In Mintabie, South Australia, The Tunnel Rats are under extra pressure as rival miners close in on their claim. In Sheepyards, NSW, The Bushmen must brave an abandoned mine to remove a dead animal. Meanwhile, rookie prospectors The Poms seek a prize opal to kickstart their mining career.

The Bushmen face off against a miner who has illegally dug on their claim.

The Tunnel Rats deal with an unexploded bomb and hazardous gases; The Bros attempt to fit their equipment into a new mine; The Poms make their first trip underground.

In Opalton, Boulder Boys Aaron and Ron's excavator has a close call.

The Bushmen take a big risk, trying out a new mining method deep below the ground, and injury slows down progress for The Bros and The Poms are struggling to find their first piece of opal.

The Boulder Boys, who are within reach of their $100,000 season target, chase old leads that could see them strike it rich and The Bushmen face a disaster underground.

A violent summer storm sees The Young Guns race to save their only claim from a flood; meanwhile The McFarlanes must build a drill from spare parts.

Tunnel Rats Bayden Pearse and Leese Grobe get the lifeline they desperately need. Meanwhile, Pete Cooke and Sam Westra are on the last dig of their season, and 20-year-old Sam must decide whether to quit opal mining for good.

The Tunnel Rats struggle working on unfamiliar ground. The Boulder Boys try to keep their jobs with a last-ditch hunt to satisfy their mining partners.

The Bushmen combat opal thieves on land and in the skies. Plus, Lightning Ridge's Gavan McFarlane puts his son to work and the Boulder Boys dig their way out of trouble.

The Bushmen stay up late to drive out poachers from their mine. Col Duff reunites with Greg Geran in one last push to find opal before the summer heat gets too much.

The Young Guns risk it all to find rare pineapple opal. Meanwhile, the Boulder Boys take on deadly ground and the Bushmen face a race to the hospital.