Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 9, Episode 17 - Gold Gurus - full transcript
Freddy:
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
-GOOD JOB, MARK.
-MY PLEASURE.
Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
...THE EXPERTS
WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH...
WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD
HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
Narrator:
...WHO USE TECHNOLOGY...
THERE IT GOES.
...INGENUITY...
Dave: I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY
THAT COULD BUILD
A SLUICE BOX OUT OF WOOD.
Narrator:
...AND MECHANICAL INNOVATION...
I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
Narrator:
...TO SEEK OUT
THE MOST PRIZED ELEMENT
IN HUMAN HISTORY.
[BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.
♪
THIS IS THE SCIENCE
OF GOLD MINING,
AND THESE ARE THE GURUS OF GOLD.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
Man:
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Narrator: GOLD IS SCARCE.
EVERY SINGLE OUNCE EVER MINED
WOULD COVER A FOOTBALL FIELD
TO A DEPTH OF ONLY 18 INCHES,
WHICH IS WHY MINERS
USE SPECIALISTS
TO LOCATE THE PAY STREAK...
Man #2: WE'VE NEVER MINED
A YARD OF DIRT
THAT DIDN'T HAVE GOLD IN IT.
...REMOVE EVERYTHING
IN THE WAY...
♪
...SEPARATE GOLD
FROM THE WORTHLESS DIRT...
GOOD LORD.
-FRACK!
-THERE IT IS!
Narrator: ...AND SMELT NUGGETS
INTO SOLID GOLD BULLION.
♪
WHEN YOU'RE STARTING OUT...
[ TAPE REWINDING ]
...THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
FOR ANY GOLD MINER
IS FINDING WHERE THE GOLD IS.
IN SEASON FOUR, PARKER SCHNABEL
STARTS HIS KLONDIKE
MINING CAREER WITH A VISIT
TO LOCAL GOLD GURU TONY BEETS.
HEY, TONY.
GOOD.
WITH OVER 30 YEARS
IN GOLD MINING,
TONY RUNS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
OPERATIONS IN THE KLONDIKE,
AND HIS SUCCESS IS BUILT
ON ONE GOLDEN RULE.
NO, I'M HAPPY
TO BE UP HERE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING OUT
AND LOOKING
AT THE GROUND.
PARKER HAS LEASED
A CLAIM FROM TONY,
BUT HIS NEW LANDLORD
WON'T LET HIM MINE
UNTIL TEST HOLES PROVE
THERE'S GOLD IN THE GROUND.
NO.
DO YOU?
GREAT.
LET'S DO IT.
♪
♪
[ HORN HONKING ]
♪
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
HUH?
GOOD TO GO!
Narrator: THE PLAN --
MAKE A SERIES OF TEST
HOLES DRILLING DOWN
THROUGH PERMAFROST
IN SEARCH OF GOLD-RICH GRAVEL.
TO BE WORTH MINING, THE DRILL'S
SAMPLES SHOULD CONTAIN
AT LEAST 10 FLAKES OF GOLD.
♪
DON'T TURN --
DON'T SPIN IT.
THIS THING TURNS,
AND IT GOES INTO THE GROUND,
AND IF THERE'S
GOLD DOWN THERE,
IT'LL COME UP OUT OF
THE HOLE OR SOMETHING.
HOW MANY HOLES SHOULD I DRILL?
IS THAT TAILING?
Parker: MY FIRST HOLE WENT
INTO TAILINGS.
THAT'S GREAT.
Narrator: SOMEONE HAS ALREADY
MINED THIS SPOT.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER DRILL
SOMETHING AND FIND OUT
THAT THERE'S NO GOLD
RATHER THAN JUST DIG HOLES
AND GUESS
WHERE WE'RE GOING.
♪
STARTING TO LOOK
PRETTY DIFFERENT.
HOPEFULLY THIS THING IS
ON SOME PAY DIRT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DOES THAT SOUND
LIKE TO YOU?
YEAH, BABY!
RIGHT ON.
RIGHT THERE.
-LOOK AT THAT.
BUNCH OF LITTLE FLAKES.
YEAH.
Narrator: FOLLOWING TONY'S
DRILLING ADVICE,
PARKER WAS SOON MAKING
MONEY IN THE KLONDIKE.
NEW TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING TO HELP GOLD MINERS
PICK EXACTLY
WHICH SPOTS TO MINE.
Freddy: IF THERE'S SOMETHING
GOOD UNDERNEATH
THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN,
WE WANT TO GET IT OUT.
YOU KNOW, I'M SEARCHING
FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.
Narrator: IN SEASON FIVE,
UP A NARROW YUKON VALLEY,
FREDDY DODGE
AND OLDER BROTHER DEREK
ARE CONVINCED
THEIR CLAIM CONTAINS
MILLIONS IN CHUNKY
GOLD NUGGETS.
THIS CREEK IS A TREASURE
HUNT FOR ME.
IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY BRING IN SOME GOLD,
NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE
AND THERE BUT BIG NUGGETS.
♪
17.73 OUNCES.
I DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY
TO MESS AROUND.
I CAME HERE TO SUCCEED.
♪
Narrator:
TO IDENTIFY THE GOOD GROUND,
FREDDY CALLS
IN GOLD-EXPLORATION GURUS...
-HOW YOU DOING, ISAAC?
-...ISAAC FAGE...
-DAN, RIGHT?
-IT IS DAN, YEAH.
Narrator:
...AND DAN MURRAY.
THEIR GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR
AND AERIAL MAPPING
HELP TO PINPOINT
THE EXACT LOCATION
OF ANY GOLD DEPOSITS.
SO WE'RE GONNA FLY THE DRONE
UP ABOVE HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A DETAILED MAP
OF WHAT THIS GROUND SURFACE
LOOKS LIKE,
AND THEN THE RADAR IS GOING
TO MAKE A DETAILED MAP
OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE.
-THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.
-YEP.
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
THAT'S PERFECT.
Narrator:
THE DRONE FLIES UP THE CREEK
TAKING DETAILED AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VALLEY.
NEXT, THE GROUND-PENETRATING
RADAR MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE
ACROSS THE CREEK,
SENDING OUT RADIO WAVES
FROM A TRANSMITTER.
[ WAVES PINGING ]
THE WAVES BOUNCE BACK OFF
THE BEDROCK TO A RECEIVER.
THE TIME IT TAKES THE SIGNAL
TO RETURN GIVES AN EXACT DEPTH
AND CONTOUR
OF THE BEDROCK BELOW.
SO YOU'RE GONNA FIGURE
IT OUT, ARE YOU?
Isaac: WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO
OUR BEST HERE,
SO WE BROUGHT
A COUPLE GOOD TOOLS
TO HELP US MAP THE BEDROCK.
WE CAN GATHER ALL THIS DATA
IN A DAY NOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M KIND
OF OLD-TIME MINER,
SO IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY
TO ME,
AND I'LL BELIEVE IT
WHEN I SEE IT.
THE TECHNOLOGY WAY,
IT STILL DOESN'T TELL YOU
WHETHER THERE'S ANY GOLD THERE,
TELLS YOU WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
TELLS YOU BOTH, SO WE'LL SEE.
Narrator:
TO BEGIN THE SURVEY,
DAN WALKS THE VALLEY
WITH THE GPR UNIT.
Dan: SO ALL I'M DOING
IS DRAGGING
THIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR
BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE SNAKE THAT I'M DRAGGING
AROUND BEHIND ME
HAS A RADIO TRANSMITTER
AND A RECEIVER.
THAT GOES TO THIS LITTLE DATA
LOGGER THAT'S IN MY POCKET,
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT A REAL PRETTY PICTURE
OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH US.
Narrator: FOR AN AERIAL VIEW OF
THE CREEK TO MATCH WITH THE GPR,
ISAAC PREPARES THE DRONE.
Isaac: A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY
PACKED ONBOARD WITH THIS THING.
IT CAN FLY A MISSION
COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUSLY.
IT'S SENSING THE GROUND.
THIS SENSES WIND SPEED
AND DIRECTION.
YEAH.
LET'S GET THIS THING IN THE AIR.
Freddy: THERE IT GOES.
NOW IT'S OFF TO ITS MISSION.
[ IMITATES GUNSHOT ]
[ LAUGHS ]
SEE THE LITTLE THING
ON HERE.
IT'S TAKING THE PHOTOS
AS IT GOES DOWN THE LINE.
THAT'S HOW WE BUILD
THIS COOL ELEVATION MODEL.
-THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
-YEAH.
I CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE THE RESULT.
20 YEARS AGO,
YOU'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT A LITTLE PLANE
HELPING YOU FIND GOLD.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
TECHNOLOGY HERE
KEYED WITH THE GPR
THAT DAN IS DOING UP THERE,
IT MAY DICTATE THE MINING PLAN,
HUH, DEREK?
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
I THINK OUR BEST GOLD
IS RIGHT HERE.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
AND IN EXCLUSIVE
UNSEEN FOOTAGE...
Rick: THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN
MACHINE RIGHT THERE.
I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
Narrator: IN CARMACKS, YUKON,
FREDDY DODGE
HAS THE SURVEY
OF HIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR.
ABOUT DINNERTIME?
HEY.
HOW'S IT GOING, FREDDY?
I GOT THE RESULTS BACK
FROM DAN AND ISAAC.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
SO THIS IS THE FUNNY
LITTLE AIRPLANE PICTURES.
THAT RIGHT?
-YEAH.
Narrator: 728 PHOTOGRAPHS
TAKEN BY ISAAC'S DRONE
FORM AN AERIAL MAP OF THE CREEK.
LOOK HOW THIS VALLEY OPENS UP
RIGHT THERE.
WITH THE GROUND-PENETRATING
RADAR DATA
PLACED OVER THE IMAGES,
THE BEDROCK DEPTH, INDICATED
BY COLORS, BECOMES CLEAR.
LOOK AT RIGHT HERE.
SEE WHERE IT JUST FANS OUT
RIGHT THERE?
THAT SHOULD BE
ALLUVIAL FAN.
THE GPR REVEALS WHERE AN ANCIENT
CREEK WIDENED AND SLOWED,
DEPOSITING GOLD NUGGETS
CARRIED DOWN
FROM THE MOTHER LODE.
THIS GEOLOGICAL FEATURE
IS KNOWN AS AN ALLUVIAL FAN.
I THINK OUR BEST GOLD
IS RIGHT HERE.
THE DODGE BROTHERS FOLLOW
THEIR HIGH-TECH TREASURE MAP
HOPING FOR A PILE
OF CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.
LAST BUCKET, DEREK?
COUPLE MORE.
WE'RE DOWN TO OUR LAST
FEW BUCKETS OF THIS FAN CUT.
WE'RE GONNA DO A CLEANUP AND
SEE WHAT KIND OF GOLD WE GOT.
♪
WE NEED OVER 100 OUNCES.
YEAH.
HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD --
31.20.
OKAY. HERE'S OUR
MID-SIZE GOLD...
...35.84.
WELL, IT AIN'T 100 YET.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
NOW, LOOK AT THIS.
WELL, NUGGETS ALWAYS
WEIGH DIFFERENT
THAN YOU THINK
THEY'RE GONNA.
40...42.14.
109.18.
Narrator: 109 OUNCES,
WORTH $131,000 --
THEIR LAST WEEK OF RUNNING
PRODUCES A FULL 20%
OF THEIR SEASON'S GOLD.
Freddy: LIKE, LOOK AT SOME
OF THOSE NUGGETS, BOY.
THAT'S THE FINAL RESULT.
Narrator: ISAAC AND DAN'S
HIGH-TECH MAPPING
DRAGS THE DODGE BROTHERS
INTO THE 21st CENTURY
AND LEADS THEM
STRAIGHT TO THE GOLD.
Freddy: 42 OUNCES OF NUGGETS
FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT,
THAT'S A VICTORY TO ME.
♪
Narrator:
IN THEIR QUEST FOR GOLD,
A MINE BOSS' SINGLE BIGGEST
EXPENSE IS THE FUEL BILL.
ROCK TRUCKS, EXCAVATORS AND,
WORST OF ALL,
DOZERS BURN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
OF FUEL A DAY.
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WELL, I MET THIS GUY THAT MINES
DOWN HERE ON DOMINION.
HE'S CUSTOM-BUILT AND DESIGNED
THESE CONVEYORS THAT HE USES.
FRUSTRATED WITH A $1 MILLION
FUEL BILL,
PARKER SEEKS OUT A GOLD GURU
WITH AN INGENIOUS WAY
TO MOVE DIRT
AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.
SO THOSE ARE
WHAT HE USES.
THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN
MACHINE RIGHT THERE.
THESE MONSTER MACHINES
ARE THE BRAINCHILD OF AUSTRALIAN
INVENTOR ADRIAN HOLLIS.
GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WOW.
ADRIAN'S MOBILE CONVEYOR SITS
ON AN OLD EXCAVATOR.
A SINGLE OPERATOR CLEARS
WORTHLESS OVERBURDEN
FROM ABOVE
THE GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
AND LOADS IT INTO THE HOPPER.
THE CONVEYOR THEN SHIFTS IT
120 FEET UP AND OUT OF THE CUT.
ONCE FINISHED IN ONE AREA,
THE OPERATOR SIMPLY MOVES
THE CONVEYOR AND STARTS AGAIN.
SO WHAT'S THIS THING
COST TO RUN?
AND YOU'RE MOVING
4,000 YARDS A DAY?
AT 400 YARDS PER HOUR, ONE MAN
WITH ADRIAN'S CONVEYOR
SHIFTS MORE DIRT
THAN A FOUR-MAN,
THREE-ROCK TRUCK STRIPPING CREW.
THAT'S A THIRD
OF WHAT WE'RE AT.
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING
TO HELP BUILD US ONE?
Parker: COULD YOU BUILD
A BIGGER ONE?
Parker:
HE'S THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS,
SO IF HE'S WILLING TO HELP,
THEN I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
♪
Parker: YEAH.
Narrator: ADRIAN BUILDS
PARKER'S MEGA MACHINE
BY COMBINING
AN EXCAVATOR BODY...
-UP A LITTLE BIT.
-OKAY.
Narrator:
...WITH A MONSTER CONVEYOR
MADE FROM THREE 50-FOOT
STEEL SECTIONS.
I HATE WATCHING THIS
KIND OF [BLEEP]
BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN
A LOT CAN GO WRONG.
♪
RIGHT THERE!
IN THE WORDS OF TONY BEETS,
"I DON'T WANT THE LABOR PAINS.
I JUST WANT THE BABY."
-DOWN.
-WE'RE IN.
Parker: THANK GOD
WE DIDN'T DROP IT.
SEEMS PRETTY STURDY, HUH?
Narrator:
TO INCREASE RELIABILITY,
ADRIAN USES A CONVEYOR BELT
MADE FROM ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP,
AN ENORMOUS RUBBER BAND
HE THREADS AROUND
THE THREE CONVEYOR SECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ONLY BELT
WE HAVE,
AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT
CUSTOM-MADE,
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO DO IT SMOOTHLY
WITHOUT RIPPING ANYTHING
BECAUSE THAT WOULD CAUSE
AN ANGRY PARKER.
BINGO.
Narrator: PARKER WALKS HIS
$300,000 COLOSSUS INTO THE CUT.
Parker: RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST UP
BESIDE THE CREEK DIVERSION,
SEE HOW IT LIKES SOME MUD.
♪
THAT'S PRETTY NASTY STUFF.
IF IT CAN MOVE MUD LIKE THIS,
THE CONVEYOR WILL PROVE
TO BE PRETTY VERSATILE.
Man #3: THERE IT GOES.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BADASS.
I LOVE IT.
♪
Narrator: AFTER USING IT
TO MOVE OVERBURDEN
AT A THIRD OF THE COST
OF ROCK TRUCKS,
PARKER'S SUPER CONVEYOR
BUILDS SLUCIFER'S
FINAL PATH IN RECORD TIME.
Parker:
WE'RE READY FOR A WASH PLANT.
Narrator:
AND WITH WINTER CLOSING IN,
PARKER GAINS DAYS
OF VALUABLE SLUICING...
-ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?
-OKAY!
...BY SWITCHING THIS
VERSATILE MACHINE
FROM MOVING OVERBURDEN...
LOOK AT THAT.
BOOM, NO MORE SUPER STACKER.
...TO FEEDING PAY DIRT
INTO HIS WASH PLANT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Narrator: ADRIAN'S SUPER
CONVEYOR SAVES PARKER
$100,000 IN FUEL
ON HIS WAY
TO A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON.
-WHAT'S OUR SEASON TOTAL?
-YOU READY FOR THIS ONE?
HOW ABOUT 4,311 OUNCES?
[ ALL CHEERING ]
Parker: SO THAT'S JUST OVER
5 MILLION BUCKS WORTH OF GOLD.
♪
Narrator: WHEN A GOLD MINER
CAN'T GET TO PAY DIRT,
HE'S IN TROUBLE.
BOULDERS ARE FRICKING HUGE.
I'VE NEVER EVEN BEGUN
TO SEE BOULDERS THIS SIZE.
SEASON SEVEN IN COLORADO --
ANDY SPINKS IS STRUGGLING
WITH A GIANT PROBLEM.
I GOT BOULDERS THE SIZE
OF SMALL CARS IN MY WAY
FROM GETTING
THIS PAY DIRT OUT.
♪
Andy:
WELL, AT THIS POINT, TODD,
I AM FRUSTRATED
WITH THIS.
I CANNOT GET
THESE BOULDERS OUT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO,
FREDDY? I MEAN...
FIREWORKS, MAKE BIG ROCKS
INTO SMALL ROCKS.
YEAH.
LET'S FREAKING BLOW 'EM UP.
Narrator:
TO SAVE THEIR SEASON,
THE HOFFMANS CALL IN
EXPLOSIVES GURU MARK MAYER.
I LOVE MY JOB.
WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD DO YOU
GET TO GO AND BLOW THINGS UP
ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY,
MAKE A MESS
AND LET THEM CLEAN IT UP?
-MARK, HOW YOU DOING?
-ANDY!
NICE TO MEET YOU.
WHAT DO WE GOT
GOING ON HERE?
THERE'S GOOD GOLD
IN THE GROUND.
I JUST NEED TO GET TO IT,
AND THOSE ROCKS ARE IN MY WAY.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
TWO OPTIONS.
WE CAN WAIT FOR GOD
TO SEND DOWN A LIGHTNING BOLT,
BREAK THOSE ROCKS,
OR I'VE GOT SOME DYNAMITE.
LET'S GO WITH THE DYNAMITE.
I'LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.
NO WORRIES.
Narrator: MARK BRINGS IN
THE COMMANDO DRILL TRUCK.
ITS DIAMOND-CORE DRILL WILL BORE
A 2-INCH-WIDE HOLE
INTO THE HEART OF THE BOULDER.
I STARTED WHEN I WAS 13,
BLEW THESE TWO FINGERS OFF,
BIG MISTAKE.
I'VE GOTTEN BETTER.
I STILL HAVE MY HEAD.
LOOK AT THAT.
HE'S CUTTING LIKE A HOT KNIFE
THROUGH BUTTER RIGHT THERE.
GOES THROUGH
PRETTY QUICK.
Jack:
UNDERNEATH THOSE BOULDERS,
I GUARANTEE
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD.
DRILL'S JOB IS DONE.
♪
EXTRA-GELATIN DYNAMITE,
THAT OUGHT TO DO IT.
Narrator:
TO BLAST A 20,000-POUND BOULDER,
MARK USES A STICK
AND A HALF OF DYNAMITE.
THE ENERGY EQUIVALENT OF THIS
IS ON THE ORDER
OF ABOUT
100 MILLION HORSEPOWER.
Freddy: WHAT'S CUTTING IT
DO, MARK?
CUTTING WILL ALLOW THE CARTRIDGE
TO SHRINK AND EXPAND
IN THE BOREHOLE
SO WE GET MOST OF THE ENERGY
DOWN ON THE GROUND...
-MAKES SENSE.
-...IN THE ROCK.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAMP IT
A LITTLE BIT, VERY LIGHTLY.
FINISH HER UP WITH SAND,
THAT'LL DO.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
THE DETONATOR BOX IS WIRED
AND READY TO FIRE.
[ AIR HORN BLOWING ]
THEY'RE GONNA BLAST.
WE GOT TO TAKE COVER.
Mark: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Man #4:
DAMN, THAT WAS AWESOME!
BYE-BYE, BOULDERS.
I LOVE BLASTING, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN...
MARK, KICK-ASS, MAN.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
ALL CLEAR!
AWESOME.
-NO MORE BIG BOULDERS.
-LOOK AT THAT!
THAT'LL WORK.
THAT I CAN MOVE.
-GOOD JOB, MARK.
-MY PLEASURE.
BRING IT IN!
ANDY, GET THE EXCAVATOR,
AND LET'S GO!
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED,
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
BEING ABLE TO RUN THIS MATERIAL
RIGHT HERE
IS WHAT'S GONNA GET US
OUR 1,000 OUNCES
BECAUSE IT IS LOADED WITH GOLD.
Narrator:
MARK MAYER'S EXPLOSIVE EXPERTISE
CLEARED FAIRPLAY'S
MONSTER BOULDERS,
HELPING THE HOFFMAN CREW
AVOID ANOTHER SEASON FROM HELL.
Todd: HOW'D WE DO, DAD?
105.2.
[ ALL CHEERING ]
THIS IS JUST FANTASTIC.
I LOVE IT.
GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.
♪
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S CRANK HER UP.
Narrator: ONCE A GOLD MINER
HAS SOME PAY DIRT,
HE NEEDS A KICK-ASS WASH PLANT
TO WASH AWAY THE DIRT
AND CATCH EVERY SINGLE GRAIN
OF PRECIOUS GOLD.
Parker: LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: AND NO ONE PUTS
TOGETHER A WASH PLANT
LIKE GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE.
40 FEET LONG,
16 FEET WIDE.
THIS ONE
IS GOING TO KICK BUTT.
Todd: FIRE IT UP!
HIS CREATIONS,
BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,
ARE HIGH-CAPACITY,
CUSTOM-BUILT SLUICE PLANTS
DESIGNED TO RUN HUNDREDS
OF YARDS OF DIRT...
PERFECT!
...AND CATCH THOUSANDS
OF OUNCES OF GOLD.
BUT IN SEASON FOUR,
FREDDY ADAPTED
THE SAME TECHNIQUES
TO A SMALL-SCALE PLANT
WHEN THE HOFFMAN CREW
WENT PROSPECTING IN CHILE,
SOUTH AMERICA.
WE NEED TO RENT A BACKHOE,
AND WE NEED TO BUILD A PLANT
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
GET MATERIAL THROUGH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE'LL BUILD IT OUT OF,
BUT WE'LL FIND SOMETHING.
♪
Narrator: FIRST STOP --
THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.
LET'S FIND LUMBER FIRST.
I'VE GOT AN IDEA.
WE CAN USE PLYWOOD.
IT'S FAST.
WE CAN CUT IT WITH SAWS,
PUT IT TOGETHER.
WELL,
LET'S GET ON IT, MAN.
LET'S GET ROLLING.
SO I WANT FIVE SHEETS,
SIX SHEETS OF THIS.
WHAT'S NEXT?
LET'S GET SOME 2-BY-8S
FOR THE SIDES.
Freddy: TODD'S RELYING ON ME TO
GET THIS THING PUT TOGETHER.
I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN,
BUT I'M HAVING TO DO IT WITH
VERY LIMITED RESOURCES HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FIND
THE MATERIAL
I NEED TO CATCH
THIS FINE GOLD.
HOPEFULLY I CAN.
NORMALLY I'D LIKE TO BUILD
THIS ALL OUT OF STEEL.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION HERE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE DO.
CAN'T BUY ONE, WE'LL BUILD IT.
OKAY, SO WHAT'S NEXT?
LET'S FIND SOME PIPE.
Todd: WE'RE RUNNING
OFF SEAWATER.
WE GOT TO GET IT AWAY
FROM THE OCEAN,
SO I'M THINKING,
WHAT, 100 FEET?
-I'D SAY 100 FEET.
-OKAY.
LET'S GET SOME CUT.
Freddy:
IT'S NOT GONNA BE FANCY.
DUDE, JUST PUT LIPSTICK
ON THIS PIG,
AND LET'S GET
THIS TEST DONE.
HEY.
WE NEED A BATH?
WE GOT A FREAKING BATHTUB
RIGHT HERE.
AND THE GUN.
Todd: NOBODY HAS EVER BUILT
A WASH PLANT IN CHILE
FROM A DO-IT-YOURSELF STORE
LIKE WE HAVE.
Todd: I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE A
LITTLE ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE.
Dave: THIS HAS TO BE
THE CRAZIEST THING
THAT FREDDY DODGE
AND I HAVE EVER DONE.
Narrator:
IN CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA,
GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE
IS BUILDING A WASH PLANT
FROM SCRATCH.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE A PUNCH PLATE
TO CLASSIFY OUR MATERIAL
OUT OF THIS PLYWOOD.
DRILL A PILE OF HOLES
PROPERLY PLACED
AND HOPE IT DOES
A GOOD JOB.
Narrator: FREDDY HAS DESIGNED
THE WASH PLANT
TO WORK LIKE A MINI VERSION
OF BIG RED.
A DRILLED PIPE SPRAYS SEAWATER
ONTO A PERFORATED PLYWOOD SHEET
KNOWN AS A PUNCH PLATE.
THE BACKHOE THEN LOADS PAY DIRT
ONTO THIS PLATE,
AND WATER WASHES THE FINE
MATERIAL THROUGH IT
TO THE SLUICE BOX BELOW
WHERE THE GOLD SHOULD COLLECT
IN THE STEEL RIFFLES AND MATS.
Freddy: SO NOW WE'LL START
ASSEMBLING THE SIDES,
PUTTING STIFFENERS ON IT.
Dave: MEASURE IT TWICE
AND CUT IT ONCE.
LOOKING GOOD.
Todd: YEP.
PROGRESS IS AWESOME.
REMEMBER OUR PLANT LAST YEAR,
BIG RED?
YEP.
LET'S CALL
THIS LITTLE FRED.
[ Laughing ]
LITTLE FRED.
THE WOOD CRAFTSMAN'S GUIDE
TO BUILDING SLUICE BOXES.
AND I'M A STEEL FABRICATOR.
I DON'T KNOW WOOD.
WOOD IS FOR BURNING.
NOT ANYMORE.
THIS IS REALLY COMING
TOGETHER WELL.
I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT
COULD BUILD A SLUICE BOX
OUT OF WOOD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT
IN THE MIDDLE OF CHILE.
♪
GREAT WORK, GUYS.
-DANG.
-LITTLE FREDDY SLUICE BOX!
♪
♪
Todd: LET'S GET THE WATER PUMP
HOOKED UP.
Freddy: WE'LL PLUMB IT,
GET OUR HOSES TO IT,
START FEEDING MATERIAL
THROUGH IT.
-HERE IT COMES.
-THERE IT GOES.
Dave: WE GOT WATER.
Todd: HOW'S IT LOOK?
Freddy: WHAT DO WE GOT, TODD?
GOOD WATER.
THE FLOW GOING DOWN THE SLUICE
BOX IS REALLY EVEN.
♪
TELL YOU WHAT, FOR A BUNCH
OF LUMBER
THAT WE PICKED UP
AT THE STORE,
WE MADE IT INTO SOMETHING
PRETTY DARN NICE.
-ISN'T THAT COOL?
-YEAH.
GOOD JOB, FREDDY!
-THANKS.
-WHOO!
LITTLE WOOD, A LITTLE SCREWS
AND A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE.
FREDDY,
THIS THING ROCKS, BUDDY.
THANKS.
WE'RE FREAKING
RUNNING SOME DIRT!
YOU KNOW...
Narrator: FREDDY IS NOT
JUST A WASH-PLANT GURU.
WITH HIS JIG AND OSCILLATING
GOLD TABLE,
HE'S A MASTER
OF FINE-GOLD RECOVERY.
♪
-SNIFF OUT THE GOLD FOR US.
-WE'RE READY.
Narrator: GOLD IS FOUR TIMES
HEAVIER THAN BLACK SAND
AND 19 TIMES HEAVIER
THAN WATER.
FREDDY'S EQUIPMENT USES
THIS DIFFERENCE
TO SEPARATE
THE HEAVY GOLD PARTICLES.
Freddy: KEEP A CONSTANT FEED SO
OUR MATERIAL IS IN OUR FEEDER.
WE'RE PUTTING IT INTO A SLURRY.
THEN IT'S GOING DOWN
TO THE SCREEN DECK.
OUR SCREEN DECK
IS CLEANING OUR MATERIAL
AND GETTING
OUR FINE MATERIAL OUT.
THEN OUR FINE MATERIAL IS GOING
TO CARRY THROUGH
AND INTO OUR JIG.
Narrator: IN THE JIG,
GOLD PASSES THROUGH A LAYER
OF PULSATING BALL BEARINGS.
IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS
THAT WORKS EXTREMELY WELL.
♪
HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD.
SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE MAJORITY
OF OUR HEAVIES AND OUR GOLD.
YOU CAN SEE THE GOLD IN IT.
THAT'S JUST FAN-DAMN-TASTIC,
YOU KNOW?
Todd:
IS THAT ABOUT IT, FRED?
YEAH.
WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROCESS.
SO LET'S GET THE TABLE
ROLLING, HUH?
SEE WHAT'S IN
YOUR FINE STUFF, TODD.
YEAH.
THIS IS THE BIG TIME.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE READY.
Narrator: FREDDY FEEDS THE
SUPER-CONCENTRATED MATERIAL
ONTO THE OSCILLATING
GOLD TABLE...
Freddy: THESE GROOVES ARE
CATCHING OUR MATERIAL,
SO I'LL BE ABLE TO CUT
THE GOLD RIGHT OUT OF IT,
AND WE'LL GET RID
OF THE REST OF THE MATERIAL.
Narrator: ...WHICH TRAPS
THE GOLD IN ITS GROOVES
AND WASHES THE WORTHLESS
BLACK SAND TO THE SIDE.
-THAT IT, DAD?
-THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE FIRST CHUNK
THAT CAME DOWN,
DROPPED DOWN
AND WENT BACK UP HERE,
AND IT'S COMING DOWN.
-WAY TO GO.
-THERE IT GOES.
IT'S IN THE BUCKET.
OKAY, GUYS.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DID.
♪
HERE WE GO, TODD.
SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
YOU'VE GOT.
♪
-FOUR OUNCES.
-YEE-HAW!
Narrator: FREDDY'S GOLD MACHINES
HAVE PAID OFF BIG TIME.
TO DATE, FREDDY'S WASH PLANTS,
BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,
HAVE, BETWEEN THEM, CAUGHT
NEARLY 14,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $16 MILLION.
[ MEN CHEERING ]
UP AHEAD,
IN NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE...
IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
TO YOURSELF?
OH, YEAH.
Rick: IT DIDN'T COME
WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?
Parker: JUST LIKE,
"DON'T KILL YOURSELF."
Narrator: SOMETIMES,
THE STRANGEST CLUES
CAN LEAD YOU TO THE GOLD.
IS THAT AN ANCIENT TREE?
IT'S A FREAKING TUSK, DUDE,
MAMMOTH TUSK.
-HOLD ON.
-TRYING TO WALK.
KNOCK SOME
OF THE MUD OFF OF IT.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE
VERY PLEASED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE
HOW RARE IT IS
TO FIND A PIECE
THIS BIG INTACT.
IT'S AMAZING.
I'M HOPING
IT'S A GOOD SIGN.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN,
EVERY SINGLE TIME,
WHEN YOU FIND MAMMOTH TUSKS,
YOU'RE FINDING GOLD.
HUH.
THEY'RE ALWAYS FOUND TOGETHER,
AND THINK ABOUT IT.
THE MAMMOTH
WERE LIKE PEOPLE.
THEY LIKE TO LIVE
WHERE LIVING IS EASY,
AND THE LIVING IS EASY
IN THESE WIDE, OPEN PLAINS.
THESE ARE THE SAME PLAINS
THAT THE GOLD
IS BEING DEPOSITED IN
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THE WATER IS SLOWING DOWN,
SO THESE GOLD-BEARING CREEKS
ARE THE SAME CREEKS
THE MAMMOTH
ARE DRINKING OUT OF.
SO I THINK THIS IS
A GOOD OMEN FOR YOU.
BRUCE,
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
Narrator: TO TURN IMPURE
GOLD DUST INTO COLD HARD CASH
INVOLVES ONE FINAL
TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS.
♪
18-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
TAKES HIS BIG
NUGGET GOLD TO SPECIALIST
DON KINSEY TO SMELT
HIS FIRST-EVER BAR
OF PURE GOLD BULLION.
DON PUTS THE MIXTURE OF GOLD
AND FLUX INTO A HEAT-RESISTANT
CRUCIBLE...
THIS IS SODA ASH,
AND THE OTHER MATERIAL
I'LL ADD IS BORAX,
WHICH IS A SOAP.
SO ONCE AGAIN,
YOU'RE CLEANING THE GOLD.
...THEN INTO THE FURNACE.
I'VE NEVER WATCHED GOLD
BEING MELTED OR POURED
OR ANY OF THAT
KIND OF STUFF BEFORE.
AT 1,943 DEGREES,
THE GOLD ORE
STARTS TO MELT.
WHAT'S THAT FOR?
THIS IS A CARBON ROD.
WHAT I CAN DO WITH THAT ROD
IS GIVE IT A FEEL
AND SEE IF IT'S GOING
TO LIQUID NICELY,
THEN THEREFORE TELLING US,
GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE TIME.
♪
THE SODA ASH AND BORAX,
KNOWN AS FLUX,
COMBINE WITH THE IMPURITIES
TO FORM A WASTE PRODUCT, SLAG.
♪
STAY CALM.
NOBODY PANIC.
♪
OKAY.
HERE WE GO.
♪
♪
ALL SEASON WE WORKED
TO GET THAT,
AND, UM,
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
TO YOURSELF?
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: SIX SEASONS LATER,
PARKER HAS ENOUGH GOLD
TO BUY HIS OWN GOLD SMELTER.
WHAT IS THAT?
IT'S A FURNACE
FOR MELTING GOLD SOMEHOW.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO POUR BARS.
I'M JUST ASSEMBLING
MY TOY.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
Parker:
I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
CRAB BOIL?
-TRYING TO KILL OURSELVES.
-GOLD BOIL.
-OH.
-FURNACE.
OH [BLEEP] FURNACE.
-HOW COOL IS THAT?
-THAT'S PRETTY SWEET.
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO DO THIS?
-[BLEEP] NO.
-BECAUSE WE DON'T.
I'M STARTING TO THINK
ABOUT PARKING
A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY,
TOO.
THINK YOU SHOULD.
WE JUST TRIED
TO LIGHT IT.
[BLEEP]
SHE'S GOING.
THERE'S NO...IT DIDN'T COME
WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?
-NOT REALLY.
-A PIECE OF PAPER.
ONE PIECE OF PAPER JUST LIKE,
"DON'T KILL YOURSELF."
I'M READY.
I'M READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES.
Narrator: TO MAKE EACH BAR,
PARKER MIXES 100 OUNCES OF GOLD
WITH THE FLUX.
♪
IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE,
LIKE, 25 MINUTES.
HOW HOT
DOES IT HAVE TO GET?
DON'T KNOW HOW HOT IT IS,
BUT IT'S HOT.
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING NOW.
-IS IT?
IT'S, LIKE, UP THE SIDES.
OH [BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT LOOKS
LIKE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
-I DON'T TRUST IT.
-NO, I DON'T EITHER.
♪
Parker: ONCE IT SOLIDIFIES,
THEN YOU KNOCK IT
OUT OF THE CASING
AND OUT OF THE THING.
♪
SEE?
JUST LIKE THAT.
Narrator: EACH GOLD BAR
IS WORTH OVER $120,000.
Rick: OH, YEAH.
YOU'RE ALL SET NOW.
THIS IS THE STRESSFUL PART.
♪
♪
Chris: TEN 100-OUNCE BARS,
1,000 OUNCES,
FOUR OR FIVE
MORE STACKS LIKE THAT...
Narrator:
AT HIS END-OF-SEASON GOLD WEIGH,
USING A MIX OF
BACKBREAKING WORK,
SMART DECISIONS,
AND SOME HIGH-TECH INGENUITY
FROM THE GURUS OF GOLD,
PARKER SCHNABEL
PRODUCES OVER 6,000 OUNCES
OF THE SHINY YELLOW METAL...
[ ALL CHEERING ]
...A COMPONENT USED IN JEWELRY,
WORLD FINANCE,
COMPUTING, AND CELLPHONES.
IT'S EVEN VITAL TO
THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE.
♪
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
SHE'S GOOD TO ROCK, HUH?
SPARKY, HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WHOA!
Tony: LAST PIECES OUT
OF THISTLE CREEK.
IT IS JUST WIDE AND UGLY.
HEIGHT-WISE, WE'LL FIND OUT.
WAIT!
[BLEEP] WAIT.
[ CLANGING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
HEY, RICK.
NEXT TIME, IT'S GONNA COST YOU.
ALL RIGHT?
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
-GOOD JOB, MARK.
-MY PLEASURE.
Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
...THE EXPERTS
WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH...
WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD
HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
Narrator:
...WHO USE TECHNOLOGY...
THERE IT GOES.
...INGENUITY...
Dave: I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY
THAT COULD BUILD
A SLUICE BOX OUT OF WOOD.
Narrator:
...AND MECHANICAL INNOVATION...
I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
Narrator:
...TO SEEK OUT
THE MOST PRIZED ELEMENT
IN HUMAN HISTORY.
[BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.
♪
THIS IS THE SCIENCE
OF GOLD MINING,
AND THESE ARE THE GURUS OF GOLD.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
Man:
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Narrator: GOLD IS SCARCE.
EVERY SINGLE OUNCE EVER MINED
WOULD COVER A FOOTBALL FIELD
TO A DEPTH OF ONLY 18 INCHES,
WHICH IS WHY MINERS
USE SPECIALISTS
TO LOCATE THE PAY STREAK...
Man #2: WE'VE NEVER MINED
A YARD OF DIRT
THAT DIDN'T HAVE GOLD IN IT.
...REMOVE EVERYTHING
IN THE WAY...
♪
...SEPARATE GOLD
FROM THE WORTHLESS DIRT...
GOOD LORD.
-FRACK!
-THERE IT IS!
Narrator: ...AND SMELT NUGGETS
INTO SOLID GOLD BULLION.
♪
WHEN YOU'RE STARTING OUT...
[ TAPE REWINDING ]
...THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
FOR ANY GOLD MINER
IS FINDING WHERE THE GOLD IS.
IN SEASON FOUR, PARKER SCHNABEL
STARTS HIS KLONDIKE
MINING CAREER WITH A VISIT
TO LOCAL GOLD GURU TONY BEETS.
HEY, TONY.
GOOD.
WITH OVER 30 YEARS
IN GOLD MINING,
TONY RUNS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
OPERATIONS IN THE KLONDIKE,
AND HIS SUCCESS IS BUILT
ON ONE GOLDEN RULE.
NO, I'M HAPPY
TO BE UP HERE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING OUT
AND LOOKING
AT THE GROUND.
PARKER HAS LEASED
A CLAIM FROM TONY,
BUT HIS NEW LANDLORD
WON'T LET HIM MINE
UNTIL TEST HOLES PROVE
THERE'S GOLD IN THE GROUND.
NO.
DO YOU?
GREAT.
LET'S DO IT.
♪
♪
[ HORN HONKING ]
♪
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
HUH?
GOOD TO GO!
Narrator: THE PLAN --
MAKE A SERIES OF TEST
HOLES DRILLING DOWN
THROUGH PERMAFROST
IN SEARCH OF GOLD-RICH GRAVEL.
TO BE WORTH MINING, THE DRILL'S
SAMPLES SHOULD CONTAIN
AT LEAST 10 FLAKES OF GOLD.
♪
DON'T TURN --
DON'T SPIN IT.
THIS THING TURNS,
AND IT GOES INTO THE GROUND,
AND IF THERE'S
GOLD DOWN THERE,
IT'LL COME UP OUT OF
THE HOLE OR SOMETHING.
HOW MANY HOLES SHOULD I DRILL?
IS THAT TAILING?
Parker: MY FIRST HOLE WENT
INTO TAILINGS.
THAT'S GREAT.
Narrator: SOMEONE HAS ALREADY
MINED THIS SPOT.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER DRILL
SOMETHING AND FIND OUT
THAT THERE'S NO GOLD
RATHER THAN JUST DIG HOLES
AND GUESS
WHERE WE'RE GOING.
♪
STARTING TO LOOK
PRETTY DIFFERENT.
HOPEFULLY THIS THING IS
ON SOME PAY DIRT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DOES THAT SOUND
LIKE TO YOU?
YEAH, BABY!
RIGHT ON.
RIGHT THERE.
-LOOK AT THAT.
BUNCH OF LITTLE FLAKES.
YEAH.
Narrator: FOLLOWING TONY'S
DRILLING ADVICE,
PARKER WAS SOON MAKING
MONEY IN THE KLONDIKE.
NEW TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING TO HELP GOLD MINERS
PICK EXACTLY
WHICH SPOTS TO MINE.
Freddy: IF THERE'S SOMETHING
GOOD UNDERNEATH
THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN,
WE WANT TO GET IT OUT.
YOU KNOW, I'M SEARCHING
FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.
Narrator: IN SEASON FIVE,
UP A NARROW YUKON VALLEY,
FREDDY DODGE
AND OLDER BROTHER DEREK
ARE CONVINCED
THEIR CLAIM CONTAINS
MILLIONS IN CHUNKY
GOLD NUGGETS.
THIS CREEK IS A TREASURE
HUNT FOR ME.
IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY BRING IN SOME GOLD,
NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE
AND THERE BUT BIG NUGGETS.
♪
17.73 OUNCES.
I DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY
TO MESS AROUND.
I CAME HERE TO SUCCEED.
♪
Narrator:
TO IDENTIFY THE GOOD GROUND,
FREDDY CALLS
IN GOLD-EXPLORATION GURUS...
-HOW YOU DOING, ISAAC?
-...ISAAC FAGE...
-DAN, RIGHT?
-IT IS DAN, YEAH.
Narrator:
...AND DAN MURRAY.
THEIR GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR
AND AERIAL MAPPING
HELP TO PINPOINT
THE EXACT LOCATION
OF ANY GOLD DEPOSITS.
SO WE'RE GONNA FLY THE DRONE
UP ABOVE HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A DETAILED MAP
OF WHAT THIS GROUND SURFACE
LOOKS LIKE,
AND THEN THE RADAR IS GOING
TO MAKE A DETAILED MAP
OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE.
-THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.
-YEP.
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
THAT'S PERFECT.
Narrator:
THE DRONE FLIES UP THE CREEK
TAKING DETAILED AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VALLEY.
NEXT, THE GROUND-PENETRATING
RADAR MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE
ACROSS THE CREEK,
SENDING OUT RADIO WAVES
FROM A TRANSMITTER.
[ WAVES PINGING ]
THE WAVES BOUNCE BACK OFF
THE BEDROCK TO A RECEIVER.
THE TIME IT TAKES THE SIGNAL
TO RETURN GIVES AN EXACT DEPTH
AND CONTOUR
OF THE BEDROCK BELOW.
SO YOU'RE GONNA FIGURE
IT OUT, ARE YOU?
Isaac: WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO
OUR BEST HERE,
SO WE BROUGHT
A COUPLE GOOD TOOLS
TO HELP US MAP THE BEDROCK.
WE CAN GATHER ALL THIS DATA
IN A DAY NOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M KIND
OF OLD-TIME MINER,
SO IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY
TO ME,
AND I'LL BELIEVE IT
WHEN I SEE IT.
THE TECHNOLOGY WAY,
IT STILL DOESN'T TELL YOU
WHETHER THERE'S ANY GOLD THERE,
TELLS YOU WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
TELLS YOU BOTH, SO WE'LL SEE.
Narrator:
TO BEGIN THE SURVEY,
DAN WALKS THE VALLEY
WITH THE GPR UNIT.
Dan: SO ALL I'M DOING
IS DRAGGING
THIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR
BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE SNAKE THAT I'M DRAGGING
AROUND BEHIND ME
HAS A RADIO TRANSMITTER
AND A RECEIVER.
THAT GOES TO THIS LITTLE DATA
LOGGER THAT'S IN MY POCKET,
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT A REAL PRETTY PICTURE
OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH US.
Narrator: FOR AN AERIAL VIEW OF
THE CREEK TO MATCH WITH THE GPR,
ISAAC PREPARES THE DRONE.
Isaac: A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY
PACKED ONBOARD WITH THIS THING.
IT CAN FLY A MISSION
COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUSLY.
IT'S SENSING THE GROUND.
THIS SENSES WIND SPEED
AND DIRECTION.
YEAH.
LET'S GET THIS THING IN THE AIR.
Freddy: THERE IT GOES.
NOW IT'S OFF TO ITS MISSION.
[ IMITATES GUNSHOT ]
[ LAUGHS ]
SEE THE LITTLE THING
ON HERE.
IT'S TAKING THE PHOTOS
AS IT GOES DOWN THE LINE.
THAT'S HOW WE BUILD
THIS COOL ELEVATION MODEL.
-THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
-YEAH.
I CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE THE RESULT.
20 YEARS AGO,
YOU'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT A LITTLE PLANE
HELPING YOU FIND GOLD.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
TECHNOLOGY HERE
KEYED WITH THE GPR
THAT DAN IS DOING UP THERE,
IT MAY DICTATE THE MINING PLAN,
HUH, DEREK?
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
I THINK OUR BEST GOLD
IS RIGHT HERE.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
AND IN EXCLUSIVE
UNSEEN FOOTAGE...
Rick: THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN
MACHINE RIGHT THERE.
I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
Narrator: IN CARMACKS, YUKON,
FREDDY DODGE
HAS THE SURVEY
OF HIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR.
ABOUT DINNERTIME?
HEY.
HOW'S IT GOING, FREDDY?
I GOT THE RESULTS BACK
FROM DAN AND ISAAC.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
SO THIS IS THE FUNNY
LITTLE AIRPLANE PICTURES.
THAT RIGHT?
-YEAH.
Narrator: 728 PHOTOGRAPHS
TAKEN BY ISAAC'S DRONE
FORM AN AERIAL MAP OF THE CREEK.
LOOK HOW THIS VALLEY OPENS UP
RIGHT THERE.
WITH THE GROUND-PENETRATING
RADAR DATA
PLACED OVER THE IMAGES,
THE BEDROCK DEPTH, INDICATED
BY COLORS, BECOMES CLEAR.
LOOK AT RIGHT HERE.
SEE WHERE IT JUST FANS OUT
RIGHT THERE?
THAT SHOULD BE
ALLUVIAL FAN.
THE GPR REVEALS WHERE AN ANCIENT
CREEK WIDENED AND SLOWED,
DEPOSITING GOLD NUGGETS
CARRIED DOWN
FROM THE MOTHER LODE.
THIS GEOLOGICAL FEATURE
IS KNOWN AS AN ALLUVIAL FAN.
I THINK OUR BEST GOLD
IS RIGHT HERE.
THE DODGE BROTHERS FOLLOW
THEIR HIGH-TECH TREASURE MAP
HOPING FOR A PILE
OF CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.
LAST BUCKET, DEREK?
COUPLE MORE.
WE'RE DOWN TO OUR LAST
FEW BUCKETS OF THIS FAN CUT.
WE'RE GONNA DO A CLEANUP AND
SEE WHAT KIND OF GOLD WE GOT.
♪
WE NEED OVER 100 OUNCES.
YEAH.
HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD --
31.20.
OKAY. HERE'S OUR
MID-SIZE GOLD...
...35.84.
WELL, IT AIN'T 100 YET.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
NOW, LOOK AT THIS.
WELL, NUGGETS ALWAYS
WEIGH DIFFERENT
THAN YOU THINK
THEY'RE GONNA.
40...42.14.
109.18.
Narrator: 109 OUNCES,
WORTH $131,000 --
THEIR LAST WEEK OF RUNNING
PRODUCES A FULL 20%
OF THEIR SEASON'S GOLD.
Freddy: LIKE, LOOK AT SOME
OF THOSE NUGGETS, BOY.
THAT'S THE FINAL RESULT.
Narrator: ISAAC AND DAN'S
HIGH-TECH MAPPING
DRAGS THE DODGE BROTHERS
INTO THE 21st CENTURY
AND LEADS THEM
STRAIGHT TO THE GOLD.
Freddy: 42 OUNCES OF NUGGETS
FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT,
THAT'S A VICTORY TO ME.
♪
Narrator:
IN THEIR QUEST FOR GOLD,
A MINE BOSS' SINGLE BIGGEST
EXPENSE IS THE FUEL BILL.
ROCK TRUCKS, EXCAVATORS AND,
WORST OF ALL,
DOZERS BURN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
OF FUEL A DAY.
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WELL, I MET THIS GUY THAT MINES
DOWN HERE ON DOMINION.
HE'S CUSTOM-BUILT AND DESIGNED
THESE CONVEYORS THAT HE USES.
FRUSTRATED WITH A $1 MILLION
FUEL BILL,
PARKER SEEKS OUT A GOLD GURU
WITH AN INGENIOUS WAY
TO MOVE DIRT
AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.
SO THOSE ARE
WHAT HE USES.
THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN
MACHINE RIGHT THERE.
THESE MONSTER MACHINES
ARE THE BRAINCHILD OF AUSTRALIAN
INVENTOR ADRIAN HOLLIS.
GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WOW.
ADRIAN'S MOBILE CONVEYOR SITS
ON AN OLD EXCAVATOR.
A SINGLE OPERATOR CLEARS
WORTHLESS OVERBURDEN
FROM ABOVE
THE GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
AND LOADS IT INTO THE HOPPER.
THE CONVEYOR THEN SHIFTS IT
120 FEET UP AND OUT OF THE CUT.
ONCE FINISHED IN ONE AREA,
THE OPERATOR SIMPLY MOVES
THE CONVEYOR AND STARTS AGAIN.
SO WHAT'S THIS THING
COST TO RUN?
AND YOU'RE MOVING
4,000 YARDS A DAY?
AT 400 YARDS PER HOUR, ONE MAN
WITH ADRIAN'S CONVEYOR
SHIFTS MORE DIRT
THAN A FOUR-MAN,
THREE-ROCK TRUCK STRIPPING CREW.
THAT'S A THIRD
OF WHAT WE'RE AT.
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING
TO HELP BUILD US ONE?
Parker: COULD YOU BUILD
A BIGGER ONE?
Parker:
HE'S THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS,
SO IF HE'S WILLING TO HELP,
THEN I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.
♪
Parker: YEAH.
Narrator: ADRIAN BUILDS
PARKER'S MEGA MACHINE
BY COMBINING
AN EXCAVATOR BODY...
-UP A LITTLE BIT.
-OKAY.
Narrator:
...WITH A MONSTER CONVEYOR
MADE FROM THREE 50-FOOT
STEEL SECTIONS.
I HATE WATCHING THIS
KIND OF [BLEEP]
BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN
A LOT CAN GO WRONG.
♪
RIGHT THERE!
IN THE WORDS OF TONY BEETS,
"I DON'T WANT THE LABOR PAINS.
I JUST WANT THE BABY."
-DOWN.
-WE'RE IN.
Parker: THANK GOD
WE DIDN'T DROP IT.
SEEMS PRETTY STURDY, HUH?
Narrator:
TO INCREASE RELIABILITY,
ADRIAN USES A CONVEYOR BELT
MADE FROM ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP,
AN ENORMOUS RUBBER BAND
HE THREADS AROUND
THE THREE CONVEYOR SECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ONLY BELT
WE HAVE,
AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT
CUSTOM-MADE,
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO DO IT SMOOTHLY
WITHOUT RIPPING ANYTHING
BECAUSE THAT WOULD CAUSE
AN ANGRY PARKER.
BINGO.
Narrator: PARKER WALKS HIS
$300,000 COLOSSUS INTO THE CUT.
Parker: RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST UP
BESIDE THE CREEK DIVERSION,
SEE HOW IT LIKES SOME MUD.
♪
THAT'S PRETTY NASTY STUFF.
IF IT CAN MOVE MUD LIKE THIS,
THE CONVEYOR WILL PROVE
TO BE PRETTY VERSATILE.
Man #3: THERE IT GOES.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BADASS.
I LOVE IT.
♪
Narrator: AFTER USING IT
TO MOVE OVERBURDEN
AT A THIRD OF THE COST
OF ROCK TRUCKS,
PARKER'S SUPER CONVEYOR
BUILDS SLUCIFER'S
FINAL PATH IN RECORD TIME.
Parker:
WE'RE READY FOR A WASH PLANT.
Narrator:
AND WITH WINTER CLOSING IN,
PARKER GAINS DAYS
OF VALUABLE SLUICING...
-ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?
-OKAY!
...BY SWITCHING THIS
VERSATILE MACHINE
FROM MOVING OVERBURDEN...
LOOK AT THAT.
BOOM, NO MORE SUPER STACKER.
...TO FEEDING PAY DIRT
INTO HIS WASH PLANT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Narrator: ADRIAN'S SUPER
CONVEYOR SAVES PARKER
$100,000 IN FUEL
ON HIS WAY
TO A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON.
-WHAT'S OUR SEASON TOTAL?
-YOU READY FOR THIS ONE?
HOW ABOUT 4,311 OUNCES?
[ ALL CHEERING ]
Parker: SO THAT'S JUST OVER
5 MILLION BUCKS WORTH OF GOLD.
♪
Narrator: WHEN A GOLD MINER
CAN'T GET TO PAY DIRT,
HE'S IN TROUBLE.
BOULDERS ARE FRICKING HUGE.
I'VE NEVER EVEN BEGUN
TO SEE BOULDERS THIS SIZE.
SEASON SEVEN IN COLORADO --
ANDY SPINKS IS STRUGGLING
WITH A GIANT PROBLEM.
I GOT BOULDERS THE SIZE
OF SMALL CARS IN MY WAY
FROM GETTING
THIS PAY DIRT OUT.
♪
Andy:
WELL, AT THIS POINT, TODD,
I AM FRUSTRATED
WITH THIS.
I CANNOT GET
THESE BOULDERS OUT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO,
FREDDY? I MEAN...
FIREWORKS, MAKE BIG ROCKS
INTO SMALL ROCKS.
YEAH.
LET'S FREAKING BLOW 'EM UP.
Narrator:
TO SAVE THEIR SEASON,
THE HOFFMANS CALL IN
EXPLOSIVES GURU MARK MAYER.
I LOVE MY JOB.
WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD DO YOU
GET TO GO AND BLOW THINGS UP
ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY,
MAKE A MESS
AND LET THEM CLEAN IT UP?
-MARK, HOW YOU DOING?
-ANDY!
NICE TO MEET YOU.
WHAT DO WE GOT
GOING ON HERE?
THERE'S GOOD GOLD
IN THE GROUND.
I JUST NEED TO GET TO IT,
AND THOSE ROCKS ARE IN MY WAY.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
TWO OPTIONS.
WE CAN WAIT FOR GOD
TO SEND DOWN A LIGHTNING BOLT,
BREAK THOSE ROCKS,
OR I'VE GOT SOME DYNAMITE.
LET'S GO WITH THE DYNAMITE.
I'LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.
NO WORRIES.
Narrator: MARK BRINGS IN
THE COMMANDO DRILL TRUCK.
ITS DIAMOND-CORE DRILL WILL BORE
A 2-INCH-WIDE HOLE
INTO THE HEART OF THE BOULDER.
I STARTED WHEN I WAS 13,
BLEW THESE TWO FINGERS OFF,
BIG MISTAKE.
I'VE GOTTEN BETTER.
I STILL HAVE MY HEAD.
LOOK AT THAT.
HE'S CUTTING LIKE A HOT KNIFE
THROUGH BUTTER RIGHT THERE.
GOES THROUGH
PRETTY QUICK.
Jack:
UNDERNEATH THOSE BOULDERS,
I GUARANTEE
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD.
DRILL'S JOB IS DONE.
♪
EXTRA-GELATIN DYNAMITE,
THAT OUGHT TO DO IT.
Narrator:
TO BLAST A 20,000-POUND BOULDER,
MARK USES A STICK
AND A HALF OF DYNAMITE.
THE ENERGY EQUIVALENT OF THIS
IS ON THE ORDER
OF ABOUT
100 MILLION HORSEPOWER.
Freddy: WHAT'S CUTTING IT
DO, MARK?
CUTTING WILL ALLOW THE CARTRIDGE
TO SHRINK AND EXPAND
IN THE BOREHOLE
SO WE GET MOST OF THE ENERGY
DOWN ON THE GROUND...
-MAKES SENSE.
-...IN THE ROCK.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAMP IT
A LITTLE BIT, VERY LIGHTLY.
FINISH HER UP WITH SAND,
THAT'LL DO.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
THE DETONATOR BOX IS WIRED
AND READY TO FIRE.
[ AIR HORN BLOWING ]
THEY'RE GONNA BLAST.
WE GOT TO TAKE COVER.
Mark: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Man #4:
DAMN, THAT WAS AWESOME!
BYE-BYE, BOULDERS.
I LOVE BLASTING, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN...
MARK, KICK-ASS, MAN.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
ALL CLEAR!
AWESOME.
-NO MORE BIG BOULDERS.
-LOOK AT THAT!
THAT'LL WORK.
THAT I CAN MOVE.
-GOOD JOB, MARK.
-MY PLEASURE.
BRING IT IN!
ANDY, GET THE EXCAVATOR,
AND LET'S GO!
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED,
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
BEING ABLE TO RUN THIS MATERIAL
RIGHT HERE
IS WHAT'S GONNA GET US
OUR 1,000 OUNCES
BECAUSE IT IS LOADED WITH GOLD.
Narrator:
MARK MAYER'S EXPLOSIVE EXPERTISE
CLEARED FAIRPLAY'S
MONSTER BOULDERS,
HELPING THE HOFFMAN CREW
AVOID ANOTHER SEASON FROM HELL.
Todd: HOW'D WE DO, DAD?
105.2.
[ ALL CHEERING ]
THIS IS JUST FANTASTIC.
I LOVE IT.
GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.
♪
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S CRANK HER UP.
Narrator: ONCE A GOLD MINER
HAS SOME PAY DIRT,
HE NEEDS A KICK-ASS WASH PLANT
TO WASH AWAY THE DIRT
AND CATCH EVERY SINGLE GRAIN
OF PRECIOUS GOLD.
Parker: LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: AND NO ONE PUTS
TOGETHER A WASH PLANT
LIKE GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE.
40 FEET LONG,
16 FEET WIDE.
THIS ONE
IS GOING TO KICK BUTT.
Todd: FIRE IT UP!
HIS CREATIONS,
BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,
ARE HIGH-CAPACITY,
CUSTOM-BUILT SLUICE PLANTS
DESIGNED TO RUN HUNDREDS
OF YARDS OF DIRT...
PERFECT!
...AND CATCH THOUSANDS
OF OUNCES OF GOLD.
BUT IN SEASON FOUR,
FREDDY ADAPTED
THE SAME TECHNIQUES
TO A SMALL-SCALE PLANT
WHEN THE HOFFMAN CREW
WENT PROSPECTING IN CHILE,
SOUTH AMERICA.
WE NEED TO RENT A BACKHOE,
AND WE NEED TO BUILD A PLANT
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
GET MATERIAL THROUGH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE'LL BUILD IT OUT OF,
BUT WE'LL FIND SOMETHING.
♪
Narrator: FIRST STOP --
THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.
LET'S FIND LUMBER FIRST.
I'VE GOT AN IDEA.
WE CAN USE PLYWOOD.
IT'S FAST.
WE CAN CUT IT WITH SAWS,
PUT IT TOGETHER.
WELL,
LET'S GET ON IT, MAN.
LET'S GET ROLLING.
SO I WANT FIVE SHEETS,
SIX SHEETS OF THIS.
WHAT'S NEXT?
LET'S GET SOME 2-BY-8S
FOR THE SIDES.
Freddy: TODD'S RELYING ON ME TO
GET THIS THING PUT TOGETHER.
I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN,
BUT I'M HAVING TO DO IT WITH
VERY LIMITED RESOURCES HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FIND
THE MATERIAL
I NEED TO CATCH
THIS FINE GOLD.
HOPEFULLY I CAN.
NORMALLY I'D LIKE TO BUILD
THIS ALL OUT OF STEEL.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION HERE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE DO.
CAN'T BUY ONE, WE'LL BUILD IT.
OKAY, SO WHAT'S NEXT?
LET'S FIND SOME PIPE.
Todd: WE'RE RUNNING
OFF SEAWATER.
WE GOT TO GET IT AWAY
FROM THE OCEAN,
SO I'M THINKING,
WHAT, 100 FEET?
-I'D SAY 100 FEET.
-OKAY.
LET'S GET SOME CUT.
Freddy:
IT'S NOT GONNA BE FANCY.
DUDE, JUST PUT LIPSTICK
ON THIS PIG,
AND LET'S GET
THIS TEST DONE.
HEY.
WE NEED A BATH?
WE GOT A FREAKING BATHTUB
RIGHT HERE.
AND THE GUN.
Todd: NOBODY HAS EVER BUILT
A WASH PLANT IN CHILE
FROM A DO-IT-YOURSELF STORE
LIKE WE HAVE.
Todd: I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE A
LITTLE ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE.
Dave: THIS HAS TO BE
THE CRAZIEST THING
THAT FREDDY DODGE
AND I HAVE EVER DONE.
Narrator:
IN CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA,
GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE
IS BUILDING A WASH PLANT
FROM SCRATCH.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE A PUNCH PLATE
TO CLASSIFY OUR MATERIAL
OUT OF THIS PLYWOOD.
DRILL A PILE OF HOLES
PROPERLY PLACED
AND HOPE IT DOES
A GOOD JOB.
Narrator: FREDDY HAS DESIGNED
THE WASH PLANT
TO WORK LIKE A MINI VERSION
OF BIG RED.
A DRILLED PIPE SPRAYS SEAWATER
ONTO A PERFORATED PLYWOOD SHEET
KNOWN AS A PUNCH PLATE.
THE BACKHOE THEN LOADS PAY DIRT
ONTO THIS PLATE,
AND WATER WASHES THE FINE
MATERIAL THROUGH IT
TO THE SLUICE BOX BELOW
WHERE THE GOLD SHOULD COLLECT
IN THE STEEL RIFFLES AND MATS.
Freddy: SO NOW WE'LL START
ASSEMBLING THE SIDES,
PUTTING STIFFENERS ON IT.
Dave: MEASURE IT TWICE
AND CUT IT ONCE.
LOOKING GOOD.
Todd: YEP.
PROGRESS IS AWESOME.
REMEMBER OUR PLANT LAST YEAR,
BIG RED?
YEP.
LET'S CALL
THIS LITTLE FRED.
[ Laughing ]
LITTLE FRED.
THE WOOD CRAFTSMAN'S GUIDE
TO BUILDING SLUICE BOXES.
AND I'M A STEEL FABRICATOR.
I DON'T KNOW WOOD.
WOOD IS FOR BURNING.
NOT ANYMORE.
THIS IS REALLY COMING
TOGETHER WELL.
I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT
COULD BUILD A SLUICE BOX
OUT OF WOOD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT
IN THE MIDDLE OF CHILE.
♪
GREAT WORK, GUYS.
-DANG.
-LITTLE FREDDY SLUICE BOX!
♪
♪
Todd: LET'S GET THE WATER PUMP
HOOKED UP.
Freddy: WE'LL PLUMB IT,
GET OUR HOSES TO IT,
START FEEDING MATERIAL
THROUGH IT.
-HERE IT COMES.
-THERE IT GOES.
Dave: WE GOT WATER.
Todd: HOW'S IT LOOK?
Freddy: WHAT DO WE GOT, TODD?
GOOD WATER.
THE FLOW GOING DOWN THE SLUICE
BOX IS REALLY EVEN.
♪
TELL YOU WHAT, FOR A BUNCH
OF LUMBER
THAT WE PICKED UP
AT THE STORE,
WE MADE IT INTO SOMETHING
PRETTY DARN NICE.
-ISN'T THAT COOL?
-YEAH.
GOOD JOB, FREDDY!
-THANKS.
-WHOO!
LITTLE WOOD, A LITTLE SCREWS
AND A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE.
FREDDY,
THIS THING ROCKS, BUDDY.
THANKS.
WE'RE FREAKING
RUNNING SOME DIRT!
YOU KNOW...
Narrator: FREDDY IS NOT
JUST A WASH-PLANT GURU.
WITH HIS JIG AND OSCILLATING
GOLD TABLE,
HE'S A MASTER
OF FINE-GOLD RECOVERY.
♪
-SNIFF OUT THE GOLD FOR US.
-WE'RE READY.
Narrator: GOLD IS FOUR TIMES
HEAVIER THAN BLACK SAND
AND 19 TIMES HEAVIER
THAN WATER.
FREDDY'S EQUIPMENT USES
THIS DIFFERENCE
TO SEPARATE
THE HEAVY GOLD PARTICLES.
Freddy: KEEP A CONSTANT FEED SO
OUR MATERIAL IS IN OUR FEEDER.
WE'RE PUTTING IT INTO A SLURRY.
THEN IT'S GOING DOWN
TO THE SCREEN DECK.
OUR SCREEN DECK
IS CLEANING OUR MATERIAL
AND GETTING
OUR FINE MATERIAL OUT.
THEN OUR FINE MATERIAL IS GOING
TO CARRY THROUGH
AND INTO OUR JIG.
Narrator: IN THE JIG,
GOLD PASSES THROUGH A LAYER
OF PULSATING BALL BEARINGS.
IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS
THAT WORKS EXTREMELY WELL.
♪
HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD.
SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE MAJORITY
OF OUR HEAVIES AND OUR GOLD.
YOU CAN SEE THE GOLD IN IT.
THAT'S JUST FAN-DAMN-TASTIC,
YOU KNOW?
Todd:
IS THAT ABOUT IT, FRED?
YEAH.
WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROCESS.
SO LET'S GET THE TABLE
ROLLING, HUH?
SEE WHAT'S IN
YOUR FINE STUFF, TODD.
YEAH.
THIS IS THE BIG TIME.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE READY.
Narrator: FREDDY FEEDS THE
SUPER-CONCENTRATED MATERIAL
ONTO THE OSCILLATING
GOLD TABLE...
Freddy: THESE GROOVES ARE
CATCHING OUR MATERIAL,
SO I'LL BE ABLE TO CUT
THE GOLD RIGHT OUT OF IT,
AND WE'LL GET RID
OF THE REST OF THE MATERIAL.
Narrator: ...WHICH TRAPS
THE GOLD IN ITS GROOVES
AND WASHES THE WORTHLESS
BLACK SAND TO THE SIDE.
-THAT IT, DAD?
-THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE FIRST CHUNK
THAT CAME DOWN,
DROPPED DOWN
AND WENT BACK UP HERE,
AND IT'S COMING DOWN.
-WAY TO GO.
-THERE IT GOES.
IT'S IN THE BUCKET.
OKAY, GUYS.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DID.
♪
HERE WE GO, TODD.
SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
YOU'VE GOT.
♪
-FOUR OUNCES.
-YEE-HAW!
Narrator: FREDDY'S GOLD MACHINES
HAVE PAID OFF BIG TIME.
TO DATE, FREDDY'S WASH PLANTS,
BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,
HAVE, BETWEEN THEM, CAUGHT
NEARLY 14,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $16 MILLION.
[ MEN CHEERING ]
UP AHEAD,
IN NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE...
IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
TO YOURSELF?
OH, YEAH.
Rick: IT DIDN'T COME
WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?
Parker: JUST LIKE,
"DON'T KILL YOURSELF."
Narrator: SOMETIMES,
THE STRANGEST CLUES
CAN LEAD YOU TO THE GOLD.
IS THAT AN ANCIENT TREE?
IT'S A FREAKING TUSK, DUDE,
MAMMOTH TUSK.
-HOLD ON.
-TRYING TO WALK.
KNOCK SOME
OF THE MUD OFF OF IT.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE
VERY PLEASED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE
HOW RARE IT IS
TO FIND A PIECE
THIS BIG INTACT.
IT'S AMAZING.
I'M HOPING
IT'S A GOOD SIGN.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN,
EVERY SINGLE TIME,
WHEN YOU FIND MAMMOTH TUSKS,
YOU'RE FINDING GOLD.
HUH.
THEY'RE ALWAYS FOUND TOGETHER,
AND THINK ABOUT IT.
THE MAMMOTH
WERE LIKE PEOPLE.
THEY LIKE TO LIVE
WHERE LIVING IS EASY,
AND THE LIVING IS EASY
IN THESE WIDE, OPEN PLAINS.
THESE ARE THE SAME PLAINS
THAT THE GOLD
IS BEING DEPOSITED IN
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THE WATER IS SLOWING DOWN,
SO THESE GOLD-BEARING CREEKS
ARE THE SAME CREEKS
THE MAMMOTH
ARE DRINKING OUT OF.
SO I THINK THIS IS
A GOOD OMEN FOR YOU.
BRUCE,
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
Narrator: TO TURN IMPURE
GOLD DUST INTO COLD HARD CASH
INVOLVES ONE FINAL
TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS.
♪
18-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
TAKES HIS BIG
NUGGET GOLD TO SPECIALIST
DON KINSEY TO SMELT
HIS FIRST-EVER BAR
OF PURE GOLD BULLION.
DON PUTS THE MIXTURE OF GOLD
AND FLUX INTO A HEAT-RESISTANT
CRUCIBLE...
THIS IS SODA ASH,
AND THE OTHER MATERIAL
I'LL ADD IS BORAX,
WHICH IS A SOAP.
SO ONCE AGAIN,
YOU'RE CLEANING THE GOLD.
...THEN INTO THE FURNACE.
I'VE NEVER WATCHED GOLD
BEING MELTED OR POURED
OR ANY OF THAT
KIND OF STUFF BEFORE.
AT 1,943 DEGREES,
THE GOLD ORE
STARTS TO MELT.
WHAT'S THAT FOR?
THIS IS A CARBON ROD.
WHAT I CAN DO WITH THAT ROD
IS GIVE IT A FEEL
AND SEE IF IT'S GOING
TO LIQUID NICELY,
THEN THEREFORE TELLING US,
GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE TIME.
♪
THE SODA ASH AND BORAX,
KNOWN AS FLUX,
COMBINE WITH THE IMPURITIES
TO FORM A WASTE PRODUCT, SLAG.
♪
STAY CALM.
NOBODY PANIC.
♪
OKAY.
HERE WE GO.
♪
♪
ALL SEASON WE WORKED
TO GET THAT,
AND, UM,
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
TO YOURSELF?
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: SIX SEASONS LATER,
PARKER HAS ENOUGH GOLD
TO BUY HIS OWN GOLD SMELTER.
WHAT IS THAT?
IT'S A FURNACE
FOR MELTING GOLD SOMEHOW.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO POUR BARS.
I'M JUST ASSEMBLING
MY TOY.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
Parker:
I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
CRAB BOIL?
-TRYING TO KILL OURSELVES.
-GOLD BOIL.
-OH.
-FURNACE.
OH [BLEEP] FURNACE.
-HOW COOL IS THAT?
-THAT'S PRETTY SWEET.
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO DO THIS?
-[BLEEP] NO.
-BECAUSE WE DON'T.
I'M STARTING TO THINK
ABOUT PARKING
A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY,
TOO.
THINK YOU SHOULD.
WE JUST TRIED
TO LIGHT IT.
[BLEEP]
SHE'S GOING.
THERE'S NO...IT DIDN'T COME
WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?
-NOT REALLY.
-A PIECE OF PAPER.
ONE PIECE OF PAPER JUST LIKE,
"DON'T KILL YOURSELF."
I'M READY.
I'M READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES.
Narrator: TO MAKE EACH BAR,
PARKER MIXES 100 OUNCES OF GOLD
WITH THE FLUX.
♪
IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE,
LIKE, 25 MINUTES.
HOW HOT
DOES IT HAVE TO GET?
DON'T KNOW HOW HOT IT IS,
BUT IT'S HOT.
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING NOW.
-IS IT?
IT'S, LIKE, UP THE SIDES.
OH [BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT LOOKS
LIKE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
-I DON'T TRUST IT.
-NO, I DON'T EITHER.
♪
Parker: ONCE IT SOLIDIFIES,
THEN YOU KNOCK IT
OUT OF THE CASING
AND OUT OF THE THING.
♪
SEE?
JUST LIKE THAT.
Narrator: EACH GOLD BAR
IS WORTH OVER $120,000.
Rick: OH, YEAH.
YOU'RE ALL SET NOW.
THIS IS THE STRESSFUL PART.
♪
♪
Chris: TEN 100-OUNCE BARS,
1,000 OUNCES,
FOUR OR FIVE
MORE STACKS LIKE THAT...
Narrator:
AT HIS END-OF-SEASON GOLD WEIGH,
USING A MIX OF
BACKBREAKING WORK,
SMART DECISIONS,
AND SOME HIGH-TECH INGENUITY
FROM THE GURUS OF GOLD,
PARKER SCHNABEL
PRODUCES OVER 6,000 OUNCES
OF THE SHINY YELLOW METAL...
[ ALL CHEERING ]
...A COMPONENT USED IN JEWELRY,
WORLD FINANCE,
COMPUTING, AND CELLPHONES.
IT'S EVEN VITAL TO
THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE.
♪
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
SHE'S GOOD TO ROCK, HUH?
SPARKY, HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WHOA!
Tony: LAST PIECES OUT
OF THISTLE CREEK.
IT IS JUST WIDE AND UGLY.
HEIGHT-WISE, WE'LL FIND OUT.
WAIT!
[BLEEP] WAIT.
[ CLANGING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
HEY, RICK.
NEXT TIME, IT'S GONNA COST YOU.
ALL RIGHT?