"Outback Opal Hunters" Last Chance

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,999 . 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,159 On Outback Opal Hunters... 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,839 I've only got a few days up here, otherwise that's it. 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:09,959 ..it's the end of the season... 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,839 ..and rookies Justin and Becky are at breaking point. 6 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,519 I think this area is done. That's the fever you catch 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,159 when you think there's big money. 8 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:21,359 That's it. I'm done. 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,039 Opal Queen Kelly Tishler... 10 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:24,719 I've just got no money coming in. 11 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,919 ..makes a last desperate search... 12 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:28,879 Go, baby, go. 13 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,079 ..to rescue her family from the brink of ruin. 14 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:32,839 It's time to walk away, Kel. 15 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,639 If we've gotta go deeper to chase 'em, we've gotta go deeper. 16 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,319 And the Boulder Boys... 17 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:39,999 Pretty well gotta find opal. We've invested everything. 18 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,559 ..risk it all on their last week of mining. 19 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,719 There's Dad saying "Don't ever give up." 20 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,279 Right on the money. Oh, look at that! 21 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,759 Team Dragonfly. 22 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,359 # Money 23 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,719 # And fancy clothes 24 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,319 # Telling you what to do 25 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,359 # The right way to live 26 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,439 # And where to go # 27 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:20,074 28 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,039 Coober Pedy, South Australia. 29 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,039 It's the last week of the season, 30 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,519 and 80km winds are tearing across the sweltering opal plains. 31 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,639 Oh, ! 32 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,439 Easy out there, mate. You all right? Yeah. 33 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,519 Rookie Justin Lang is tackling costly repairs on his excavator 34 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,639 in a final attempt to find opal. 35 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,319 When I first started opal mining, 36 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,719 I thought you could probably do 10% of maintenance 37 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,079 and 90% of digging around and finding opal. 38 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,359 That's it, that's the way. 39 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,599 Yeah! 40 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,159 But at the moment, it's been 70% of maintenance 41 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,319 and zero percent of opal. 42 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,599 thing is breaking me. 43 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,679 Justin's convinced his Vino claim still holds opal. 44 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,759 But to dig it out, he needs to replace the rams 45 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,879 that control the excavator arm. 46 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,959 You can't get back time that you lose fixing a machine, you know? 47 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:17,839 Every day that you spend on this machine 48 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:20,999 is one day less you're gonna potentially find opal. 49 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,599 That's a belemnite. 50 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,759 Justin and Becky have had a few extraordinary successes. 51 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,239 Look, it's crystal. I know. 52 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,799 But the rest of their season has been a disaster. 53 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,479 It's not worth it, Justin. 54 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,799 They have barely made a dent in their season target, 55 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,999 and Justin has just sunk another $5,000 into excavator repairs. 56 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,519 Considering we haven't had a very successful year, 57 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,799 Becky's coming up - the last trip of the year - to sort of take stock. 58 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,839 I'm bit nervous because she's the one that's got all the sense here. 59 00:02:56,920 --> 00:02:58,959 OK. Starting up. 60 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,159 She grounds me and tells me that maybe I'm dreaming half the time. 61 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,319 Hey, mate! 62 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,719 If you were looking to marry someone that's doing this, 63 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,199 it's not that smart because you've got to be able to feed a family, 64 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,239 and on this wage, you can't feed yourself. 65 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,839 You've really gotta come up with a better plan or call it quits. 66 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,239 Look at that, aye? That's it, aye? 67 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,039 Well done, mate. Wow. She's on. 68 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,079 Oh, it feels so good to be back. 69 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,559 Doing this just makes me happier than anything in the world. 70 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,319 Justin begins searching for the dark iron-stone rock 71 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,399 where the opal forms. 72 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,879 Becky's coming back - I've only got a few days up here, 73 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,039 you know, to give it one last crack, otherwise that's it. 74 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,239 This is where it was. I'm trying to prove to myself I can find opal. 75 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,399 I'm trying to race the clock before Becky gets here, so I can go, 76 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,479 "Hey, look what I found. It's worth staying longer." 77 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,239 We leave in about ten minutes to go and pick Becky up. 78 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,199 Then we come back out here 79 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,639 and then see what we can find together. 80 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,279 Oh, my God. Here we go! 81 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,039 Oh, I'm shaking. 82 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,879 I instantly start shaking when I see opal. 83 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,519 That's beautiful. 84 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,479 This is it. 85 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,879 This is it. This is opal. 86 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,759 This is opal. 87 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,119 That's it, let's go. Gonna pick Becky up. Don't wanna be late. 88 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,639 Just got crazy. I got a pocket full of stones, 89 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,719 Becky's landed at the airport. 90 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,079 I gotta quickly pick her up, race back out here 91 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,559 and keep going. Running a little bit late. 92 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,719 One thousand kilometres from Coober Pedy... 93 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,919 Dragonfly claim, Opalton. 94 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,799 Pretty well gonna find opal. 95 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,079 We've invested everything we can into this. 96 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,119 Boulder Boys Aaron and Greg 97 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,679 are facing the final days of the mining season 98 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,799 before the heat, flies and tropical floods 99 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,119 force them to shut down for another year. 100 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,719 They reckon it'll be 43 degrees today. 101 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,399 We've got no choice. We gotta keep going. 102 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,799 Righto! 103 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:37,279 With just a few days left, they're still over $10,000 short 104 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,279 of their season target. 105 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,479 Aaron needs the money, so he can buy the lease on their Dragonfly claim 106 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,239 from his family... and his father's house. 107 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,519 It would be good to get the money to pay Dad's house out 108 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,119 and maybe have a bit left over to keep digging and plan next year 109 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,359 and keep Dad's legacy going. 110 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,279 The Boys are hunting legendary Queensland boulder opal 111 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,359 worth up to $20,000 a gram. 112 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,319 We've been digging on Dragonfly for about ten months now. 113 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,199 Went back to the deep ground to dig 114 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:15,959 cos that's where we've produced before, and we need to follow it. 115 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,799 If we don't find opal, we've just done a heap of dough. 116 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,359 Might have to start panicking. 117 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:28,839 It's a beautiful hard rock. 118 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,479 Doesn't look like nobody's home, Greg. 119 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:43,959 We've just hit about ten big rocks, and there's nothing in 'em. 120 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,359 It's the right rock. Wrong streak, mate. 121 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,079 No nectar? Keep going. Well, we gotta, aye? 122 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,159 Chin up, mate. Chin up. 123 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,599 Old man would be disappointed if we dogged it now, 124 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,519 like, you can't run away. 125 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,599 We're doing what he wanted us to do. 126 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,879 Opal mining is a battle. 127 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:07,799 I've been doing it a long time. 128 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:09,559 You can't let it beat ya. 129 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,639 You must find that opal. 130 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,639 Sometimes you lose hope, but you wake up the next morning 131 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,879 and slap yourself around the head and say, "Wake up." 132 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,279 If it was that easy, mate, everyone would be doing it. 133 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,799 We've got a butterfly, Aaron. 134 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,839 There's a butterfly out there. We've got a butterfly hangin' around. 135 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,479 Might be bringing us a bit of luck. 136 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,159 Last time we seen a butterfly, we found opal. 137 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,399 There's Dad saying, "Don't pull up. Keep going. Don't ever give up." 138 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,479 Another rock here, Greg. 139 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,399 That butterfly's still hanging around. 140 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,639 Must be opal in that rock. Must be Dad. 141 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,279 Yeah. 142 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,599 This is the one. 143 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,559 One thousand kilometres away, in Lightning Ridge, 144 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,719 Outback, New South Wales. 145 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,039 Everyone's all gone, they've all packed up 146 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:20,679 and there's nothing happening. 147 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:25,719 The mercury is rising, hitting an unbearable 45 degrees. 148 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,679 For most miners, it's too hot to work, ending their season. 149 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,319 But Opal Queen Kelly Tishler has no choice but to push on. 150 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,359 Yeah, digging's quiet. I've just got no money coming in. 151 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,439 Absolutely nothing. 152 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:43,959 With three kids and a large mining operation to support, 153 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,639 Kelly is way off her season target. 154 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,239 If we're not moving dirt and we're not making money, 155 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,559 we're not finding opal, we have no income. That's it. 156 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,639 Buyers' pockets have run dry. 157 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,399 I'll leave it this time. I wanted to make an offer. 158 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,679 To survive, Kelly's been forced to mine alone... Ah! 159 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,159 ..and sell off equipment. 160 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,319 Would you take $15? $15. All right. 161 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,399 Good on you, mate. Help me out. 162 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,799 In a last-ditch attempt to hit her target, 163 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,319 Kelly will be working her two remaining claims 164 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,519 at Alcos and Allawah simultaneously. 165 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,559 With most miners fleeing the heat, Kelly and mining partner Dwayne 166 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,759 have recruited her 18-year-old son Jet. 167 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,119 Pretty sure we're looking for some white crumbly rock. 168 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,319 Like this sort of stuff over here. 169 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,359 I would like him to be a miner, but that's up to him 170 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,639 and he'll have to make that decision himself. 171 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:43,399 It's a worry, though, cos, you know, he's green, he's fresh. 172 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,759 Both claims have produced black opal 173 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,679 worth as much as $175,000 a gram. 174 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,839 Kelly's hoping she can find it again. 175 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,039 We've got a little bit left in the coffers, but basically 176 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,399 everything we've made this year has gone back in and more. 177 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,599 Go, baby, go. 178 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:07,919 Fingers crossed, it's an easy hole. 179 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:13,679 At the Alcos mine, Kelly's sinking a new exploration shaft. 180 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,599 Again, it's another gamble. 181 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:17,879 Got no money. I'm just going further into debt, 182 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:19,679 that's about all I'm doing today. 183 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,399 Barely ten minutes into the dig... 184 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,279 What we don't want is big, bloody boulders 185 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,839 cos every tooth that they rip off, we've gotta pay for. 186 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,359 We want all the teeth on by the end of the haul, 187 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,439 so it's as cheap as possible. 188 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,399 You can't drill through that. 189 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,479 So just gotta dig him out. 190 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,399 Ten kilometres away at the Allawah mine... 191 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,519 Gonna drive that in, we'll see what happens. 192 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,639 A bit of luck, might show one up, aye? 193 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:05,519 Dwayne has taken rookie Jet eight metres down the underground mine. 194 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,639 We'll get in a bit further, another cut, another face and then... 195 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:11,399 we'll go and grab that flexi. 196 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,719 The what? The flexi. What's that? 197 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,199 Yeah, Jet's getting broken in a bit. 198 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,599 He doesn't like the early starts, that's for sure. 199 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,479 He's a wee bit tired. 200 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:22,519 Don't know what that is. 201 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,599 He'll be sore by the end of the week, so that's be good. 202 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:31,719 Just keep an eye on that face. 203 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,599 Let me know if you see anything, mate. Yeah. 204 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,279 Yeah, we're keeping an eye on the wall 205 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,079 because if we see an opal and it gets smashed, people get pissed off. 206 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,279 What about up there? 207 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,359 A little bit of potch. 208 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,439 No colour. 209 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,079 It's not looking real good. 210 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,359 I hope Kelly's having better luck with that three footer 211 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,439 because this looks like . 212 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,839 Eighty-thousand dollars in the red, 213 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,479 it's Rookies Justin and Becky's last chance to hit opal 214 00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:27,599 before the 45-degree heat shuts the season down. 215 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:32,479 Darling. 216 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:35,839 Aw. Sorry, I'm running late. 217 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,079 I had a bit of an opal frenzy. Oh, that's good. 218 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:39,839 I know. My pocket's full of opal. 219 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,119 That's why I was getting excited. Have a look? 220 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,399 Where are you finding this? On the claim at Vino. 221 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,599 Oh, wow. That's amazing. So that's why I'm running late. 222 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:51,639 But all I want to do now is because I've left the face exposed 223 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,039 with this opal still in there for us to dig out. 224 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,439 If there's a chance, we can go back this afternoon. 225 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,119 I'm ready to go. Oh, wicked. Go straight out. 226 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,119 But Becky has seen this before. 227 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,239 That means something could be just around the corner, 228 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:09,559 but the reality is it could go to something or it could go to nothing. 229 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:27,439 I'm not addicted to anything, but opal mining is my thing. 230 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,359 And, erm, I can't shake it. 231 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,919 ..putting that in. 232 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,999 Should be something in here. 233 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,879 Hey, none of this any more. 234 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:53,559 Gonna keep going? Yeah. 235 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:01,679 But as quickly as it appeared, 236 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,799 the opal runs out. 237 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:05,799 I wanna find opal, big opal. 238 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:07,719 Not this small . 239 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,839 Well, it started as shells of good colour, 240 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:12,919 and it went to seam opal, 241 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,599 but it's gone to potch now. 242 00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:17,519 Potch is colourless opal. 243 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,599 Virtually worthless. 244 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,199 Oh, man. 245 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,439 I just wanna see opal like that - that's what I came here for. 246 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,439 Oh, look at this. Up here. 247 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,039 Wherever you grab, there's this colour. 248 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,799 Hey, Beck. Yeah. 249 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,959 You realise that if this fattens up, this could be 250 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,039 huge amounts of money. 251 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,799 This is so exciting. 252 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,959 We're picking out chunks of colour which is that big vertical, 253 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,359 and there's bits all over the ground here, I just realised. 254 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,439 It's all fat from here on. 255 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,399 This could be the bonanza Justin has been hoping for all season. 256 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,559 I'm literally shaking. 257 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,519 Ah-ha, ah-ha. Oi! 258 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,919 Oi! Colour! 259 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,239 At the Dragonfly claim, 260 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,919 Aaron's convinced this single rock is hiding opal. 261 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,879 Colour! It is proper colour, Greg. 262 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,239 Even though that doesn't look much, 263 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:34,839 it might run. 264 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,559 If opal runs all the way through it, 265 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,319 it could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. 266 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,359 That's nice. Got purple there, purple there. 267 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,399 It might have fed the back of the rock. Might be more in there. 268 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,519 High-five. Yes! 269 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,799 The Boys take the rock back to camp, so they can cut it open. 270 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,239 This is the sort of thing that's gonna help me buy Dad's house. 271 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,399 So that's why we're gonna cut it cos if we hit it with the hammer, 272 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,399 it's less value, and if it's pulled, we would just shatter everything. 273 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,319 We're gonna have a go at sawing this big rock here and see what's in it. 274 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,799 OK. 275 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,599 This is their last chance to hit their target 276 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,199 and fulfil Aaron's dreams. 277 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,039 Shut it off. It's got a chance, hasn't it? 278 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,239 Of course, it has. It's got colour, so... 279 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,319 Let's see if it's got something. 280 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,679 The saw blade isn't big enough to cut through the large rock, 281 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,759 so they resort to hand tools. 282 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,559 I reckon just feed it straight in there. 283 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:02,959 Anybody home? 284 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:06,359 Is that trace in the skin? 285 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,319 I don't know. Could be. 286 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,639 That's a good spot to hit it. 287 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,719 I reckon, mate. 288 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,719 Ah-ha! Look at that. 289 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,399 Yay. Cool, yeah. 290 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,479 Good opal. 291 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,839 Best thing we ever done was saw that rock. 292 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,159 I know, Greg, and right on the money. 293 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,399 Look at the pattern on it. 294 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,239 Green-blue. That's a cool pattern, Greg. 295 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,959 It's a beautiful pattern, man. Beautiful green-blue. 296 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:44,719 There's Dad saying, "Keep going... 297 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,879 It always will glimmer." 298 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,119 "Don't give up." He never gave up in his life. 299 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,639 Queensland boulder opal, mate. Not bad, aye? 300 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,679 Aye? How good's that? 301 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,159 You're nearly smiling, Greg. Yeah, nice, eh? 302 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,159 Opal doesn't make it easy, does it? 303 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,719 No. It doesn't. But what do you do? 304 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,519 It's the only way to get down there. 305 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,359 In Lightning Ridge, Kelly is gambling 306 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:27,879 the last of her cash on drilling a new mine shaft, 307 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,039 but she's been stopped in her tracks. 308 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,519 There's a monster big boulder there. 309 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,119 This is meant to take a couple of hours. 310 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,879 We're well over an hour just getting that rock out. 311 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,999 So, yeah. Not a good start. 312 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,039 We just have to dig it out, I guess, and keep going. 313 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,919 Moving the drill would burn through another day. 314 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,359 Yeah, well, that rock's just cost me $45 in teeth. 315 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,079 So... 316 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,719 Just ripped the tungsten tip out. 317 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,639 Here it comes. The $45 rock 318 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,599 and half-an-hour of labour. 319 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:29,519 If they find opal, this shaft will be the beginning of a new mine. 320 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:32,599 Hopefully, there'll be something in this. 321 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,519 We're ten foot, should be in it. 322 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,279 Nothing. 323 00:19:42,360 --> 00:19:44,119 Nothing. Nothing? 324 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,279 Can't you see anything? No. 325 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:49,079 It's level, but... It's bland, there's nothing in it. 326 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,479 It's just waxy. 327 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,399 Might be deeper, maybe. I don't know. 328 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:57,839 Kelly decides to keep digging. 329 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,559 Seven hundred dollars in the hole, literally, here. 330 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,759 Time and money she doesn't have. 331 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,999 Yeah, it's coming down to the wire. 332 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,759 If we've gotta go deeper to chase 'em, we've gotta go deeper. 333 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,439 That's the risk you take - 334 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,639 go another five foot, another couple of hundred bucks. 335 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:34,879 We're at 27. 336 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:36,679 Oh. ! 337 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,039 Not doing it. 338 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,119 That's it. Call it, Kel? Yeah. Call it. 339 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,039 All right. 340 00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:48,879 Twenty-seven feet of shaft, 341 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,919 and not a scrap of opal. 342 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,679 Well, I had a lot of hopes for it this morning, but... 343 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,359 Anyway, just goes to show, you can do a hole there and get opal, 344 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,439 and do a hole there and get nothin'. 345 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,839 Battling everything at the moment, so... 346 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:05,919 Ah... 347 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,799 Wasn't a good day, but, yeah... 348 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,359 Just a little bit of an expensive day today. 349 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,079 This is gonna be so good. 350 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,159 At Vino claim, Justin's convinced he's on to a huge opal pocket. 351 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,519 Look at this stone. Oh, my God. 352 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,319 This is gonna be the biggest payday you ever see in your life. 353 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:43,919 Each one of these is worth money. 354 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,159 We're gonna have a lot of money. Hasn't even sunk in yet. Look at that. 355 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,639 Eighty thousand dollars down, and on their last dig of the season, 356 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,719 he needs this to pay off. 357 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,199 There's a $500-stone right there. 358 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,039 We've just scratched the flamin' surface. 359 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:06,119 We're gonna get a payday and a half. 360 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,559 My God. It's just so much work. 361 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,119 Yeah, but when you're pulling this sort of opal, Beck, 362 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,199 it doesn't matter. 363 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,279 You've got to be just ridiculously careful when it comes to this lot. 364 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:20,359 We didn't do all this work, 365 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,719 just to go, "Ah, let's be quick. Let's keep going. Let's be quick." 366 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,719 Look at that crystal, Beck. Look at that. 367 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,639 Oh, that's beautiful! 368 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,639 This is the best day of opal mining, ever. 369 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,199 There's thousands of dollars already. Thousands. 370 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:40,479 But if it goes deeper and gets fat, it could be hundreds of thousands. 371 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,559 Yeah. Wow. 372 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,519 But after two hours' work... 373 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,559 Find anything else? Are you OK? 374 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,639 Yeah. I'm just tired. OK. 375 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,919 ..the opal seam runs dry. 376 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:09,799 It's so tedious, this stuff. 377 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,679 Yeah, what's tedious is not finding anything. 378 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,759 Oh! 379 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,279 Vino is just teasing us at the moment. 380 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,399 Well, we gotta keep going. 381 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,679 I reckon this area's done, sweetie. 382 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:39,759 I think this area's done. 383 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,039 It's sort of a 50-50 chance of whether it gets better 384 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:50,839 or whether it disappears at all, and at this stage... 385 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,239 ..it looks like it might be on the disappearing end of things. 386 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,399 I went nuts, thinking that there was gonna be a million dollars here. 387 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,959 But it's not. 388 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,399 Oh, man, that's the fever you catch, 389 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:15,759 when you think there's big money. 390 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,799 I sort of celebrated before I dug it out. 391 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:26,279 With just a few days mining left this season, 392 00:24:26,360 --> 00:24:29,479 Justin is still $80,000 down 393 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,039 with little hope of making it back. 394 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:35,679 Sometimes you think: why am I the only one out here? 395 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,759 Am I crazy? Like, why am I the one out here? 396 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,279 Is it because there's no opal? 397 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:57,239 That is what you call... That's nice opal, isn't it? Look. 398 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,159 That's what you call faith. Out of all that big rock, 399 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,119 look at that in the middle. And look, it's running here. 400 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,359 Aaron and Greg have just split an iron-stone boulder 401 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,399 to reveal a potential fortune of opal. 402 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:10,039 Beautiful. 403 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:12,439 If there's more inside, it could be enough for them 404 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,359 to finally buy the lease on their claim. 405 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,559 We've got to do more saw cuts. 406 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,759 Well, I'll start the genny. 407 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,599 But one wrong move, and they could destroy it completely. 408 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,959 Yeah, I think we're best to cut from here in, maybe a cut here, 409 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,039 and work our way into it. Yeah. 410 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,639 There could be tens of thousands of dollars left in the rock... 411 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,719 or nothing at all. 412 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,319 That's rubbish. 413 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,679 With just days left before the end of the season, 414 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,559 Aaron's dream of buying the lease and his father's house 415 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:11,639 rest on the edge of a saw. 416 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:27,279 Looks like there's opal there, eh? Yeah. 417 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:31,639 There we are! 418 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:33,719 Oh, yes. Look at that. 419 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:37,879 Here's to the opal Gods. 420 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,879 That's beautiful. Yeah. 421 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,759 That's good opal. Queensland boulder opal. 422 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,599 That's good. Earrings. Pair of earrings, eh? 423 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,599 Cheers. Big Ears! 424 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,719 We got a nice surprise out of this half. 425 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,799 So we've probably got three times as much opal in them two rocks 426 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,879 as what we first had. 427 00:26:57,960 --> 00:26:59,999 Yeah, very happy with that. 428 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,839 Let's have a cup of coffee. I'll cut her down. Cut her down. 429 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,679 The Boys are confident they're sitting on a small fortune, 430 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:09,639 but they still need an experienced opal seller 431 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:11,719 to put a real price on the haul. 432 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,479 That is a nice colour, Greg. Beautiful. It is, aye. 433 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:27,719 Nah. OK, what we're doing now is pulling out. 434 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:29,799 We're done for today. 435 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:36,679 Far from her target, Kelly Tishler's final exploration haul for the season 436 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,039 has turned up nothing. 437 00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:42,319 What do you do? Can't throw any more money at it. 438 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,919 You've just gotta pick yourself up and decide 439 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,719 that's an escape hole, an air hole now. 440 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,439 Her last hope is her Allawah mine, 441 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,639 ten kilometres away, 442 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,639 where her 18-year-old son Jet and mining partner Dwayne 443 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,719 have been digging underground. 444 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,639 Get over there, and hopefully they've got some better news. 445 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,399 Nothing going on. Nothing. 446 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,719 Doesn't look very good. It's gone soft, the dirt, and no trace in it. 447 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,519 No? I don't hold much hope for it, really. 448 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:40,919 Finally, the claim is spent. 449 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,439 It's time to walk away for a bit, Kel. Yeah. 450 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,119 I don't think I'll dig any more. No. Pull out. 451 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:55,479 Yeah. The decision's been made. 452 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,359 Now it's time to pull out of this claim. 453 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,799 So we've done as much as we can do. 454 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,959 Dwayne's been over with a fine-tooth comb, it's done. 455 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,759 Yeah, no use scratching around here, it's finished. 456 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,839 That's it. End if it. Done. 457 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:10,959 No worries. I'll see you up there. 458 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:13,159 Yeah. All right. 459 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,199 There's been a massive amount of work going on down here. 460 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,839 A lot of investment, time and money. 461 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,439 I think, overall, it's been probably a loss. 462 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,159 We're going backwards at a rate of knots, 463 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,479 but if we don't go forward and have a go at it... 464 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:32,719 ..that'll be the end of our mining, 465 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,719 but we've been here a long time and I ain't giving up. 466 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:42,119 Hitting her season target of $150,000 467 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,239 is now looking impossible. 468 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,359 Bills are still rolling in. 469 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,679 Things are looking a bit bloody grim, actually. 470 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:50,759 So I've got no options left. 471 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:54,959 Her last chance to survive 472 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:58,319 is to sell her only remaining piece of opal. 473 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:00,999 It's a very, very, nice stone. 474 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:05,399 It's amazing, actually. So about 20 to 25K for it. 475 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,439 This time of the year, everyone's just gone. 476 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,759 It's just way too hot to be out here. 477 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,479 So the only one that I know 478 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,079 that I can basically try and have a sale with is Anthony. 479 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:16,999 This one here... 480 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,839 Anthony's about head off in the next couple of days, 481 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:21,999 so I've got to get out there as soon as I can, 482 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,319 track him down and try and turn him upside down 483 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,399 and shake some money out of him! 484 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:51,959 I thought the drought was over, but it's not over. 485 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,599 When I saw that opal I thought, "You bloody beauty. 486 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,279 Finally Vino is gonna cough up the goods." 487 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,759 And it just fooled us. 488 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:02,799 It definitely fooled me. 489 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:05,199 For Justin and fiancee Becky, 490 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,079 their Vino claim has failed. 491 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,839 It's time to pull up their pegs and call it quits. 492 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:16,079 When the opal stops, it feels like a bad breakup. 493 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,599 You have a girlfriend, and it's over. 494 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:20,999 That's how it feels, like your hearts sinks. 495 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,319 Love of opal trapped you, 496 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:25,639 and my love for you trapped me. 497 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,759 Justin has sunk $80,000 into mining this season, 498 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,679 with less than $6,000 returned. 499 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,879 I feel pretty tired. 500 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:40,919 Worn out. 501 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,879 Burned all my energy up in Vino. 502 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:44,719 That's it. 503 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,799 I'm done. 504 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,839 Justin has one last chance to break even. 505 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:12,279 Earlier in the season, 506 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:16,919 Justin spent $25,000 buying rough opal from another miner, 507 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,799 gambling that he could sell it at a profit. 508 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,039 Deal. Thanks, Jamie. 509 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:27,079 He's now risked another $4,000 getting the stones polished, 510 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,559 and is about to have them valued. 511 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,679 I have no idea what it's all gonna turn out like. 512 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:39,279 So I'm a little bit nervous. 513 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,439 If I can triple my money, that would be great. 514 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:45,119 We haven't had a very good season. So this is the last chance. 515 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,559 This is the be all and end all. 516 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,359 Hey, Stuart. Justin, how are you? 517 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,159 Good to see you. Hey, Stuart. 518 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,239 Beck, how are you? Good to see you. 519 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:56,079 Stuart Jackson, who also polished the stones, 520 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,279 is a world-renowned opal cutter and evaluator. 521 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,799 Wow. You've done a brilliant job with cutting them, Stuart. 522 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:05,839 So, this is what it all comes down to, eh? 523 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:07,639 What're you hoping to get? 524 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,319 Ideally, I'd love to able to triple it. Triple it, OK. 525 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:12,639 These are black opals. 526 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,719 The opal speaks for itself, so... 527 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,559 It's not what I do. I don't put the colour into it. 528 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,999 It's already there. Mm. It's awesome. 529 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:24,759 Well, I suppose the big question is, in a minute: what is it worth? 530 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,159 That little box there is valued... 531 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,639 ..at $84,000. 532 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,159 At $84,000, 533 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:39,959 this single box repays all their costs this season. 534 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,999 Wow! With six more boxes, 535 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,759 Justin and Becky could be sitting on a fortune. 536 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:55,719 I spoke to Anthony before, and he said that he's got way too much stock. 537 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,599 This stone's gotta be something pretty special. 538 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,199 Opal Queen Kelly is pinning her family's hopes 539 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:06,799 of surviving the off-season on selling her last remaining stone. 540 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,439 Certain people would like that stone. 541 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:13,919 It's a very inky, oily, dark stone, 542 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,319 and it's gonna have a specialty market for it. 543 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,399 I think Anthony's the only one who's really gonna have a crack at it. 544 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:21,079 Cos he's got that market. 545 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:25,679 Opal dealer Anthony Malonis and partner Ken Westbrook 546 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:30,039 are based out at Grawin, 40 kilometres from Lightning Ridge. 547 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,199 So, tell me, what are you doing? 548 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:41,239 We might have a piece you'd be interested in. 549 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,559 You've got me intrigued, but, you know, 550 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,719 I really can't sort of take anything more on at the moment. 551 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:49,599 Yeah. I'm sorry, but... 552 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,039 It's all right. Well, just have a look anyway. 553 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,119 Give me a look. 554 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,039 Can I take it out in the sun? Yeah. 555 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:03,639 Wow. Yeah, she's pretty, isn't she? 556 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:05,319 You don't see that every day. 557 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,119 No. Now, that is a gem. 558 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:11,079 That colour combination, I've hardy ever seen that. No. 559 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:14,639 Only in the real gemstones you see that. She's a beautiful piece. 560 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:18,239 Just as a matter of interest, what are you asking for it? 561 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:22,639 Well, I'm asking $25,000, but that is negotiable. 562 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:25,599 I like it. You know me! I've got a weakness for this. 563 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,199 Twenty? Twenty? 564 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:32,999 Twenty. Oh, you're a good man. 565 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,639 Oh, no. Oh. Thank you. That's great. 566 00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:41,039 This gives me goose bumps. Yeah. Good. 567 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,199 It's all done. I'm glad you love her. 568 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:47,239 A single polished black opal, 569 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,719 flecked with red, blue, and electric green, 570 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,599 sold for $20,000. 571 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:00,639 This sale takes Kelly to $68,000, 572 00:36:00,720 --> 00:36:05,319 just enough for her to survive until the mining season starts again. 573 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,279 It was a great feeling when Anthony just said...yeah. 574 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:13,959 I thought, thank goodness. 575 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,399 The old foot's off the throat. 576 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:20,119 And so it was really good - it was good to see a smile on the boy's face. 577 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:24,239 There's relief there, there's lots of emotions going on, 578 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:26,799 but basically just glad that it's done. 579 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:29,519 It's been a long year. So it was good to finish on a high. 580 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,759 So do you wanna know what the whole parcel's worth? 581 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:51,039 I don't wanna know cos I'll have a heart attack! 582 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,679 The overall price for the parcel, this parcel... 583 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,919 ..is $250,653. 584 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,239 Quarter of a million dollars? Yeah. 585 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,279 Oh, what! 586 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,959 Let's do it. She needs a hug for that one, mate. 587 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,999 There you go. We did it. We did it. 588 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:17,079 Yeah, you did it. We did it. 589 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:18,879 Unbelievable. Oh, my God. 590 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:22,239 You did well. Oh, my God. 591 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,839 The collection is crystal and black opal. 592 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:30,799 with colours from blue greens to highly prized red. 593 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:36,039 There are 200 grams with an estimated value of $250,000. 594 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:38,959 That you so much, Stuart. You're welcome. 595 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:41,439 That's amazing. Congratulations. Thank you. 596 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:45,279 For all the hard effort you put into mining in Coober Pedy, 597 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:48,599 this is still part of that deal. It's still part of being there, 598 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:50,599 putting up with the dust and the flies 599 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,599 and the crap and the heat and whatever. 600 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:56,679 Because you were there, you managed to buy the parcel. 601 00:37:58,240 --> 00:38:00,239 And that's important. 602 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:03,799 The Rookies have smashed their season target 603 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:07,879 by a massive $185,000. 604 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:13,199 Wow. I mean, Justin has done so well. 605 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:15,359 I mean, he thinks it's a fluke, but it's not. 606 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:19,439 I mean, he's acquired every bit of knowledge he could in the last year 607 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:22,119 to be able to determine whether to buy a parcel or not. 608 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:25,359 And it's clearly paid off because that doesn't happen all the time. 609 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,239 Yeah, he's definitely won me over. 610 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,159 This year I've got a bit of the taste of the opal fever 611 00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:33,679 and I also feel more confident that we might be able 612 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:36,639 to make a living out of this as well, which is really exciting. 613 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:42,079 Nothing compares to finding opal, and that's what I live for. 614 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,319 You know, I dream every single day that I'll find a big seam of opal, 615 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:51,599 and I've got every single cell in my body aiming to do that. 616 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:54,239 I'll do it. One million, you'll see it. 617 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:13,119 Margaret's coming today. We'll get another opinion on the value of it. 618 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:15,199 Better off, mate. I think so. 619 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,399 The Boulder Boys' season hangs in the balance. 620 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:24,119 Greg's sister Margaret, an opal seller with 25 years of experience, 621 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,359 is about to value their biggest find of the year. 622 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:32,359 To hit their target, they need Margaret's valuation 623 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:34,439 to be at least $10,000. 624 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:40,279 Did you hide them good stones? Hey. How are ya? 625 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:43,319 How are you going? Good. How's it all going? 626 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,119 Yeah. We found some opal. 627 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:47,639 Nice stuff? Allrighty, eh? Yeah. 628 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,679 Still need a bit of breaking down, but... That's all right. 629 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:54,719 Got it to a level. 630 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:57,879 Decent size. Nice lines. 631 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,279 Well, it's not bad, this trace, is it? 632 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:02,879 You wanna have look at this trace? 633 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:04,999 Yeah. What's it look like? Like that. 634 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:07,079 Oh, look at that. 635 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:10,119 Wow! That's opal. That's opal, isn't it? 636 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:12,519 Just in one rock. In one rock. 637 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:14,919 Just beautiful. Look at that pattern. 638 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:17,879 Jesus, a nice seam, that. Nice big seams. 639 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:20,799 Yeah, that one there, it runs right through. 640 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:22,879 Wow. One very big piece. 641 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:26,839 It's good to look at that after a year in the paddock, Greg, eh? 642 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:29,679 Yeah. Wow. Beautiful big face. 643 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:31,799 Gotta be happy with that. Yeah. 644 00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:34,719 Easy cutting. Yeah, very nice, isn't it? 645 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:36,719 Wow. Dad'll be proud of us. 646 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,319 He will be, very proud of you. It's what he wanted. 647 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:41,759 Someone to keep digging his mine lease. 648 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:43,959 Yeah. Well done, boys. 649 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:46,199 As a parcel, what do you reckon we'd get for it? 650 00:40:46,280 --> 00:40:50,239 It's hard, but a rough opinion? They're gonna split nice. 651 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:54,679 They will have a pattern. 652 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:57,719 There's quite a few carats there, Greg. 653 00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:59,559 There's a lot, a lot of material. 654 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:02,279 So how much do you reckon? Well... 655 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,239 I reckon you'd have to be looking at 100 minimum. 656 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:07,159 A hundred grand? 657 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:09,039 Good. ! 658 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:11,239 Team Dragonfly. Team Dragonfly. 659 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:13,399 Team Dragonfly. Good on ya. 660 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:18,799 Aaron and Greg's haul is high-quality boulder opal, 661 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:21,399 with intense blue-green and purples. 662 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:25,479 It's in the rough and there's an estimated 400 carats, 663 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:27,559 making its value... 664 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:31,999 Couldn't come at a better time, Greg. No. 665 00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,679 We've had every element at us, eh, Greg? That's right. 666 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:36,759 We battled all the way, fella! 667 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,159 In the final days of the season, 668 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:44,879 the Boulder Boys have smashed their target, 669 00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:48,639 And Aaron's dream of buying the Dragonfly lease 670 00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:52,839 and his dad's house is now a reality. 671 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:56,959 I'll have to clean up a little bit, but it's not too bad, eh? 672 00:41:57,040 --> 00:41:59,439 It's history, mate. It's pretty cool, eh? 673 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,079 My father started digging here in the early days. 674 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:12,759 It's our family lease. It's been here ever since I can remember. 675 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,639 Mum and Dad's ashes are up on the hill just there. 676 00:42:24,240 --> 00:42:26,959 Dad was a really nice person, 677 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:29,879 loved his opal, loved doing what he's doing. 678 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:33,639 Easy going. Hard worker. 679 00:42:33,720 --> 00:42:35,719 He's my best mate. 680 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,919 You miss them when they're gone. 681 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:48,719 When Dad passed away, that's what he said to me, "Keep digging." 682 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:54,999 Nice spot. 683 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,199 Peaceful. 684 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:01,519 It's a journey, eh, life? 685 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:05,919 Can't be negative because every day IS a good day. 686 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,599 As long as you wake up, it's a good day. 687 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:12,519 No matter how hard or what you're doing, you're still alive. 688 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:22,119 After seven months battling the heat, dust and hard ground, 689 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:24,199 the season is finally done. 690 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,399 Where do you wanna go, Aaron? 691 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,919 We should go on the beach somewhere, mate. Yeah, good idea. 692 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,999 What do you reckon? Whitsundays? We'll go to the Whitsundays, yeah. 693 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,479 Let's blow this chicken coop, Greg. Yeah. We're out of here. 694 00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:44,359 I might miss this place for a week or two. No. 695 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:46,439 Maybe three. Not at all. 696 00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:51,039 Change of scenery, Greg? Time to go up the coast. 697 00:43:51,120 --> 00:43:53,879 Go and eat some mud crabs! Cor! 698 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:55,959 subtitles by Deluxe 699 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:03,239 # Money! 700 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:08,159 # Money! 700 00:44:09,305 --> 00:45:09,312 Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org