 291 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,199 Younger brother Mick comes to the rescue. 292 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,119 His bucket he's made is a bit too tight in the hole. 293 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,759 So next hole we drill, we'll put a couple of wider teeth on the head. 294 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,199 So from tip to tip, 265. Yeah, 265. 295 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,279 All right. Good luck with it. 296 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:45,599 With the bigger drill head, the boys can now drill a wider hole 297 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,279 to the opal level, six metres down. 298 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:50,639 Everything seems to be going too well, 299 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,719 I'm waiting for something to go wrong. 300 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,039 Beautiful. Bring the cookie-cutter in. 301 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,679 First, the three-meter bucket, which will catch the dirt, 302 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,759 goes down the hole. 303 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,439 The bucket does fit. 304 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,679 The cookie cutter fits on top. 305 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,839 That's pretty good. Beautiful. Great. 306 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,319 Time for Pete's next brain wave. 307 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,639 Is that working? That seems pretty bright, Sam. 308 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,719 Thanks for that. That's working? 309 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,199 The idea is that when the dirt fills the bucket up 310 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,319 and covers the torch and I can't see it flashing, it's full. 311 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,439 Rightyo. 312 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,039 NARRATOR: This time the cookie-cutter goes straight down. 313 00:19:38,120 --> 00:19:40,119 Well, it's all going swimmingly now, 314 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,039 although I don't wanna talk too soon in case I jinx it. 315 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,239 We should be able to do a fairly good bell-out down at the level. 316 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:53,199 Once the opal level is reached, Pete extends the drill arm... 317 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,239 ..and drags it in a circle, by hand, from the surface. 318 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,399 I think it's working well, hopefully finding opal. 319 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,439 As the crane lifts the cookie-cutter, 320 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,119 they'll discover if it's found them opal, 321 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,439 or just sunk them deeper into debt. 322 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:28,239 1,000km north of bone-dry Lightning Ridge, 323 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,879 the Boulder Boys claim is about to be hit 324 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,279 by the first rain of the monsoon season. 325 00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:36,399 Bit of luck this goes around us. 326 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,479 That's what happened last year, got all the rain everywhere else. 327 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:41,239 Remember? I know. 328 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,999 We got seven inches in town, we only got an inch and a half here. 329 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,039 We're on the edge of it. Edge of it, yeah. 330 00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:49,639 It's now a race for Aaron and Greg to save their claim, 331 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,599 and their heavy machinery from being flooded. 332 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,199 If we get rain here, this will turn into a dam. 333 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,919 Where we'd be sitting here now, it'd be underwater. 334 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,999 We should put a levee bank there. 335 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:05,319 Yeah, we got to. That'll stop any water coming from over there... Yeah. 336 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,239 ..and one back here on the road, that's about all we can stop. 337 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,159 At the tops of the pit, they must build two protective earth barriers 338 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:16,399 called levees, to keep the run off from the surrounding land flooding it. 339 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,319 It's gonna rain, so we're gonna get the machine out 340 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,559 and we're gonna make some levee banks. 341 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,599 Yeah, better to be safe than sorry. 342 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,839 NARRATOR: Even though heavy rains are just an hour away, 343 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,359 it's still 39 degrees Celsius. 344 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,919 Come on, old girl. Come on. 345 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,919 Greg tries to drive their 30-year-old excavator out of the pit. 346 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,479 Boy, she's getting a bit hot, eh? 347 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,159 Water? She's nearly in the red. Get a bit of water. 348 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,239 Get it up there. All right. 349 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,279 If we overheat any machinery here, you can cook the motor. 350 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:58,879 An excavator motor, you wouldn't get out of it for under 20,000. 351 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,239 Get some water. It's nearly in the red. 352 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,799 Aaron must cool the engine before it seizes. 353 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,159 Better hurry up, mate, she's getting hot. 354 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,399 JUSTIN: I try not to think about how much I've invested this year 355 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,559 but I think about $80,000, so it's not that good. 356 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,479 NARRATOR: In only his second real season as an opal miner, 357 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:36,359 rookie Justin Lang is $80,000 down. 358 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,759 I'm not really prepared to go back and tell Beck that I failed. 359 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,959 So I'm willing to at least take the risk 360 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,039 and head up to Mintabie. 361 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:49,439 Desperate to make a profit, he's hoping to buy 362 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,839 a parcel of rough opal in the remote town of Mintabie, 363 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,839 270 kilometres north of Coober Pedy. 364 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,399 There's no better time to buy opal in the rough 365 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,199 from Mintabie than right now. 366 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,159 In just a few months, the town of Mintabie is due to close. 367 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,679 With its unusual black backing, and rich colours, 368 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:12,239 Mintabie opal is becoming increasingly sought after. 369 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,919 Mintabie opal is really stable, it doesn't crack. 370 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,119 It has some beautiful colours and patterns, 371 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,439 so if there's no opal being pulled out of the ground up there, 372 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,519 then the prices are gonna sky rocket. 373 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,719 It would be silly not to try and go up there 374 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:27,799 and buy any parcels available. 375 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:31,839 The last time he was here, 376 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,999 rookie Justin learned about haggling the hard way, 377 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,679 and left, having paid way too much. 378 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:41,999 I was a newbie, definitely a newbie to the whole opal buying game, 379 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,079 and I think he knew that. 380 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,359 How're you going, Jamie? You got one of the best views in Mintabie. 381 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,439 Yeah, it's not bad. 382 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:51,519 I think I'm a little bit more experienced, 383 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,759 I'll definitely go in there a bit more reserved, 384 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,799 and I'm gonna have to be sure with myself 385 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,879 that if I don't get the right deal, I'm gonna have to walk away. 386 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:00,959 Grab a seat and I'll grab the opal. 387 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,719 Jamie Wilson is one of the miners being forced by the government, 388 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,639 to leave Mintabie. Justin's hoping he can pick up a bargain, 389 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:10,719 and triple his money. 390 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,199 That's the most recent parcel. This is the one I told you about. 391 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,719 Oh, yeah. You've got a bit of stuff. 392 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,599 NARRATOR: Jamie has two parcels from recent digs to sell. 393 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,919 So here's the latest stuff I've got. 394 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,359 And that's... That's the big one you've got. 395 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,679 Yeah. Jeez, I didn't know it'd be that much. 396 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,479 Wow. All right. 397 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,559 So, this is the A stuff? 398 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,719 Miners grade the quality of their stones from A to C, 399 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:39,519 with A being the best. 400 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,879 Oh, wow. Yeah, it's not bad. 401 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,959 I've rubbed a couple of pieces so you can see a bit better. 402 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,279 Justin is looking for three things. A solid black background... 403 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:53,359 Oh, look at that. That's a stunning one. 404 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,439 ..colour that goes right through the stone 405 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,719 and flashes of the most valuable colour, red. 406 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:00,799 Mm-hm. 407 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,839 All right. That's interesting. Righto. 408 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,399 Look, I... For me to do a deal... 409 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,239 ..I'm gonna need a good deal today. 410 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,679 Mm. So, let me have a look at the other stuff. 411 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,519 It's not too bad, that, but there's a lot of quantity. 412 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,439 I suppose, yeah, it's interesting. 413 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:26,519 And that's tops. 414 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,279 NARRATOR: The second parcel is Jamie's best. 415 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:38,159 I've only rubbed them a lot and not taken them down 416 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,399 to where they need to be to... Mm. So... 417 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,479 And that little skin like that. 418 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,559 Nice stone, that one. 419 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,799 That's an interesting... I like that. Even though it's really thin. 420 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,839 Yeah, there's good stuff, innit? It's nice, yeah. 421 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,199 Right. Well, I suppose we've gotta talk about the money 422 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,599 cos that's, you know, an important factor of this whole thing. 423 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,319 So, you know, what are you thinking for this parcel? 424 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,399 I've got $7,300 on this. 425 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,119 $7,300? Yeah. Whoa. Yeah. 426 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,839 What's the bottom dollar you'd take for this parcel? 427 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,399 Well, I can move a little bit. 428 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,879 If I tell you me bottom dollar... Mm-hm. ..straight off... 429 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,999 I'm not gonna move from it, because I know what I need to get for it. 430 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:32,399 Mm-hm. $6,300, so I'll drop a grand on it. 431 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,439 $6,300, that'll cover me petrol, 432 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,759 put a couple of bucks in the lads' pockets. 433 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,839 Mm-hm. 434 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,919 So, you said $6,300 for this, and what are your thoughts 435 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,479 on the other one, what's your bottom dollar there? 436 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,999 On that, we've had that for a little while, 437 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,479 so I'm thinking eight and a half. 438 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,319 But that'd be rock bottom on that. Mm-hm. 439 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:01,719 NARRATOR: Jamie wants $14,800 for both parcels. 440 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,919 All right. I'll go and have a think outside, 441 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,879 if you can give me a few minutes? Yeah, no worries, mate. 442 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:12,119 Justin must now decide, if buying could turn him a profit, 443 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,719 or send him even deeper into debt. 444 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:17,959 Well, there's a lot of material there. 445 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:21,719 There's lots of B and C, he has heaps of C grade. 446 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,479 But he's asking way too much. 447 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,599 AARON: Get some water. It's nearly in the red. 448 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,679 Tip it on the radiator. 449 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,639 NARRATOR: An overheating excavator needs Aaron's attention fast. 450 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:41,999 Chuck her in, mate. 451 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,039 So you gotta be careful not to over heat your machines. 452 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:47,959 If you blow an engine, well, there's $20,000 down the drain. 453 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,759 If we had a breakdown with machinery at the moment, 454 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,399 we'd have to pull up, we wouldn't be able to mine. 455 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,479 All right? Bit more. 456 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,799 If they can't mine this close to the end of the season, 457 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,319 they will miss their target. 458 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,959 That's it, she's starting to cool down now. 459 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:13,759 Didn't get to the red, but it got pretty close. 460 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,479 With the excavator safe, they must now build two levees 461 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,759 around the pit, to stop water flooding the dig site. 462 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,159 If it gets too wet in there, we won't be able to dig at all, 463 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,239 so, better we take precautions. 464 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:32,039 Last year, storms ended their season early. 465 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:35,519 If that happens this season, they won't hit their target, 466 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,759 and will lose the Dragonfly claim. 467 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,079 If we get rain here now, the hole will fill up, 468 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:45,319 so we made some levee banks and pulled the gear out of the hole 469 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,399 and we're prepared for it anyway. 470 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,239 In less than an hour, this site could be a mud bath. 471 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:55,039 Clouds are coming in, Greg. Don't like the look of them, eh? No. 472 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,079 That's thunder. Looks like it's gonna rain, eh? 473 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,159 For sure. 474 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,079 Five inches here, we'll be flooded. That's it. 475 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,279 NARRATOR: With the levees in place, it's now a race to get back to camp, 476 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:14,279 before the storm breaks and floods the roads, stranding them. 477 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,799 That's what's coming, mate. Yeah, it's a bit of nuisance rain, eh? 478 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,239 -ing 45 degrees one day, 479 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,879 -ing down the next day. Too right. 480 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,079 Oh, there's nothing we can do, Greg, we just have to... 481 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,639 At least we got the levees up. Levee banks up. 482 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,119 Got the gear out of the hole, plenty of tucker. 483 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,479 Sit her out, mate. That's it. 484 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:55,599 Last time we got stuck out here, it was three weeks. 485 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,719 Not much you can do when it rains. 486 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,359 NARRATOR: With only two weeks left of their season, 487 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,439 and still $16,000 short... 488 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,079 It's getting heavier. 489 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,479 ..if they're stranded for three weeks this time, 490 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,399 they'll miss their target and lose their lease for good. 491 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,239 PETE: We'll pull it up and have a look. 492 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:31,959 NARRATOR: In a last ditched effort to hit their $50,000 target, 493 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,559 Pete Cooke has invented a prototype drill 494 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,999 that can radically increase their search area underground. 495 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,959 Nicknamed the cookie-cutter, it can descend a nine-inch drill hole 496 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,679 and excavate a wider area with its extendable arm, 497 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:50,839 increasing the chances of hitting opal 16 fold. 498 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,239 If it works, the cookie-cutter could get them to their target 499 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,319 in just one load of dirt. 500 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:00,399 That's the dirt in there. 501 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:05,799 That is a lot of dirt out of one nine-inch hole. 502 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:09,079 Anyone who does opal mining would be impressed with that. 503 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:11,159 No-one else has been able to do it. 504 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,359 But the only way to know if there's opal, is to wash it. 505 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,439 PETE: Opal could be anywhere. 506 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,039 There could be a $100,000 gem in that clump of dirt. 507 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,279 So it's gotta be washed. 508 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,839 The brothers want to wash the dirt as soon as possible after drilling. 509 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,639 And that means washing it on the claim. 510 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,079 Maverick inventor Pete has come up with an answer for that, too. 511 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,119 The Whirlpool 1000, 512 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,079 is a giant washing machine that sits on the front of a loader. 513 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,639 After three months in development, 514 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,199 it too is having its maiden voyage. 515 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:51,279 PETE: A little bit of trepidation 516 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,359 cos it never goes as smooth as you hope it will. 517 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,959 With the 200 litres of dirt in the barrel, 518 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,119 14 rubber paddles agitate the mixture, 519 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,199 washing away the earth, 520 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:11,759 until all that is left is hard rocks, and any opal. 521 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:16,479 Seems to be muddying up and washing down, so, yeah. 522 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,559 Doing what its meant to. 523 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,399 In his first season hunting opal, 524 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:25,359 Sam is hoping for something big to convince him to stay. 525 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:28,839 I dream of millions. 526 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,319 I dream of pulling out, you know, 527 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,999 hitting a pocket of just hundreds of thousands of dollars. 528 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:44,319 After an hour of washing, it's time to check the results. 529 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,399 I did have a dream last night, dreaming about opal. 530 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,039 But time to stop dreaming about it 531 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,359 and hopefully find some. That'd be nice. 532 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:57,439 This is the moment of truth. 533 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,079 Yeah, little bit of green in there, too. Just a tinge. 534 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,119 I think they call that duck green. Duck green? 535 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,799 That's the official name for that. 536 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:21,919 Little bit of purple. 537 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,759 Look at this one. Oh, look at the colour in that. 538 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,399 That's a big chunk. That's what we're after, isn't it? 539 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:29,639 Yeah, yeah. Could be a couple of grand there. 540 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:32,839 That would be all right. Maybe. That's not bad out of a drill hole. 541 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,839 No! Happy with that. Yeah, this is what we wanted to happen. 542 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,999 So all the mucking round and trying the new idea... 543 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:42,919 That's proved it, that's shown you can bring up opal. 544 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:48,159 Hopefully they cut into some nice stones, turn it into a bit of money. 545 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:53,439 But will it be enough to make the $31,000 they need to break even? 546 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,839 At Dragonfly claim, 547 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,599 120km from the nearest town, 548 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:07,679 Boulder Boys, Aaron and Greg, are sitting out the monsoon storm. 549 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:10,279 It's good to keep warm, don't wanna get a cold. 550 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,599 If it floods their mine, their season will be over. 551 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:18,399 They won't hit their target and will lose the lease on the claim. 552 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,439 For Aaron, that would be a disaster. 553 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,199 40 days and 40 nights. 554 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,279 The claim was once his father's 555 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:29,799 and he's already sacrificed much to keep it. 556 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,519 I sold my property in Sarina 557 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,799 and give up a good-paying job. 558 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,239 Dad was getting old, someone had to take over. 559 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,319 That's what we're doing. 560 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:43,959 Looks like the rain's clearing. 561 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:46,199 We should go to work. We're going to, mate. 562 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,559 Bit of water laying around, not much, Greg. Yeah. 563 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:52,799 NARRATOR: The worst of the storm has missed their claim. 564 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,039 And Aaron and Greg waste no time getting mining again. 565 00:34:57,040 --> 00:34:59,719 I'm excited. The rain's gone. 566 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:01,799 Opal gods might be working, mate. 567 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,479 My goal is to find enough opal, 568 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,559 and pay my dad's estate out. 569 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:12,159 It's what I wanna do. 570 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:14,799 I should've maybe went and got a job, 571 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,199 but I'm here now, so I gotta keep goin' with it. 572 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:28,319 There you go. There was green there. 573 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,399 Every colour, eh? Yeah. 574 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,719 That's nice tracing. Imagine seams full of that stuff, Greg. 575 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,679 You don't get much better trace than that. 576 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:39,759 Take it all, mate. 577 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:41,839 Hey! Have a look at this. 578 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,519 Nice colour. 579 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:51,199 That's getting a bit better, Greg. Oh, look at that one. Oh, mate. 580 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,199 I reckon Dad would be proud of us for digging the Dragonfly, 581 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,279 try to finish the last 10%. 582 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:58,839 It won't be easy, nothing's easy in life. 583 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:00,919 Get a few grand for that, eh? 584 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,439 Yeah, we'll get five grand for it. 585 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,559 There's still a few other pieces of it, so... 586 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,639 Yeah. We'll be able to get more diesel 587 00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:09,719 a bit more tucker and keep going. Yeah. 588 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,239 The Boulder Boys' opal is good quality boulder opal. 589 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:17,559 Mainly blue-green, with some valuable red and yellow. 590 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,079 And they have a good ten kilograms, 591 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,639 making its value approximately $5,000. 592 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:29,159 This brings them within reach of their season target. 593 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:33,439 But with just two weeks to go, and more storms on the way, 594 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,999 Aaron and Greg are going to have to race to the finish. 595 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:51,519 All right. 596 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,199 Look, I've had a bit of a think, 597 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,959 this parcel here has some brilliant stones 598 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:09,679 but I can't really see six grand there, or $6,300. 599 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:13,799 I'm thinking around the four mark. 600 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:16,999 No. 601 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,079 I can pull one stone out of there... 602 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,399 $1,500 stone there. 603 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:26,799 Yeah, it's a cracker, that one. 604 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,639 It's only rubbed, not polished. Hm. 605 00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:33,719 Um, in terms of this stuff here... 606 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,519 Um, you know, eight grand, 607 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:38,999 you want eight and a half, I'll take it for eight. 608 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:44,599 Yeah, we can do that. 609 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,919 If you offered me five and a half, I'd consider it. 610 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,999 But I could... 611 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:02,119 Would you take four and a half? 612 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,759 Couldn't do it, man. 613 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:09,199 I'll get six for it. 614 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:12,479 I think you'd be surprised when that's cut... 615 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:16,679 ..the handful you'll have of decent stones. 616 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:23,719 You know, I've brought... I've got five with me in my pocket. 617 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:31,719 Even though, you know, it's $1,000 too much more than 618 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,799 what I really want to pay. 619 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:38,079 If you're happy with that, I can... That's pretty much, you know... 620 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:40,159 Since you're taking that one, 621 00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:43,479 I suppose I'll bend a bit on this one. 622 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:48,279 Um, if it's cash today, I'll take five for it. 623 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,359 Five and eight. 624 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,359 All right. If you're happy with that... 625 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,679 then you can keep mining and... Let's do it then. 626 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:57,999 All right. Deal. All right. Thanks, Jamie. 627 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:01,279 No worries. All right. 628 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:04,759 We'll pack this up. I'll give you the cash for the opal. 629 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,839 ..450, 500, 550, 600. I'll just count them out. 630 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:12,519 So that's all there, anyway. 631 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:14,599 Look, thanks again. No worries. 632 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:17,239 Thanks for seeing me and showing me the opal and... 633 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,519 letting me buy it, it's good. Yeah. 634 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:21,599 All righty. 635 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,439 We're leaving Mintabie today with $13,000 636 00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:26,799 of really good opal. 637 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:29,319 I've seen some beautiful stones in there, you know. 638 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:31,679 Some brilliant, brilliant stones. 639 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:35,839 I'm hoping to triple my money, I want $39,000. 640 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:39,519 NARRATOR: A three-fold profit on these stones would bring Justin 641 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:43,719 over halfway to his target, with time for one last dig 642 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:45,799 before the season ends. 643 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:49,799 I still think there's opal at Vino. 644 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:51,999 You know, I still have a gut feeling 645 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:54,559 that, you know, I haven't hit it yet, but I will. 646 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:57,719 There will be a beautiful vertical sitting there somewhere, 647 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,079 such beautiful opal. You know, that's what I'm waiting for. 648 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,159 That's my dream. 649 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,439 I want to see the tips of them fingers rubbed red raw, mate. Yeah. 650 00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:15,999 NARRATOR: Pete Cooke and apprentice Sam Westra 651 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,519 are hoping their last dig of the season 652 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:20,599 has turned up enough opal 653 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:24,679 to make the $31,000 they need to hit their target. 654 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:28,039 I dream of stones so beautiful 655 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:30,119 you just don't wanna put them down. 656 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,199 Sam's got the technique right. 657 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:34,279 Just try to go down on the face of it 658 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:36,559 and get the sand out of the face. 659 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,039 We're getting a little pile of colours out of it. 660 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:45,919 NARRATOR: This is black opal 661 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:49,959 worth up to $35,000 for just a fifth of a gram. 662 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:53,559 See what buyers are around and I'll see if we can do a deal. 663 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:57,639 But this late in the season, 664 00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:00,359 most buyers have spent all their money. 665 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,439 Pete will have a tough time selling his stones. 666 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:08,039 Carl Babic is one of the only buyers still in town. 667 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:10,119 Some pretty little stones there. 668 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,719 Yeah, they've got ten stones, each parcel. 669 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,439 Oh, look, there's some fantastic colour there. 670 00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:17,919 That's good classic, you know, opal multi-colour. 671 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:19,999 OK. 672 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,079 Anything else? 673 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:28,519 There's a bit more red under there. 674 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,759 Yeah, you can kind of, see it coming through, can't you? Yeah. 675 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:35,759 This one? 676 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:40,759 Keeping the best till last, eh? 677 00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:47,159 Well, I've admired them for long enough. 678 00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:49,239 Mm-hm. What are we talkin' about here? 679 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:51,799 You interested in the whole package, the whole...? 680 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:54,439 For the whole parcel. What are we lookin' at? 681 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:56,799 Pete can't push too hard, 682 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:59,239 or he risks losing the entire deal. 683 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:02,839 I'd like to sell it as a parcel. 684 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,439 Even $20,000. 685 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:14,519 You've got your price. 686 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:18,959 What about 16? 687 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:21,039 Fifteen and a half. 688 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,159 If Pete sells now, he won't hit his target. 689 00:42:27,240 --> 00:42:29,719 But if he holds out for another buyer, 690 00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:32,119 he may get even less. 691 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:41,079 All right. Yeah. I think we can do it for $15,500. Yep. 692 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,919 Thanks, Carl. That's great. That's a reasonable offer. 693 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:48,399 Have to go find some more. Now we got to get some more, mate, that's the problem. 694 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,439 It's enough to keep them in business. 695 00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:53,799 At the end of the day, you just gotta get a deal 696 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,319 where everyone's happy and then you can do a deal. 697 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:00,639 Time to celebrate and welcome in the newest member of the team. 698 00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:02,719 So, mate, you reckon you're going to stay? 699 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,919 Yeah. You've learned a bit about opal pretty quick. Done good. 700 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:11,759 There you go, mate. There's the chrome pick. 701 00:43:11,840 --> 00:43:14,759 An opal mining pick, mate. An opal mining pick, mate. 702 00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:18,079 That's it. That's yours. That's the bottom rung on the ladder, mate. 703 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:22,079 Having young Sam helping me out, it's been a real boon. 704 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:25,199 Fit young fellow. Keen, enthusiastic. 705 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:27,279 The son I never had. 706 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:29,759 Oh, yeah, I've got opal fever. 707 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:33,599 I'll use that to pull out some gems, hopefully. Get some gems, young fellow. 708 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:36,919 Cheers. Cheers, boys. Cheers. Absolutely. 709 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:38,999 Sam, good to have you aboard, mate. 710 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:41,279 This is what I wanna be doing as a job. 711 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:43,999 This is what I wanna be doing when I'm retired. 712 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:46,639 This is what I wanna be doing forever. 713 00:43:53,120 --> 00:43:55,119 subtitles by Deluxe 713 00:43:56,305 --> 00:44:56,339