1 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,920 PAUL VOICEOVER: Over the past decade 2 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,480 I've pulled millions of dollars worth of gold out of the ground... 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,920 but my last time around 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,600 I fell well, short of my 500-ounce season target. 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,120 It was the worst season I've ever had in the gold game. 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,760 I took a big hit. 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,360 I was down and out. 8 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,480 This season I'm back 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,000 with a new team, new ground, new equipment 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,680 and a new target and that target this year is gonna be 1,000 ounces. 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,040 That's over $2.6 million worth. 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:43,960 I'm pretty sure that the new business partners 13 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,720 are gonna be shocked that I wanna chase 1,000 ounces. 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,240 The way I see it, it's basically go big or go home. 15 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,200 The biggest risk this season is the new team itself. 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,960 Your business partners have to be people you can trust and rely on... 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,640 and trust has to be earned in this game 18 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,200 but only time will tell. 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:13,320 Well, look who it is. 20 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,560 MATT DICKSON (NARRATES): Australia, the oldest continent on Earth, 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,160 a land over 4 billion years old. 22 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,800 For generations brave men and women have scoured 23 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:35,120 this inhospitable landscape to chase the dream of striking it rich. 24 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,440 Yeah. (LAUGHS) 25 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:37,640 Whoo! 26 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:38,800 We're on the gold. 27 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,720 This season the hunt continues... 28 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,360 It feels so good to be back. 29 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:44,520 This is our playground. 30 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,680 ..as the biggest ever line-up of Aussie Gold Hunters 31 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,280 move heaven and earth... 32 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,000 This gold better be worth it, man. 33 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,440 ..to uncover life changing fortunes. 34 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:54,560 Whoo! 35 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,200 And with a global crisis driving record prices... 36 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,640 This is literally the biggest gamble of my mining career. 37 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,880 If we don't start seeing gold soon...pretty much finished. 38 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,280 ..the stakes have never been higher. 39 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,240 Newcomers head deeper into the Australian outback... 40 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:13,880 Look out! Look out! Rocks! 41 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,880 ..than ever before. 42 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,960 And season vets push themselves to breaking point... 43 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:21,560 Mate, are you alright? 44 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:23,360 Death adder. Get bitten by that, you're dead. 45 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,960 ..in the greatest treasure hunt on Earth. 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,960 I love it! I love it! 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,560 Whoo-hoo. Yes. 48 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:31,640 (LAUGHTER) 49 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:33,760 Told you, mate. This is what I live for. 50 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:35,320 That is gold! 51 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,480 Yee, hee, hoo! 52 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,320 Whoo! 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,000 (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 54 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:50,600 Hey, Paul. 55 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:51,840 Hey, Mel, Alex. 56 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,160 How you going? Yeah, good. 57 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,520 Good to see you. 58 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,160 Hey, Mackie. Yeah, good. 59 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:57,960 Well, between us we've got millions of dollars 60 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,160 worth of machinery, 61 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,080 we've got our team that needs to be paid 62 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,040 and after running costs every month, 63 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,960 which is $50,000 64 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,680 we're going to need a lot of gold to make this partnership work. 65 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:08,880 We did decide to combine 66 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,880 our businesses together this year so, 67 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,400 that's a high risk but hopefully that means higher reward. 68 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,000 Well, that big reward we're all chasing 69 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,560 is the financial freedom to do what we want. 70 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:17,640 Yeah. I want to chase it. 71 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:18,920 I want to chase that dream. 72 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,960 Mine boss Melanie Wood has been instrumental 73 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,000 in buying and selling hundreds and thousands of dollars 74 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:28,520 worth of leases 75 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,440 across the gold fields of Western Australia. 76 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,040 Her partner, Alex Stead, 77 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,720 has spent the last decade running a dozen different gold mines. 78 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,960 Together they've hauled in over 600 ounces of gold 79 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,000 from their current home, Meldorado, 80 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:51,200 a 6sqkm patch of dirt outside the town of Leonora. 81 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,200 By joining forces with Paul, 82 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,440 The Gold Devils will share a combined $2 million 83 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:04,880 in equipment and wash plants, as well as Paul's ten leases, 84 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:10,720 a combined 100sqkm of gold rich virgin ground. 85 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,040 Well, I've been thinking about our season target, 86 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,280 um and without muckin' around, 87 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,800 um, I want to chase 1,000 ounces. 88 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:25,880 1,000 ounces? 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,600 1,000 ounces. 90 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,200 I just think with everything that we've got, 91 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:31,960 all the gear, all the leases, it might not be that crazy. 92 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:33,080 We might be able to hit it. 93 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,640 Yeah, well, that's not a break-even target. 94 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,640 That's just, that's giving us quite a healthy pay day so. 95 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:38,720 It is. 96 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,800 Well, that's what we want. Big challenge but... 97 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:41,880 Can we do it? 98 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,560 I'm up for it. Yeah, I'm in. 99 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,120 Yep. If you're in, I'm in. 100 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,040 Alright. That's a relief. 101 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:48,200 (LAUGHTER) 102 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,080 I thought you we're gonna tell me to go take a hike. 103 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:52,520 How's ah, Meldorado going? 104 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:53,640 Should go check the sluices, 105 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:54,720 see how they're running. 106 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:55,800 That's a good place to start. 107 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,600 (LAUGHTER) 108 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,000 We're sampling new areas 109 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,000 because it's been a bit hit and miss lately. 110 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:02,720 We are all set up and we have got water 111 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,280 so it's a good starting point. 112 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:05,840 But without gold I mean what's the point. 113 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,000 Yeah. There's gotta be gold. 114 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,200 So, we're gonna run a test to see if there's enough gold here 115 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:10,800 to make it worth staying here. 116 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:12,920 The target is for every 200 tonnes 117 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:14,040 I want to see about ten ounces. 118 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,800 So, if we can't get ten ounces by the end of the week ah, 119 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,360 we can't afford to keep operating here. 120 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:19,880 Yeah, we've just got to think smarter about 121 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:21,160 how we're gonna approach this target. 122 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,880 If we're running out of gold at Meldorado we have to have plan B. 123 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:26,360 So, we've got the Phoenix Project still, 124 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:27,800 that's where the heap leach is running. 125 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,080 There's a whole bunch of pay dirt there stock piled up already. 126 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:31,160 We also got the Fair Lady 127 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,720 that we can go and have a crack at as well. 128 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,000 So, why don't I go and sample Fair Lady and see 129 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,160 if I can get some gold in the pan but also send some off to the labs. 130 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,000 I'll take off to the leach project 131 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:41,080 um, check that out. 132 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,880 I've got to get some samples back to the lab as well. 133 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,600 I'll just get that, those 200 tonnes through and... 134 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:46,800 By yourself? 135 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:47,880 Yeah. 136 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,520 No, not the easiest thing to do but I can step up and do this. 137 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:51,840 Awesome. Team effort. 138 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,680 Alright, I'm going to hit the road. Me too. 139 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,520 The Gold Devils need to target the best ground available 140 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,960 so while Alex runs his test to see 141 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,480 if Meldorado is bust, 142 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,360 Paul heads 350km west 143 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,800 to his heap leach processing plant, The Phoenix Project. 144 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,400 And Mel drives 100km southeast 145 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:12,560 to test Paul's lease 146 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,680 Fair Lady 147 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,120 to assess if it could be 148 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,120 their new home for the season. 149 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,520 While Paul's off checking his leach project 150 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,120 I'm going to go off and sample but, you know, 151 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,960 we're leaving Alex by himself to run the, the wash plant 152 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,360 but we just have to get stuff done right now. 153 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,120 Mel's going to be a really good business partner. 154 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,080 Um, she understands the financial structure 155 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,800 of what it takes to run a mining operation. 156 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,520 Alex is going to be fantastic as well. 157 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,320 He knows his way in and out of all mining machines 158 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:36,600 and all the recovery methods 159 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,840 we're gonna need to produce gold so 160 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,040 all and all we're going to make a pretty good team. 161 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:42,600 I'm left here running this plant, 162 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,000 which, it's not easy going 163 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,040 but if there's more gold at either of the locations 164 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,960 they've got in mind then this might be up in sticks and, 165 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,120 and going to a new home. 166 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,520 For the test, Alex is running Barnabee, 167 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,360 a wet plant shaker deck 168 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,880 capable of running the 4 tonne an hour 169 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:05,760 Alex needs to complete his 200 tonne test by the end of the week. 170 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:08,840 I've got no time to hang around. 171 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,960 It's full throttle, get dirt through this wash plant, 172 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,480 get 200 tonnes through and hopefully there's ten ounces. 173 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,400 Oh, what the earth's going on out there? 174 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,240 Ah! 175 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:29,680 No water! 176 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,240 This is not what I need. 177 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:37,800 Some of the biggest nuggets 178 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,120 that have been found in the world 179 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,000 have been found right here in this paddock 180 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,920 and we are literally 40, 50 metres away 181 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,760 from where a $2 million nugget had been found. 182 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,800 In the heart of Victoria's Golden Triangle region, 183 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,520 Brent Shannon is back on the hunt for million-dollar nuggets. 184 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,440 1,700-ounce lump was found just in here. 185 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,320 And many more were found right down through Catto's Paddock. 186 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,400 500s, 600s. 187 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:04,520 This is the reason 188 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:05,840 why I cannot give up hope 189 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:06,960 on this paddock. 190 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:08,400 Any moment through here, 191 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,560 we literally might find a life-changing nugget. 192 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,560 These nuggets are huge around here. 193 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,640 Absolutely huge and I'm not gonna give up 194 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,000 until I find one. 195 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:18,440 Mine boss Brent 196 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,200 and his brother-in-law, Ethan West, 197 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,560 are the Poseidon Crew. 198 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,160 With over two decades experience, 199 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,760 they've unearthed some of the biggest nuggets found 200 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,280 in Victoria since the Gold Rush ended 201 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,040 in the late 1860s. 202 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,880 Mate, we've got a big future ahead of us, Buddy. 203 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,560 Last season Brent sold the team's 204 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,720 254 hectare 'big licence' lease 205 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,360 but it meant giving up consistent fine gold 206 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,360 from their million-dollar wet plant 207 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,600 to chase record-breaking nuggets 208 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:52,760 on the legendary 5-hectare Catto's Paddock. 209 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,000 I had to sell one dream to try and chase another. 210 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,520 This will be the paddock that might land us the 1,000-ouncer. 211 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,600 The Holy Grail is to find the world's largest nugget. 212 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,920 Whether that's achievable or not I don't know, 213 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,040 but you got to set your bar high. 214 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:13,280 But the team was a crippling 250 ounces short 215 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:19,200 of their 350-ounce season target, leaving Ethan at a crossroads. 216 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:20,480 I've got a new house, 217 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,440 a small family that I'm providing for. 218 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,840 I'm lucky enough to have a base wage but I rely on gold. 219 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,600 That is where the money is for me. 220 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:34,800 Last season was a bit chaotic. 221 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,840 It was a bit disastrous, and a lot of things 222 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:38,160 have changed in the circumstances 223 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:39,400 between now and then. 224 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,880 Cost of living is going up 225 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,360 and house, kids, 226 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,880 you know, it's changing the outlook on my life. 227 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,360 I can no longer just be happy with the money 228 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,480 that I've got and I don't know 229 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:51,320 how long I can keep doing what I'm doing. 230 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,480 This is high risk high reward and right now 231 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:56,160 there's a lot more risk than reward 232 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,880 and that's terrifying for me, me and my family. 233 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,560 I hope we land a large nugget. 234 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,960 I hope that we walk away with more than we started 235 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,080 with but hope doesn't pay the bills. 236 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,680 It doesn't get me further ahead in life 237 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,880 and it ain't going to put money in the bank for the next ten years. 238 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,920 Something needs to give. It really does. 239 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:13,040 Something needs to change 240 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,400 because I can't continue on this path right now. 241 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:20,840 Hey, Eth. How you going, buddy? 242 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:22,960 Ready for the big nugget hunt again, mate? 243 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,800 Mate, there's a few things I got to talk to you. 244 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,160 Look, with the way we ended Catto's last year, 245 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,680 I don't know if I can stomach the same season like that again. 246 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,560 I've got no consistency coming out of the ground. 247 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,480 It's...it's hard. I'm not... 248 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:36,720 I know, it's tough, mate. This mining stuff is tough and... 249 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:37,800 That's the issue, mate. 250 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:39,880 I'm, I can't budget anything and right now I don't know 251 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,640 whether I'm earning 50,000 or 250,000 252 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,480 and that's the issue I'm having is, I got me house, I've the two kids. 253 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:47,000 I just need you to stick with me, mate. 254 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,480 I'm...I'm...I can't make promises. Right? 255 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:51,560 Exactly what we're going to get 'cause... 256 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:52,640 I know, you can't make gold appear. 'Cause, cause you can't. 257 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:53,960 But the moment you drive out that gate 258 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:55,240 is the moment we're going to find 259 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:56,880 a 500-ouncer or a 1,000-ouncer, right? 260 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,280 I don't know how much longer I can continue with this rate 261 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,880 that we're on of not finding gold. 262 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:03,720 That's what I'm saying. I can't hold on any longer. 263 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:04,960 All I need to know right now, 264 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,040 are you in this season 100% 265 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,320 or do you need to find something else? 266 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:15,480 I'm, I'm done. 267 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:23,250 00:11:32.440 -- 00:11:34.640 Anzac Day is a huge day. 268 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,440 It's a day of remembering those who've fallen 269 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:42,480 and those who've served and those who haven't come back. 270 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:44,880 In Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 271 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,160 ex-servicing member of the Australian Defence Force, 272 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,800 Chris Smith and mining partner, Brad McGhie, 273 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,920 are paying respect to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. 274 00:11:57,680 --> 00:11:59,200 Whenever the world was in trouble 275 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,560 the men and women of the goldfields 276 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:05,280 would drop tools and enlist to serve their country. 277 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,960 The Western Australian Gold Rush ended 278 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,080 when they left to fight for our freedom. 279 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,280 Some as young as 14 and one in five of those people 280 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,800 who served never returned. 281 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,920 This season is in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 282 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,440 We're putting it all on the line for ourselves, 283 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,520 for our families, for the gold, 284 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,360 to follow that Aussie dream and hit that ultimate payday. 285 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,000 Hey, Chris, I appreciate you taking me to the Anzac Service. 286 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,280 It certainly makes you appreciate what we're doing out here 287 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:43,640 and the freedoms we've got. 288 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,960 Let's say we honour them by smashing this target this season 289 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:47,560 and getting stuck into it eh? 290 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,200 It was quite an emotional experience attending the service. 291 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,720 Now, it's all about the excitement we're gonna get back out there 292 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:54,400 and we're gonna smash this season. 293 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,160 Brad and Chris have left their families in the city of Perth, 294 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,520 travelling 600km east, 295 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,680 in the hopes of striking it rich 296 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,000 on their Devil's Cut lease outside of Coolgardie. 297 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,160 It's going to be hard like always being away from family. 298 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,160 You know, we spend a hell of a lot of time up here 299 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:12,640 and we need to find a lot of gold. 300 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:13,760 Let's hit this season 301 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,080 and get back home to our families again eh? 302 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,800 We don't have any other source of income so this is it. 303 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:19,880 This has to work. 304 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,640 Yeah, I reckon we set this season's target at 50 ounces. 305 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,080 I think, that's pretty much the bare minimum we're gonna need. 306 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,680 I think, it was a pretty good move offloading that dry blower. 307 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:28,800 We gave it a go, mate, 308 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,280 and we really didn't have too much success 309 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,760 with it so the next step is to go wet plant. 310 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,400 Last season the Gold Retrievers overcame huge equipment setbacks 311 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,720 to hit their 30-ounce target... 312 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,160 but they wasted tens of thousands of dollars 313 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,560 on a dry blower they couldn't use due to wet weather. 314 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:53,160 They've now invested in new equipment 315 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,400 that will crush and wash pay dirt to recover gold. 316 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,240 We're going a whole new process this season. 317 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,000 We got the crushing gear, we got the wet plant. 318 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,160 It's going to be a steep learning curve for us but um, 319 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,400 if we can get that up and running, mate, 320 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:05,960 we're going to do very bloody well, I reckon. 321 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:07,440 Yeah, there's been a bit of water around. 322 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,200 We should be able to make the most of this wet patch. 323 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:11,360 Holy crap! 324 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:14,560 There's been a rollover, man. 325 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:15,640 Whoa! 326 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:16,800 I hope no one's in there. 327 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:19,880 Hello. 328 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,040 Anyone in it? 329 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,360 Are you in this season 330 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,480 or do you need to find something else? 331 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:38,720 I'm...I'm done. 332 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:42,480 Alright, alright. 333 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,560 Well, I haven't said anything but what if I told you, 334 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,560 there's a chance we might get the big licence back? 335 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,160 What do you mean? What are you doing, buying it back? 336 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:51,240 Well, you know, how we sold it last year? 337 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:52,360 Yeah, yeah. 338 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:53,840 There's been a few phone calls to and fro 339 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,240 and he's indicated to me 340 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:56,400 that they might not be able to come up 341 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:57,680 with the balance of funding for the licence. 342 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:58,800 Alright, so... Right? 343 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,200 So, there's a very real possibility we might get the big licence back, 344 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,240 to maybe get back to the consistent gold that we left last season. 345 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,000 It's not a absolute, right? 346 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,400 He's asked for about oh, roughly 60 days. 347 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,160 On the back of what we could potentially find here, 348 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,040 and maybe the big licence coming back, 349 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:15,760 are you in this year? 350 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:17,320 I'll support whatever decision you make. 351 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:18,480 Yep. In or out? 352 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:19,640 I need to know. 353 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:23,200 Well, I'll be in, mate. I'll back that. 354 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,440 You sure? Yep. I'm in. Hurry up. 355 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:26,840 Come here you. 356 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,600 Mate, you had me worried there. 357 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:29,680 I honestly thought... 358 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:30,800 I'm not a quitter, mate, 359 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,680 but I got to be, I got to put me family first. 360 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:33,960 Now, let's get digging. Alright. 361 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,480 The more we dig the more chance we can find. 362 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:36,600 I'm in. 363 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,720 You know, it's important every year 364 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,680 I keep finding gold to keep in business 365 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,320 but this year there's more pressure on me than ever. 366 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,840 I gotta keep the team together and Ethan was looking like 367 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:51,600 he was about to, about to leave and, you know, my team is my family. 368 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,840 Yeah, you're right to go, Pauly. 369 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:56,640 No worries, buddy. All good. 370 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,840 Ethan's father, Paul West, 371 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,680 has been helping out for the past few years 372 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,160 since retiring from the construction industry. 373 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,360 Yeah, I understand where Ethan's coming from. 374 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,840 He's got a family, he's got a wedding to plan. 375 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,680 He's just got a lot on his plate 376 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,760 so he's got a lot of concerns. 377 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,640 I also understand where Brent's coming from. 378 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,200 He's got dreams and goals. 379 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,920 Look, at the end of the day we're a strong family unit 380 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,440 and it's good to see that they have sorted it out 381 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:27,880 and gonna keep working along. 382 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,440 This sort of gold mining's, this is big nugget hunting. 383 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,240 The history shows they were here. 384 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,480 The old timers don't get absolutely everything. 385 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,120 They only have to leave a small patch of ground like that, 386 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:38,760 with a monster nugget sitting in it like that, 387 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:40,000 and that changes everything. 388 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:41,360 Absolutely everything. 389 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,320 Argh freakin' hell! 390 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,880 Eth, I think, we just done a hose, mate. 391 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,320 This is right when we don't need it. Unbelievable! 392 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,520 Is there anyone in it? Nah. 393 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,640 No blood or anything in there? 394 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:58,760 I didn't see anything, mate. 395 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:00,160 I wonder if they're still around. 396 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:01,440 That's a serious crash eh? 397 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:03,480 Maybe go make a call and I'll have a look around. 398 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:05,600 I'll go ring. Alright. 399 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,400 Hello! I'm just going to call the cops. 400 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,600 This is a pretty serious accident so I'm going to call it in. 401 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:12,560 Hello! 402 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,480 I feel worried for the people that were inside that. 403 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,240 It's a pretty heavy wreck. 404 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,880 Yeah, hope no one's ah been hurt in it. 405 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,000 Alright well, that's good. 406 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:22,680 Alright, yep. Thank you. 407 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,080 See ya. 408 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,240 Chris! Yo! 409 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:27,520 It's been reported, mate. 410 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:28,720 They already know about it. 411 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,040 They alright? 412 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:31,320 Yeah, as far as I know. 413 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,680 Um. They're investigating but yeah. 414 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:34,840 What, did they say it was stolen or? 415 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:35,920 Nah, they didn't say. 416 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,600 I mean, they're not going to give me that sort of information but 417 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,640 I did say can we move it off the track and they said that was fine. 418 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:40,760 Yep. 419 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:41,880 Bring your car down through here, mate, 420 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:43,560 and I'll hook the snatch onto the back here. 421 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:44,680 You just don't know out here. 422 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:45,840 I mean, that...that could have been 423 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:46,920 a very bloody serious accident. 424 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,000 Someone could have been killed. 425 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:49,120 So, um look, hopefully 426 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,640 no one's been hurt and um we'll get it out of the way. 427 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,800 2/3 of Australia's fatal car accidents 428 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:56,960 occur in remote areas... 429 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:58,080 Yeah, righto, mate. 430 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,160 We're right? Yep. 431 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,200 ..with unpredictable wildlife and cattle on roads 432 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,240 being a major cause of deaths. 433 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,520 Geez that...that would have given him a headache eh? 434 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,320 Any sort of massive trauma out here, 435 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,880 you've only got an hour or so before you're basically a gonner. 436 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,000 It's not just the heat, 437 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:18,680 it's not just lack of water. 438 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:20,120 It's you have an accident, 439 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:21,240 you're stranded. 440 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,080 If you don't have your sat phone with you when you're exploring, 441 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,240 you're a gonner. 442 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:32,960 Keen to start their season, 443 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,080 Brad and Chris have hauled the wet plant components 444 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,840 straight to their new worksite. 445 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,160 Yeah, so what we're about to do is unload all the gear. 446 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,200 We're going to lay it out next to this water hole that we've built. 447 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,760 We've pretty much spent most of our profit from last year 448 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,000 on this gear so, you know, 449 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,560 there's a lot riding on it, well, and truly. 450 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,040 This 50-ounce target this season is really just to keep us out here. 451 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:59,000 That's the bare minimum that we're going to need to pay the bills. 452 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,480 It's a good thing we're doing a wet plant this season, Chris. 453 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,440 There's a bit of water in the dam already, mate. 454 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:04,640 Yeah, it's looking good, mate, 455 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,240 but you know I wanted a bigger, better plant. 456 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:08,680 I'm trusting you here. 457 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,920 Mate, this'll get our 50 ounces, don't worry about that. 458 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,200 Chris is creating a level surface for the team's 459 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,280 new $75,000 wet plant. 460 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:23,880 A crusher will smash large gold-bearing rocks 461 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,720 into chunks small enough for the ball mill to pulverise 462 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,720 into a fine sand using heavy steel balls. 463 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,200 The concentrator will then trap any found gold 464 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,120 and recycle the water back to the settling pond. 465 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,240 With this new operation 466 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,800 we need to be pulling at least five to six grams per day 467 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,880 just to make ends meet, just to pay the costs. 468 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:51,760 The plant that we've got is a little bit smaller 469 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:53,080 than what I wanted, 470 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,880 less sophisticated that what I wanted as well. 471 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,440 So, Brad, what's the tonnes per hour on all this equipment? 472 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,880 Mate, I reckon we can get two tonne per hour out of this. 473 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,200 So, how many tonne per hour is that concentrator? 474 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:08,400 That's about five, isn't it? 475 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,600 Mate, the concentrator's about five but the problem 476 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,080 is the ball mill is only about two 477 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:13,880 so we can only run to the lowest figure. 478 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,000 So, two tonne an hour is what it is. 479 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,080 Well, it's definitely not what I envisaged, mate. 480 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,720 I was hoping we were going to get five to eight. 481 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,000 Unless you want to spend another million dollars, 482 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,440 um this is what we've got but we can always upgrade, 483 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:26,520 we've got to start somewhere. 484 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,240 We don't have the experience of this so this will get the ball rolling. 485 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:30,360 We can always upgrade. 486 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,280 If you can go grab the genny for us that would be great, man. 487 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:33,920 Then I can start sort of get all the wiring 488 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,040 and everything set up as well. 489 00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:37,560 I wanted to buy some plant that was up ready to go 490 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,120 and all we had to do was press go 491 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,040 and gold will come out the other end. 492 00:20:42,120 --> 00:20:43,720 The ideal situation would be 493 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,000 for us to pump 20 tonne through a day. 494 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,720 If we're getting five grams per tonne, 495 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,280 that's...that's 100 grams a day. 496 00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:50,600 That's...that's three ounces. 497 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,240 That is a huge amount per day. 498 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:54,000 So, if Chris is in a bit of a mood 499 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:55,480 'cause we're finding three ounces a day, 500 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,880 then I'm sorry ah, he's in the wrong business. 501 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:02,240 The final piece of the plant is a diesel powered generator. 502 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,640 This power unit is the lifeblood of the operation, 503 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,720 supplying the electricity needed to run the mill, 504 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,840 crusher and the concentrator. 505 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,560 Ahh (BLEEP)! 506 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:16,680 What? 507 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:17,920 It's not three phase. 508 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:20,880 What did you order? 509 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:22,240 Not that. 510 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:23,520 It's supposed to be three phase. 511 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,520 We need three phase to run all this gear. 512 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,960 A three phase generator has 180% more capacity 513 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,840 than a single phase model of the same size. 514 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,800 Mate, we've got a whole heap of gear here now that we can't use. 515 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,840 It will run the concentrator but it won't run anything else. 516 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,480 Far out. 517 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:44,880 Mate, it happens. It happens. 518 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:46,240 Do you know how hard it is to get another generator? 519 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:47,360 I know, I know. 520 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,280 Well, this isn't what I bloody ordered. 521 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:50,640 Mate, that's two weeks downtime. 522 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,080 Yeah, you don't think I know that? 523 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:53,200 You deal with it, mate. 524 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:54,320 You deal with it. I'll get one. 525 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:55,400 I'll get one, don't worry about it. 526 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:57,000 You go do what you're doing, I'll sort it out. 527 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,080 Alright. 528 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:02,250 00:22:09.120 -- 00:22:10.680 It's really good that we've all split up 529 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,320 and gone to do different things. 530 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:13,560 We've got a huge target 531 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,280 so we really do need to hit the ground running. 532 00:22:16,360 --> 00:22:20,000 The pressure's on so we don't have much time to mess around. 533 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,440 While Melanie Wood and business partner 534 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,200 Paul Mackie are testing 535 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,800 for gold on their other leases, 536 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,040 at Meldorado Alex Stead 537 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:33,640 has been left to run the team's wash plant by himself. 538 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,080 Right, that's pretty obvious what's happened. 539 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,080 The pump should be full of water and it's not so that hose must be 540 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:40,720 getting close to the surface 541 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,880 and it's pulling air up through the pump, 542 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:44,120 the pump's lost its pressure 543 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,880 and we lost, ah, all the water to Barnabee. 544 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,440 As the water level in the dam dropped, 545 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,080 the intake hose has sucked in air, 546 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:54,560 creating an air bubble 547 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:56,880 causing the pump to lose suction. 548 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,120 So, the long 549 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,840 and the short of that is, 550 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:02,280 I've got to get in that dam, 551 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:04,000 which the water is not appealing, 552 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,120 reposition that hose a little deeper, 553 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,640 prime the pump and hopefully that'll do it. 554 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,120 All the animals have been coming and drinking from this. 555 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,040 This is just fowl. 556 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:19,600 That stuff floating, is pretty much just cow crap. 557 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:20,800 Oh! 558 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,160 Just getting this hose a little bit deeper 559 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,160 and a few more hours of water, 560 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,960 that's all I need to get this test through. 561 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,600 This is a back up pump that tops this whole dam up. 562 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,400 I'm going to use it today to fill this up with water, 563 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,400 hopefully get enough suction going, 564 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,800 it'll suck its own water up the hill. 565 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,960 If Alex can displace the air with water, 566 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,280 the pump will regain its pressure. 567 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:55,200 (BLEEP). 568 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:12,720 Yeah. 569 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:14,120 At least we got the pump primed. 570 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:21,480 Oh, well, it's working. 571 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:22,640 That's all I needed. 572 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:25,360 Back to it. 573 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,000 No time for a shower. 574 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:28,400 Let's just get this job done. 575 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:30,840 Oh! 576 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,160 Right, well, I hope Paul and Mel appreciate this. 577 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,520 (CHEERFUL MUSIC) 578 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,800 I'm just going to lay down some material 579 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,400 and see if we can find some nuggets. 580 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:49,600 I've got to put us on the board 581 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,920 until Brad can get that generator sorted out. 582 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,720 On their lease outside of Coolgardie, 583 00:24:55,800 --> 00:25:00,040 Chris has left team-mate Brad to build their wash plant 584 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:03,520 but until they secure a replacement generator, 585 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,720 their only hope of gold is to spread pay dirt 586 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:11,760 into 15cm thick pads ready for detecting. 587 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,360 So, it's not an ideal start to the season. 588 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,520 We always tell other people come prepared 589 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:19,440 and here we are, unprepared. 590 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:21,840 If this system doesn't work 591 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:23,400 then that could be the end of our season. 592 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,520 We've put all our profit from last year into this, 593 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,160 so if we can't get this up and runnin' 594 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:28,800 it's just been a waste of money. 595 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:30,800 Gotta make it work, man. The pressure's on. 596 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,120 If I can get all this ready for a generator, then I'm happy. 597 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,760 This has got to sit below...below the shoot from the, ah, 598 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,440 ball mill so that will dig that right out. 599 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,280 Well, we've set a bigger target this season, um. 600 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:45,080 We feel a little bit more confident 601 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,920 in what we're doing now but ah I'll tell you what, 602 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,440 if we don't hit our 50-ounce target ah, 603 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,640 it's time to pack up and sell up and go home and get a real job 604 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:56,400 and I don't want to do that. 605 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,240 We've sacrificed a lot this year. 606 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,240 Kids are growing up without us, the families miss us all the time 607 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,000 and financially we've sacrificed a lot as well. 608 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,600 I really need to try and at least get this set up um, 609 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,360 even if I can get this section set up 610 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,400 and then at least ah, half the job's done. 611 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:18,000 We spent a lot of money on the off season. 612 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,200 We had big plans of getting that crushing plant up 613 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:25,560 and running straight away but um, yeah, that's on the backburner now. 614 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,120 (DETECTOR BEEPS) 615 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,320 Oh, there's a target. 616 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,800 At least we've got one good thing that's working...this new detector. 617 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,680 Whatever it is, it's pretty small. 618 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,160 At this stage we need every little piece we can get. 619 00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:43,480 Still can't even see it. 620 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,200 Oh, you're kidding me. 621 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,240 I would never have picked that up with the old detector. 622 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,520 At least one of us has made a good investment hey. 623 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,400 Yeah, it's the first one for the season. 624 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,000 It's nothing to write home about but ah, 625 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,480 hope there's plenty more of those. 626 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:58,400 Hey! 627 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:00,040 Oh, that's a nice target. 628 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,640 Whoa! That's in the scoop. 629 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,600 It's a good sign when it's at the bottom of the scoop. 630 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:09,760 Means it's heavier. 631 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:12,440 Oh, here we go. 632 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:17,560 That's a...that's a much nicer nugget. 633 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:18,720 Two grams that one. 634 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,480 I'm feeling, ah, pretty excited about this to be honest 635 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:26,080 with you, so I think we're ah, we're on a winner. 636 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,400 Well, this was the bit that was worrying me, 637 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:30,760 trying to get this to line up. 638 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,280 Just trying to work out how to do it 639 00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:34,800 so I'm absolutely over the moon with this. 640 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,440 Yeah, that's put me in a much better mood. 641 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:40,640 Finding gold always puts a smile on my face. 642 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:42,200 Oh, that sounds nice. 643 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:44,600 Wow! 644 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,960 Ooh! That's got a really nice sound. 645 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,280 Holy dooly! 646 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:55,880 Saw that straight away. Would you look at that? 647 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,320 Little shard of it on the edge there. 648 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:00,400 Ooh, hang on. 649 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,400 (LAUGHS) Holy crap! 650 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,760 That's a nice little nugget. 651 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,720 It just proves that the gold is wrapped up in the...in the rock. 652 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,160 That's what we want the crusher for. 653 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,320 It'll get all these little bits and pieces out of this bigger rock 654 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:15,640 but I'm keeping this one. 655 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,440 That's ah, one of my nicest finds yet. 656 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,800 Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! That's beautiful! 657 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,600 If we don't' see good gold out of this clean up 658 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,920 that could be game over for this site. 659 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,480 It's got to be at least ten ounces 660 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,840 or we're burning diesel and washing rocks 661 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:44,800 just for the hell of washing rocks. 662 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,480 While the Gold Devils run a test to see 663 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,480 if the Meldorado lease will be their home this season, 664 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:55,880 team leader Melanie Wood is 100km away on the hunt 665 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:57,280 for a back-up plan. 666 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,720 It's always important that I stay two steps ahead, 667 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,520 especially if it's not doing so well, at Meldorado. 668 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,320 I have to be able to find other ground that's got gold 669 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:07,480 so that we can move forward 670 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,080 and we've got somewhere else to go. 671 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,720 So, I'm on the lease that Paul suggested, Fair Lady. 672 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,760 I can actually see why he had a hunch about it. 673 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,480 I can see old diggings here from the old timers. 674 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,320 So, you've got a...a quartz vein running just down here. 675 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:29,240 2.5 billion years ago, hot, pressurised fluid carrying gold 676 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,480 and quartz from the Earth's mantle 677 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,760 travelled towards the surface along fault lines, 678 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,520 before cooling and hardening into gold-bearing quartz veins 679 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,400 that shed gold as they decompose, 680 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,480 forming nugget rich pockets. 681 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:48,320 Hopefully they got a lot of gold out of it but, 682 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,840 you know, hopefully they left some gold here for us too. 683 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,960 And then they've come up here and just knowing that the old timers 684 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,320 have been here and they've obviously found gold, 685 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,080 it's a really good indication. 686 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,360 They were after, you know, like 20 grams per tonne, 687 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:01,880 which is a crazy amount of gold 688 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,120 and we'd be happy with five grams so yeah, 689 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,680 I think, there's a good chance that they've um, 690 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:07,080 left some gold behind. 691 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:08,960 I'm just going to grab something to break the rocks 692 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:14,640 with and some sample stuff so bags and a pan. 693 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:22,840 So, I'm using a dolly pot. 694 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:24,360 They're pretty old school. 695 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,080 Ah, it's just a good way to crush them up and um, 696 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,160 you know, get it down a bit finer, 697 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:30,880 put it through the pan with some water and see 698 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,000 if there's any um, visible gold. 699 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,480 While Mel puts her prospecting skills to the test, 700 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,520 team leader Paul Mackie 701 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,440 is 450km north-west 702 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,000 running a test to prove that the heap leach 703 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:48,800 on his 2sqkm Phoenix Project is about to pay off. 704 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:52,360 I really need this heap leach to actually work. 705 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:53,800 I need to produce a hell of a lot of gold. 706 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:55,280 If we've got to move the other project 707 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,200 then we're tens and tens of thousands of dollars 708 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,360 in moving costs so I need that gold to cover it. 709 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,360 The leaching process is over 500 years old. 710 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,040 It works by pumping cyanide solution through gold bearing dirt. 711 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:14,880 The cyanide drains down through the heap and binds to gold particles 712 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:19,680 before it's pumped through columns of black carbon that trap the gold. 713 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:25,600 The cyanide is then pumped back onto the heap to repeat the process 714 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,040 until every microscopic particle of gold is trapped in the carbon. 715 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,480 So, I'll go and get a head grade sample first 716 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,040 and then we'll grab a carbon sample 717 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:35,520 and then come back for the tail sample. 718 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,880 Cyanide in the right doses it'll kill you straight away. 719 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,440 The samples will reveal if there's gold in the heap, 720 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,400 while the carbon test will determine 721 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,160 how much gold has already been recovered. 722 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,640 Got to get these off to the lab now and ah, get them tested. 723 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:54,240 Then we should know exactly how much gold we have in the carbon, 724 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,280 what's loaded and whether we can dump it. 725 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,720 Yeah, liquid money. 726 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:01,720 In a couple of days hopefully we've all got some really good news 727 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:02,840 to share with each other. 728 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,160 You know, I'm a numbers person so I don't really want 729 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,160 to spend all the money to get machinery up here 730 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:12,240 if there's no gold here. 731 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,320 You know it has to be viable to move forward 732 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,160 and move up here and, and mine gold. 733 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:18,320 Oh, wow. 734 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:19,440 Yeah, that's a good sign, 735 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:20,920 just from that small amount of rock 736 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:22,960 I can see some obvious pickers here 737 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,400 so it will be interesting to see what results come back from the lab, 738 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:27,000 especially with fine gold as well. 739 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:28,680 I'm actually really happy about that. 740 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:31,250 00:32:33.920 -- 00:32:36.320 Hey, Eth, I think, we've just done a hose, mate. 741 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:37,800 This is right when we don't need it. 742 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:39,520 Unbelievable. 743 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,000 O ring. It is? 744 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:42,240 It's out, mate. It's out of here. 745 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:43,360 So, it's out of the O ring. 746 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:44,640 It's a lot better than using the hose... 747 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:45,880 So we won't need a new hose. Oh! 748 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,640 Eth, I took that O ring kit back home, mate. 749 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,000 I don't think we got any O rings here. 750 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:50,840 Bloody hell! Are you for real? 751 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,280 Nah, I took them back to the shed the other day. 752 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,160 I needed them back there so you're going to have to run back 753 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,200 to Bendigo, mate, regardless. 754 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:58,320 Yep. 755 00:32:58,400 --> 00:32:59,800 20 cent O ring. 756 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,240 It's just a couple of hours. Yeah. 757 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,600 It's back in the shed on the bench yeah? 758 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:04,920 Yeah. OK? 759 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,480 This 20 cent part has brought us down to our nails basically. 760 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,040 This could have been completely avoided 761 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:10,360 if we had that kit here. 762 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:14,520 And this is what frustrates me, is we have to do things like this. 763 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,880 It's, you know costing us thousands and such in time. 764 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,760 You have 5,000 PSI pressure coming down these pipes and it 765 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,400 pushes...a piston behind this cylinder pushes that out, 766 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,560 which makes the bucket crowd. 767 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:28,680 And right in here there's an O ring and it looks like 768 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,040 it's actually blown past the O ring 769 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,400 and it's forcing the oil out so we can't use the machine. 770 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:34,960 We've got to replace the O ring. 771 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,160 But I took an O ring kit back to the shed the other day 772 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:38,240 and didn't bring it back here 773 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:40,720 and now it's cost me a couple of hours of rooting around. 774 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:42,960 Right now the pressure is on big time. 775 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:47,040 Any time you've got to stop digging, it's money you're losing. 776 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:48,600 I don't want to come across selfish 777 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,440 but I have to start worrying about me and Chelsea and, 778 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:52,880 you know, the two little ones. 779 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,240 We want to expand our family even further 780 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,600 and in the current climate it's...I don't know 781 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,760 if I'm going to have the funds or be able to hold out. 782 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:03,280 I'm in this for the long haul right now. 783 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,320 I've committed to it but we can't afford to have breakdowns 784 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,840 and it...it's kind of frustrating me. 785 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,400 This excavator is the most crucial bit of equipment here. 786 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:13,600 We can do without a dump truck if we have to, 787 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:14,760 we can do without a bulldozer 788 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:17,000 if we have to but we can't do without this. 789 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:18,640 This is critical to the operation. 790 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,160 So, this just goes in here. 791 00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:27,480 Alright, all done and tight, Eth. 792 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:29,400 Top her up with oil now and we can get back to it. 793 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:31,440 And then hopefully we're back in business. 794 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:39,320 Wow. 795 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:40,760 It never ends. 796 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,240 It's displaying a symbol here, which I've never seen before. 797 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:45,480 Something's either overheated or something. 798 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,760 We've gone from a two minute fix 799 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,880 to a 2.5, three hour fix 800 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,040 and now we've got something displayed on here and... 801 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:56,760 (BLEEP). 802 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:59,040 Did one of those red buttons get hit, Brent? 803 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:01,000 No. Did you push one in, did you? 804 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,160 No. 805 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,720 I've...I...that was in a bit. 806 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:08,640 Try that, Brent. You right there? 807 00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:10,800 That's what it will be. Yeah, try that. 808 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:16,600 Yeah, that little red safety knob, Brent. 809 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:17,800 It was pushed in a little bit. As you've opened... 810 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:18,880 Right. 811 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:20,160 ..the door you must have just knocked it and it's stuck. 812 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:21,920 It wasn't all the way in but just a fraction, so. 813 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:23,240 Well, now I know what that symbol is. 814 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:24,360 I've never seen that symbol. 815 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:25,840 She's fixed now, mate. Back into it. 816 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,040 Let's get back into it! 817 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,800 This nuggety ground is so uncertain. 818 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:32,440 You just don't know what you're going to find 819 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:35,240 from not only day to day but week to week and really, 820 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:36,360 in the whole year. 821 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:40,800 But I need to deliver because I need to keep the team together. 822 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:44,160 I knew it was going to be nugget or nothing but I didn't realise 823 00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:47,440 how much nothing was in between the nuggets. 824 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,280 If we were to get the big licence back, 825 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:50,560 it would change everything. 826 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,720 But right now I'm missin' the consistency. 827 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,800 I've got nothing to budget off. I've got nothing to go by. 828 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:57,560 I feel like I'm living week to week. 829 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:01,480 After we finished scraping out a hole, 830 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:02,720 we get down here and detect 831 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:04,400 because could be gold left behind, 832 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:06,520 either in the walls or on the deck. 833 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,480 Right, we got a target in the wall here. 834 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:10,680 Right about there. 835 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:13,840 So, what you can actually see, this is actually virgin bedrock. 836 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:15,880 Look how hard and solid that is. 837 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,000 In here you can actually see where the old timers, 838 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:23,440 they've been taking all the bedrock and they've stopped right here. 839 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:24,520 Look at that. 840 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,160 There they've started working here again. 841 00:36:26,240 --> 00:36:29,160 I can dig it with me hand, that's how soft it is. 842 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:32,120 Here, I can't dig it with me hand. 843 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:33,720 That's virgin ground. 844 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:37,440 In that area there, there could be 1,000 ounces sitting there. 845 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,040 This is the stuff that excites me. 846 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:41,560 I've knocked it down. 847 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:46,080 There you go. 848 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:47,360 Look at that. 849 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:49,160 I know, it's only a small bit of gold 850 00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:50,840 but that could have been 200 ouncer. 851 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,040 They keep leaving patches like this, 852 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:54,960 one day they're going to leave a big pocket of gold 853 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:56,960 that's going to yield a massive nugget for us. 854 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:03,480 That's a strong little target. 855 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:05,360 It's only little but it could be gold. 856 00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:12,440 There it is. Bit of gold. 857 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:14,320 It's a good start. We're on gold. 858 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:16,040 There's got to be a whole lot more of these though 859 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:17,320 to make this pay off for us. 860 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:20,080 Now, we're starting to come onto gold, 861 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,000 I'm just slowing me swing speed down a little bit, 862 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,040 keeping me sweeps nice and close. 863 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:27,120 (DETECTOR BEEPS) 864 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,240 When I start hearing signals like that, that's money. 865 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:37,080 That's ah ching ching to me so. 866 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:41,720 This is exactly why I get excited. 867 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:45,400 There it is there. Fell out of me hand. 868 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,200 So, this is a nice little chunk but this is getting onto chunkier gold. 869 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:50,800 If we keep getting buts like this, 870 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:52,840 this is where our days start adding up. 871 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:54,320 That's a really good sign. 872 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,160 I'm...I'm happy with that, I really am. 873 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:04,720 And again I'd say it's gold. 874 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,320 We've got three targets now off this one pad. 875 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:08,600 If it continues at this rate, 876 00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:10,760 we should start adding up some gold really quick 877 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:12,280 and this is what I was hoping for. 878 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:13,360 This is what I needed. 879 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:16,720 So, all that conversation with Brent might have been a bit premature. 880 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:23,880 How ya going there, big fella? 881 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:25,320 Yeah, good, old boy. 882 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:26,960 What are we doing? A weigh-in are we? 883 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:30,920 Outside of Coolgardie, the Gold Retrievers Chris Smith 884 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:34,480 has returned with the team's only gold for the week. 885 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:36,040 It's not a lot to write home about. 886 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:37,800 Well, mate, we haven't had a hell of a lot of time 887 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,320 to even look for gold so, you know, anything's better than nothing. 888 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,280 Getting on a roll with this plant set up. 889 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,440 The main part of it's here but we need a generator. 890 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:45,800 You know, I've put the phone calls out, mate, 891 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:46,920 I'm just waiting to hear back. 892 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:48,280 Fingers crossed we'll get something. 893 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,400 It's all we can do. Yeah, what have you got, mate? 894 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:52,200 I'm sort of itching to see if you've found anything. 895 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:53,560 Yeah, just a little bit, mate. 896 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:55,800 I tell you what, we bloody need it. 897 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:59,120 So, 0.042. Alright. 898 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:01,360 I'm happy just to see gold coming out of that area. 899 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:03,200 I then came across this little sucker. 900 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,360 Oh, nice little speci eh? Yeah. 901 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:08,200 That brings it up to 0.3. 902 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:09,440 That's bloody good. 903 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:10,880 That's really good. That's really good. 904 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,160 Yeah, I actually did even better... 905 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:13,240 You found another one? 906 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:15,240 I did, mate. Check that out. 907 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,560 (LAUGHS) Holy crap! 908 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:19,720 You need to name that one, mate. 909 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:21,080 That's a pearler. Yeah. 910 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:22,320 How about the Anzac biscuit? 911 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,000 Very, very appropriate, mate. 912 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:25,680 Good name. So, that brings us up to... 913 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:28,560 Holy crap, man. ..2.036. 914 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:29,640 Bloody hell. 915 00:39:29,720 --> 00:39:30,720 (LAUGHS) Well done, mate. 916 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,280 Well done. That is so good. 917 00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:35,320 Well, I think, there's 0.5 ounce of rock in that gold. 918 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:38,240 So, let's say 1.6 of real gold. 919 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:39,360 That's good, man. 920 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:41,480 The 1.6-ounce haul 921 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:42,840 will cover their costs 922 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:44,960 after a difficult start. 923 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:46,040 If we're finding that 924 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:48,000 jagged little gold embedded in the rock 925 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:49,200 that's what we need to pull it out. 926 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:50,720 That's exactly what we're looking for, mate. 927 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,600 So, nah, well done, man. Yeah. 928 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:54,280 Right it's been a tough week. Let's go and have a beer eh. 929 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:55,760 It's getting late. Absolutely yeah. 930 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,400 Let's do it. Well done. 931 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:06,680 So, how did Alex go with ah, Barnabee? 932 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:08,920 Well, Alex um, fell in the pond. 933 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:10,680 You're joking. Yeah, with all the cow shit. 934 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:11,960 (LAUGHS) 935 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:13,280 He had about three showers 936 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:14,440 but ah, he still stank. 937 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,240 Oh, I got to rustle up some jokes when he gets here. 938 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:17,360 Yeah. 939 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:21,360 Outside Leonora, the Gold Devils are about to discover 940 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:25,920 if Meldorado will be their base or if it's time to pack up 941 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,000 and find a new home for the season. 942 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:29,520 I'm excited. Hey. 943 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:31,240 Hey, guys. 944 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:33,320 What are you chuckling about? Oh, nothing. 945 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,280 Oh, I just heard you went for a swim. 946 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:39,320 I've still got the taste of cow in my mouth so um, 947 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:40,720 I'm never living this down am I? 948 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:44,640 Alright, so how did we go? Well... 949 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:45,880 Sounds good. Sounds good. 950 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:47,440 I haven't weighed it so, you ready for this? 951 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:48,600 Mm-hm. 952 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,480 Some nice little chunky pieces there. 953 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:56,280 5.7. 954 00:40:56,360 --> 00:40:58,640 So, it's not the ten we needed. 955 00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:02,120 A disappointing 5.7 ounce return 956 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,680 means the team move their operation 957 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:05,920 to have any chance 958 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,360 of reaching their huge 959 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,240 1,000-ounce season target. 960 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:12,160 We've still got other options like you were just telling me 961 00:41:12,240 --> 00:41:14,880 that the sampling you did out there was really, really good so. 962 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,000 Yeah, Fair Lady was really good. 963 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:18,320 When you say really good, I mean, 964 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:20,080 how much better is Fair Lady? 965 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:21,840 The samples that come back from Fair Lady 966 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:23,920 were 0.1 ounce per tonne. 967 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:26,280 That's almost four times what we got from Meldorado. 968 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:27,400 Yeah. 969 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:29,960 But on that, the results came back from the...the leach, 970 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:32,240 the carbon loading is...is high so at the moment 971 00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:34,720 she's already sitting around the two kilo mark 972 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:35,840 that we're going to recover. 973 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:36,920 Wow! Yeah. 974 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,360 Do you know what? I...I think, we're...we're done here. 975 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:40,840 This wasn't the start that we wanted, 976 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:41,960 you know, moving camp. 977 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:43,680 That's a huge thing. 978 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:44,840 Yeah, it's going to be scary actually. 979 00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:47,000 But you know what, it's going to cost us more if we stay here. 980 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:48,280 Good point. Well put. 981 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:49,400 Can't waste any time. 982 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:50,840 We've just got to get the trucks in, 983 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,040 get the cranes in and just move out. 984 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:54,320 Alright, lock it in. Alright. 985 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:55,520 Let's organise it then. 986 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:02,160 Got the scales? 987 00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:03,520 Got everything, mate. Got everything? 988 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:05,160 Got the gold? Rightio, boys. 989 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:07,440 We're back again. 990 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,880 It's the Poseidon Crew's first weigh-in of the season 991 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:13,040 and Brent needs to put enough gold 992 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:16,280 on the scales to ease Ethan's doubts. 993 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:18,720 Thanks for putting all the pressure on me big time. 994 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:20,840 It is what it is. Alright, boys. 995 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:22,480 But all the smalls... 996 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:29,120 comes to 2.41 with all the bigger bits included 997 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:33,080 brings us to 4.39, which is around about you know, 998 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:34,520 nearly 11 grands worth of gold there. 999 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:36,200 Would have been nice to have some more out of it 1000 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:38,280 but in this ground it's not too bad. 1001 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:40,280 Alright, Eth, I always set the target 1002 00:42:40,360 --> 00:42:41,800 and you always think I'm a dreamer. 1003 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:43,440 What do you reckon you set the target this season? 1004 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:44,600 Oh, put the pressure back on me. 1005 00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:45,960 You set the target, mate. 1006 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,080 Mate, look I... You set whatever you want. 1007 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:49,840 I've thought about it, mate. 1008 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:52,400 For me to stick around for more seasons to come, 1009 00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:53,560 I need 100 ounces. 1010 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:54,760 I reckon there's a good chance 1011 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:56,400 we'll smash that out of the park at any moment. 1012 00:42:56,480 --> 00:42:57,520 Well, that's... OK? 1013 00:42:57,600 --> 00:42:58,680 That's the bare minimum, Brent. 1014 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:00,800 That's what I can work on. You can work on those figures? 1015 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:02,880 With my percentage out of that, I can work on that. 1016 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:04,720 The team will need more 1017 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:05,840 than a weekly haul 1018 00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:09,200 of 4.39 ounces to hit Ethan's 1019 00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:12,120 proposed 100-ounce target. 1020 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,040 As long as we're still getting gold, Eth, 1021 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:15,200 we're in the hunt. 1022 00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,920 So, if we just keep digging here, the big nuggets will come. 1023 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,480 I'm telling ya, when it happens, boys, 1024 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:20,680 you're not going to believe it. 1025 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,880 I'm just hoping it happens before you walk away from me. 1026 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:26,960 Captioned by Ai-Media ai-media.tv