Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 4 - Gold Will Surrender - full transcript
Dave's crew is hunting for better ground and behind on their gold target. To turn their season around, Dave calls on a mining legend for help searching for gold at the historic Birdseye mine in Montana.
♪
Dave: WE'RE IN A HELL
OF A SPOT RIGHT NOW.
NO GOLD!
WHERE'S THE GOLD?
Narrator:
IT'S 6:00 A.M. AT BIRDSEYE MINE.
AFTER A BAD GOLD WEIGH
LAST NIGHT,
DAVE AND HIS CREW
ARE AT ROCK BOTTOM.
IT RIPS AT MY HEART
WHEN YOU GUYS SACRIFICE SO MUCH,
AND THEN I BRING YOU OUT HERE,
AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE GOLD.
I SHARED THIS WITH CHRIS
LAST NIGHT.
THIS IS A QUOTE
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"IT IS NOT THE CRITIC"...
[ SIGHS ]
♪
IT IS NOT" -- [BLEEP]
DAMN IT, COME ON.
[BLEEP]
COME ON! [ SIGHS ]
THE REASON I'M SO EMOTIONAL
IS MY SON READ THIS TO ME
AT -- AT A...
OKAY.
"IT IS NOT THE CRITIC
WHO COUNTS,
NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT
HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLES
OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS
COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER.
THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN
WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA,
WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST
AND SWEAT AND BLOOD;
WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY; WHO ERRS;
WHO COMES UP
SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN
BECAUSE THERE'S NO EFFORT
WITHOUT ERROR AND SHORTCOMING;
WHO SPENDS HIMSELF
IN A WORTHY CAUSE;
WHO AT THE BEST KNOWS IN THE END
THE TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT,
AND WHO AT THE WORST,
HE FAILS.
AT LEAST HE FAILS
WHILE DARING GREATLY
SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE
WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS
WHO NEITHER KNOW
VICTORY NOR DEFEAT."
THAT'S US.
AT LEAST WE'RE IN THE GAME.
WE'RE GONNA HANG IN THERE,
PUT OUR BOOTS ON,
KEEP KICKING ASS.
♪
Narrator:
LEGENDARY MINER DAVE TURIN
IS HUNTING FOR GOLD...
[ GROWLS ]
...IN THE HISTORIC
LOST MINES OF MONTANA...
PUMPING SOME MUD NOW,
BUDDY! YEAH!
...HOPING TO TURN
HIS MINING DREAM...
WHOA! WHOA!
...INTO A BIG-DOLLAR BUSINESS
FOR HIM AND HIS CREW.
All: TEAM TURIN!
Dave: THESE GUYS ARE
PROFESSIONAL MINERS NOW,
AND I'LL TAKE THEM ANYWHERE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
NATHAN! STOP!
THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUGGET
I'VE EVER PANNED!
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
RIGHT THERE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT
SEARCHING FOR A DREAM.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
FIVE WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT
MY CREW TO BIRDSEYE,
BUT MY DREAM
OF STRIKING IT RICH HERE --
IT'S JUST NOT GOING
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
I GOT MEN THAT TRUSTED ME.
I GOT MEN THAT FOLLOWED ME.
NOT QUITE 3.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE
I LET THEM DOWN.
WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH
THE WILLIAM BROWN CUT.
YOU GOT TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON.
I'M LOOKING, MAN.
BUT THE GROUND -- IT'S NOT
MATCHING OUR TESTING.
WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO
"WHERE [BLEEP] IS THE GOLD?"
IN THE END,
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.
Casey: WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
OR WE'RE ALL GONNA
GO HOME BROKE.
THAT'S SOME SCARY [BLEEP]
Dave:
WE'RE NOT GONNA QUIT.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP SEARCHING
FOR THE GOLD.
I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP
ON MY MONTANA DREAM.
LET'S BE HONEST.
I DON'T LIKE TO FAIL.
♪
Narrator: IN THE HALLOWED HILLS
OF MONTANA'S GOLD COUNTRY,
EACH MEMBER OF DAVE'S
FIVE-MAN CREW
IS WORKING FOR A 5%
STAKE OF THE GOLD,
BUT A SLOW START MEANS
THEY'RE TAKING HOME
LESS THAN $500 A WEEK.
PRETTY STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT GETTING THE GOLD
WE'RE LOOKING FOR,
AND WE NEED TO MOVE TO
WHERE IT'S REALLY RICH.
Nathan: VERY DISAPPOINTING.
THE GROUND IS NOT THERE.
YOU GET $3, $4 A YARD.
IT'S NOT EVEN COST-EFFICIENT
TO RUN THIS PLANT.
SHUT THE [BLEEP] DOWN.
GO FIND SOME BETTER GROUND.
Narrator: IN PRESEASON,
DAVE PROSPECTED THREE LOCATIONS
AT BIRDSEYE MINE.
THE TESTS PREDICTED GOLD VALUES
OF $10 TO $15 PER YARD,
BUT HOWIE'S CUT
ONLY DELIVERED FOUR,
AND RESULTS AT THE WILLIAM BROWN
CUT ARE EVEN WORSE.
THE TEAM MUST FIND GROUND
THAT CAN MAKE THEM MONEY,
SO DAVE HAS CALLED
ON VETERAN MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER TO HELP
JASON PROSPECT.
THIS IS MY FIRST
TEST HOLE.
WELL, WHEN I FIRST
STARTED MINING,
I HEARD ROB TOWNER'S NAME.
BULKED OUT, 5-YARD BULK.
HE'S BEEN MINING MONTANA
AND AROUND THE WORLD -- PFFT! --
LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
Rob: IF IT'S ALRIGHT,
CAN I JUST HAVE FREE HAND
TO DIG AND SNOOP AROUND?
YES, WHEREVER.
OKAY.
THAT'D BE GREAT.
YEAH. THANKS, ROB.
I'M JUST GONNA BE
LOOKING LIKE I ALWAYS DO.
Dave: ROB'S A GREAT MINER,
AND HE'S PROSPECTED
IN THIS AREA BEFORE.
IF HE CAN'T FIND THE GOLD,
I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE CAN.
THE MINERS DID A GOOD JOB HERE
'CAUSE THERE'S BEEN 130 YEARS,
140 YEARS OF PEOPLE HERE
AHEAD OF US,
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING
THAT WE CAN SORT OUT THE PUZZLE.
Narrator: JASON AND ROB
MUST TRY TO IDENTIFY
WHERE THE OLD-TIMERS WORKED
AND WHERE THERE STILL
MIGHT BE VIRGIN GROUND.
THAT PAY STREAK, JUST KIND OF
STAYING RIGHT ALONG HERE --
THIS WAS REALLY
WORKED HARD THROUGH HERE,
AND IT'S PROBABLY
GONNA BE DEEPER GRAVEL,
AND I'LL BET
WE HAVE BETTER GRADES.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
Rob: THE SEASON'S
RUNNING LATE FOR DAVE,
SO WE GOT TO KIND OF
PUSH IT PRETTY HARD.
THE GOLD HAS TO SURRENDER.
Narrator: ROB'S PLAN
IS TO MOVE TO THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE PROPERTY,
CLOSER TO THE SOURCE
OF THE GOLD IN THE HILLS.
THEY'LL DIG TEST HOLES LOOKING
FOR ANCIENT RIVER CHANNELS
THEY HOPE THE OLD-TIMERS MISSED,
AND IF THEY DETECT GOLD,
THEY'LL CHASE
THE CHANNELS UPSTREAM
TOWARDS THE SOURCE.
♪
GOT ONE COLOR, BUT NOTHING TO
EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO, YOU KNOW?
DO YOU MIND THROWING
ANOTHER HOLE IN?
ANYWHERE YOU POINT.
OKAY.
LET'S JUST COME OFF TO THE --
OFF TO THE WEST.
Narrator:
WITH ROB AND JASON'S HUNT
FOR BIRDSEYE'S LOST GOLD
UNDER WAY,
DAVE HAS A RADICAL IDEA.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY,
BUT IN ORDER FOR THIS TEAM
AND THIS LITTLE COMPANY
TO MOVE FORWARD,
I'VE GOT TO KEEP LOOKING
FOR NEXT YEAR
BEYOND JUST ABANDONED
PLACER MINES.
THAT GOT ME THINKING.
I BELIEVE THERE'S MORE GOLD
UNDER THE GROUND
THAN WHAT'S ON THE SURFACE.
Narrator: SINCE THE CALIFORNIA
GOLD RUSH IN 1848,
OVER 90%
OF THE WORLD'S SURFACE GOLD
HAS BEEN MINED,
BUT UNDERGROUND,
MILLIONS OF TONS
REMAIN UNDISCOVERED.
TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA ALONE,
THERE ARE OVER HALF A MILLION
ABANDONED HARD ROCK MINES,
BUT REOPENING THEM IS EXPENSIVE
AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS.
GOING INTO THESE OLD
ABANDONED UNDERGROUND MINES,
THE POTENTIAL
IS SO MUCH HIGHER.
A LOT MORE RISK --
DON'T GET ME WRONG --
BUT THE REWARD IS IMMENSE.
IT'S HUGE.
♪
Narrator: DAVE HAS A LEAD
ON A HARD ROCK MINE
50 MILES AWAY,
AND HE'S BROUGHT IN
HIS DAD, JIM,
FOR A SECOND OPINION
ON HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN.
I WANTED TO ASK YOUR OPINION
AND KIND OF YOUR ADVICE.
I'M GONNA START
LOOKING AT HARD ROCK.
OKAY.
AND I GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU.
LOOK AT THE GOLD IN THAT.
YEAH, I IMAGINE.
THAT'S ONE ROCK.
YEAH, I SEE THAT.
IT'S GOT 4 1/2 OUNCES OF GOLD
IN THERE.
IT TAKES ME ALL DAY
TO GET 4 1/2 OUNCES.
I KNOW.
YOU WALK INTO THAT HARD ROCK,
AND YOU PICK ONE ROCK UP
AND HAVE 4 1/2 OUNCES IN IT.
HOW, UH, TOUGH IS IT
TO MINE THIS?
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
YOU THINK I'M CRAZY?
GOING BACK TO GRADE SCHOOL
AND LEARNING ALL OVER AGAIN.
WELL, YOU'RE DOING
A GOOD JOB WITH IT.
YOU'RE ADJUSTING.
THAT'S AMAZING.
YOU'RE NO PIKER, AT THAT,
SO IF YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS
TO DO IT, HAVE AT IT.
OKAY. THANKS.
YEAH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE.
YOU AND MOM WANT TO THROW
IN YOUR RETIREMENT?
I DON'T THINK SO.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU DON'T THINK SO?
[ LAUGHS ]
Dave:
DAD SAID GO LOOK.
I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL
AN OPPORTUNITY
IN THE LOST MINES
IN THE HARD ROCK,
AND I WANT TO PURSUE THEM.
Narrator:
IT'LL TAKE DAVE TWO DAYS
TO PROSPECT
HIS FIRST HARD ROCK MINE,
WHICH MEANS LEAVING BIRDSEYE
IN THE HANDS OF HIS CREW.
Dave:
AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON,
IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW,
GO IT ALONE FOR A FEW DAYS.
IS IT A GAMBLE?
HECK, YEAH, IT'S A GAMBLE,
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
♪
Narrator:
DAVE IS HEADING 50 MILES EAST
TO THE BIG BELT MOUNTAINS
TO INVESTIGATE THE ABANDONED
MILLER MOUNTAIN HARD ROCK MINE.
♪
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
GOING UNDERGROUND,
SO THAT'S WHY I NEED YOU.
DAVE'S JOINED
BY NICK LAVIOLETTE,
A SAFETY EXPERT
WITH OVER 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
UNDERGROUND.
♪
THERE'S A GUY UP HERE
NAMED BILL STILES,
AND HE OWNS
THE MILLER MOUNTAIN MINE.
THAT'S IT. THERE WE GO.
RIGHT ON.
HEY, BILL.
DAVE.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU, TOO.
YOU GOT QUITE
THE OPERATION.
HAVEN'T YOU
BEEN MINING THIS,
OR WHY HASN'T SOMEBODY
BEEN MINING THIS, BILL?
WELL, OVER THE YEARS,
THE PRICE OF GOLD WAS SO LOW
THAT IT JUST WASN'T
WORTH THE EFFORT.
I MEAN, THE TYPE OF GOLD
THAT'S IN HERE IS TOUGH TO GET.
♪
WATCH YOUR HEAD, GUYS.
♪
Dave: OH, MY GOSH.
UN-FRICKING-BELIEVABLE.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.
Narrator: COMING UP...
WE GOT ROTTEN TIMBERS.
YEAH, WE DO.
...DAVE GETS HIS FIRST LESSON
IN THE DANGERS OF UNDERGROUND
HARD ROCK MINING.
WHOA! WHOA!
Narrator:
IN THE BIG BELT MOUNTAINS...
[ WATER SPLASHES ]
...DAVE IS DEEP UNDERGROUND
PROSPECTING HIS FIRST
HARD ROCK MINE.
Dave:
SHOW ME THE SIGN.
"DANGER! DROWNING HAZARD."
YOU GOOD?
YEP, I'M FINE.
Bill: SEE THAT QUARTZ
RIGHT THERE?
BET THEY WERE CHASING
A VEIN, RIGHT?
YEAH. OH, CRAP.
LOOK AT THIS.
THERE SHOULD BE GOLD
IN THIS.
Narrator:
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,
MOLTEN MINERALS
MOVED THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN,
DEPOSITING QUARTZ VEINS
CONTAINING GOLD.
IN 1893, THE OLD-TIMERS BEGAN
CHASING THESE VEINS,
AND NOW DAVE IS HEADING
TO THE END OF THEIR TUNNELS,
HOPING TO DISCOVER
UNMINED QUARTZ
THAT COULD CONTAIN
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOLD.
♪
IN THESE 120-YEAR-OLD TUNNELS,
LOOSE ROCK OVERHEAD
MUST BE CONSTANTLY CLEARED.
Nick: GOT A LITTLE BIT
COMING DOWN, GUYS.
[BLEEP]
♪
Narrator: AND DEATH COULD BE
AROUND EVERY CORNER.
WHOA! WHOA!
THAT RIGHT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN
A SERIOUS HEADACHE.
MORE COMING.
YEAH, LOTS OF TIMBER, SO IT'S
PRETTY OLD-LOOKING THERE, DAVE.
THEY'RE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE,
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE.
Narrator:
1,000 FEET INTO THE MOUNTAIN,
THE TUNNEL HAS COLLAPSED,
LEAVING A VERY NARROW PATH.
OH [BLEEP]
GRAHAM, I THINK
YOU AND YOUR CREW
OUGHT TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND HEAD OUT,
AND THEN THE THREE OF US
WILL HEAD THROUGH,
AND WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING.
Narrator: IT'S TOO DANGEROUS FOR
THE FULL CREW TO CONTINUE...
SO WE'RE ROLLING?
...SO DAVE TAKES THE CAMERA
AND GOES DEEPER WITH NICK
AND A SECOND SAFETY EXPERT,
JUSTIN.
SO WE'LL GO ONE AT A TIME
ACROSS THIS?
ONE AT A TIME
ACROSS THIS, AND...
THIS IS FREAKING CRAZY.
♪
THE SOONER WE GET
OUT OF THIS...
THAT'S THE JACK.
♪
THERE'S A LADDER.
Bill: SO, WAY UP THERE...
IS WHERE THEY WERE MINING.
YOU CAN SEE WAY UP THERE.
SEE THAT BIG ROCK IN THERE?
IT'S ALL LOOSE.
ALL THAT ROCK RIGHT THERE
IS LOOSE.
IT'S BEING HELD UP
BY THAT ONE OLD BEAM.
SO WE'RE GONNA
BYPASS THIS AREA.
IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.
OH, GEEZ LOUISE. YEAH.
Narrator: NICK'S ALTERNATE ROUTE
TO THE GOLD...
♪
...IS A 50-FOOT CLIMB
UP A NARROW SHAFT.
♪
OKAY.
TRY TO GET UP
THIS ONE SPOT.
YOUR BRAIN'S SAYING,
"YOU'VE GOT A MILLION POUNDS
OF ROCK ABOVE YOUR HEAD.
YOU'RE IN
A CONFINED SPACE."
AND THEN
YOU START TO PANIC.
OH [BLEEP]
A QUARTER OF A MILE UNDERGROUND,
DAVE REACHES THE END
OF THE OLD-TIMERS' TUNNELS.
SO, THIS IS THE GOLD-BEARING
VEINS HERE.
THIS IS IT.
SO, THEY ONLY TOOK AS MUCH
AS THEY HAD TO.
THAT'S CORRECT.
DAVE TAPS INTO A QUARTZ VEIN
THAT'S 6 INCHES THICK.
♪
[ BEEPING ]
♪
WE HEADING OUT?
HEADING OUT.
OKAY. ALRIGHT.
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
♪
ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS.
HERE WE GO.
ALRIGHT! SUNSHINE!
WHOO!
♪
THAT WAS CRAZY.
AT FIRST, UNDERGROUND SCARED
THE HELL OUT OF ME.
I GOT TO HAND IT
TO THE OLD-TIMERS.
IT TAKES A SPECIAL GUY
TO CRAWL UNDERGROUND
AND DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
♪
ALRIGHT, GUYS, LET'S SEE
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
Narrator:
DAVE HAND-CRUSHES THE ROCK,
THEN SENDS IT THROUGH
A PULVERIZER.
♪
A FINE POWDER IS SENT TO BILL'S
GOLD TABLE
TO SEPARATE GOLD
FROM LIGHTER MINERALS.
♪
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE RESULTS,
DAVE AND NICK CRUNCH THE COST
OF REOPENING THE TUNNELS.
NICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK
IT WOULD COST TO,
YOU KNOW, FIX THAT TUNNEL UP
SO YOU'RE SAFE GOING IN?
JUST THE INVERT ALONE,
GET THE DRAINAGE GOING AGAIN,
PROBABLY $50,000 TO $100,000.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET
BACK TO THAT...
THE FIRST STOPE?
YEAH, YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THOSE
TIMBERS WERE CRISS-CROSSED?
PROBABLY $75,000
TO $100,000.
HOLY CRAP. WE'RE ALREADY UP
TO ALMOST $200,000.
YEAH.
WITH THAT KIND OF AN INVESTMENT,
I'D HAVE TO SEE, LIKE,
300 BUCKS...A TON.
♪
♪
I'D SAY THAT'S A LITTLE LESS
THAN 1/4 OF A GRAM OF GOLD.
YEAH.
IF YOU START DOING THE MATH,
I THINKS IT'S ABOUT
100 BUCKS A TON.
YEAH.
THE WAY I SEE IT, BILL,
IS, FOR ME, I'M OUT.
IT'S A NO FOR NOW, BUT WE'LL
KEEP IT IN MIND, OKAY?
THANK YOU, BILL.
GLAD YOU CAME OUT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BILL.
BEEN A PLEASURE.
ALRIGHT.
♪
Dave: I STILL BELIEVE THERE'S
GOLD IN THESE UNDERGROUND MINES.
I'VE SEEN ENOUGH TO MAKE ME
WANT MORE.
I'VE JUST GOT TO FIND
THE RIGHT MINE
AND THE RIGHT VALUES,
AND THIS COULD WORK OUT.
♪
Narrator:
50 MILES AWAY, AT BIRDSEYE,
TEAM TURIN IS STILL RUNNING
LOW-GRADE PAY DIRT
FROM THE WILLIAM BROWN CUT.
♪
Casey: I GOT TO KEEP THE CLAMP
FED, KEEP THE CLAMP MOVING...
'CAUSE ONCE THAT PAY RUNS OUT,
WE ARE SCREWED.
♪
Narrator:
UPSTREAM, IN A 30-ACRE FIELD,
JASON AND VETERAN MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER
ARE STILL ON THE HUNT
FOR GOLD-BEARING RIVER CHANNELS.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE
IS ANY VOLUME.
YOU'VE ONLY GOT
18, 19 INCHES.
I'M LOOKING FOR CLUES
IN THE GROUND,
THE DIFFERENT LAYERS
THAT WE SEE.
WAS THERE ENOUGH GOLD IN THOSE
GRAVEL SEAMS TO BE ECONOMICAL?
♪
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Jason: ARE YOU LIKING
RIGHT HERE, ROB?
I'M JUST GETTING [BLEEP]
NOT FINDING ANY FREAKING
GOLD FOR YOU GUYS.
GOLD'S ALWAYS HARD TO FIND.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THOSE OLD-TIMERS COULD READ
THIS GROUND PROBABLY BETTER
THAN ANY OF US ALIVE.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE LITTLE,
LITTLE PIECES.
WE GOT THAT FINE GOLD
KIND OF THERE
AND THIS LITTLE BIT BACK HERE.
IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE US
ANY MONEY YET.
Narrator:
AFTER FIVE HOURS OF PROSPECTING,
THE ONLY GROUND ROB
AND JASON HAVE FOUND
HAS ALREADY BEEN STRIPPED
OF GOLD BY THE OLD-TIMERS.
Jason:
IT'S A LITTLE DEPRESSING.
THERE AIN'T JACK [BLEEP]
FROM THAT ONE,
SO BAD, BAD, BAD,
BAD, MEH, BAD, BAD, BAD.
WE'RE OUT. WE GOT TO GO.
Casey: I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE
RADIO MESSAGE FROM JASON YET.
IF HE DOESN'T RADIO BACK,
I'M STARTING TO GET WORRIED
THAT HE HASN'T FOUND [BLEEP]
AND AT THAT POINT,
WE COULD BE DEAD
IN THE [BLEEP] WATER.
♪
Nathan: WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND
AND RUN [BLEEP] ASS DIRT.
I'M WILLING TO TRY TO HELP, TRY
TO FIND SOME [BLEEP] YOU KNOW?
SO I'M GONNA FLY MY DRONE.
I'M GONNA SEE WHAT I SEE.
WE'RE AT ROCK BOTTOM.
THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO,
AND THAT'S UP.
♪
Narrator: NATE'S HOPING
THAT HIGH ABOVE BIRDSEYE,
HE'LL BE ABLE
TO SPOT VIRGIN GROUND.
Nathan: YOU KNOW, I'M JUST
LOOKING AT THE MAP HERE,
AND I SEE SOME AREAS
THAT LOOK LIKE
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DISTURBED.
Narrator: NATE HAS EYES ON AN
AREA JUST BEHIND THE GOLD ROOM.
I AIN'T NO PROSPECTOR,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AIN'T NO QUITTER, EITHER.
I'M GONNA BRING IT BACK,
AND I'M GONNA GO
CHECK THIS SPOT OUT.
♪
♪
LOOK AT ALL THAT DAMN ROCK
THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT FAR DOWN.
Narrator: IF NATE'S LAYER OF
ROCK IS ANCIENT RIVER GRAVEL,
HE MAY HAVE STRUCK PAY DIRT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M SEEING HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SEEING
SOMETHING GOOD OR NOT.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME EVER
DIGGING A HOLE
AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT
AND GOING,
"WELL, I WONDER IF THERE'S
[BLEEP] GOLD THERE OR NOT."
♪
Narrator: AT BIRDSEYE,
PROSPECTING GREENHORN
NATHAN CLARK
HAS BEEN FLYING HIS DRONE
IN A LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT
TO FIND VIRGIN GROUND.
HE'S CALLED IN CHRIS
TO PAN THE PAY DIRT.
Chris: WE'RE IN
DESPERATE TIMES RIGHT NOW.
NATHAN THINKS THAT
HE FOUND A SPOT
THAT THESE OLD-TIMERS DOING
THIS GROUND SLUICING MISSED.
TAKING SEVERAL PANS
FROM EACH TEST,
AND, AS OF RIGHT NOW,
NOT ONE PIECE OF GOLD,
SO WHEN I PAN THIS LAST ONE,
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S GOLD IN IT.
♪
IT'S TIME TO CALL NATE...
♪
...AND TELL HIM THE NEWS.
♪
HEY, NATE. GOT A COPY?
GOT A COPY.
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
WELL, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR EFFORTS,
BUT NOT ONE PIECE OF GOLD
FOUND IN TWO HOLES.
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THIS MATERIAL
HAS BEEN PUT BACK
FROM THE OLD-TIMERS.
OH, WELL.
[BLEEP] HAPPENS.
YOU KNOW, AT LEAST
I CAN SAY I TRIED.
ALRIGHT, NATE. I'M COMING BACK
TO HELP YOU OUT AT THE PLANT.
10-4. THANKS, CHRIS,
FOR CHECKING THAT.
I AIN'T NO [BLEEP]
GOLD MINER.
YOU KNOW, I WAS A MECHANIC
FOR A LONG TIME.
CAN'T SAY YOU DIDN'T TRY.
YEAH.
GLAD YOU FOUND IT.
NOW WE KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M OUT HERE,
REALLY, TO SHOW MY SON
IF YOU PUT YOUR HEART
AND SOUL INTO SOMETHING,
YOU CAN GET IT DONE,
SO IF I CAN DO SOMETHING
TO HELP THIS TEAM OUT
AND SHOW MY SON
WHAT KIND OF MAN HIS DADDY IS,
THEN, BY GOD,
THAT'S WHAT I'LL [BLEEP] DO.
♪
[ SNIFFLES ]
THAT'S THE HONEST GOD'S TRUTH.
♪
Narrator: AT THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE CLAIM,
JASON AND MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER
HAVE PROSPECTED OVER 30 ACRES
OF LAND BUT FOUND NO GOLD.
NOW THEY'RE TURNING
THEIR ATTENTION
TO THE SITE
OF AN OLD DREDGING OPERATION.
AS THE DREDGES SWUNG ACROSS
AROUND THROUGH HERE,
THEY JUST MIGHT HAVE LEFT
A PRETTY GOOD PATCH,
AND WITH TWO OF US TOGETHER,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT [BLEEP]
STRIPPED OFF FAST.
[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH.
I LOVE IT.
Rob:
I'M GONNA TRY TO DO MY BEST
TO HELP
WHEN I CAN WITH WHAT I KNOW,
AND I'M REAL OPTIMISTIC THEY'RE
GONNA PULL IT THROUGH.
Narrator: THE OLD-TIMERS'
DREDGING OPERATION
LEFT BEHIND OVERBURDEN PILES
DEPOSITED IN ROWS.
ROB BELIEVES THEY MAY
HAVE THROWN OVERBURDEN
ON TOP OF VIRGIN GROUND
AND LEFT
BEFORE THEY HAD TIME TO MINE IT.
♪
Jason:
UP, UP, AND AWAY WE GO!
♪
ROB, WE'RE RIGHT HERE
ON THE EDGE.
I PUNCH STRAIGHT DOWN,
AND LOOK IT, LOOK IT, LOOK IT.
WE GOT GRAVEL, MAN!
KEEP GOING, JUST GOING DOWN,
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
TALK DIRTY TO ME, ROB.
ALRIGHT.
Narrator: 15 FEET DOWN,
ROB GETS EYES ON THE GRAVELS.
IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THIS --
THAT WE'RE IN A DEBRIS FLOW HERE
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WELL-WORN PEBBLES
AND GRAVEL HERE
THAT'S INDICATIVE THAT
WE'VE GOT SOME GOLD IN THIS.
I LOVE YOUR OPTIMISM.
ROB THINKS THEY'VE STRUCK
AN ANCIENT RIVER CHANNEL
BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
NOW THE TEAM'S FUTURE
AT BIRDSEYE RESTS
ON IT CONTAINING GOLD.
♪
HOLY CRAP.
HOLY [BLEEP]
WE GOT SOME GOLD.
LOOK THERE.
OH [BLEEP]
THAT'S -- THAT IS
SOME REAL GOLD THERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S A HELL OF A PAN.
THAT IS A HELL OF A PAN.
ROB!
THERE'S 26 OR BETTER...
GOOD PIECES THERE, ROB.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S BIGGER PIECES IN A PAN
THAN ANY PAN I'VE SEEN.
WE'RE KIND OF ON IT, BUDDY.
HERE YOU'RE LOOKING
AT $20-A-YARD DIRT.
WE'RE ON THE SCENT.
NOW WE JUST CAN'T LOSE IT.
ROB TOWNER IS A GREAT GUY.
THE MAN CAN FIND GOLD.
I THINK WE MAY HAVE FOUND
OUR NEXT SPOT.
WE GOT SOMETHING
TO LOOK AT NOW!
I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE
ALRIGHT,
AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.
Rob: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
EMOTIONAL BUSINESSES
YOU CAN EVER BE IN.
YOU THINK YOU GOT IT COVERED,
AND THEN, BOOM, IT'S GONE.
YOU'VE GOT TO DIG DOWN
DEEP INSIDE AND GET IT DONE.
♪
Narrator:
THE NEXT MORNING,
DAVE IS BACK FROM HIS
HARD ROCK PROSPECTING MISSION
AT MILLER MOUNTAIN MINE.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK
TO YOU GUYS ABOUT
IS THE POSSIBILITY
OF DOING SOME HARD ROCK MINING.
THIS GOLD RIGHT HERE
CAME OUT OF SOME HARD ROCK,
AND I THINK
THIS COULD BE THE FUTURE
OF OUR LITTLE SMALL
MINING COMPANY.
YOU KNOW, DAVE, YOU BROUGHT US
OUT HERE TO PLACER MINE.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT HARD ROCK?
THIS GOLD HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN
BY ANYBODY,
AND I WANT TO CHASE IT.
I BELIEVE IN HARD ROCK MINING.
I THINK IT'S OUR FUTURE.
IF WE HIT THIS,
COULD IT CHANGE OUR LIVES?
I THINK IT COULD.
Casey: SO, DAVE WANTS TO DO
HARD ROCK MINING.
WE JUST BECAME PLACER MINERS,
AND WE'RE JUST GETTING
THIS WIRED DOWN,
BUT NOW TO GO MARCHING OUT
AND LOOK AT HARD ROCK?
THAT'S A WHOLE NEW ANIMAL.
Dave:
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THIS IS NOT THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.
THIS IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
LITERALLY.
AGAIN, THAT'LL BE
MY RESPONSIBILITY
TO BRING THAT MONEY IN.
Jason:
IT EXCITES THE HELL OUT OF ME
BUT KIND OF MAKES ME [BLEEP]
MY PANTS A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE YOU COULD
REALLY GET SOME NICE GOLD
AND A LOT OF GOLD REAL QUICK.
IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF DAVE WANTS
TO CHASE AFTER HIS DREAM,
YOU KNOW, WHO COULD STOP HIM?
Nathan:
DAVE'S THERE TO GET IT DONE,
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING
I LIKE ABOUT HIM.
YOU KNOW, HE'S THERE
FOR THE BEST OF US
AND THE BEST FOR HIM,
SO [BLEEP] LET'S GO.
♪
Narrator:
IF DAVE HAS ANY CHANCE
OF MAKING HIS HARD ROCK DREAM
A REALITY,
HE MUST FIRST FOCUS ON BIRDSEYE,
AND AT THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE CLAIM,
HE'S TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEW
GROUND AT THE DREDGE EDGE CUT.
THAT DREDGE
CAME THROUGH HERE,
AND IT HAD TO PUT
ITS OVERBURDEN SOMEWHERE
FOR THE FIRST CUT, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
SO, THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS
RIGHT WHERE THE DREDGE STOPPED.
SO THE DREDGE WORKED IT
OVER THERE,
THREW THEIR OVERBURDEN
HERE,
AND THIS IS VIRGIN
UNDERNEATH THAT OVERBURDEN?
YES, SIR.
THOSE OLD BOYS WERE PRETTY GOOD
AT WHAT THEY DID,
BUT, HOPEFULLY, THEY LEFT
A LITTLE BIT ALONG THIS LINE
FOR US TO PICK UP
AND FINISH THE SEASON.
THE OLD-TIMERS
USED A DRAGLINE DREDGE,
A HUGE BUCKET PULLED
BY A CRANE ON TRACKS.
AS IT DUG OUT PAY DIRT,
THE DREDGE BUCKET
CARVED OUT A CLEAR BOUNDARY
BETWEEN THE AREA IT MINED
AND THE VIRGIN GROUND
BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
AND YOU CAN SEE HE CAST
RIGHT HERE AND PULLED,
BUT LOOK AT THAT EDGE.
YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY
WHERE HE CAST HIS BUCKET.
WITH THIS UNIQUE DISCOVERY, DAVE
AND THE CREW BEGIN STRIPPING
OVERBURDEN AWAY FROM THE EDGE
OF THE OLD DREDGE WORKINGS.
Casey:
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE I THOUGHT THE DIRT
I WAS SENDING DOWN
WAS WORTH [BLEEP]
Nathan:
THIS SEASON HAS BEEN ROUGH.
I MEAN, WE ALL KICKED AROUND
TRYING TO FIND EVERYTHING,
AND JASON FINALLY FOUND
THE VIRGIN GROUND,
SO I EXPECT GOOD RESULTS.
Dave: I'M FEELING GOOD
ABOUT THIS NEW CUT.
I LEFT THESE GUYS.
I WENT LOOKING
AT A HARD ROCK PROPOSITION.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS
ABOUT IT,
BUT THEY PASSED THE TEST.
♪
Narrator: COMING UP...
THAT IS GOLD.
WHOO, BUDDY!
THAT'S GOLD!
...THE SEASON'S
FIRST NUGGETS...
WHOA. WHERE WAS THAT?
THAT WAS IN THE SLUICE.
Nathan:
BIGGER BEARINGS, BIGGER SHAFT.
Narrator:
...SEND DAVE INTO OVERDRIVE.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO GET MORE GOLD.
♪
Narrator:
AT BIRDSEYE MINE, MONTANA,
TEAM TURIN IS GOING ALL-IN
AT THE DREDGE EDGE.
Casey: HAULING PAY DIRT!
GET SOME OF THAT GOLD
IN OUR BOX!
♪
Narrator:
AND OVER IN THE GOLD ROOM...
JESSE IS PROCESSING THE FIRST
DAY'S DIRT FROM THE NEW CUT.
OH [BLEEP]
♪
GOT TO GET TO DAVE
AND SHOW HIM WHAT WE GOT.
THIS KIND OF STUFF HE NEEDS
TO KNOW ABOUT RIGHT AWAY.
♪
Dave: HEY, JESSE.
I THINK WE'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK.
WE GOT TO FIND
SOME MORE OF THIS GROUND.
OH! OH-OH-HO-OH!
OH...MY...GOD.
WHEN I SEEN THAT ONE, I THOUGHT
YOU NEEDED TO SEE THAT.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST
I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
DON'T MOVE FROM THAT GROUND,
WHEREVER THAT COME FROM.
OH, WE'RE ON IT NOW.
MAN.
OH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN NUGGETS
LIKE THAT EVER.
NO. THAT COULD TURN
OUR SEASON AROUND.
OH, YEAH.
WAY TO GO, BUDDY!
I'M EXCITED.
FINDING THE GOLD!
Dave: SO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE ON GOOD GOLD.
HOPEFULLY, WE TURN THIS AROUND,
GET ALL THE GOLD OUT OF THAT
DREDGE EDGE CUT.
THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKING UP.
♪
Narrator: THE TEAM
HAVE OVER 40 OUNCES OF GOLD
IN THE BAG SO FAR
BUT ARE STILL WAY BEHIND
THEIR SEASON GOAL OF 400.
NOW, WITH A STEADY SUPPLY OF
PAY DIRT FROM THE DREDGE EDGE,
DAVE TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO THE WASH PLANT.
Dave: WE'RE RUNNING RIGHT AROUND
60 TO 70 TONS AN HOUR.
I THINK THIS OLD GIRL CAN DO
120 TONS AN HOUR.
THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE.
YOU START DOUBLING UP
ON THE PRODUCTION,
YOU DOUBLE UP ON THE GOLD.
THINGS ARE REALLY GONNA
START ADDING UP QUICK.
Nathan:
ALRIGHT! SHUT IT DOWN!
♪
Narrator:
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION,
DAVE WANTS TO UPGRADE
THE TROMMEL'S ROLLERS,
AND TO STAY
ON HIS GOLD TARGET,
THE FIX MUST BE FINISHED
BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF GOLD
WE GOT TO GET
IN THE SHORT TIME PERIOD LEFT,
SO PUTTING THESE ON,
UP PRODUCTION.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET
THE GOLD IN THE SLUICE.
SO, THESE ARE THE OLD ONES.
THEY'RE TOO SMALL,
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
WE'VE GONE TO THE BIG ONES.
Narrator:
THE TROMMEL SITS ON FOUR ROLLERS
WHICH DICTATE HOW FAST
THE DRUM CAN TURN
AND THE WEIGHT OF PAY DIRT
IT CAN CARRY.
THE BIGGER ROLLERS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET
DAVE'S 120-TONS-AN-HOUR TARGET.
THESE WILL GO IN,
MUCH BIGGER --
BIGGER BEARINGS,
BIGGER SHAFTS,
AND A BIGGER BUSHING.
GEEZ!
THESE ARE LIKE 423 POUNDS!
AND HE LIFTS IT
ALL BY HIMSELF.
[ BEEPING ]
TO INSTALL THE NEW ROLLERS,
DAVE AND NATHAN MUST FIRST LIFT
THE TROMMEL OFF THE GUIDE RING
WITH THE EXCAVATOR.
I THINK YOU GOT TO COME
INTO YOU A LITTLE BIT, NATE.
YES, SIR.
THERE YOU GO. NOW GO UP.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
♪
NOW ALL FOUR ROLLERS
MUST BE FITTED
AND WELDED INTO POSITION
BEFORE FIRST LIGHT.
♪
Dave: THIS TROMMEL'S SO OLD,
NOTHING IS SQUARE,
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT
THE BEST POSITION WE CAN,
AND THEN YOU SET EVERYTHING
AND YOU LIVE WITH IT.
♪
SO, YEAH, WE'VE STILL GOT
A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE GOT TO WELD
THE WHOLE THING UP,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LATE NIGHT.
♪
Narrator:
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
WITH THE NEW ROLLERS
ALMOST READY TO RUN,
DAVE AND NATE
ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF THEIR HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF.
WE WERE CRUISING AT THIS LEVEL.
NOW WE GOT TO TAKE OUR GAME
TO THIS LEVEL.
CAN WE DO IT?
WILL EVERYTHING HOLD UP?
SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT BREAK.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
♪
ALRIGHT!
GOT NEW ROLLERS ON LAST NIGHT!
IT'S TIME TO FIRE THIS
[BLEEP] UP!
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
TROMMEL COMING ON!
♪
ALRIGHT!
GREAT SIGHT!
♪
Narrator:
WITH THE ROLLERS HOLDING,
THE TROMMEL CAN NOW TURN
TWICE AS FAST.
YOU READY?
RIGHT ON.
TO HIT DAVE'S TARGET
OF 120 TONS AN HOUR,
THE WASH PLANT NEEDS
DOUBLE THE PAY DIRT.
Chris:
THE NEW DAWN HAS COME,
SO, HOPEFULLY, IT BRINGS US...
BLESSINGS.
WE GOT TWO EXCAVATORS GOING.
WE'RE MOVING SOME DIRT!
Dave: WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
WITH THESE TWO MACHINES.
Narrator:
THE TEAM CAN NOW PROCESS
AN ACRE OF GROUND
EVERY FOUR DAYS,
BUT THE OPERATION
ONLY HAS ONE ROCK TRUCK,
AND DRIVER CASEY
IS UNDER PRESSURE.
Casey: IT'S THE WHOLE OPERATION
NOW HAS TO DOUBLE PRODUCTION.
CAN WE DO IT?
Narrator: COMING UP, THE RESULTS
FROM THE DREDGE EDGE ARE IN.
ALRIGHT, GUYS.
♪
Narrator:
AT BIRDSEYE MINE,
DAVE VISITS THE PAST
IN AN OLD-TIMER'S DREDGE.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS SWING IT
TO THE RIGHT,
AND THEN, LIKE A FISHING POLE,
THEY'D CAST THAT BUCKET OUT,
AND THEN THEY'D HIT A SPOT
AND IT'D LAND,
AND THEN THEY'D START
TO PULL IT IN.
BUT COULD YOU IMAGINE
RUNNING THIS FOR 12 HOURS A DAY,
PULLING THESE LEVERS,
SLAMMING THEM IN,
SLAMMING THEM OUT?
NOT VERY COMFORTABLE.
THESE OLD BOYS --
THEY WERE TOUGH.
♪
Narrator:
A WEEK AGO AT BIRDSEYE MINE,
TEAM TURIN WERE MINING GROUND
WORTH JUST $3 PER YARD,
LESS THAN 1/3
OF WHAT DAVE PREDICTED.
WE'RE IN A HELL OF A SPOT
RIGHT NOW.
NO GOLD!
Narrator: SO DAVE WENT BIG
ON FINDING NEW TERRAIN...
GO FIND US SOME GROUND.
ALRIGHT, BOSS.
...BROUGHT IN MONTANA
MINING LEGEND ROB TOWNER...
WE GOT SOMETHING
TO LOOK AT NOW.
...AND WENT ALL OUT
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO GET MORE GOLD.
Narrator:
NOW, WITH THE ENTIRE OPERATION
RUNNING AT DOUBLE SPEED,
THE TEAM HAS ALREADY MINED
THE FIRST ACRE
OF THE NEW DREDGE EDGE CUT.
♪
Dave: WE PULLED ALL THE MATS
AND THE BALL.
THE PLANT'S RUNNING FAST.
CREW'S WORKING GOOD.
SO, YEAH, THINGS ARE
COMING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THIS CLEANUP YIELDS.
♪
Nathan:
YOU KNOW, I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO A GOOD COUNT FOR ONCE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME UPS
AND DOWNS,
AND WE HAD SOME OKAY ONES,
YOU KNOW?
BUT IT'S TIME TO SEE
A BETTER ONE,
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE GET
SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD HERE.
Jason: I'M A MINER.
I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THE GROUND CAN SHOW,
ALWAYS,
AND THE DREDGE EDGE?
HELL, YEAH, I WANT TO SEE
WHAT THE OLD-TIMERS LEFT BEHIND
AND TRY NOT TO LEAVE
ANY MORE BEHIND.
Chris:
ALWAYS WANTING A NUGGET.
WE'RE ON THE NEW DREDGE EDGE.
THE PANS ARE LOOKING BETTER,
THE GOLD'S BIGGER, SO WE'RE
EXPECTING A BIGGER CLEANUP,
AND WE NEED THAT.
I HAD, LIKE, FIVE OF THESE TOTES
TO GO THROUGH
AND FOUR OF THE BIG --
THEM BUCKETS.
TIME TO GET SOME GOLD.
♪
Dave: SOMETHING ABOUT
A FIRE, ISN'T IT?
Casey: I USED TO LOVE
BURNING STICKS.
Narrator:
DAVE GATHERS THE CREW
TO SEE IF THEIR HARD WORK
OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS
IS FINALLY PAYING OFF.
Dave:
ALRIGHT, GUYS, LOOK.
THIS IS HOWIE'S CUT --
3 ACRES, 39.6.
THAT'S ONLY 13 OUNCES PER ACRE.
WE DIDN'T KILL IT, OKAY?
SO NOW WE MOVE
TO WILLIE BROWN'S CUT.
SO WE DID 2 ACRES
AT WILLIE BROWN'S CUT --
21.2 OUNCES.
♪
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THE FIRST ACRE
OF THE DREDGE EDGE CUT...
WE'RE ALMOST 30 OUNCES,
YOU GUYS.
HEY, NOW WE'RE TALKING!
OH, MAN! NOW WE'RE TALKING.
WE'RE TURNING IT AROUND.
Narrator:
THE NEW DREDGE EDGE CUT
HAS ADDED OVER $45,000
TO THEIR GOLD TOTAL.
♪
Jason:
THAT'S POSITIVE PROGRESSION.
WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK FOR, GUYS?
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE
[BLEEP] PROUD OF.
SO WE'RE STARTING TO FIND
BIGGER GOLD, FINDING NUGGETS.
I THINK WE'RE ON OUR WAY
TO 40 TO 50 OUNCES
ON THE SECOND ACRE
OF THE DREDGE EDGE CUT,
YOU GUYS.
I THINK EVERYTHING'S GOING UP
FROM HERE.
Jesse: WE'RE GOING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YEAH.
WE'RE GOING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE JUST HALFWAY
THROUGH THE SEASON.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THEM NUMBERS.
THAT'S EXCITING.
SO WE'RE AT 91 OUNCES.
OH, WOW.
ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT?
Narrator:
DAVE AND HIS CREW
HAVE NOW PRODUCED
$135,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
Dave:
THIS PROVES THAT YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU CAN DO THIS WHILE I'M OUT
SEARCHING FOR HARD ROCK MINES.
I THINK WE'RE ON IT, YOU GUYS.
♪
Chris: I'M PROUD OF THIS TEAM.
WE STOOD STRONG.
WE STOOD STRONG
FOR OUR FAMILIES,
WE STOOD STRONG FOR DAVE,
AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
WE'RE 30 OUNCES MORE THAN
WHAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Casey: THANK GOD.
WE CAME BACK FROM THE BRINK.
IT WAS LOOKING PRETTY DARK,
BUT NOW I CAN CALL MY WIFE
WITH THE GOOD NEWS.
Nathan: NO ONE QUIT.
WE ALL GAVE IT ALL WE GOT.
WE WORKED OUR ASSES OFF.
HERE'S OUR REWARD,
SO DAMN GOOD FEELING RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL-IN. LOVE YOU GUYS.
THOSE GUYS COULD HAVE
WALKED AWAY AT ANY TIME,
BUT NOW WE'RE COMING
TOGETHER AS A TEAM,
AND THAT'S A GREAT RESULT.
All: ALL-IN!
Dave:
YEAH, FELLAS. GOOD TO GO.
♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
WE DROPPED 30 DEGREES
IN ABOUT 6 HOURS.
Narrator:
...THE WEATHER TURNS EXTREME...
Nathan:
NEED A LITTLE HELP UP HERE, MAN.
TROMMEL IS FROZEN UP.
THERE WE GO! THERE WE GO!
COME ON, BABY!
Narrator:
...AND THE CREW DIG DEEP...
DO-OR-DIE PAN RIGHT HERE.
OHH, THAT'S COLD!
Narrator:
...TO GET THE GOLD.
WHOO! YEAH!
Dave: WE'RE IN A HELL
OF A SPOT RIGHT NOW.
NO GOLD!
WHERE'S THE GOLD?
Narrator:
IT'S 6:00 A.M. AT BIRDSEYE MINE.
AFTER A BAD GOLD WEIGH
LAST NIGHT,
DAVE AND HIS CREW
ARE AT ROCK BOTTOM.
IT RIPS AT MY HEART
WHEN YOU GUYS SACRIFICE SO MUCH,
AND THEN I BRING YOU OUT HERE,
AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE GOLD.
I SHARED THIS WITH CHRIS
LAST NIGHT.
THIS IS A QUOTE
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"IT IS NOT THE CRITIC"...
[ SIGHS ]
♪
IT IS NOT" -- [BLEEP]
DAMN IT, COME ON.
[BLEEP]
COME ON! [ SIGHS ]
THE REASON I'M SO EMOTIONAL
IS MY SON READ THIS TO ME
AT -- AT A...
OKAY.
"IT IS NOT THE CRITIC
WHO COUNTS,
NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT
HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLES
OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS
COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER.
THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN
WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA,
WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST
AND SWEAT AND BLOOD;
WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY; WHO ERRS;
WHO COMES UP
SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN
BECAUSE THERE'S NO EFFORT
WITHOUT ERROR AND SHORTCOMING;
WHO SPENDS HIMSELF
IN A WORTHY CAUSE;
WHO AT THE BEST KNOWS IN THE END
THE TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT,
AND WHO AT THE WORST,
HE FAILS.
AT LEAST HE FAILS
WHILE DARING GREATLY
SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE
WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS
WHO NEITHER KNOW
VICTORY NOR DEFEAT."
THAT'S US.
AT LEAST WE'RE IN THE GAME.
WE'RE GONNA HANG IN THERE,
PUT OUR BOOTS ON,
KEEP KICKING ASS.
♪
Narrator:
LEGENDARY MINER DAVE TURIN
IS HUNTING FOR GOLD...
[ GROWLS ]
...IN THE HISTORIC
LOST MINES OF MONTANA...
PUMPING SOME MUD NOW,
BUDDY! YEAH!
...HOPING TO TURN
HIS MINING DREAM...
WHOA! WHOA!
...INTO A BIG-DOLLAR BUSINESS
FOR HIM AND HIS CREW.
All: TEAM TURIN!
Dave: THESE GUYS ARE
PROFESSIONAL MINERS NOW,
AND I'LL TAKE THEM ANYWHERE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
NATHAN! STOP!
THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUGGET
I'VE EVER PANNED!
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
RIGHT THERE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT
SEARCHING FOR A DREAM.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
FIVE WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT
MY CREW TO BIRDSEYE,
BUT MY DREAM
OF STRIKING IT RICH HERE --
IT'S JUST NOT GOING
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
I GOT MEN THAT TRUSTED ME.
I GOT MEN THAT FOLLOWED ME.
NOT QUITE 3.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE
I LET THEM DOWN.
WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH
THE WILLIAM BROWN CUT.
YOU GOT TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON.
I'M LOOKING, MAN.
BUT THE GROUND -- IT'S NOT
MATCHING OUR TESTING.
WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO
"WHERE [BLEEP] IS THE GOLD?"
IN THE END,
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.
Casey: WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
OR WE'RE ALL GONNA
GO HOME BROKE.
THAT'S SOME SCARY [BLEEP]
Dave:
WE'RE NOT GONNA QUIT.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP SEARCHING
FOR THE GOLD.
I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP
ON MY MONTANA DREAM.
LET'S BE HONEST.
I DON'T LIKE TO FAIL.
♪
Narrator: IN THE HALLOWED HILLS
OF MONTANA'S GOLD COUNTRY,
EACH MEMBER OF DAVE'S
FIVE-MAN CREW
IS WORKING FOR A 5%
STAKE OF THE GOLD,
BUT A SLOW START MEANS
THEY'RE TAKING HOME
LESS THAN $500 A WEEK.
PRETTY STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT GETTING THE GOLD
WE'RE LOOKING FOR,
AND WE NEED TO MOVE TO
WHERE IT'S REALLY RICH.
Nathan: VERY DISAPPOINTING.
THE GROUND IS NOT THERE.
YOU GET $3, $4 A YARD.
IT'S NOT EVEN COST-EFFICIENT
TO RUN THIS PLANT.
SHUT THE [BLEEP] DOWN.
GO FIND SOME BETTER GROUND.
Narrator: IN PRESEASON,
DAVE PROSPECTED THREE LOCATIONS
AT BIRDSEYE MINE.
THE TESTS PREDICTED GOLD VALUES
OF $10 TO $15 PER YARD,
BUT HOWIE'S CUT
ONLY DELIVERED FOUR,
AND RESULTS AT THE WILLIAM BROWN
CUT ARE EVEN WORSE.
THE TEAM MUST FIND GROUND
THAT CAN MAKE THEM MONEY,
SO DAVE HAS CALLED
ON VETERAN MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER TO HELP
JASON PROSPECT.
THIS IS MY FIRST
TEST HOLE.
WELL, WHEN I FIRST
STARTED MINING,
I HEARD ROB TOWNER'S NAME.
BULKED OUT, 5-YARD BULK.
HE'S BEEN MINING MONTANA
AND AROUND THE WORLD -- PFFT! --
LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
Rob: IF IT'S ALRIGHT,
CAN I JUST HAVE FREE HAND
TO DIG AND SNOOP AROUND?
YES, WHEREVER.
OKAY.
THAT'D BE GREAT.
YEAH. THANKS, ROB.
I'M JUST GONNA BE
LOOKING LIKE I ALWAYS DO.
Dave: ROB'S A GREAT MINER,
AND HE'S PROSPECTED
IN THIS AREA BEFORE.
IF HE CAN'T FIND THE GOLD,
I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE CAN.
THE MINERS DID A GOOD JOB HERE
'CAUSE THERE'S BEEN 130 YEARS,
140 YEARS OF PEOPLE HERE
AHEAD OF US,
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING
THAT WE CAN SORT OUT THE PUZZLE.
Narrator: JASON AND ROB
MUST TRY TO IDENTIFY
WHERE THE OLD-TIMERS WORKED
AND WHERE THERE STILL
MIGHT BE VIRGIN GROUND.
THAT PAY STREAK, JUST KIND OF
STAYING RIGHT ALONG HERE --
THIS WAS REALLY
WORKED HARD THROUGH HERE,
AND IT'S PROBABLY
GONNA BE DEEPER GRAVEL,
AND I'LL BET
WE HAVE BETTER GRADES.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
Rob: THE SEASON'S
RUNNING LATE FOR DAVE,
SO WE GOT TO KIND OF
PUSH IT PRETTY HARD.
THE GOLD HAS TO SURRENDER.
Narrator: ROB'S PLAN
IS TO MOVE TO THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE PROPERTY,
CLOSER TO THE SOURCE
OF THE GOLD IN THE HILLS.
THEY'LL DIG TEST HOLES LOOKING
FOR ANCIENT RIVER CHANNELS
THEY HOPE THE OLD-TIMERS MISSED,
AND IF THEY DETECT GOLD,
THEY'LL CHASE
THE CHANNELS UPSTREAM
TOWARDS THE SOURCE.
♪
GOT ONE COLOR, BUT NOTHING TO
EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO, YOU KNOW?
DO YOU MIND THROWING
ANOTHER HOLE IN?
ANYWHERE YOU POINT.
OKAY.
LET'S JUST COME OFF TO THE --
OFF TO THE WEST.
Narrator:
WITH ROB AND JASON'S HUNT
FOR BIRDSEYE'S LOST GOLD
UNDER WAY,
DAVE HAS A RADICAL IDEA.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY,
BUT IN ORDER FOR THIS TEAM
AND THIS LITTLE COMPANY
TO MOVE FORWARD,
I'VE GOT TO KEEP LOOKING
FOR NEXT YEAR
BEYOND JUST ABANDONED
PLACER MINES.
THAT GOT ME THINKING.
I BELIEVE THERE'S MORE GOLD
UNDER THE GROUND
THAN WHAT'S ON THE SURFACE.
Narrator: SINCE THE CALIFORNIA
GOLD RUSH IN 1848,
OVER 90%
OF THE WORLD'S SURFACE GOLD
HAS BEEN MINED,
BUT UNDERGROUND,
MILLIONS OF TONS
REMAIN UNDISCOVERED.
TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA ALONE,
THERE ARE OVER HALF A MILLION
ABANDONED HARD ROCK MINES,
BUT REOPENING THEM IS EXPENSIVE
AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS.
GOING INTO THESE OLD
ABANDONED UNDERGROUND MINES,
THE POTENTIAL
IS SO MUCH HIGHER.
A LOT MORE RISK --
DON'T GET ME WRONG --
BUT THE REWARD IS IMMENSE.
IT'S HUGE.
♪
Narrator: DAVE HAS A LEAD
ON A HARD ROCK MINE
50 MILES AWAY,
AND HE'S BROUGHT IN
HIS DAD, JIM,
FOR A SECOND OPINION
ON HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN.
I WANTED TO ASK YOUR OPINION
AND KIND OF YOUR ADVICE.
I'M GONNA START
LOOKING AT HARD ROCK.
OKAY.
AND I GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU.
LOOK AT THE GOLD IN THAT.
YEAH, I IMAGINE.
THAT'S ONE ROCK.
YEAH, I SEE THAT.
IT'S GOT 4 1/2 OUNCES OF GOLD
IN THERE.
IT TAKES ME ALL DAY
TO GET 4 1/2 OUNCES.
I KNOW.
YOU WALK INTO THAT HARD ROCK,
AND YOU PICK ONE ROCK UP
AND HAVE 4 1/2 OUNCES IN IT.
HOW, UH, TOUGH IS IT
TO MINE THIS?
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
YOU THINK I'M CRAZY?
GOING BACK TO GRADE SCHOOL
AND LEARNING ALL OVER AGAIN.
WELL, YOU'RE DOING
A GOOD JOB WITH IT.
YOU'RE ADJUSTING.
THAT'S AMAZING.
YOU'RE NO PIKER, AT THAT,
SO IF YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS
TO DO IT, HAVE AT IT.
OKAY. THANKS.
YEAH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE.
YOU AND MOM WANT TO THROW
IN YOUR RETIREMENT?
I DON'T THINK SO.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU DON'T THINK SO?
[ LAUGHS ]
Dave:
DAD SAID GO LOOK.
I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL
AN OPPORTUNITY
IN THE LOST MINES
IN THE HARD ROCK,
AND I WANT TO PURSUE THEM.
Narrator:
IT'LL TAKE DAVE TWO DAYS
TO PROSPECT
HIS FIRST HARD ROCK MINE,
WHICH MEANS LEAVING BIRDSEYE
IN THE HANDS OF HIS CREW.
Dave:
AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON,
IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW,
GO IT ALONE FOR A FEW DAYS.
IS IT A GAMBLE?
HECK, YEAH, IT'S A GAMBLE,
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
♪
Narrator:
DAVE IS HEADING 50 MILES EAST
TO THE BIG BELT MOUNTAINS
TO INVESTIGATE THE ABANDONED
MILLER MOUNTAIN HARD ROCK MINE.
♪
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
GOING UNDERGROUND,
SO THAT'S WHY I NEED YOU.
DAVE'S JOINED
BY NICK LAVIOLETTE,
A SAFETY EXPERT
WITH OVER 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
UNDERGROUND.
♪
THERE'S A GUY UP HERE
NAMED BILL STILES,
AND HE OWNS
THE MILLER MOUNTAIN MINE.
THAT'S IT. THERE WE GO.
RIGHT ON.
HEY, BILL.
DAVE.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU, TOO.
YOU GOT QUITE
THE OPERATION.
HAVEN'T YOU
BEEN MINING THIS,
OR WHY HASN'T SOMEBODY
BEEN MINING THIS, BILL?
WELL, OVER THE YEARS,
THE PRICE OF GOLD WAS SO LOW
THAT IT JUST WASN'T
WORTH THE EFFORT.
I MEAN, THE TYPE OF GOLD
THAT'S IN HERE IS TOUGH TO GET.
♪
WATCH YOUR HEAD, GUYS.
♪
Dave: OH, MY GOSH.
UN-FRICKING-BELIEVABLE.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.
Narrator: COMING UP...
WE GOT ROTTEN TIMBERS.
YEAH, WE DO.
...DAVE GETS HIS FIRST LESSON
IN THE DANGERS OF UNDERGROUND
HARD ROCK MINING.
WHOA! WHOA!
Narrator:
IN THE BIG BELT MOUNTAINS...
[ WATER SPLASHES ]
...DAVE IS DEEP UNDERGROUND
PROSPECTING HIS FIRST
HARD ROCK MINE.
Dave:
SHOW ME THE SIGN.
"DANGER! DROWNING HAZARD."
YOU GOOD?
YEP, I'M FINE.
Bill: SEE THAT QUARTZ
RIGHT THERE?
BET THEY WERE CHASING
A VEIN, RIGHT?
YEAH. OH, CRAP.
LOOK AT THIS.
THERE SHOULD BE GOLD
IN THIS.
Narrator:
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,
MOLTEN MINERALS
MOVED THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN,
DEPOSITING QUARTZ VEINS
CONTAINING GOLD.
IN 1893, THE OLD-TIMERS BEGAN
CHASING THESE VEINS,
AND NOW DAVE IS HEADING
TO THE END OF THEIR TUNNELS,
HOPING TO DISCOVER
UNMINED QUARTZ
THAT COULD CONTAIN
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOLD.
♪
IN THESE 120-YEAR-OLD TUNNELS,
LOOSE ROCK OVERHEAD
MUST BE CONSTANTLY CLEARED.
Nick: GOT A LITTLE BIT
COMING DOWN, GUYS.
[BLEEP]
♪
Narrator: AND DEATH COULD BE
AROUND EVERY CORNER.
WHOA! WHOA!
THAT RIGHT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN
A SERIOUS HEADACHE.
MORE COMING.
YEAH, LOTS OF TIMBER, SO IT'S
PRETTY OLD-LOOKING THERE, DAVE.
THEY'RE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE,
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE.
Narrator:
1,000 FEET INTO THE MOUNTAIN,
THE TUNNEL HAS COLLAPSED,
LEAVING A VERY NARROW PATH.
OH [BLEEP]
GRAHAM, I THINK
YOU AND YOUR CREW
OUGHT TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND HEAD OUT,
AND THEN THE THREE OF US
WILL HEAD THROUGH,
AND WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING.
Narrator: IT'S TOO DANGEROUS FOR
THE FULL CREW TO CONTINUE...
SO WE'RE ROLLING?
...SO DAVE TAKES THE CAMERA
AND GOES DEEPER WITH NICK
AND A SECOND SAFETY EXPERT,
JUSTIN.
SO WE'LL GO ONE AT A TIME
ACROSS THIS?
ONE AT A TIME
ACROSS THIS, AND...
THIS IS FREAKING CRAZY.
♪
THE SOONER WE GET
OUT OF THIS...
THAT'S THE JACK.
♪
THERE'S A LADDER.
Bill: SO, WAY UP THERE...
IS WHERE THEY WERE MINING.
YOU CAN SEE WAY UP THERE.
SEE THAT BIG ROCK IN THERE?
IT'S ALL LOOSE.
ALL THAT ROCK RIGHT THERE
IS LOOSE.
IT'S BEING HELD UP
BY THAT ONE OLD BEAM.
SO WE'RE GONNA
BYPASS THIS AREA.
IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.
OH, GEEZ LOUISE. YEAH.
Narrator: NICK'S ALTERNATE ROUTE
TO THE GOLD...
♪
...IS A 50-FOOT CLIMB
UP A NARROW SHAFT.
♪
OKAY.
TRY TO GET UP
THIS ONE SPOT.
YOUR BRAIN'S SAYING,
"YOU'VE GOT A MILLION POUNDS
OF ROCK ABOVE YOUR HEAD.
YOU'RE IN
A CONFINED SPACE."
AND THEN
YOU START TO PANIC.
OH [BLEEP]
A QUARTER OF A MILE UNDERGROUND,
DAVE REACHES THE END
OF THE OLD-TIMERS' TUNNELS.
SO, THIS IS THE GOLD-BEARING
VEINS HERE.
THIS IS IT.
SO, THEY ONLY TOOK AS MUCH
AS THEY HAD TO.
THAT'S CORRECT.
DAVE TAPS INTO A QUARTZ VEIN
THAT'S 6 INCHES THICK.
♪
[ BEEPING ]
♪
WE HEADING OUT?
HEADING OUT.
OKAY. ALRIGHT.
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
♪
ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS.
HERE WE GO.
ALRIGHT! SUNSHINE!
WHOO!
♪
THAT WAS CRAZY.
AT FIRST, UNDERGROUND SCARED
THE HELL OUT OF ME.
I GOT TO HAND IT
TO THE OLD-TIMERS.
IT TAKES A SPECIAL GUY
TO CRAWL UNDERGROUND
AND DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
♪
ALRIGHT, GUYS, LET'S SEE
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
Narrator:
DAVE HAND-CRUSHES THE ROCK,
THEN SENDS IT THROUGH
A PULVERIZER.
♪
A FINE POWDER IS SENT TO BILL'S
GOLD TABLE
TO SEPARATE GOLD
FROM LIGHTER MINERALS.
♪
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE RESULTS,
DAVE AND NICK CRUNCH THE COST
OF REOPENING THE TUNNELS.
NICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK
IT WOULD COST TO,
YOU KNOW, FIX THAT TUNNEL UP
SO YOU'RE SAFE GOING IN?
JUST THE INVERT ALONE,
GET THE DRAINAGE GOING AGAIN,
PROBABLY $50,000 TO $100,000.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET
BACK TO THAT...
THE FIRST STOPE?
YEAH, YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THOSE
TIMBERS WERE CRISS-CROSSED?
PROBABLY $75,000
TO $100,000.
HOLY CRAP. WE'RE ALREADY UP
TO ALMOST $200,000.
YEAH.
WITH THAT KIND OF AN INVESTMENT,
I'D HAVE TO SEE, LIKE,
300 BUCKS...A TON.
♪
♪
I'D SAY THAT'S A LITTLE LESS
THAN 1/4 OF A GRAM OF GOLD.
YEAH.
IF YOU START DOING THE MATH,
I THINKS IT'S ABOUT
100 BUCKS A TON.
YEAH.
THE WAY I SEE IT, BILL,
IS, FOR ME, I'M OUT.
IT'S A NO FOR NOW, BUT WE'LL
KEEP IT IN MIND, OKAY?
THANK YOU, BILL.
GLAD YOU CAME OUT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BILL.
BEEN A PLEASURE.
ALRIGHT.
♪
Dave: I STILL BELIEVE THERE'S
GOLD IN THESE UNDERGROUND MINES.
I'VE SEEN ENOUGH TO MAKE ME
WANT MORE.
I'VE JUST GOT TO FIND
THE RIGHT MINE
AND THE RIGHT VALUES,
AND THIS COULD WORK OUT.
♪
Narrator:
50 MILES AWAY, AT BIRDSEYE,
TEAM TURIN IS STILL RUNNING
LOW-GRADE PAY DIRT
FROM THE WILLIAM BROWN CUT.
♪
Casey: I GOT TO KEEP THE CLAMP
FED, KEEP THE CLAMP MOVING...
'CAUSE ONCE THAT PAY RUNS OUT,
WE ARE SCREWED.
♪
Narrator:
UPSTREAM, IN A 30-ACRE FIELD,
JASON AND VETERAN MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER
ARE STILL ON THE HUNT
FOR GOLD-BEARING RIVER CHANNELS.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE
IS ANY VOLUME.
YOU'VE ONLY GOT
18, 19 INCHES.
I'M LOOKING FOR CLUES
IN THE GROUND,
THE DIFFERENT LAYERS
THAT WE SEE.
WAS THERE ENOUGH GOLD IN THOSE
GRAVEL SEAMS TO BE ECONOMICAL?
♪
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Jason: ARE YOU LIKING
RIGHT HERE, ROB?
I'M JUST GETTING [BLEEP]
NOT FINDING ANY FREAKING
GOLD FOR YOU GUYS.
GOLD'S ALWAYS HARD TO FIND.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THOSE OLD-TIMERS COULD READ
THIS GROUND PROBABLY BETTER
THAN ANY OF US ALIVE.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE LITTLE,
LITTLE PIECES.
WE GOT THAT FINE GOLD
KIND OF THERE
AND THIS LITTLE BIT BACK HERE.
IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE US
ANY MONEY YET.
Narrator:
AFTER FIVE HOURS OF PROSPECTING,
THE ONLY GROUND ROB
AND JASON HAVE FOUND
HAS ALREADY BEEN STRIPPED
OF GOLD BY THE OLD-TIMERS.
Jason:
IT'S A LITTLE DEPRESSING.
THERE AIN'T JACK [BLEEP]
FROM THAT ONE,
SO BAD, BAD, BAD,
BAD, MEH, BAD, BAD, BAD.
WE'RE OUT. WE GOT TO GO.
Casey: I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE
RADIO MESSAGE FROM JASON YET.
IF HE DOESN'T RADIO BACK,
I'M STARTING TO GET WORRIED
THAT HE HASN'T FOUND [BLEEP]
AND AT THAT POINT,
WE COULD BE DEAD
IN THE [BLEEP] WATER.
♪
Nathan: WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND
AND RUN [BLEEP] ASS DIRT.
I'M WILLING TO TRY TO HELP, TRY
TO FIND SOME [BLEEP] YOU KNOW?
SO I'M GONNA FLY MY DRONE.
I'M GONNA SEE WHAT I SEE.
WE'RE AT ROCK BOTTOM.
THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO,
AND THAT'S UP.
♪
Narrator: NATE'S HOPING
THAT HIGH ABOVE BIRDSEYE,
HE'LL BE ABLE
TO SPOT VIRGIN GROUND.
Nathan: YOU KNOW, I'M JUST
LOOKING AT THE MAP HERE,
AND I SEE SOME AREAS
THAT LOOK LIKE
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DISTURBED.
Narrator: NATE HAS EYES ON AN
AREA JUST BEHIND THE GOLD ROOM.
I AIN'T NO PROSPECTOR,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AIN'T NO QUITTER, EITHER.
I'M GONNA BRING IT BACK,
AND I'M GONNA GO
CHECK THIS SPOT OUT.
♪
♪
LOOK AT ALL THAT DAMN ROCK
THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT FAR DOWN.
Narrator: IF NATE'S LAYER OF
ROCK IS ANCIENT RIVER GRAVEL,
HE MAY HAVE STRUCK PAY DIRT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M SEEING HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SEEING
SOMETHING GOOD OR NOT.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME EVER
DIGGING A HOLE
AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT
AND GOING,
"WELL, I WONDER IF THERE'S
[BLEEP] GOLD THERE OR NOT."
♪
Narrator: AT BIRDSEYE,
PROSPECTING GREENHORN
NATHAN CLARK
HAS BEEN FLYING HIS DRONE
IN A LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT
TO FIND VIRGIN GROUND.
HE'S CALLED IN CHRIS
TO PAN THE PAY DIRT.
Chris: WE'RE IN
DESPERATE TIMES RIGHT NOW.
NATHAN THINKS THAT
HE FOUND A SPOT
THAT THESE OLD-TIMERS DOING
THIS GROUND SLUICING MISSED.
TAKING SEVERAL PANS
FROM EACH TEST,
AND, AS OF RIGHT NOW,
NOT ONE PIECE OF GOLD,
SO WHEN I PAN THIS LAST ONE,
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S GOLD IN IT.
♪
IT'S TIME TO CALL NATE...
♪
...AND TELL HIM THE NEWS.
♪
HEY, NATE. GOT A COPY?
GOT A COPY.
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
WELL, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR EFFORTS,
BUT NOT ONE PIECE OF GOLD
FOUND IN TWO HOLES.
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THIS MATERIAL
HAS BEEN PUT BACK
FROM THE OLD-TIMERS.
OH, WELL.
[BLEEP] HAPPENS.
YOU KNOW, AT LEAST
I CAN SAY I TRIED.
ALRIGHT, NATE. I'M COMING BACK
TO HELP YOU OUT AT THE PLANT.
10-4. THANKS, CHRIS,
FOR CHECKING THAT.
I AIN'T NO [BLEEP]
GOLD MINER.
YOU KNOW, I WAS A MECHANIC
FOR A LONG TIME.
CAN'T SAY YOU DIDN'T TRY.
YEAH.
GLAD YOU FOUND IT.
NOW WE KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M OUT HERE,
REALLY, TO SHOW MY SON
IF YOU PUT YOUR HEART
AND SOUL INTO SOMETHING,
YOU CAN GET IT DONE,
SO IF I CAN DO SOMETHING
TO HELP THIS TEAM OUT
AND SHOW MY SON
WHAT KIND OF MAN HIS DADDY IS,
THEN, BY GOD,
THAT'S WHAT I'LL [BLEEP] DO.
♪
[ SNIFFLES ]
THAT'S THE HONEST GOD'S TRUTH.
♪
Narrator: AT THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE CLAIM,
JASON AND MONTANA MINER
ROB TOWNER
HAVE PROSPECTED OVER 30 ACRES
OF LAND BUT FOUND NO GOLD.
NOW THEY'RE TURNING
THEIR ATTENTION
TO THE SITE
OF AN OLD DREDGING OPERATION.
AS THE DREDGES SWUNG ACROSS
AROUND THROUGH HERE,
THEY JUST MIGHT HAVE LEFT
A PRETTY GOOD PATCH,
AND WITH TWO OF US TOGETHER,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT [BLEEP]
STRIPPED OFF FAST.
[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH.
I LOVE IT.
Rob:
I'M GONNA TRY TO DO MY BEST
TO HELP
WHEN I CAN WITH WHAT I KNOW,
AND I'M REAL OPTIMISTIC THEY'RE
GONNA PULL IT THROUGH.
Narrator: THE OLD-TIMERS'
DREDGING OPERATION
LEFT BEHIND OVERBURDEN PILES
DEPOSITED IN ROWS.
ROB BELIEVES THEY MAY
HAVE THROWN OVERBURDEN
ON TOP OF VIRGIN GROUND
AND LEFT
BEFORE THEY HAD TIME TO MINE IT.
♪
Jason:
UP, UP, AND AWAY WE GO!
♪
ROB, WE'RE RIGHT HERE
ON THE EDGE.
I PUNCH STRAIGHT DOWN,
AND LOOK IT, LOOK IT, LOOK IT.
WE GOT GRAVEL, MAN!
KEEP GOING, JUST GOING DOWN,
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
TALK DIRTY TO ME, ROB.
ALRIGHT.
Narrator: 15 FEET DOWN,
ROB GETS EYES ON THE GRAVELS.
IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THIS --
THAT WE'RE IN A DEBRIS FLOW HERE
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WELL-WORN PEBBLES
AND GRAVEL HERE
THAT'S INDICATIVE THAT
WE'VE GOT SOME GOLD IN THIS.
I LOVE YOUR OPTIMISM.
ROB THINKS THEY'VE STRUCK
AN ANCIENT RIVER CHANNEL
BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
NOW THE TEAM'S FUTURE
AT BIRDSEYE RESTS
ON IT CONTAINING GOLD.
♪
HOLY CRAP.
HOLY [BLEEP]
WE GOT SOME GOLD.
LOOK THERE.
OH [BLEEP]
THAT'S -- THAT IS
SOME REAL GOLD THERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S A HELL OF A PAN.
THAT IS A HELL OF A PAN.
ROB!
THERE'S 26 OR BETTER...
GOOD PIECES THERE, ROB.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S BIGGER PIECES IN A PAN
THAN ANY PAN I'VE SEEN.
WE'RE KIND OF ON IT, BUDDY.
HERE YOU'RE LOOKING
AT $20-A-YARD DIRT.
WE'RE ON THE SCENT.
NOW WE JUST CAN'T LOSE IT.
ROB TOWNER IS A GREAT GUY.
THE MAN CAN FIND GOLD.
I THINK WE MAY HAVE FOUND
OUR NEXT SPOT.
WE GOT SOMETHING
TO LOOK AT NOW!
I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE
ALRIGHT,
AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.
Rob: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
EMOTIONAL BUSINESSES
YOU CAN EVER BE IN.
YOU THINK YOU GOT IT COVERED,
AND THEN, BOOM, IT'S GONE.
YOU'VE GOT TO DIG DOWN
DEEP INSIDE AND GET IT DONE.
♪
Narrator:
THE NEXT MORNING,
DAVE IS BACK FROM HIS
HARD ROCK PROSPECTING MISSION
AT MILLER MOUNTAIN MINE.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK
TO YOU GUYS ABOUT
IS THE POSSIBILITY
OF DOING SOME HARD ROCK MINING.
THIS GOLD RIGHT HERE
CAME OUT OF SOME HARD ROCK,
AND I THINK
THIS COULD BE THE FUTURE
OF OUR LITTLE SMALL
MINING COMPANY.
YOU KNOW, DAVE, YOU BROUGHT US
OUT HERE TO PLACER MINE.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT HARD ROCK?
THIS GOLD HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN
BY ANYBODY,
AND I WANT TO CHASE IT.
I BELIEVE IN HARD ROCK MINING.
I THINK IT'S OUR FUTURE.
IF WE HIT THIS,
COULD IT CHANGE OUR LIVES?
I THINK IT COULD.
Casey: SO, DAVE WANTS TO DO
HARD ROCK MINING.
WE JUST BECAME PLACER MINERS,
AND WE'RE JUST GETTING
THIS WIRED DOWN,
BUT NOW TO GO MARCHING OUT
AND LOOK AT HARD ROCK?
THAT'S A WHOLE NEW ANIMAL.
Dave:
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THIS IS NOT THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.
THIS IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
LITERALLY.
AGAIN, THAT'LL BE
MY RESPONSIBILITY
TO BRING THAT MONEY IN.
Jason:
IT EXCITES THE HELL OUT OF ME
BUT KIND OF MAKES ME [BLEEP]
MY PANTS A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE YOU COULD
REALLY GET SOME NICE GOLD
AND A LOT OF GOLD REAL QUICK.
IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF DAVE WANTS
TO CHASE AFTER HIS DREAM,
YOU KNOW, WHO COULD STOP HIM?
Nathan:
DAVE'S THERE TO GET IT DONE,
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING
I LIKE ABOUT HIM.
YOU KNOW, HE'S THERE
FOR THE BEST OF US
AND THE BEST FOR HIM,
SO [BLEEP] LET'S GO.
♪
Narrator:
IF DAVE HAS ANY CHANCE
OF MAKING HIS HARD ROCK DREAM
A REALITY,
HE MUST FIRST FOCUS ON BIRDSEYE,
AND AT THE NORTHERN EDGE
OF THE CLAIM,
HE'S TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEW
GROUND AT THE DREDGE EDGE CUT.
THAT DREDGE
CAME THROUGH HERE,
AND IT HAD TO PUT
ITS OVERBURDEN SOMEWHERE
FOR THE FIRST CUT, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
SO, THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS
RIGHT WHERE THE DREDGE STOPPED.
SO THE DREDGE WORKED IT
OVER THERE,
THREW THEIR OVERBURDEN
HERE,
AND THIS IS VIRGIN
UNDERNEATH THAT OVERBURDEN?
YES, SIR.
THOSE OLD BOYS WERE PRETTY GOOD
AT WHAT THEY DID,
BUT, HOPEFULLY, THEY LEFT
A LITTLE BIT ALONG THIS LINE
FOR US TO PICK UP
AND FINISH THE SEASON.
THE OLD-TIMERS
USED A DRAGLINE DREDGE,
A HUGE BUCKET PULLED
BY A CRANE ON TRACKS.
AS IT DUG OUT PAY DIRT,
THE DREDGE BUCKET
CARVED OUT A CLEAR BOUNDARY
BETWEEN THE AREA IT MINED
AND THE VIRGIN GROUND
BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
AND YOU CAN SEE HE CAST
RIGHT HERE AND PULLED,
BUT LOOK AT THAT EDGE.
YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY
WHERE HE CAST HIS BUCKET.
WITH THIS UNIQUE DISCOVERY, DAVE
AND THE CREW BEGIN STRIPPING
OVERBURDEN AWAY FROM THE EDGE
OF THE OLD DREDGE WORKINGS.
Casey:
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE I THOUGHT THE DIRT
I WAS SENDING DOWN
WAS WORTH [BLEEP]
Nathan:
THIS SEASON HAS BEEN ROUGH.
I MEAN, WE ALL KICKED AROUND
TRYING TO FIND EVERYTHING,
AND JASON FINALLY FOUND
THE VIRGIN GROUND,
SO I EXPECT GOOD RESULTS.
Dave: I'M FEELING GOOD
ABOUT THIS NEW CUT.
I LEFT THESE GUYS.
I WENT LOOKING
AT A HARD ROCK PROPOSITION.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS
ABOUT IT,
BUT THEY PASSED THE TEST.
♪
Narrator: COMING UP...
THAT IS GOLD.
WHOO, BUDDY!
THAT'S GOLD!
...THE SEASON'S
FIRST NUGGETS...
WHOA. WHERE WAS THAT?
THAT WAS IN THE SLUICE.
Nathan:
BIGGER BEARINGS, BIGGER SHAFT.
Narrator:
...SEND DAVE INTO OVERDRIVE.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO GET MORE GOLD.
♪
Narrator:
AT BIRDSEYE MINE, MONTANA,
TEAM TURIN IS GOING ALL-IN
AT THE DREDGE EDGE.
Casey: HAULING PAY DIRT!
GET SOME OF THAT GOLD
IN OUR BOX!
♪
Narrator:
AND OVER IN THE GOLD ROOM...
JESSE IS PROCESSING THE FIRST
DAY'S DIRT FROM THE NEW CUT.
OH [BLEEP]
♪
GOT TO GET TO DAVE
AND SHOW HIM WHAT WE GOT.
THIS KIND OF STUFF HE NEEDS
TO KNOW ABOUT RIGHT AWAY.
♪
Dave: HEY, JESSE.
I THINK WE'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK.
WE GOT TO FIND
SOME MORE OF THIS GROUND.
OH! OH-OH-HO-OH!
OH...MY...GOD.
WHEN I SEEN THAT ONE, I THOUGHT
YOU NEEDED TO SEE THAT.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST
I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
DON'T MOVE FROM THAT GROUND,
WHEREVER THAT COME FROM.
OH, WE'RE ON IT NOW.
MAN.
OH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN NUGGETS
LIKE THAT EVER.
NO. THAT COULD TURN
OUR SEASON AROUND.
OH, YEAH.
WAY TO GO, BUDDY!
I'M EXCITED.
FINDING THE GOLD!
Dave: SO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE ON GOOD GOLD.
HOPEFULLY, WE TURN THIS AROUND,
GET ALL THE GOLD OUT OF THAT
DREDGE EDGE CUT.
THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKING UP.
♪
Narrator: THE TEAM
HAVE OVER 40 OUNCES OF GOLD
IN THE BAG SO FAR
BUT ARE STILL WAY BEHIND
THEIR SEASON GOAL OF 400.
NOW, WITH A STEADY SUPPLY OF
PAY DIRT FROM THE DREDGE EDGE,
DAVE TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO THE WASH PLANT.
Dave: WE'RE RUNNING RIGHT AROUND
60 TO 70 TONS AN HOUR.
I THINK THIS OLD GIRL CAN DO
120 TONS AN HOUR.
THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE.
YOU START DOUBLING UP
ON THE PRODUCTION,
YOU DOUBLE UP ON THE GOLD.
THINGS ARE REALLY GONNA
START ADDING UP QUICK.
Nathan:
ALRIGHT! SHUT IT DOWN!
♪
Narrator:
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION,
DAVE WANTS TO UPGRADE
THE TROMMEL'S ROLLERS,
AND TO STAY
ON HIS GOLD TARGET,
THE FIX MUST BE FINISHED
BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF GOLD
WE GOT TO GET
IN THE SHORT TIME PERIOD LEFT,
SO PUTTING THESE ON,
UP PRODUCTION.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET
THE GOLD IN THE SLUICE.
SO, THESE ARE THE OLD ONES.
THEY'RE TOO SMALL,
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
WE'VE GONE TO THE BIG ONES.
Narrator:
THE TROMMEL SITS ON FOUR ROLLERS
WHICH DICTATE HOW FAST
THE DRUM CAN TURN
AND THE WEIGHT OF PAY DIRT
IT CAN CARRY.
THE BIGGER ROLLERS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET
DAVE'S 120-TONS-AN-HOUR TARGET.
THESE WILL GO IN,
MUCH BIGGER --
BIGGER BEARINGS,
BIGGER SHAFTS,
AND A BIGGER BUSHING.
GEEZ!
THESE ARE LIKE 423 POUNDS!
AND HE LIFTS IT
ALL BY HIMSELF.
[ BEEPING ]
TO INSTALL THE NEW ROLLERS,
DAVE AND NATHAN MUST FIRST LIFT
THE TROMMEL OFF THE GUIDE RING
WITH THE EXCAVATOR.
I THINK YOU GOT TO COME
INTO YOU A LITTLE BIT, NATE.
YES, SIR.
THERE YOU GO. NOW GO UP.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
♪
NOW ALL FOUR ROLLERS
MUST BE FITTED
AND WELDED INTO POSITION
BEFORE FIRST LIGHT.
♪
Dave: THIS TROMMEL'S SO OLD,
NOTHING IS SQUARE,
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT
THE BEST POSITION WE CAN,
AND THEN YOU SET EVERYTHING
AND YOU LIVE WITH IT.
♪
SO, YEAH, WE'VE STILL GOT
A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE GOT TO WELD
THE WHOLE THING UP,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LATE NIGHT.
♪
Narrator:
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
WITH THE NEW ROLLERS
ALMOST READY TO RUN,
DAVE AND NATE
ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF THEIR HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF.
WE WERE CRUISING AT THIS LEVEL.
NOW WE GOT TO TAKE OUR GAME
TO THIS LEVEL.
CAN WE DO IT?
WILL EVERYTHING HOLD UP?
SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT BREAK.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
♪
ALRIGHT!
GOT NEW ROLLERS ON LAST NIGHT!
IT'S TIME TO FIRE THIS
[BLEEP] UP!
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
TROMMEL COMING ON!
♪
ALRIGHT!
GREAT SIGHT!
♪
Narrator:
WITH THE ROLLERS HOLDING,
THE TROMMEL CAN NOW TURN
TWICE AS FAST.
YOU READY?
RIGHT ON.
TO HIT DAVE'S TARGET
OF 120 TONS AN HOUR,
THE WASH PLANT NEEDS
DOUBLE THE PAY DIRT.
Chris:
THE NEW DAWN HAS COME,
SO, HOPEFULLY, IT BRINGS US...
BLESSINGS.
WE GOT TWO EXCAVATORS GOING.
WE'RE MOVING SOME DIRT!
Dave: WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
WITH THESE TWO MACHINES.
Narrator:
THE TEAM CAN NOW PROCESS
AN ACRE OF GROUND
EVERY FOUR DAYS,
BUT THE OPERATION
ONLY HAS ONE ROCK TRUCK,
AND DRIVER CASEY
IS UNDER PRESSURE.
Casey: IT'S THE WHOLE OPERATION
NOW HAS TO DOUBLE PRODUCTION.
CAN WE DO IT?
Narrator: COMING UP, THE RESULTS
FROM THE DREDGE EDGE ARE IN.
ALRIGHT, GUYS.
♪
Narrator:
AT BIRDSEYE MINE,
DAVE VISITS THE PAST
IN AN OLD-TIMER'S DREDGE.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS SWING IT
TO THE RIGHT,
AND THEN, LIKE A FISHING POLE,
THEY'D CAST THAT BUCKET OUT,
AND THEN THEY'D HIT A SPOT
AND IT'D LAND,
AND THEN THEY'D START
TO PULL IT IN.
BUT COULD YOU IMAGINE
RUNNING THIS FOR 12 HOURS A DAY,
PULLING THESE LEVERS,
SLAMMING THEM IN,
SLAMMING THEM OUT?
NOT VERY COMFORTABLE.
THESE OLD BOYS --
THEY WERE TOUGH.
♪
Narrator:
A WEEK AGO AT BIRDSEYE MINE,
TEAM TURIN WERE MINING GROUND
WORTH JUST $3 PER YARD,
LESS THAN 1/3
OF WHAT DAVE PREDICTED.
WE'RE IN A HELL OF A SPOT
RIGHT NOW.
NO GOLD!
Narrator: SO DAVE WENT BIG
ON FINDING NEW TERRAIN...
GO FIND US SOME GROUND.
ALRIGHT, BOSS.
...BROUGHT IN MONTANA
MINING LEGEND ROB TOWNER...
WE GOT SOMETHING
TO LOOK AT NOW.
...AND WENT ALL OUT
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO GET MORE GOLD.
Narrator:
NOW, WITH THE ENTIRE OPERATION
RUNNING AT DOUBLE SPEED,
THE TEAM HAS ALREADY MINED
THE FIRST ACRE
OF THE NEW DREDGE EDGE CUT.
♪
Dave: WE PULLED ALL THE MATS
AND THE BALL.
THE PLANT'S RUNNING FAST.
CREW'S WORKING GOOD.
SO, YEAH, THINGS ARE
COMING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THIS CLEANUP YIELDS.
♪
Nathan:
YOU KNOW, I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO A GOOD COUNT FOR ONCE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME UPS
AND DOWNS,
AND WE HAD SOME OKAY ONES,
YOU KNOW?
BUT IT'S TIME TO SEE
A BETTER ONE,
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE GET
SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD HERE.
Jason: I'M A MINER.
I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THE GROUND CAN SHOW,
ALWAYS,
AND THE DREDGE EDGE?
HELL, YEAH, I WANT TO SEE
WHAT THE OLD-TIMERS LEFT BEHIND
AND TRY NOT TO LEAVE
ANY MORE BEHIND.
Chris:
ALWAYS WANTING A NUGGET.
WE'RE ON THE NEW DREDGE EDGE.
THE PANS ARE LOOKING BETTER,
THE GOLD'S BIGGER, SO WE'RE
EXPECTING A BIGGER CLEANUP,
AND WE NEED THAT.
I HAD, LIKE, FIVE OF THESE TOTES
TO GO THROUGH
AND FOUR OF THE BIG --
THEM BUCKETS.
TIME TO GET SOME GOLD.
♪
Dave: SOMETHING ABOUT
A FIRE, ISN'T IT?
Casey: I USED TO LOVE
BURNING STICKS.
Narrator:
DAVE GATHERS THE CREW
TO SEE IF THEIR HARD WORK
OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS
IS FINALLY PAYING OFF.
Dave:
ALRIGHT, GUYS, LOOK.
THIS IS HOWIE'S CUT --
3 ACRES, 39.6.
THAT'S ONLY 13 OUNCES PER ACRE.
WE DIDN'T KILL IT, OKAY?
SO NOW WE MOVE
TO WILLIE BROWN'S CUT.
SO WE DID 2 ACRES
AT WILLIE BROWN'S CUT --
21.2 OUNCES.
♪
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THE FIRST ACRE
OF THE DREDGE EDGE CUT...
WE'RE ALMOST 30 OUNCES,
YOU GUYS.
HEY, NOW WE'RE TALKING!
OH, MAN! NOW WE'RE TALKING.
WE'RE TURNING IT AROUND.
Narrator:
THE NEW DREDGE EDGE CUT
HAS ADDED OVER $45,000
TO THEIR GOLD TOTAL.
♪
Jason:
THAT'S POSITIVE PROGRESSION.
WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK FOR, GUYS?
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE
[BLEEP] PROUD OF.
SO WE'RE STARTING TO FIND
BIGGER GOLD, FINDING NUGGETS.
I THINK WE'RE ON OUR WAY
TO 40 TO 50 OUNCES
ON THE SECOND ACRE
OF THE DREDGE EDGE CUT,
YOU GUYS.
I THINK EVERYTHING'S GOING UP
FROM HERE.
Jesse: WE'RE GOING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YEAH.
WE'RE GOING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE JUST HALFWAY
THROUGH THE SEASON.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THEM NUMBERS.
THAT'S EXCITING.
SO WE'RE AT 91 OUNCES.
OH, WOW.
ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT?
Narrator:
DAVE AND HIS CREW
HAVE NOW PRODUCED
$135,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
Dave:
THIS PROVES THAT YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU CAN DO THIS WHILE I'M OUT
SEARCHING FOR HARD ROCK MINES.
I THINK WE'RE ON IT, YOU GUYS.
♪
Chris: I'M PROUD OF THIS TEAM.
WE STOOD STRONG.
WE STOOD STRONG
FOR OUR FAMILIES,
WE STOOD STRONG FOR DAVE,
AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
WE'RE 30 OUNCES MORE THAN
WHAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Casey: THANK GOD.
WE CAME BACK FROM THE BRINK.
IT WAS LOOKING PRETTY DARK,
BUT NOW I CAN CALL MY WIFE
WITH THE GOOD NEWS.
Nathan: NO ONE QUIT.
WE ALL GAVE IT ALL WE GOT.
WE WORKED OUR ASSES OFF.
HERE'S OUR REWARD,
SO DAMN GOOD FEELING RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL-IN. LOVE YOU GUYS.
THOSE GUYS COULD HAVE
WALKED AWAY AT ANY TIME,
BUT NOW WE'RE COMING
TOGETHER AS A TEAM,
AND THAT'S A GREAT RESULT.
All: ALL-IN!
Dave:
YEAH, FELLAS. GOOD TO GO.
♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
WE DROPPED 30 DEGREES
IN ABOUT 6 HOURS.
Narrator:
...THE WEATHER TURNS EXTREME...
Nathan:
NEED A LITTLE HELP UP HERE, MAN.
TROMMEL IS FROZEN UP.
THERE WE GO! THERE WE GO!
COME ON, BABY!
Narrator:
...AND THE CREW DIG DEEP...
DO-OR-DIE PAN RIGHT HERE.
OHH, THAT'S COLD!
Narrator:
...TO GET THE GOLD.
WHOO! YEAH!