Gold Rush: Parker's Trail (2017–2019): Season 4, Episode 5 - The Honey Pot - full transcript
Is chemical mining the way to go? The group finds out it can be deadly.
Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE
OF "PARKER'S TRAIL"...
Parker: I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
Narrator: ...THE HUNT
FOR OUTBACK GOLD INTENSIFIES.
-I CAN'T SEE.
-GO EASY.
AAH.
YOU'VE DEFINITELY
GOT MY CURIOSITY GOING.
HEY!
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ENTER THE WILD WEST...
-GUYS, LOCK THE DOORS.
-LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
...WHERE PROSPECTORS
TRUST NO ONE.
YOU DON'T WANT
THESE GUYS AROUND?
ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRANK?
Narrator: AND THE METHODS
THEY USE FOR MINING
ARE EVEN DEADLIER
THAN THE UNFORGIVING DESERT.
IF YOU INHALE A BIT
OF CYANIDE DUST, YOU'RE DEAD.
-[ COUGHS ]
-DANNY?!
♪♪
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Danny: YOU DO REALIZE THAT
THE AIR-CONDITIONING IN THIS CAR
ONLY REACHES HALFWAY?
WELL WE'VE GOT IT TURNED UP
ALL THE WAY, ALRIGHT?
YOU NEED TO POINT THAT ONE AT US
OR THAT ONE AT US.
THAT IS DIRECTLY
POINTING AT YOU.
-THAT'S NOT.
-TICKLE HIM!
-STOP.
-TICKLE HIM!
DON'T MAKE ME
PULL THIS CAR OVER!
FRED, COULD YOU PLEASE
JUST GET US SOMEPLACE.
Narrator: 5,500 MILES INTO
THEIR EPIC TWO-MONTH GOLD TREK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM HEAD
INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S
LEGENDARY MURCHISON GOLD FIELDS
AND THE TINY TOWN
OF SANDSTONE.
SANDSTONE'S COOL.
I LOVE SANDSTONE.
YOU'VE SPENT TIME HERE?
YEAH, SO,
MY GREAT GRANDFATHER
WAS ACTUALLY QUITE
A BIG MINER HERE.
HE USED TO TAKE
MY DAD HERE,
AND THIS IS WHERE MY DAD
LEARNED TO FIND GOLD.
THE TOWN USED TO BE A LOT BIGGER
AND A LOT MORE FAMILIES
BECAUSE ALL THE MEN
WERE WORKING ON THE MINE.
BUT WHEN THE MINE CLOSED DOWN,
A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT.
Narrator: SANDSTONE NOW
HAS A POPULATION OF JUST 80,
BUT AT THE TURN
OF THE 20th CENTURY,
THIS REMOTE PATCH OF DESERT
WAS AN EPICENTER
OF GOLD PROSPECTING,
INHABITED BY 8,000 MINERS.
SINCE 1903,
SANDSTONE HAS PRODUCED
OVER 3-MILLION OUNCES.
SO, WHAT'S OUR PLAN
FOR BEING HERE?
WE ARE ON THE WAY
TO SEE MY MATE JAKE.
HE'S QUITE YOUNG.
HE'S AROUND OUR AGE, PARKER.
AND IS THERE GROUND
FOR SALE AROUND HERE?
HE'S GOT AN EXPLORATION LEASE,
WHICH HE'S DONE SOME DRILLING ON
AND THEN HE'S GOT
A MINING LEASE, AS WELL.
OH, YEAH, THAT'S
THE OTHER THING.
SANDSTONE IS AN EXTREMELY
TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT
THE GOLD YOU'RE FINDING.
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
OH, THIS IS SER--
OH, YOU'RE SERIOUS.
-I'M BEING DEADLY SERIOUS.
-WOW.
♪♪
PRIVATE ROAD, NO ACCESS.
TYLER.
IT'S ALRIGHT.
LET'S JUST READ
WHAT THIS SAYS, HEY.
[BLEEP] OFF NOW,
KEEP OUT.
WHAT'S 222 MEAN?
PROBABLY THE SIZE OF RIFLE
YOU'RE GOING GET SHOT WITH.
OH [BLEEP]
IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
Narrator: IN THESE PARTS,
ILLEGAL PROSPECTING IS RIFE.
GROUND IS FIERCELY PROTECTED,
AND SHOOTINGS ARE NOT UNCOMMON.
-WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
-IT'S FINE, GUYS. IT'LL BE FINE.
ALRIGHT.
TYLER,
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?
Parker:
WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA.
HOW LONG DID YOU SAY
JAKE'S BEEN MINING HERE?
Tyler: NOT LONG AT ALL.
WELL, THEN THIS IS
NOT HIS PLACE.
YEAH.
♪♪
OH, THERE'S SOMEBODY.
GUYS LOCK THE DOORS.
HE LOOKS ANGRY.
YEAH.
I'M GOING
JUMP OUT BECAUSE --
NO, I GOT IT TYLER.
IT'S KIND OF WHY I'M HERE, SO --
THEY'RE NOT GOING
KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
THAT'S OKAY.
I CAN HANDLE THIS.
I'VE BEEN TRAINED IN THESE
KIND OF SITUATIONS.
♪♪
HOWDY.
Narrator: A FIELD MEDIC
FOR THE GREEN BERETS,
FRED IS ALSO A TRAINED LINGUIST
AND COMMUNICATOR.
AH, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A MINE SITE.
I'M SUPPOSED TO MEET THE YOUNGER
BLOKE IN HIS MID-20s.
THAT WAY?
OKAY, I APOLOGIZE.
THEY'RE SHAKING HANDS.
♪♪
AH, OKAY.
-YOU ALRIGHT?
-YEP.
WE WENT THE WRONG WAY,
BUT, YEAH, HE DOES NOT
TAKE KINDLY TO PEOPLE
COMING UP ON HIS PROPERTY,
YOU COULD TELL.
-SO, THE SIGNS WERE HIS THEN?
-YEP.
♪♪
THERE'S SOMEBODY
WALKING AROUND UP THERE.
-YEAH, THERE'S JAKE.
-IS THAT HIM?
-YEP, THAT'S JAKE.
-OH.
WE FOUND THE RIGHT PERSON.
YOU'RE JAKE?
-YEAH, JAKE.
-FRED.
27-YEAR-OLD JAKE LARSON
HAS HELD THE HONEYPOT LEASE
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
-I'M PARKER.
-GOOD DAY, PARKER, JAKE.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
-NOW I RECOGNIZE YOU.
-YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HEY. HEY, JAKE, I'M DANNY.
-JAKE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, MAN.
-THE FLIES ARE WICKED.
-OH, THE FLIES ARE TERRIBLE.
-WELL, WELCOME TO HONEYPOT.
-WHY DO THEY CALL IT HONEYPOT?
THERE'S A HOLE JUST THERE
THEY PULLED OUT
A THOUSAND OUNCES
OF DETECTABLE GOLD.
-REALLY?
-YEAH.
MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THE GEOLOGY MORE THAN ME.
Narrator: THE HONEYPOT HOLE
EARNED ITS NAME IN 2008
WHEN PROSPECTORS WITH HAND TOOLS
DUG UP OVER TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
TWO YEARS LATER, PROFESSIONAL
MINORS ARMED WITH DYNAMITE
AND AN EXCAVATOR
EXPANDED THE MINE
AND RECOVERED A FURTHER 62 LBS
WORTH $1.3 MILLION.
EVEN NOW, THE HONEYPOT HOLE IS
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.
-IT'S STILL FULL OF GOLD.
-OH, WOW.
-OH, COOL.
-THIS IS A LITTLE BIT
OF THE GOLD THAT'S BEEN
COMING OUT.
THERE'S DETECTABLE GOLD
STUCK IN THE WALL DOWN THERE,
AND YOU CAN SEE
THE OLD BLASTING HOLES.
THERE'S GOLD
IN THERE AS WELL.
-WOW.
-I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS, AND ULTIMATELY,
SEVERAL THOUSAND OUNCES
WILL COME OUT OF THIS AREA, HUH?CORRECT.
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A THOUSAND OUNCES
BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT
THE PROPERTY?
CORRECT, YEP.
SO, YOU WANT TO SELL THIS LEASE,
OBVIOUSLY.
I DO. UNFORTUNATELY,
I'M STRETCHED REALLY THIN.
I'VE GOT PROJECTS IN BETWEEN
HERE AND SOUTHERN CROSS.
YEAH, OKAY.
TO GET JUST BACK TO MY YARD,
IT'S 550 KILOMETERS.
I'D LIKE TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE
AT A REASONABLE PRICE,
AND THEN JUST KEEP
A ROYALTY ON IT.
WHAT'S A REASONABLE
PRICE TO YOU?
TO BE NEGOTIATED.
-OKAY. YEP.
-YEP.
-MIND IF I GO DOWN THERE?
-YEAH, JUST BE CAREFUL.
IT'S SLIPPERY.
I CAN'T BOUNCE LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU FOUND THOSE NUGGETS
AFTER THIS HAD ALL BEEN MINED?
CORRECT, YEP. THEY DIDN'T
DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
THEY LEFT A LOT
OF GOLD BEHIND.
-HMM.
-AMAZING, ISN'T IT.
I'M ACTUALLY SUPER INTRIGUED
BY THE PIECE OF GROUND.
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN
ANYTHING I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.
HOW ARE YOU LIKING THE FLIES?
CRAZY, ISN'T IT?
Jake:
YOU'RE LIKE A MOUNTAIN GOAT.
Tyler: THE HONEY HOLE THAT
JAKE'S GOT HERE IS INSANE.
THIS WILL BE
THE THIRD TIME IT'S MINED,
AND IT'S STILL PULLING
3.5 GRAMS PER TON,
WHICH IS VERY GOOD.
INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
WE'RE GOING TO EXTRACT
ALL THE FINE GOLD.
YOU WANT TO COME
HAVE A LOOK?
-YEAH.
-YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: JAKE'S HONEYPOT LEASE
IS A 247-ACRE SITE
AND INCLUDES A MASSIVE PILE
OF MINE TAILINGS
FROM THE HONEYPOT HOLE.
THIS IS WHERE JAKE BELIEVES
THE REAL MONEY'S AT.
USING A METHOD
CALLED VAT LEACHING,
JAKE PLANS TO EXTRACT
THE REMAINING FINE GOLD
AT A RECOVERY RATE OF 90%.
Jake: RIGHTY-OH.
THIS IS THE VAT LEACH HERE.
THE DIRT GETS SUBMERGED
IN A CHEMICAL SOLUTION,
AND THEN WE'LL RUN THAT
THROUGH CARBON
TO EXTRACT THE FINE GOLD.
Parker: OH, WOW.
Narrator: JAKE'S VAT LEACH
METHOD IS A SIX-STAGE PROCESS.
FIRST, HE CONSTRUCTS A HUGE
RECTANGULAR DAM FROM DIRT.
STAGE TWO,
A MASSIVE PLASTIC SHEET
CREATES A WATERPROOF BASIN.
THEN HE INSTALLS A PERFORATED
PIPE SYSTEM BEFORE STAGE FOUR,
WHEN HE FILLS THE VAT
WITH GOLD RICH TAILINGS.
STAGE FIVE, HE PUMPS A CHEMICAL
SOLUTION THROUGH THE PIPE SYSTEM
AND ALLOWS IT TO SOAK
FOR TWO DAYS.
ONCE THE GOLD IS DISSOLVED,
HE PUMPS THE LIQUID INTO A DRUM
WHERE THE GOLD SPECS BIND
TO LUMPS OF CARBON.
♪♪
SO, IT'S CONSTANTLY LEACHING,
AND THEN YOU'RE CONSTANTLY
PULLING THE GOLD OUT
OF THE SOLUTION IN THERE?
-CORRECT. YEP.
-GOT YOU.
Jake: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THERE'S STILL
3 GRAMS A TON IN IT?
YEP. 3.5 GRAMS PER TON.
WOW.
SO THAT'S LIKE TEN TIMES
BETTER THAN WHAT WE MINE
IN THE YUKON.
HM.
Narrator: A VAT TAKES A DAY TO
BUILD AND ANOTHER TWO TO SOAK.
A PROCESS LOW ON MANPOWER
WITH NO NEED FOR AN UNRELIABLE
GAS GUZZLING WASH PLANT.
AT 3.5 GRAMS A TON, EVEN
BUILDING A VAT EVERY OTHER DAY
WOULD EARN PARKER
$180,000 A WEEK.
YOU'VE DEFINITELY GOT
MY CURIOSITY GOING.
IS IT ALRIGHT
IF WE STAY AROUND?
ARE YOU DOING
ANY WORK HERE?
I'M PLANNING TO BUILD
ANOTHER VAT LEACH,
SO IF YOU GUYS ARE HAPPY
TO PITCH IN AND HELP,
WE CAN PRODUCE SOME MORE GOLD.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PROCESS
THAT I'D LOVE
TO GET TO KNOW BETTER.
AWESOME. SOMEONE WANT
TO DRIVE THE LOADER?
-I CAN DRIVE A LOADER.
-PERFECT.
FRED,
CAN YOU FEND OFF BUGS?
Fred: NOPE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THIS IS ACTUALLY
A PRETTY COOL PLACE.
IT SEEMS LIKE JAKE
IS LIKE PRETTY SMART.
HE SEEMS LIKE A NICE GUY,
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SEEMS REALLY NICE
AND DOWN TO EARTH.
SO I'M ACTUALLY
LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS.
-THE RACE IS ON...
-[BLEEP] FLIES.
Narrator: ...TO SHIFT
80 TONS OF DIRT...
MOVE!
...AND BUILD A BRAND-NEW
RECTANGULAR VAT
100 FEET LONG AND 25 FEET WIDE.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST
CLEARING THIS CONTAINMENT AREA
FOR THE LEACHING PROCESS.
I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED
TO LEARN A NEW PROCESS.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO END UP FINDING.
JAKE VISITS ANOTHER
MINE SITE IN THREE DAYS.
FOR THE YOUNG MINE BOSSES
TO CUT A DEAL,
HE MUST SHOW PARKER THAT VAT
LEACHING HERE DELIVERS BIG GOLD.
WITH ANY LUCK, THIS VAT WILL
PRODUCE SOME QUITE GOOD GRADES
AND WE CAN PULL
A KILO OUT OF IT.
THAT WOULD BE NICE.
NICE SOLID GOLD BAR.
WE'VE ONLY GOT A DAY
TO BUILD THIS VAT.
IF WE DON'T GET THIS VAT DONE,
WE WON'T BE POURING ANY GOLD.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: THE MIDDAY HEAT
HITS 100 DEGREES.
Danny: OH, IT'S SO HOT.
AND WATER-SEEKING FLIES
BECOME MORE ACTIVE.
I THOUGHT THE DUST
WOULD KEEP THE FLIES AWAY.
YOU END UP WITH SOME DUSTY
CONDITIONS SOMETIMES
IN THE YUKON,
BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS ENVIRONMENT IS
ABSOLUTELY BRUTALIZING.
THIS IS FREAKING BAD.
I CAN'T SEE!
GOOD [BLEEP] FLIES.
WHAT THE HELL?
FLIES [BLEEP] OFF.
THE FLIES ARE PUTTING PARKER
OFF A LITTLE BIT.
-[ GROANS ]
-BUT THERE'S TOO MUCH GOLD HERE
TO WORRY ABOUT THE FLIES.
I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND.
WHOSE IDEA WAS AUSTRALIA?
-[ COUGHING ]
-DANNY?
ARE YOU OKAY?
♪♪
Danny: [ COUGHING ]
♪♪
I CAN FEEL IT RIGHT DOWN HERE.
Narrator:
IN REMOTE WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
YUKON MINE BOSS PARKER SCHNABEL
AND HIS TEAM
BATTLE 100-DEGREE HEAT
AND THOUSANDS OF FLIES.
I BREATHED IT DOWN.
I FELT IT DOWN HERE.
Parker: I'M SURE IT WILL
HAPPEN TO ALL OF US.
HOW DO YOU DEAL
WITH THE FLIES?
-THE LONG HAIR.
-I HAVE PRETTY LONG HAIR.
YOU GOT TO KEEP IT
DOWN LIKE THAT.
-YOU'LL BE LAUGHING.
-YEAH?
YEAH.
♪♪
I THINK THIS IS
GOING TO WORK.
FRED HAS HIS OWN WAY
TO COMBAT THE FLIES.
-COME ON FLIES.
-SO, WHAT'S THE THEORY, FRED?
WELL BACON'S
MORE TASTY THAN ME.
SO, I'M HOPING THAT
THIS WILL ATTRACT FLIES.
SEE, FIRST CUSTOMER.
OH YEAH.
YOU WANT SOME MORE
BARBECUE SAUCE?
OH, THANKS PARKER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, THERE'S NO FLIES
ON MY FACE, IS THERE?
WHERE'S MY SCUBA GOGGLES?
OH, YEAH.
INSTANT RELIEF.
-I HAVE TWO FREE HANDS.
-YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T BREATHE.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
-I'M BREATHING.
-AND YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS.
UM...
OKAY.
50 BUCKS, EAT IT FRED.
[ ALL GROANING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
YUCK!
WAIT FOR IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
Jake: GOT MY BUSINESS
PARTNER, MATT, HERE.
WE GOT A NEW LOADER, AND WE GOT
SOME TARPS FOR THIS DAM.
Parker: OH, RIGHT ON.
Narrator:
JAKE LARSON IS UNDER THE GUN.
HE NEEDS TO PROVE TO PARKER
THAT VAT LEACHING
IS A ONE-WAY TICKET
TO BIG AUSSIE GOLD.
BUT JAKE LEAVES FOR ANOTHER SITE
IN THREE DAYS,
SO CO-LEASE HOLDER MATT
IS HERE TO HELP.
PARKER, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP
IN THE LOADER AND RUN THAT?
MATT AND I, WE'LL GET
THESE WALLS SURVEYED
AND WE'LL JUST TELL YOU
BASICALLY WHERE TO DUMP IT.
-OKAY.
-IF WE DON'T GET THIS DONE
AND FLOODED TODAY, YOU GUYS
AREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY GOLD.
OH, BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE FOR
THE LEACHING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH.
IT TAKES SOME TIME.
THAT'S ONE THING
WE CAN'T SPEED UP.
YEAH. WE MIGHT EVEN BE
WORKING INTO THE NIGHT,
BUT WE'LL PUSH FOR IT
AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SWEET.
CAN YOU JUST PUT ONE
MORE LINE OF BUCKETS
ALL THE WAY
ALONG THIS RIGHT BANK?
-ANOTHER LINE OF BUCKETS THERE?
-YEP, ROGER.
WITH THIS PROCESS, IT TAKES A
WHILE FOR THE GOLD TO DISSOLVE,
SO WE'VE GOT TO GET
THIS DAM BUILT TODAY.
♪♪
WE'RE BUILDING THE WALLS NOW,
BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BE COMPLETELY
DEAD LEVEL,
SO WE'LL USE THIS TOOL
AND WE CAN DIRECT HIM
WHERE TO PUT THE DIRT.
IF THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT HEIGHT
THEY'LL BREACH,
AND WE'LL USE
ALL OF OUR GOLD SOLUTION.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT
ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY.
Matt:
JUST COME UP A BIT, EH.
YEAH, WE STILL NEED
A BIT MORE DIRT.
HOW'S PARKER DOING
ON THE LOADER? IS HE ALRIGHT?
YEAH, PARKER'S GOOD.
FLOGGING IT A BIT,
BUT HE'S ALRIGHT.
HE'S GETTING IT DONE.
♪♪
PARKER, WE'VE GOT TO GET
THIS PLASTIC GOING NOW.
THIS WIND'S
STARTING TO PICK UP.
Narrator:
WITH THE DAM NOW LEVEL,
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TO TACKLE
THE VAT LINER --
A 100-SQUARE-FOOT,
800-POUND TARPAULIN.
SO, WE'VE GOT
TO HUSTLE THEN, HUH?
YEAH. IF YOU CAN PICK IT UP
WITH THE DIGGER,
AND WE'LL SLOWLY ROLL IT OUT.
IT'S GOING TO ACT
LIKE A BIG SAIL.
-SOMEONE'S DIED, HAVEN'T THEY?
-YEAH.
A YOUNG FELLA
WAS LINING OUT THE TARP
AND A BIG GUST OF WIND
COME ALONG
AND CAUGHT HIM, AND HE DIED.
DID IT, LIKE, THROW HIM
IN THE AIR?
THREW HIM RIGHT UP
IN THE AIR, SO...
-LET GO.
-LET GO.
EVEN THE WIND
KILLS YOU IN AUSTRALIA.
♪♪
SO, WE'VE GOT TO PULL
ALL THESE STICKS OUT BECAUSE
THEY'RE PRETTY SHARP,
YOU KNOW?
THEY COULD PUNCTURE THE TARP
THAT'S GOING TO BE LAID DOWN
IN HERE AND, YOU KNOW,
LEAKING CHEMICALS INTO
THE ENVIRONMENT IS HORRIBLE.
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO KEEP EVERYTHING SAFE,
AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO TEST
THIS GROUND PROPERLY.
A CHEMICAL SPILL FROM A TEAR
CAUSED BY THE EX
COULD RESULT IN A FINE
OF OVER $325,000.
THAT DIGGER CAN ACTUALLY
TIP NOW IF HE MAKES
A SUDDEN MOVE
TOO QUICKLY.
AND WE DON'T WANT
TO RIP THE TARP.
A SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT
COULD LEAD TO UP TO FOUR YEARS
IN PRISON
AND THE END OF JAKE AND MATT'S
MINING CAREERS.
FOR WHAT'S IT WORTH,
WE MAY AS WELL TAKE IT SLOW
AND GET IT DONE.
DO I WANT TO BE RUNNING
THIS WAY WITH MY TRACKS?
YEAH, JUST TRACK IT NICE
AND SLOW, MATE.
♪♪
♪♪
THERE WE GO.
[ WHISTLES ]
THIS IS THE DANGEROUS PART.
-IS THE WIND OKAY?
-IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE.
♪♪
Narrator: ONCE UNROLLED,
THE 100-SQUARE-FOOT TARP
MUST BE SPREAD EVENLY
ACROSS THE PIT.
EASY!
BUT IN THE FIERCE
AUSTRALIAN WIND,
THE TEAM MUST SECURE IT QUICKLY
BEFORE IT BECOMES
A MASSIVE SAIL.
CAREFUL GUYS, YOU'RE GETTING
GUSTS DOWN THIS END.
IT'S PICKING UP.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP]
THIS WIND'S
PICKING UP NOW PROPERLY.
Fred:
TYLER, COME OVER HERE!
-GUYS!
-IT'S COMING OFF THE OTHER SIDE.
Parker: PUT THE [BLEEP] CAMERA
DOWN, DAN, AND GO OVER THERE!
♪♪
HEY, WE'RE LOSING THAT CORNER.
-AAH!
-GO EASY!
ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
♪♪
-ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
-OH [BLEEP]
ARE YOU OKAY?
Narrator: WRESTLING A TARPAULIN
IN AUSTRALIA'S HIGH WINDS
IS DANGEROUS WORK.
-ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
-[ SIGHS ]
YEAH.
THAT LIFTED ME
OFF THE GROUND.
I MEAN, WE'VE DONE
SOME CRAZY [BLEEP] FOR GOLD
ON THIS TRIP SO FAR,
BUT THIS IS [BLEEP] RIDICULOUS.
Matt:
WE NEED THIS TARP IN NOW.
I THINK THAT WAS EXACTLY THE
OPPOSITE OF WHAT I SAID TO DO.
DON'T DIVE ON IT.
EASY.
JUST A SCRATCH.
LET THE FLIES CLEAN IT OUT.
♪ BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH,
BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH ♪
♪ TOODLE-OODLE-OODLE-OOH
[ LAUGHS ]
-LET'S GO.
-WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
US TO STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN?
♪♪
Narrator: NOW THE PIPE SYSTEM
FOR THE VAT MUST BE PLUMBED IN.
SO, WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP GOING, GUYS.
PUSH ON.
SUN'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN.
Narrator:
TO PROVE THE VALUE OF HIS LEASE,
JAKE NEEDS TO BE LEACHING GOLD
BY NIGHTFALL.
♪♪
ONCE THE PIPES ARE INSTALLED,
THE TEAM WILL FILL THE VAT
WITH 400 TONS
OF GOLD RICH TAILINGS.
A CHEMICAL SOLUTION
IS THEN PUMPED IN
AND LEFT FOR TWO DAYS
TO LEACH OUT THE GOLD.
♪♪
ALRIGHT GUYS,
NOW THIS IS LOOKING GOOD.
LET'S JUMP OUT, AND WE'LL GET
SOME DIRT IN HERE.
♪♪
-YOU BEAUTY.
-GOOD LOOKING DIRT, EH?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
AN HOUR BEFORE SUNDOWN,
THE VAT IS READY.
TO DISSOLVE THE MICROSCOPIC GOLD
AND MAKE IT SOLUBLE IN WATER,
JAKE USES THE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED
CHEMICAL SODIUM CYANIDE.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR WAIT
JUST TO GET THE PERMITTING
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALS,
AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER
SIX-MONTH WAIT
JUST TO GET YOUR CYANIDE PERMIT,
PLUS YOU NEED
A DANGEROUS GOODS LICENSE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU DON'T
INGEST IT,
DRINK IT, OR TOUCH IT,
YOU'RE LAUGHING.
Narrator: FOR THE PAST CENTURY,
THE U.S. AND AUSTRALIA HAVE
RECORDED NO ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
FROM CYANIDE,
BUT SPILLS DO HAPPEN.
IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART OF THIS OPERATION.
IT'S 99.9% PURE CYANIDE.
I'VE GOT FULL FACE MASKS
AND RESPIRATORS,
GLOVES,
AND SUITS FOR US TO WEAR.
DANNY PLANS TO FILM CLOSE-UPS
OF THE POUR
RIGHT NEXT TO JAKE
ON TOP OF THE CONTAINER.
Danny: LISTEN, IF IT'S
SAFE TO DO, THEN I'LL DO IT.
Tyler: WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
WHAT'S THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO?
SAY OUR FILTERS
WEREN'T WORKING PROPERLY
AND YOU INHALE A BIT
OF CYANIDE DUST, YOU'RE DEAD.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIS TEAM'S SAFETY.
HE'S KNOWN DANNY
FOR SIX YEARS.
IN 10 YEARS OF MINING,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE BEEN AROUND IT AT ALL,
AND I'M LIKE --
I DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT
YOU GOING UP THERE.
IF YOU DEALING WITH SOMETHING
THAT ONE BREATH OF IT
CAN KILL YOU...
YEAH.
...THERE IS NO GUARANTEE
THAT YOU'RE SAFE UP THERE.
NO.
IT'S NOT WORTH
THE SHOT ON THE CAMERA.
WE'LL FILM IT
FROM A DISTANCE.
-YEAH?
-YEAH.
COOL.
♪♪
LET'S GET THIS SHOW
ON THE ROAD.
Narrator:
JAKE PROTECTS HIMSELF WITH
A FULL MASK AND BIO-HAZARD SUIT.
-RIGHTY-OH.
-PLUS, A NEARBY SAFETY POND
TO IMMEDIATELY SUBMERGE ANYTHING
CONTAMINATED BY CYANIDE.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
CERTAINLY NOT
TOO USER FRIENDLY.
-TYLER, CAN YOU SMELL IT?
-YEAH.
WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR,
SODIUM CYANIDE GIVES OFF
A BITTER ALMOND-LIKE ODOR.
I THINK I'M VERY LIKE
IGNORANTLY BLASé
ABOUT ALL THESE CHEMICALS
BECAUSE DAD JUST TALKS ABOUT
THEM LIKE THEY'RE NOTHING.
-REALLY?
-YEAH.
ALL THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
THAT JAKE'S DOING,
AND, YEAH.
IT CAN GO WRONG, I GUESS.
[ METAL BANGS ]
♪♪
Danny: FRED, FRED, FRED,
WAIT A MINUTE.
HEY, DUDE, I DON'T FEEL NORMAL.
MY EYES ARE BURNING.
Narrator: IRAQ, 2009 --
FRED WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD,
ENDING HIS SPECIAL FORCES
CAREER.
THE LAST MISSION WE WERE ON,
I ACTUALLY GOT SHOT
BY A SNIPER
RIGHT IN THE TOP
OF THE HELMET.
MILLION-DOLLAR SHOT
WHERE IT DIDN'T KILL ME,
BUT IT JUST ENDED UP SNAPPING
ONE OF THE VERTEBRAE IN MY NECK.
SEVERAL SEIZURES LATER,
FRED WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH A BRAIN INJURY
LEAVING HIM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO NEUROLOGICAL CHEMICALS
LIKE CYANIDE.
MY EYES ARE REALLY SENSITIVE
TO LIGHT RIGHT NOW.
REALLY? YOU'RE SHAKING
A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
I DON'T WANT TO
FREAK YOU OUT, BUT...
[ SIGHS ]
SO WHEN YOUR SEIZURE
THRESHOLD'S LOWER BASICALLY.
YEAH.
AND THEN WHAT,
WHAT SHOULD I DO --
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?
YOU BEING THE MEDIC.
WELL, TO BE HONEST I GET
KIND OF BELLIGERENT
FOR A SEIZURE, SO...
SO LET ME JUST
GET YOU SOMETHING.
Narrator: DANNY ONLY KNOWS
BASIC FIRST AID,
AND THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
IS TWO HOURS AWAY.
[ SIGHS ]
♪♪
[ GROANS, SIGHS ]
I'M GOOD NOW.
I WAS THINKING I COULD LAST
A LOT LONGER THAN THIS.
I'M A GREEN BERET, DUDE.
I THINK THE REALITY IS
IS THAT IF PARKER EVER DID
INDULGE IN A THING LIKE THIS
MOVING FORWARD,
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT,
COULD YOU?
I DON'T THINK I COULD.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T
WANT TO MAKE MYSELF
LOOK LIKE LESS
OF AN ASSET, TOO.
THAT KIND OF WORRIES ME.
THANKS FOR HAVING MY BACK.
NO WORRIES, MAN.
ALRIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.
YEP.
I HAVE NO DOUBTS
THIS IS A SAFE PRACTICE
AND IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S DOING
THE RIGHT THING HERE.
THIS IS HOW THEY MINE,
SO I'VE JUST GOT TO BE
A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS
IN MY SITUATION,
SO THAT'S ABOUT IT.
♪♪
Narrator: IT WILL TAKE TWO DAYS
FOR THE CYANIDE
TO FULLY SOAK THE TAILINGS
AND DISSOLVE
THE MICROSCOPIC GOLD.
-HAPPY DAYS.
-SO NOW YOU'RE SLUICING?
WELL, IT'S NOT SLUICING,
IT'S LEACHING.
WELL, YOUR VERSION.
IT'S PRODUCING GOLD.
GIVE US A SHOUT
WHEN WE CAN COME BACK.
NO WORRIES.
♪♪
Narrator:
BACK IN SANDSTONE, PARKER'S TEAM
WAITS FOR JAKE'S LEACHING
PROCESS TO FINISH.
MY FAMILY'S MINED HERE
FOR 50-PLUS YEARS.
MY GREAT GRANDDAD
ACTUALLY WAS A LOCAL HERE.
THAT'S YOUR GREAT GRANDDAD?
YEAH.
NICE NUGS.
Narrator: FOR A YUKON MINER,
A NEW PROCESS ISN'T THE ONLY
OBSTACLE TO WORKING HERE.
DUST, HEAT, AND FLIES
IS A MURDEROUS ONE, ISN'T IT?
WITH A FEW CHEMICALS
MIXED IN THERE.
YEAH.
I GET THE WHOLE WARINESS
WITH THE CHEMICALS,
BUT THERE'S LOTS
OF OTHER PROCESSES
YOU CAN DO AROUND HERE.
I ACTUALLY KNOW A GUY
WHO'S RUNNING
A DRY BLOWER AT THE MOMENT.
IT'S LIKE A WASH PLANT
WITH NO WATER?
YEAH, EXACTLY.
HE'S NOT TOO FAR OUT OF TOWN.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO LET
THAT DIRT SOAK ANYWAYS,
SO WE'VE GOT TIME.
BUT LET'S DRINK
SOME BEER FIRST.
-CHEERS.
-HERE'S TO ANOTHER DAY DONE.
Tyler: I'M EXCITED TO SHOW THEM
DRY BLOWING.
IT'S A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT PROCESS.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKER,
AND I'M HOPING OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY GOLD
IN THE GROUND OUT HERE.
IT'S JUST THAT
WHAT JAKE DOES,
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT
MINING PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY
VERY INTERESTED
IN FINDING SOMETHING
THAT SUITS US,
AND THAT'S
THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE GROUP SETS OUT
FOR TYLER'S
LATEST BUSINESS LEAD.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO
JAMES ALLISON'S LEASE.
I'VE NEVER MET HIM.
I'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT HIM
THROUGH MY CONTACTS
IN SANDSTONE.
THE WORD IS JAMES
IS LOOKING FOR A BUYER
ON GROUND WHERE HE USES
TRADITIONAL AUSSIE EQUIPMENT.
HE'S RUNNING A DRY BLOWER.
WE FINALLY SEE
THE ILLUSIVE DRY BLOWER.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT WILL BE GOOD BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LEACHING.
IT'S A VIABLE OPTION
FOR GETTING GOLD, FOR SURE?
100%. YEP.
WELL, WE'RE ABOUT
TO FIND OUT.
I'M GUESSING ALL THAT DUST
IS NOT JUST THE WIND.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
-HE'S IN A DOZER.
-WOW, LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: TYLER LEADS THE TEAM
TO A LOCAL MINER
NAMED JAMES ALLISON WHO HAS
A SIZABLE GOLD CLAIM FOR SALE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF HE'S NOTICED WE'RE HERE.
VETERAN GOLD MINER JAMES
RUNS AN OLD-SCHOOL DRY BLOWER,
A GOLD RECOVERY SYSTEM
THAT WORKS WITHOUT WATER.
OH, HERE WE GO.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
[ BLOWER POWERS DOWN ]
-I'M PARKER. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-ALRIGHT.
HOW'S THIS THING WORK?
FEED THE DRY MATERIAL IN
ON THE TOP,
AND IT SEPARATES.
SO YOU'VE GOT
YOUR COURSE MATERIAL.
Parker:
THAT'S YOUR OVERSIZE.
AND THEN IT DROPS
INTO YOUR BOXES.
OKAY.
YOUR COURSE MATERIAL GETS
CAUGHT ON THOSE TOP RIFFLES.
MM-HMM.
AND IT PULSES,
WORKS IT WAY DOWN.
-GOT YOU.
-ALRIGHT.
Narrator: IN THE YUKON,
WET PLANTS USE WATER
TO WASH PAY DIRT
INTO A SLUICE BOX
SEPARATING THE LIGHTER DIRT
AND TRAPPING THE HEAVIER GOLD
IN THE RIFFLES.
BUT A DRY BLOWER'S RIFFLES
WORK THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
AIR BLOWS UP THROUGH VIBRATING
SCREENS BLASTING AWAY DIRT
WHILE THE RIFFLES
CATCH THE HEAVIER GOLD.
♪♪
ARE THEY PRETTY EFFECTIVE?
YOU WON'T GET 100%.
YOU'LL GET ANYTHING
FROM 60% TO 75%.
GOT YOU.
♪♪
♪♪
Tyler: SO BASICALLY, GUYS,
HE'S SORTING THROUGH
THE PAY DIRT AND HE'S GETTING
RID OF THE OVERSIZED,
AND THIS UNDERSIZED STUFF,
HE'S GOING TO PAN
TO GET THE GOLD OUT,
AND THEN THIS OVERSIZED,
HE'LL DETECT TO GET
THE BIGGER NUGGETS.
NOW, WOULD THIS BE YOUR
BIG NUGGETS HERE, JAMES,
IF THERE WERE ANY?
[ DETECTOR PINGING ]
♪♪
THERE'S ONE.
-THERE IT IS.
-LOOK AT THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
-THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
-WOW.
IS THAT ONE?
-GOOD SPOT, FRED.
-WOW, GEEZ.
THERE, ABOUT SIX GRAMS.
HOW MUCH FINDS WOULD YOU
EXPECT TO ACCOMPANY THAT?
OH, WE'LL PROBABLY GET
ANOTHER COUPLE OF GRAMS.
Narrator: EIGHT GRAMS IS WORTH
ABOUT $420 U.S. DOLLARS.
FIVE OR SIX RUNS A DAY WOULD NET
OVER $10,000 A WEEK.
♪♪
I MINE IN THE YUKON,
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR GROUND
THAT IS MINABLE
FOR MORE OF THE YEAR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY GROUND
AROUND HERE THAT'S FOR SALE?
IF YOU WANT
TO BUY THIS ONE.
YOU'VE GOT THIS PLACE
FOR SALE?
WHAT KIND OF PRICE
ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
OH, YOU DON'T WANT
THESE GUYS AROUND?
ALRIGHT.
THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.
♪♪
GOLD DEALS IN THE YUKON
ARE OFTEN SHROUDED IN SECRECY,
AND AUSTRALIA
IS NO DIFFERENT.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF POLITICS INVOLVED
AND BECAUSE SANDSTONE'S
SUCH A SMALL AREA,
HE WON'T WANT THAT INFORMATION
GETTING OUT TO THE LOCALS.
I'VE GOT 17 OUNCES
IN PLACES LIKE THIS.
-WOW.
-AND SO, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
TO BE DONE HERE
OVER A LONG TIME.
HECK, MAYBE THAT THING'S
FOR SALE, YOU KNOW?
YOU'RE GOING IN FOR THE KILL
ON HIS BIT OF EQUIPMENT.
ALWAYS THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX, RIGHT?
♪♪
HOW DID IT GO?
I DON'T THINK HE'S VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT SELLING THIS PLACE.
IT'S STILL A CLASSIC THING OF
EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE, BUT...
-WHAT'S YOUR PRICE?
-YEAH.
LIKE MY MINE SITE'S
FOR SALE, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
-EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
FRED HAD A GOOD IDEA, THOUGH,
THAT HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN SELLING THE DRY BLOWER.
-I KIND OF LIKE IT.
-RIGHT?
Narrator: A DRY BLOWER WOULD
LET PARKER TEST GROUND,
STRENGTHENING HIS HAND
FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP.
SO, YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO WANT
TO SELL THIS, WOULD YOU?
NO.
-NO?
-NO.
I REPLACED THE MOTOR ON IT,
AND I'VE HAD THE GEAR BOX
OVERHAULED LAST YEAR.
SO, IT'S KIND OF YOUR BABY,
IT SOUNDS LIKE.
-IT'S HAD A LOT OF WORK.
-THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.
NICE LITTLE SET UP
YOU'VE GOT HERE.
-THANKS, JAMES.
-THANK YOU.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
DUD?
IT'S NOT A DUD.
IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE
IT HARDER, WE COULD.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE,
FRED.
Tyler: THE MORE TIME I SPEND
WITH PARKER,
I'M STARTING TO SEE
WHAT HE REALLY ENJOYS
IS MOVING DIRT AROUND
AND WASHING ROCKS.
HE LIKES THAT HANDS-ON SIDE
OF MINING.
HE GOT A LITTLE INTRODUCTION
TO DRY BLOWING TODAY.
I THINK HE QUITE ENJOYED
THE PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY AFTER LEACHING.
THE WHOLE LEACHING THING
WILL COME DOWN TO GOLD.
I'M SURE HIS MIND MIGHT CHANGE
IF WE DO A REALLY GOOD
GOLD PULL.
♪♪
♪♪
-LET'S GO BACK TO JAKEY.
-YEP.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE BACK
AT THE HONEYPOT CLAIM
WHERE LEASE HOLDERS
JAKE AND MATT
ARE ABOUT TO START THE NEXT
STAGE OF THE VAT LEACH PROCESS.
♪♪
-HOW'S IT GOING?
-HELLO.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
Jake: WE JUST TURNED
ALL THE PUMPS OFF
AND WE'VE FLUSHED
ALL THE CYANIDE OUT,
SO IT'S JUST FRESH WATER NOW.
AND BASICALLY, WE'VE GOT TO PULL
OUR CARBON TANK OUT OF HERE
WITH ALL THE GOLD IN IT.
OH, SWEET.
Narrator: THE CYANIDE
DISSOLVES ALL THE FINE GOLD
IN THE TAILINGS
SO THE GOLD-RICH LIQUID
CAN BE PUMPED INTO A DRUM
WHERE THE MICROSCOPIC SPECS
BIND TO LUMPS OF CARBON.
ALL TRACES OF CYANIDE
HAVE BEEN RINSED FROM THE DRUM,
BUT FRED'S NOT
TAKING ANY CHANCES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEVELS
OF CYANIDE HERE ARE,
BUT IT'S JUST NOT
WORTH IT TO ME,
SO I'M JUST TAKING
THE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.
ADDED BONUS HERE IS THERE'S
NO FLIES IN MY FACE, SO...
IT'S GOING TO GET A BIT OF
A MISSION TRYING TO GET IT OUT.
WE KIND OF MANIPULATED IT
TO GET IT IN HERE,
AND WE'LL HAVE TO
MANIPULATE IT TO GET IT OUT.
-COOL.
-SEE HOW IT GOES.
Tyler: THIS MOMENT'S PRETTY BIG.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE GOLD IS.
AND IT WILL DETERMINE
IF THAT LEACH HAS WORKED.
Narrator: MAKING A VIABLE
BUSINESS OF THE HONEYPOT CLAIM
MEANS COMMITTING
TO THE CYANIDE PROCESS.
BUT JAKE'S CONVINCED
THE FINAL GOLD EXTRACTION
WILL SHOW PARKER JUST HOW
EFFICIENT LEACHING CAN BE.
♪♪
I'M NOT REALLY LIKING IT
TO BE HONEST.
EVEN JUST THE TANK EMPTY
WITH NO GOLD IN IT OR ANYTHING,
IT'S A $10,000 TANK.
I DON'T THINK
IT'S GOING TO WORK.
-GIVE IT A SHOT.
-YEAH. GIVE IT A GO.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
♪♪
ALRIGHT.
[ HORN HONKS ]
♪♪
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
Fred: THIS IS NERVE-RACKING.
PARKER'S GONE A BIT QUIET
AND THAT NORMALLY MEANS
HE'S A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
HE'S GOT 50 GRAND WORTH
OF GOLD ON HIS FINGERTIPS.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
♪♪
ALRIGHT. ALL GOOD.
[ CHAIN RATTLES ]
♪♪
OH, MY GOODNESS.
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
HOLY COW.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT THAT GUY
RUNNING UP YOUR LEG, WOULD YOU?
[ CHUCKLES ]
JUST SAW A WHACKING
GREAT LIZARD OVER THERE.
-WAS IT A BUNGARRA?
-IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
-MASSIVE.
-YEAH. THEY'RE NORMALLY SCARED,
BUT IF YOU THREATEN THEM,
THEY'LL GO, YEAH.
Narrator:
BUNGARRA IS AN ABORIGINAL WORD
FOR THE SAND GOANNA.
THIS FORAGING MONITOR LIZARD
CAN KILL
AND EAT SOME OF THE DEADLIEST
SNAKES IN THE WORLD
INCLUDING THE INLAND TAIPAN.
LIKE FEW OTHER SPECIES ON EARTH,
BUNGARRA HAVE EVOLVED IMMUNITY
TO SNAKE VENOM.
♪♪
ALRIGHT. ALL GOOD.
Narrator:
IN THE REMOTE AUSTRALIAN BUSH,
LEASE HOLDER JAKE AND MEDIC FRED
PREPARE TO EXTRACT GOLD
FROM A TWO-TON IRON DRUM.
♪♪
AAH! [BLEEP]
HOLY [BLEEP]
-YOU ALRIGHT?
-YEAH, I'M FINE.
SORRY.
ALRIGHT.
LOOKING GOOD.
Narrator: NEXT JOB,
OPEN THE DRUM'S SEALED LID.
Jake: YOU ALRIGHT?
♪♪
WE PUT TOO MUCH GLUE ON.
THERE'S ONLY ONE CHAIN THAT'S
HOLDING UP THIS WHOLE BUCKET
AND HE'S WOBBLING IT
AROUND UP THERE.
Parker: OW.
[BLEEP] GUYS, WHAT DID YOU
PUT THIS ON WITH?
SUPER GLUE.
♪♪
-THERE YOU GO.
-WHOO!
-GET IN THERE!
-GOOD JOB, BOYS.
WELL DONE.
Narrator: NOW THE TEAM CAN
COLLECT ALL THE CARBON LUMPS
CONTAINING THE FINE GOLD.
WE'RE FLUSHING THE CARBON
INTO THE BAG.
THIS IS THE MOST CRUCIAL POINT.
ANY CARBON WE SPILL,
IT'S GOLD THAT WE'RE LOSING.
Tyler: THERE IT IS.
-LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT OVER.
-THAT'S ALL THE CARBON OUT.
Fred: WELL,
THAT'S A LOT OF CARBON.
CURL IN.
-YEAH. WELL DONE EVERYONE.
-GOOD JOB, FRED.
-HAPPY DAYS.
-AWESOME.
-WE'RE ALL STILL ALIVE.
-GOOD WORK.
SO, DO YOU JUST, LIKE,
TRADE THIS IN AT THE BAR
FOR CASES OF BEER?
WE'LL TAKE THIS DOWN
TO THE STRIPPING PLACE,
AND THEY'LL PROCESS IT
INTO STEEL WOOL FOR US,
AND THEN WE'LL POUR A BAR
OUT OF THAT.
SWEET.
WE'LL JUST FOLLOW YOU THEN?
-YEP. LET'S GO.
-LET'S GO MAKE SOME MONEY.
♪♪
Narrator:
JAKE DRIVES THE GROUP 20 MILES
SOUTH TO ONE OF HIS WORKSHOPS.
Parker: I'LL BE INTERESTED
TO SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
COMES OUT OF THAT
FROM A DIRT-MOVING STANDPOINT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE,
AND THEN THE COSTS ARE LOW
ONCE YOU GET TO THIS POINT.
BUT USING CHEMICALS,
I'M NOT REALLY SURE
HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THE CARBON IS LEACHED
AGAIN THROUGH A PROCESS
CALLED ELECTROWINNING
GIVING JAKE HIGH PURITY MATERIAL
HE MELTS FOR 20 MINUTES
AT 1,400 DEGREES.
♪♪
DANNY HAS TO PUT A CAMERA
ON ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING
INCLUDING THE TONGS
GOING INTO THE FURNACE.
♪♪
-OH.
-HOLY CRAP.
-WOW.
-WOW.
-NOT BAD.
-ONE GOLD CAKE.
-HAPPY WITH THAT?
-YEAH.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST PUT THIS BAR
IN A BIT OF NITRIC ACID.
THAT WILL CLEAN UP ALL OF
THE RUBBISH ON THE OUTSIDE
AND SHOW US
THE ACTUAL COLOR OF THE GOLD.
THE ACID DISSOLVES
THE REMAINING UNWANTED MATERIAL
LEAVING A GOLD BAR OF 98% PURITY
READY TO BE WEIGHED.
COOL. I LIKE IT.
28 OUNCES.
YOU READY?
OH, BLIMEY.
I'LL GO 29.
Narrator: JAKE'S FINAL BAR IS
THE PRODUCT OF 400 TONS OF DIRT.
-34.
-OOH.
-34.
-34.
SO, 35 OUNCES OF GOLD
WOULD MAKE JAKE'S GROUND
WORTH 10 TIMES WHAT
PARKER MINES IN THE YUKON.
Jake: YOU GOING TO SLAP IT
ON THE SCALES OR WHAT?
♪♪
-WHOA.
-OH [BLEEP]
-THAT'S A BIT MORE.
-SHUT UP.
Parker: 44.5.
Narrator: 44.5 OUNCES IS WORTH
OVER $66,000.
-GOOD WORK.
-THAT'S GOOD.
-THE OPTIMIST.
-YEAH.
SO, WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD
RESULT. ARE YOU INTERESTED?
GOD, THIS WHOLE PROCESS
IS JUST SO FOREIGN TO ME.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING
A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH IT.
IF I SHOWED UP HERE,
I WOULD MAKE
AN ABSOLUTE MESS OUT OF IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AS INTRIGUED AS I AM BY IT,
I REALLY GOT LEARN WAY MORE
ABOUT IT
BEFORE I START TAKING
SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON.
YEP. YOU CAN SEE IT
MAKES GOOD MONEY, THOUGH.
OH, YEAH.
-CHEERS. THANKS, GUYS.
-CHEERS.
REALLY GLAD I DID END UP
BRINGING THE BOYS HERE.
THEY LEARNED A LOT.
IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THREE
YOUNG MINERS WORKING TOGETHER.
YOU NEVER SEE THAT.
IT'S SO RARE.
AND YEAH, IT'S GOOD
TO SHOW THEM HOW WE DO IT
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
-THANKS AGAIN.
-NICE ONE, MATT.
-TAKE IT EASY, MATE.
-TAKE IT EASY, MATE.
PARKER, THERE'S THE GOLD.
THERE'S THE GOLD.
-SHALL WE GO?
-LET'S GET IN THE TRUCK AND GO.
THERE IT IS.
I DO LIKE THOSE GUYS.
DON'T LIKE THE MINING PROCESS.
♪♪
I LIKE DIGGING DIRT.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...IT'S A NUGGET.
...PARKER SWINGS
FOR THE FENCES....
SHOW ME THE MONEY.
...HIRING A 50-TON PLANT...
YEAH!
...WORTH HALF-A-MILLION
DOLLARS...
-WE ARE RUNNING.
-YEAH!
...IN A GAMBLE THAT PUSHES
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TYLER...
Tyler: I'VE GOT A LOT RIDING
ON THIS ONE.
WE'RE RUNNING DIRT
THAT HAS NO GOLD IN IT.
...TO ITS LIMIT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH
ON THE LINE THE WHOLE TRIP.
-I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!
-[ COUGHS ]
Danny: FRED?
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
OF "PARKER'S TRAIL"...
Parker: I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
Narrator: ...THE HUNT
FOR OUTBACK GOLD INTENSIFIES.
-I CAN'T SEE.
-GO EASY.
AAH.
YOU'VE DEFINITELY
GOT MY CURIOSITY GOING.
HEY!
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ENTER THE WILD WEST...
-GUYS, LOCK THE DOORS.
-LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
...WHERE PROSPECTORS
TRUST NO ONE.
YOU DON'T WANT
THESE GUYS AROUND?
ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRANK?
Narrator: AND THE METHODS
THEY USE FOR MINING
ARE EVEN DEADLIER
THAN THE UNFORGIVING DESERT.
IF YOU INHALE A BIT
OF CYANIDE DUST, YOU'RE DEAD.
-[ COUGHS ]
-DANNY?!
♪♪
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Danny: YOU DO REALIZE THAT
THE AIR-CONDITIONING IN THIS CAR
ONLY REACHES HALFWAY?
WELL WE'VE GOT IT TURNED UP
ALL THE WAY, ALRIGHT?
YOU NEED TO POINT THAT ONE AT US
OR THAT ONE AT US.
THAT IS DIRECTLY
POINTING AT YOU.
-THAT'S NOT.
-TICKLE HIM!
-STOP.
-TICKLE HIM!
DON'T MAKE ME
PULL THIS CAR OVER!
FRED, COULD YOU PLEASE
JUST GET US SOMEPLACE.
Narrator: 5,500 MILES INTO
THEIR EPIC TWO-MONTH GOLD TREK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM HEAD
INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S
LEGENDARY MURCHISON GOLD FIELDS
AND THE TINY TOWN
OF SANDSTONE.
SANDSTONE'S COOL.
I LOVE SANDSTONE.
YOU'VE SPENT TIME HERE?
YEAH, SO,
MY GREAT GRANDFATHER
WAS ACTUALLY QUITE
A BIG MINER HERE.
HE USED TO TAKE
MY DAD HERE,
AND THIS IS WHERE MY DAD
LEARNED TO FIND GOLD.
THE TOWN USED TO BE A LOT BIGGER
AND A LOT MORE FAMILIES
BECAUSE ALL THE MEN
WERE WORKING ON THE MINE.
BUT WHEN THE MINE CLOSED DOWN,
A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT.
Narrator: SANDSTONE NOW
HAS A POPULATION OF JUST 80,
BUT AT THE TURN
OF THE 20th CENTURY,
THIS REMOTE PATCH OF DESERT
WAS AN EPICENTER
OF GOLD PROSPECTING,
INHABITED BY 8,000 MINERS.
SINCE 1903,
SANDSTONE HAS PRODUCED
OVER 3-MILLION OUNCES.
SO, WHAT'S OUR PLAN
FOR BEING HERE?
WE ARE ON THE WAY
TO SEE MY MATE JAKE.
HE'S QUITE YOUNG.
HE'S AROUND OUR AGE, PARKER.
AND IS THERE GROUND
FOR SALE AROUND HERE?
HE'S GOT AN EXPLORATION LEASE,
WHICH HE'S DONE SOME DRILLING ON
AND THEN HE'S GOT
A MINING LEASE, AS WELL.
OH, YEAH, THAT'S
THE OTHER THING.
SANDSTONE IS AN EXTREMELY
TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT
THE GOLD YOU'RE FINDING.
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
OH, THIS IS SER--
OH, YOU'RE SERIOUS.
-I'M BEING DEADLY SERIOUS.
-WOW.
♪♪
PRIVATE ROAD, NO ACCESS.
TYLER.
IT'S ALRIGHT.
LET'S JUST READ
WHAT THIS SAYS, HEY.
[BLEEP] OFF NOW,
KEEP OUT.
WHAT'S 222 MEAN?
PROBABLY THE SIZE OF RIFLE
YOU'RE GOING GET SHOT WITH.
OH [BLEEP]
IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
Narrator: IN THESE PARTS,
ILLEGAL PROSPECTING IS RIFE.
GROUND IS FIERCELY PROTECTED,
AND SHOOTINGS ARE NOT UNCOMMON.
-WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
-IT'S FINE, GUYS. IT'LL BE FINE.
ALRIGHT.
TYLER,
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?
Parker:
WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA.
HOW LONG DID YOU SAY
JAKE'S BEEN MINING HERE?
Tyler: NOT LONG AT ALL.
WELL, THEN THIS IS
NOT HIS PLACE.
YEAH.
♪♪
OH, THERE'S SOMEBODY.
GUYS LOCK THE DOORS.
HE LOOKS ANGRY.
YEAH.
I'M GOING
JUMP OUT BECAUSE --
NO, I GOT IT TYLER.
IT'S KIND OF WHY I'M HERE, SO --
THEY'RE NOT GOING
KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
THAT'S OKAY.
I CAN HANDLE THIS.
I'VE BEEN TRAINED IN THESE
KIND OF SITUATIONS.
♪♪
HOWDY.
Narrator: A FIELD MEDIC
FOR THE GREEN BERETS,
FRED IS ALSO A TRAINED LINGUIST
AND COMMUNICATOR.
AH, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A MINE SITE.
I'M SUPPOSED TO MEET THE YOUNGER
BLOKE IN HIS MID-20s.
THAT WAY?
OKAY, I APOLOGIZE.
THEY'RE SHAKING HANDS.
♪♪
AH, OKAY.
-YOU ALRIGHT?
-YEP.
WE WENT THE WRONG WAY,
BUT, YEAH, HE DOES NOT
TAKE KINDLY TO PEOPLE
COMING UP ON HIS PROPERTY,
YOU COULD TELL.
-SO, THE SIGNS WERE HIS THEN?
-YEP.
♪♪
THERE'S SOMEBODY
WALKING AROUND UP THERE.
-YEAH, THERE'S JAKE.
-IS THAT HIM?
-YEP, THAT'S JAKE.
-OH.
WE FOUND THE RIGHT PERSON.
YOU'RE JAKE?
-YEAH, JAKE.
-FRED.
27-YEAR-OLD JAKE LARSON
HAS HELD THE HONEYPOT LEASE
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
-I'M PARKER.
-GOOD DAY, PARKER, JAKE.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
-NOW I RECOGNIZE YOU.
-YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HEY. HEY, JAKE, I'M DANNY.
-JAKE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, MAN.
-THE FLIES ARE WICKED.
-OH, THE FLIES ARE TERRIBLE.
-WELL, WELCOME TO HONEYPOT.
-WHY DO THEY CALL IT HONEYPOT?
THERE'S A HOLE JUST THERE
THEY PULLED OUT
A THOUSAND OUNCES
OF DETECTABLE GOLD.
-REALLY?
-YEAH.
MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THE GEOLOGY MORE THAN ME.
Narrator: THE HONEYPOT HOLE
EARNED ITS NAME IN 2008
WHEN PROSPECTORS WITH HAND TOOLS
DUG UP OVER TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
TWO YEARS LATER, PROFESSIONAL
MINORS ARMED WITH DYNAMITE
AND AN EXCAVATOR
EXPANDED THE MINE
AND RECOVERED A FURTHER 62 LBS
WORTH $1.3 MILLION.
EVEN NOW, THE HONEYPOT HOLE IS
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.
-IT'S STILL FULL OF GOLD.
-OH, WOW.
-OH, COOL.
-THIS IS A LITTLE BIT
OF THE GOLD THAT'S BEEN
COMING OUT.
THERE'S DETECTABLE GOLD
STUCK IN THE WALL DOWN THERE,
AND YOU CAN SEE
THE OLD BLASTING HOLES.
THERE'S GOLD
IN THERE AS WELL.
-WOW.
-I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS, AND ULTIMATELY,
SEVERAL THOUSAND OUNCES
WILL COME OUT OF THIS AREA, HUH?CORRECT.
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A THOUSAND OUNCES
BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT
THE PROPERTY?
CORRECT, YEP.
SO, YOU WANT TO SELL THIS LEASE,
OBVIOUSLY.
I DO. UNFORTUNATELY,
I'M STRETCHED REALLY THIN.
I'VE GOT PROJECTS IN BETWEEN
HERE AND SOUTHERN CROSS.
YEAH, OKAY.
TO GET JUST BACK TO MY YARD,
IT'S 550 KILOMETERS.
I'D LIKE TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE
AT A REASONABLE PRICE,
AND THEN JUST KEEP
A ROYALTY ON IT.
WHAT'S A REASONABLE
PRICE TO YOU?
TO BE NEGOTIATED.
-OKAY. YEP.
-YEP.
-MIND IF I GO DOWN THERE?
-YEAH, JUST BE CAREFUL.
IT'S SLIPPERY.
I CAN'T BOUNCE LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU FOUND THOSE NUGGETS
AFTER THIS HAD ALL BEEN MINED?
CORRECT, YEP. THEY DIDN'T
DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
THEY LEFT A LOT
OF GOLD BEHIND.
-HMM.
-AMAZING, ISN'T IT.
I'M ACTUALLY SUPER INTRIGUED
BY THE PIECE OF GROUND.
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN
ANYTHING I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.
HOW ARE YOU LIKING THE FLIES?
CRAZY, ISN'T IT?
Jake:
YOU'RE LIKE A MOUNTAIN GOAT.
Tyler: THE HONEY HOLE THAT
JAKE'S GOT HERE IS INSANE.
THIS WILL BE
THE THIRD TIME IT'S MINED,
AND IT'S STILL PULLING
3.5 GRAMS PER TON,
WHICH IS VERY GOOD.
INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
WE'RE GOING TO EXTRACT
ALL THE FINE GOLD.
YOU WANT TO COME
HAVE A LOOK?
-YEAH.
-YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: JAKE'S HONEYPOT LEASE
IS A 247-ACRE SITE
AND INCLUDES A MASSIVE PILE
OF MINE TAILINGS
FROM THE HONEYPOT HOLE.
THIS IS WHERE JAKE BELIEVES
THE REAL MONEY'S AT.
USING A METHOD
CALLED VAT LEACHING,
JAKE PLANS TO EXTRACT
THE REMAINING FINE GOLD
AT A RECOVERY RATE OF 90%.
Jake: RIGHTY-OH.
THIS IS THE VAT LEACH HERE.
THE DIRT GETS SUBMERGED
IN A CHEMICAL SOLUTION,
AND THEN WE'LL RUN THAT
THROUGH CARBON
TO EXTRACT THE FINE GOLD.
Parker: OH, WOW.
Narrator: JAKE'S VAT LEACH
METHOD IS A SIX-STAGE PROCESS.
FIRST, HE CONSTRUCTS A HUGE
RECTANGULAR DAM FROM DIRT.
STAGE TWO,
A MASSIVE PLASTIC SHEET
CREATES A WATERPROOF BASIN.
THEN HE INSTALLS A PERFORATED
PIPE SYSTEM BEFORE STAGE FOUR,
WHEN HE FILLS THE VAT
WITH GOLD RICH TAILINGS.
STAGE FIVE, HE PUMPS A CHEMICAL
SOLUTION THROUGH THE PIPE SYSTEM
AND ALLOWS IT TO SOAK
FOR TWO DAYS.
ONCE THE GOLD IS DISSOLVED,
HE PUMPS THE LIQUID INTO A DRUM
WHERE THE GOLD SPECS BIND
TO LUMPS OF CARBON.
♪♪
SO, IT'S CONSTANTLY LEACHING,
AND THEN YOU'RE CONSTANTLY
PULLING THE GOLD OUT
OF THE SOLUTION IN THERE?
-CORRECT. YEP.
-GOT YOU.
Jake: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THERE'S STILL
3 GRAMS A TON IN IT?
YEP. 3.5 GRAMS PER TON.
WOW.
SO THAT'S LIKE TEN TIMES
BETTER THAN WHAT WE MINE
IN THE YUKON.
HM.
Narrator: A VAT TAKES A DAY TO
BUILD AND ANOTHER TWO TO SOAK.
A PROCESS LOW ON MANPOWER
WITH NO NEED FOR AN UNRELIABLE
GAS GUZZLING WASH PLANT.
AT 3.5 GRAMS A TON, EVEN
BUILDING A VAT EVERY OTHER DAY
WOULD EARN PARKER
$180,000 A WEEK.
YOU'VE DEFINITELY GOT
MY CURIOSITY GOING.
IS IT ALRIGHT
IF WE STAY AROUND?
ARE YOU DOING
ANY WORK HERE?
I'M PLANNING TO BUILD
ANOTHER VAT LEACH,
SO IF YOU GUYS ARE HAPPY
TO PITCH IN AND HELP,
WE CAN PRODUCE SOME MORE GOLD.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PROCESS
THAT I'D LOVE
TO GET TO KNOW BETTER.
AWESOME. SOMEONE WANT
TO DRIVE THE LOADER?
-I CAN DRIVE A LOADER.
-PERFECT.
FRED,
CAN YOU FEND OFF BUGS?
Fred: NOPE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THIS IS ACTUALLY
A PRETTY COOL PLACE.
IT SEEMS LIKE JAKE
IS LIKE PRETTY SMART.
HE SEEMS LIKE A NICE GUY,
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SEEMS REALLY NICE
AND DOWN TO EARTH.
SO I'M ACTUALLY
LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS.
-THE RACE IS ON...
-[BLEEP] FLIES.
Narrator: ...TO SHIFT
80 TONS OF DIRT...
MOVE!
...AND BUILD A BRAND-NEW
RECTANGULAR VAT
100 FEET LONG AND 25 FEET WIDE.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST
CLEARING THIS CONTAINMENT AREA
FOR THE LEACHING PROCESS.
I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED
TO LEARN A NEW PROCESS.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO END UP FINDING.
JAKE VISITS ANOTHER
MINE SITE IN THREE DAYS.
FOR THE YOUNG MINE BOSSES
TO CUT A DEAL,
HE MUST SHOW PARKER THAT VAT
LEACHING HERE DELIVERS BIG GOLD.
WITH ANY LUCK, THIS VAT WILL
PRODUCE SOME QUITE GOOD GRADES
AND WE CAN PULL
A KILO OUT OF IT.
THAT WOULD BE NICE.
NICE SOLID GOLD BAR.
WE'VE ONLY GOT A DAY
TO BUILD THIS VAT.
IF WE DON'T GET THIS VAT DONE,
WE WON'T BE POURING ANY GOLD.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: THE MIDDAY HEAT
HITS 100 DEGREES.
Danny: OH, IT'S SO HOT.
AND WATER-SEEKING FLIES
BECOME MORE ACTIVE.
I THOUGHT THE DUST
WOULD KEEP THE FLIES AWAY.
YOU END UP WITH SOME DUSTY
CONDITIONS SOMETIMES
IN THE YUKON,
BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS ENVIRONMENT IS
ABSOLUTELY BRUTALIZING.
THIS IS FREAKING BAD.
I CAN'T SEE!
GOOD [BLEEP] FLIES.
WHAT THE HELL?
FLIES [BLEEP] OFF.
THE FLIES ARE PUTTING PARKER
OFF A LITTLE BIT.
-[ GROANS ]
-BUT THERE'S TOO MUCH GOLD HERE
TO WORRY ABOUT THE FLIES.
I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND.
WHOSE IDEA WAS AUSTRALIA?
-[ COUGHING ]
-DANNY?
ARE YOU OKAY?
♪♪
Danny: [ COUGHING ]
♪♪
I CAN FEEL IT RIGHT DOWN HERE.
Narrator:
IN REMOTE WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
YUKON MINE BOSS PARKER SCHNABEL
AND HIS TEAM
BATTLE 100-DEGREE HEAT
AND THOUSANDS OF FLIES.
I BREATHED IT DOWN.
I FELT IT DOWN HERE.
Parker: I'M SURE IT WILL
HAPPEN TO ALL OF US.
HOW DO YOU DEAL
WITH THE FLIES?
-THE LONG HAIR.
-I HAVE PRETTY LONG HAIR.
YOU GOT TO KEEP IT
DOWN LIKE THAT.
-YOU'LL BE LAUGHING.
-YEAH?
YEAH.
♪♪
I THINK THIS IS
GOING TO WORK.
FRED HAS HIS OWN WAY
TO COMBAT THE FLIES.
-COME ON FLIES.
-SO, WHAT'S THE THEORY, FRED?
WELL BACON'S
MORE TASTY THAN ME.
SO, I'M HOPING THAT
THIS WILL ATTRACT FLIES.
SEE, FIRST CUSTOMER.
OH YEAH.
YOU WANT SOME MORE
BARBECUE SAUCE?
OH, THANKS PARKER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, THERE'S NO FLIES
ON MY FACE, IS THERE?
WHERE'S MY SCUBA GOGGLES?
OH, YEAH.
INSTANT RELIEF.
-I HAVE TWO FREE HANDS.
-YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T BREATHE.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
-I'M BREATHING.
-AND YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS.
UM...
OKAY.
50 BUCKS, EAT IT FRED.
[ ALL GROANING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
YUCK!
WAIT FOR IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
Jake: GOT MY BUSINESS
PARTNER, MATT, HERE.
WE GOT A NEW LOADER, AND WE GOT
SOME TARPS FOR THIS DAM.
Parker: OH, RIGHT ON.
Narrator:
JAKE LARSON IS UNDER THE GUN.
HE NEEDS TO PROVE TO PARKER
THAT VAT LEACHING
IS A ONE-WAY TICKET
TO BIG AUSSIE GOLD.
BUT JAKE LEAVES FOR ANOTHER SITE
IN THREE DAYS,
SO CO-LEASE HOLDER MATT
IS HERE TO HELP.
PARKER, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP
IN THE LOADER AND RUN THAT?
MATT AND I, WE'LL GET
THESE WALLS SURVEYED
AND WE'LL JUST TELL YOU
BASICALLY WHERE TO DUMP IT.
-OKAY.
-IF WE DON'T GET THIS DONE
AND FLOODED TODAY, YOU GUYS
AREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY GOLD.
OH, BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE FOR
THE LEACHING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH.
IT TAKES SOME TIME.
THAT'S ONE THING
WE CAN'T SPEED UP.
YEAH. WE MIGHT EVEN BE
WORKING INTO THE NIGHT,
BUT WE'LL PUSH FOR IT
AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SWEET.
CAN YOU JUST PUT ONE
MORE LINE OF BUCKETS
ALL THE WAY
ALONG THIS RIGHT BANK?
-ANOTHER LINE OF BUCKETS THERE?
-YEP, ROGER.
WITH THIS PROCESS, IT TAKES A
WHILE FOR THE GOLD TO DISSOLVE,
SO WE'VE GOT TO GET
THIS DAM BUILT TODAY.
♪♪
WE'RE BUILDING THE WALLS NOW,
BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BE COMPLETELY
DEAD LEVEL,
SO WE'LL USE THIS TOOL
AND WE CAN DIRECT HIM
WHERE TO PUT THE DIRT.
IF THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT HEIGHT
THEY'LL BREACH,
AND WE'LL USE
ALL OF OUR GOLD SOLUTION.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT
ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY.
Matt:
JUST COME UP A BIT, EH.
YEAH, WE STILL NEED
A BIT MORE DIRT.
HOW'S PARKER DOING
ON THE LOADER? IS HE ALRIGHT?
YEAH, PARKER'S GOOD.
FLOGGING IT A BIT,
BUT HE'S ALRIGHT.
HE'S GETTING IT DONE.
♪♪
PARKER, WE'VE GOT TO GET
THIS PLASTIC GOING NOW.
THIS WIND'S
STARTING TO PICK UP.
Narrator:
WITH THE DAM NOW LEVEL,
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TO TACKLE
THE VAT LINER --
A 100-SQUARE-FOOT,
800-POUND TARPAULIN.
SO, WE'VE GOT
TO HUSTLE THEN, HUH?
YEAH. IF YOU CAN PICK IT UP
WITH THE DIGGER,
AND WE'LL SLOWLY ROLL IT OUT.
IT'S GOING TO ACT
LIKE A BIG SAIL.
-SOMEONE'S DIED, HAVEN'T THEY?
-YEAH.
A YOUNG FELLA
WAS LINING OUT THE TARP
AND A BIG GUST OF WIND
COME ALONG
AND CAUGHT HIM, AND HE DIED.
DID IT, LIKE, THROW HIM
IN THE AIR?
THREW HIM RIGHT UP
IN THE AIR, SO...
-LET GO.
-LET GO.
EVEN THE WIND
KILLS YOU IN AUSTRALIA.
♪♪
SO, WE'VE GOT TO PULL
ALL THESE STICKS OUT BECAUSE
THEY'RE PRETTY SHARP,
YOU KNOW?
THEY COULD PUNCTURE THE TARP
THAT'S GOING TO BE LAID DOWN
IN HERE AND, YOU KNOW,
LEAKING CHEMICALS INTO
THE ENVIRONMENT IS HORRIBLE.
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO KEEP EVERYTHING SAFE,
AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO TEST
THIS GROUND PROPERLY.
A CHEMICAL SPILL FROM A TEAR
CAUSED BY THE EX
COULD RESULT IN A FINE
OF OVER $325,000.
THAT DIGGER CAN ACTUALLY
TIP NOW IF HE MAKES
A SUDDEN MOVE
TOO QUICKLY.
AND WE DON'T WANT
TO RIP THE TARP.
A SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT
COULD LEAD TO UP TO FOUR YEARS
IN PRISON
AND THE END OF JAKE AND MATT'S
MINING CAREERS.
FOR WHAT'S IT WORTH,
WE MAY AS WELL TAKE IT SLOW
AND GET IT DONE.
DO I WANT TO BE RUNNING
THIS WAY WITH MY TRACKS?
YEAH, JUST TRACK IT NICE
AND SLOW, MATE.
♪♪
♪♪
THERE WE GO.
[ WHISTLES ]
THIS IS THE DANGEROUS PART.
-IS THE WIND OKAY?
-IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE.
♪♪
Narrator: ONCE UNROLLED,
THE 100-SQUARE-FOOT TARP
MUST BE SPREAD EVENLY
ACROSS THE PIT.
EASY!
BUT IN THE FIERCE
AUSTRALIAN WIND,
THE TEAM MUST SECURE IT QUICKLY
BEFORE IT BECOMES
A MASSIVE SAIL.
CAREFUL GUYS, YOU'RE GETTING
GUSTS DOWN THIS END.
IT'S PICKING UP.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP]
THIS WIND'S
PICKING UP NOW PROPERLY.
Fred:
TYLER, COME OVER HERE!
-GUYS!
-IT'S COMING OFF THE OTHER SIDE.
Parker: PUT THE [BLEEP] CAMERA
DOWN, DAN, AND GO OVER THERE!
♪♪
HEY, WE'RE LOSING THAT CORNER.
-AAH!
-GO EASY!
ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
♪♪
-ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
-OH [BLEEP]
ARE YOU OKAY?
Narrator: WRESTLING A TARPAULIN
IN AUSTRALIA'S HIGH WINDS
IS DANGEROUS WORK.
-ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
-[ SIGHS ]
YEAH.
THAT LIFTED ME
OFF THE GROUND.
I MEAN, WE'VE DONE
SOME CRAZY [BLEEP] FOR GOLD
ON THIS TRIP SO FAR,
BUT THIS IS [BLEEP] RIDICULOUS.
Matt:
WE NEED THIS TARP IN NOW.
I THINK THAT WAS EXACTLY THE
OPPOSITE OF WHAT I SAID TO DO.
DON'T DIVE ON IT.
EASY.
JUST A SCRATCH.
LET THE FLIES CLEAN IT OUT.
♪ BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH,
BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH, BAH ♪
♪ TOODLE-OODLE-OODLE-OOH
[ LAUGHS ]
-LET'S GO.
-WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
US TO STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN?
♪♪
Narrator: NOW THE PIPE SYSTEM
FOR THE VAT MUST BE PLUMBED IN.
SO, WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP GOING, GUYS.
PUSH ON.
SUN'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN.
Narrator:
TO PROVE THE VALUE OF HIS LEASE,
JAKE NEEDS TO BE LEACHING GOLD
BY NIGHTFALL.
♪♪
ONCE THE PIPES ARE INSTALLED,
THE TEAM WILL FILL THE VAT
WITH 400 TONS
OF GOLD RICH TAILINGS.
A CHEMICAL SOLUTION
IS THEN PUMPED IN
AND LEFT FOR TWO DAYS
TO LEACH OUT THE GOLD.
♪♪
ALRIGHT GUYS,
NOW THIS IS LOOKING GOOD.
LET'S JUMP OUT, AND WE'LL GET
SOME DIRT IN HERE.
♪♪
-YOU BEAUTY.
-GOOD LOOKING DIRT, EH?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
AN HOUR BEFORE SUNDOWN,
THE VAT IS READY.
TO DISSOLVE THE MICROSCOPIC GOLD
AND MAKE IT SOLUBLE IN WATER,
JAKE USES THE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED
CHEMICAL SODIUM CYANIDE.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR WAIT
JUST TO GET THE PERMITTING
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALS,
AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER
SIX-MONTH WAIT
JUST TO GET YOUR CYANIDE PERMIT,
PLUS YOU NEED
A DANGEROUS GOODS LICENSE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU DON'T
INGEST IT,
DRINK IT, OR TOUCH IT,
YOU'RE LAUGHING.
Narrator: FOR THE PAST CENTURY,
THE U.S. AND AUSTRALIA HAVE
RECORDED NO ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
FROM CYANIDE,
BUT SPILLS DO HAPPEN.
IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART OF THIS OPERATION.
IT'S 99.9% PURE CYANIDE.
I'VE GOT FULL FACE MASKS
AND RESPIRATORS,
GLOVES,
AND SUITS FOR US TO WEAR.
DANNY PLANS TO FILM CLOSE-UPS
OF THE POUR
RIGHT NEXT TO JAKE
ON TOP OF THE CONTAINER.
Danny: LISTEN, IF IT'S
SAFE TO DO, THEN I'LL DO IT.
Tyler: WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
WHAT'S THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO?
SAY OUR FILTERS
WEREN'T WORKING PROPERLY
AND YOU INHALE A BIT
OF CYANIDE DUST, YOU'RE DEAD.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIS TEAM'S SAFETY.
HE'S KNOWN DANNY
FOR SIX YEARS.
IN 10 YEARS OF MINING,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE BEEN AROUND IT AT ALL,
AND I'M LIKE --
I DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT
YOU GOING UP THERE.
IF YOU DEALING WITH SOMETHING
THAT ONE BREATH OF IT
CAN KILL YOU...
YEAH.
...THERE IS NO GUARANTEE
THAT YOU'RE SAFE UP THERE.
NO.
IT'S NOT WORTH
THE SHOT ON THE CAMERA.
WE'LL FILM IT
FROM A DISTANCE.
-YEAH?
-YEAH.
COOL.
♪♪
LET'S GET THIS SHOW
ON THE ROAD.
Narrator:
JAKE PROTECTS HIMSELF WITH
A FULL MASK AND BIO-HAZARD SUIT.
-RIGHTY-OH.
-PLUS, A NEARBY SAFETY POND
TO IMMEDIATELY SUBMERGE ANYTHING
CONTAMINATED BY CYANIDE.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
CERTAINLY NOT
TOO USER FRIENDLY.
-TYLER, CAN YOU SMELL IT?
-YEAH.
WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR,
SODIUM CYANIDE GIVES OFF
A BITTER ALMOND-LIKE ODOR.
I THINK I'M VERY LIKE
IGNORANTLY BLASé
ABOUT ALL THESE CHEMICALS
BECAUSE DAD JUST TALKS ABOUT
THEM LIKE THEY'RE NOTHING.
-REALLY?
-YEAH.
ALL THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
THAT JAKE'S DOING,
AND, YEAH.
IT CAN GO WRONG, I GUESS.
[ METAL BANGS ]
♪♪
Danny: FRED, FRED, FRED,
WAIT A MINUTE.
HEY, DUDE, I DON'T FEEL NORMAL.
MY EYES ARE BURNING.
Narrator: IRAQ, 2009 --
FRED WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD,
ENDING HIS SPECIAL FORCES
CAREER.
THE LAST MISSION WE WERE ON,
I ACTUALLY GOT SHOT
BY A SNIPER
RIGHT IN THE TOP
OF THE HELMET.
MILLION-DOLLAR SHOT
WHERE IT DIDN'T KILL ME,
BUT IT JUST ENDED UP SNAPPING
ONE OF THE VERTEBRAE IN MY NECK.
SEVERAL SEIZURES LATER,
FRED WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH A BRAIN INJURY
LEAVING HIM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO NEUROLOGICAL CHEMICALS
LIKE CYANIDE.
MY EYES ARE REALLY SENSITIVE
TO LIGHT RIGHT NOW.
REALLY? YOU'RE SHAKING
A LITTLE BIT, TOO.
I DON'T WANT TO
FREAK YOU OUT, BUT...
[ SIGHS ]
SO WHEN YOUR SEIZURE
THRESHOLD'S LOWER BASICALLY.
YEAH.
AND THEN WHAT,
WHAT SHOULD I DO --
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?
YOU BEING THE MEDIC.
WELL, TO BE HONEST I GET
KIND OF BELLIGERENT
FOR A SEIZURE, SO...
SO LET ME JUST
GET YOU SOMETHING.
Narrator: DANNY ONLY KNOWS
BASIC FIRST AID,
AND THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
IS TWO HOURS AWAY.
[ SIGHS ]
♪♪
[ GROANS, SIGHS ]
I'M GOOD NOW.
I WAS THINKING I COULD LAST
A LOT LONGER THAN THIS.
I'M A GREEN BERET, DUDE.
I THINK THE REALITY IS
IS THAT IF PARKER EVER DID
INDULGE IN A THING LIKE THIS
MOVING FORWARD,
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT,
COULD YOU?
I DON'T THINK I COULD.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T
WANT TO MAKE MYSELF
LOOK LIKE LESS
OF AN ASSET, TOO.
THAT KIND OF WORRIES ME.
THANKS FOR HAVING MY BACK.
NO WORRIES, MAN.
ALRIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.
YEP.
I HAVE NO DOUBTS
THIS IS A SAFE PRACTICE
AND IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S DOING
THE RIGHT THING HERE.
THIS IS HOW THEY MINE,
SO I'VE JUST GOT TO BE
A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS
IN MY SITUATION,
SO THAT'S ABOUT IT.
♪♪
Narrator: IT WILL TAKE TWO DAYS
FOR THE CYANIDE
TO FULLY SOAK THE TAILINGS
AND DISSOLVE
THE MICROSCOPIC GOLD.
-HAPPY DAYS.
-SO NOW YOU'RE SLUICING?
WELL, IT'S NOT SLUICING,
IT'S LEACHING.
WELL, YOUR VERSION.
IT'S PRODUCING GOLD.
GIVE US A SHOUT
WHEN WE CAN COME BACK.
NO WORRIES.
♪♪
Narrator:
BACK IN SANDSTONE, PARKER'S TEAM
WAITS FOR JAKE'S LEACHING
PROCESS TO FINISH.
MY FAMILY'S MINED HERE
FOR 50-PLUS YEARS.
MY GREAT GRANDDAD
ACTUALLY WAS A LOCAL HERE.
THAT'S YOUR GREAT GRANDDAD?
YEAH.
NICE NUGS.
Narrator: FOR A YUKON MINER,
A NEW PROCESS ISN'T THE ONLY
OBSTACLE TO WORKING HERE.
DUST, HEAT, AND FLIES
IS A MURDEROUS ONE, ISN'T IT?
WITH A FEW CHEMICALS
MIXED IN THERE.
YEAH.
I GET THE WHOLE WARINESS
WITH THE CHEMICALS,
BUT THERE'S LOTS
OF OTHER PROCESSES
YOU CAN DO AROUND HERE.
I ACTUALLY KNOW A GUY
WHO'S RUNNING
A DRY BLOWER AT THE MOMENT.
IT'S LIKE A WASH PLANT
WITH NO WATER?
YEAH, EXACTLY.
HE'S NOT TOO FAR OUT OF TOWN.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO LET
THAT DIRT SOAK ANYWAYS,
SO WE'VE GOT TIME.
BUT LET'S DRINK
SOME BEER FIRST.
-CHEERS.
-HERE'S TO ANOTHER DAY DONE.
Tyler: I'M EXCITED TO SHOW THEM
DRY BLOWING.
IT'S A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT PROCESS.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKER,
AND I'M HOPING OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY GOLD
IN THE GROUND OUT HERE.
IT'S JUST THAT
WHAT JAKE DOES,
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT
MINING PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY
VERY INTERESTED
IN FINDING SOMETHING
THAT SUITS US,
AND THAT'S
THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE GROUP SETS OUT
FOR TYLER'S
LATEST BUSINESS LEAD.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO
JAMES ALLISON'S LEASE.
I'VE NEVER MET HIM.
I'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT HIM
THROUGH MY CONTACTS
IN SANDSTONE.
THE WORD IS JAMES
IS LOOKING FOR A BUYER
ON GROUND WHERE HE USES
TRADITIONAL AUSSIE EQUIPMENT.
HE'S RUNNING A DRY BLOWER.
WE FINALLY SEE
THE ILLUSIVE DRY BLOWER.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT WILL BE GOOD BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LEACHING.
IT'S A VIABLE OPTION
FOR GETTING GOLD, FOR SURE?
100%. YEP.
WELL, WE'RE ABOUT
TO FIND OUT.
I'M GUESSING ALL THAT DUST
IS NOT JUST THE WIND.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
-HE'S IN A DOZER.
-WOW, LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: TYLER LEADS THE TEAM
TO A LOCAL MINER
NAMED JAMES ALLISON WHO HAS
A SIZABLE GOLD CLAIM FOR SALE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF HE'S NOTICED WE'RE HERE.
VETERAN GOLD MINER JAMES
RUNS AN OLD-SCHOOL DRY BLOWER,
A GOLD RECOVERY SYSTEM
THAT WORKS WITHOUT WATER.
OH, HERE WE GO.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
[ BLOWER POWERS DOWN ]
-I'M PARKER. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-ALRIGHT.
HOW'S THIS THING WORK?
FEED THE DRY MATERIAL IN
ON THE TOP,
AND IT SEPARATES.
SO YOU'VE GOT
YOUR COURSE MATERIAL.
Parker:
THAT'S YOUR OVERSIZE.
AND THEN IT DROPS
INTO YOUR BOXES.
OKAY.
YOUR COURSE MATERIAL GETS
CAUGHT ON THOSE TOP RIFFLES.
MM-HMM.
AND IT PULSES,
WORKS IT WAY DOWN.
-GOT YOU.
-ALRIGHT.
Narrator: IN THE YUKON,
WET PLANTS USE WATER
TO WASH PAY DIRT
INTO A SLUICE BOX
SEPARATING THE LIGHTER DIRT
AND TRAPPING THE HEAVIER GOLD
IN THE RIFFLES.
BUT A DRY BLOWER'S RIFFLES
WORK THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
AIR BLOWS UP THROUGH VIBRATING
SCREENS BLASTING AWAY DIRT
WHILE THE RIFFLES
CATCH THE HEAVIER GOLD.
♪♪
ARE THEY PRETTY EFFECTIVE?
YOU WON'T GET 100%.
YOU'LL GET ANYTHING
FROM 60% TO 75%.
GOT YOU.
♪♪
♪♪
Tyler: SO BASICALLY, GUYS,
HE'S SORTING THROUGH
THE PAY DIRT AND HE'S GETTING
RID OF THE OVERSIZED,
AND THIS UNDERSIZED STUFF,
HE'S GOING TO PAN
TO GET THE GOLD OUT,
AND THEN THIS OVERSIZED,
HE'LL DETECT TO GET
THE BIGGER NUGGETS.
NOW, WOULD THIS BE YOUR
BIG NUGGETS HERE, JAMES,
IF THERE WERE ANY?
[ DETECTOR PINGING ]
♪♪
THERE'S ONE.
-THERE IT IS.
-LOOK AT THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
-THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
-WOW.
IS THAT ONE?
-GOOD SPOT, FRED.
-WOW, GEEZ.
THERE, ABOUT SIX GRAMS.
HOW MUCH FINDS WOULD YOU
EXPECT TO ACCOMPANY THAT?
OH, WE'LL PROBABLY GET
ANOTHER COUPLE OF GRAMS.
Narrator: EIGHT GRAMS IS WORTH
ABOUT $420 U.S. DOLLARS.
FIVE OR SIX RUNS A DAY WOULD NET
OVER $10,000 A WEEK.
♪♪
I MINE IN THE YUKON,
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR GROUND
THAT IS MINABLE
FOR MORE OF THE YEAR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY GROUND
AROUND HERE THAT'S FOR SALE?
IF YOU WANT
TO BUY THIS ONE.
YOU'VE GOT THIS PLACE
FOR SALE?
WHAT KIND OF PRICE
ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
OH, YOU DON'T WANT
THESE GUYS AROUND?
ALRIGHT.
THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.
♪♪
GOLD DEALS IN THE YUKON
ARE OFTEN SHROUDED IN SECRECY,
AND AUSTRALIA
IS NO DIFFERENT.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF POLITICS INVOLVED
AND BECAUSE SANDSTONE'S
SUCH A SMALL AREA,
HE WON'T WANT THAT INFORMATION
GETTING OUT TO THE LOCALS.
I'VE GOT 17 OUNCES
IN PLACES LIKE THIS.
-WOW.
-AND SO, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
TO BE DONE HERE
OVER A LONG TIME.
HECK, MAYBE THAT THING'S
FOR SALE, YOU KNOW?
YOU'RE GOING IN FOR THE KILL
ON HIS BIT OF EQUIPMENT.
ALWAYS THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX, RIGHT?
♪♪
HOW DID IT GO?
I DON'T THINK HE'S VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT SELLING THIS PLACE.
IT'S STILL A CLASSIC THING OF
EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE, BUT...
-WHAT'S YOUR PRICE?
-YEAH.
LIKE MY MINE SITE'S
FOR SALE, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
-EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
FRED HAD A GOOD IDEA, THOUGH,
THAT HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN SELLING THE DRY BLOWER.
-I KIND OF LIKE IT.
-RIGHT?
Narrator: A DRY BLOWER WOULD
LET PARKER TEST GROUND,
STRENGTHENING HIS HAND
FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP.
SO, YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO WANT
TO SELL THIS, WOULD YOU?
NO.
-NO?
-NO.
I REPLACED THE MOTOR ON IT,
AND I'VE HAD THE GEAR BOX
OVERHAULED LAST YEAR.
SO, IT'S KIND OF YOUR BABY,
IT SOUNDS LIKE.
-IT'S HAD A LOT OF WORK.
-THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.
NICE LITTLE SET UP
YOU'VE GOT HERE.
-THANKS, JAMES.
-THANK YOU.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
DUD?
IT'S NOT A DUD.
IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE
IT HARDER, WE COULD.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE,
FRED.
Tyler: THE MORE TIME I SPEND
WITH PARKER,
I'M STARTING TO SEE
WHAT HE REALLY ENJOYS
IS MOVING DIRT AROUND
AND WASHING ROCKS.
HE LIKES THAT HANDS-ON SIDE
OF MINING.
HE GOT A LITTLE INTRODUCTION
TO DRY BLOWING TODAY.
I THINK HE QUITE ENJOYED
THE PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY AFTER LEACHING.
THE WHOLE LEACHING THING
WILL COME DOWN TO GOLD.
I'M SURE HIS MIND MIGHT CHANGE
IF WE DO A REALLY GOOD
GOLD PULL.
♪♪
♪♪
-LET'S GO BACK TO JAKEY.
-YEP.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE BACK
AT THE HONEYPOT CLAIM
WHERE LEASE HOLDERS
JAKE AND MATT
ARE ABOUT TO START THE NEXT
STAGE OF THE VAT LEACH PROCESS.
♪♪
-HOW'S IT GOING?
-HELLO.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
Jake: WE JUST TURNED
ALL THE PUMPS OFF
AND WE'VE FLUSHED
ALL THE CYANIDE OUT,
SO IT'S JUST FRESH WATER NOW.
AND BASICALLY, WE'VE GOT TO PULL
OUR CARBON TANK OUT OF HERE
WITH ALL THE GOLD IN IT.
OH, SWEET.
Narrator: THE CYANIDE
DISSOLVES ALL THE FINE GOLD
IN THE TAILINGS
SO THE GOLD-RICH LIQUID
CAN BE PUMPED INTO A DRUM
WHERE THE MICROSCOPIC SPECS
BIND TO LUMPS OF CARBON.
ALL TRACES OF CYANIDE
HAVE BEEN RINSED FROM THE DRUM,
BUT FRED'S NOT
TAKING ANY CHANCES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEVELS
OF CYANIDE HERE ARE,
BUT IT'S JUST NOT
WORTH IT TO ME,
SO I'M JUST TAKING
THE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.
ADDED BONUS HERE IS THERE'S
NO FLIES IN MY FACE, SO...
IT'S GOING TO GET A BIT OF
A MISSION TRYING TO GET IT OUT.
WE KIND OF MANIPULATED IT
TO GET IT IN HERE,
AND WE'LL HAVE TO
MANIPULATE IT TO GET IT OUT.
-COOL.
-SEE HOW IT GOES.
Tyler: THIS MOMENT'S PRETTY BIG.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE GOLD IS.
AND IT WILL DETERMINE
IF THAT LEACH HAS WORKED.
Narrator: MAKING A VIABLE
BUSINESS OF THE HONEYPOT CLAIM
MEANS COMMITTING
TO THE CYANIDE PROCESS.
BUT JAKE'S CONVINCED
THE FINAL GOLD EXTRACTION
WILL SHOW PARKER JUST HOW
EFFICIENT LEACHING CAN BE.
♪♪
I'M NOT REALLY LIKING IT
TO BE HONEST.
EVEN JUST THE TANK EMPTY
WITH NO GOLD IN IT OR ANYTHING,
IT'S A $10,000 TANK.
I DON'T THINK
IT'S GOING TO WORK.
-GIVE IT A SHOT.
-YEAH. GIVE IT A GO.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
♪♪
ALRIGHT.
[ HORN HONKS ]
♪♪
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
Fred: THIS IS NERVE-RACKING.
PARKER'S GONE A BIT QUIET
AND THAT NORMALLY MEANS
HE'S A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
HE'S GOT 50 GRAND WORTH
OF GOLD ON HIS FINGERTIPS.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
♪♪
ALRIGHT. ALL GOOD.
[ CHAIN RATTLES ]
♪♪
OH, MY GOODNESS.
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
HOLY COW.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT THAT GUY
RUNNING UP YOUR LEG, WOULD YOU?
[ CHUCKLES ]
JUST SAW A WHACKING
GREAT LIZARD OVER THERE.
-WAS IT A BUNGARRA?
-IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
-MASSIVE.
-YEAH. THEY'RE NORMALLY SCARED,
BUT IF YOU THREATEN THEM,
THEY'LL GO, YEAH.
Narrator:
BUNGARRA IS AN ABORIGINAL WORD
FOR THE SAND GOANNA.
THIS FORAGING MONITOR LIZARD
CAN KILL
AND EAT SOME OF THE DEADLIEST
SNAKES IN THE WORLD
INCLUDING THE INLAND TAIPAN.
LIKE FEW OTHER SPECIES ON EARTH,
BUNGARRA HAVE EVOLVED IMMUNITY
TO SNAKE VENOM.
♪♪
ALRIGHT. ALL GOOD.
Narrator:
IN THE REMOTE AUSTRALIAN BUSH,
LEASE HOLDER JAKE AND MEDIC FRED
PREPARE TO EXTRACT GOLD
FROM A TWO-TON IRON DRUM.
♪♪
AAH! [BLEEP]
HOLY [BLEEP]
-YOU ALRIGHT?
-YEAH, I'M FINE.
SORRY.
ALRIGHT.
LOOKING GOOD.
Narrator: NEXT JOB,
OPEN THE DRUM'S SEALED LID.
Jake: YOU ALRIGHT?
♪♪
WE PUT TOO MUCH GLUE ON.
THERE'S ONLY ONE CHAIN THAT'S
HOLDING UP THIS WHOLE BUCKET
AND HE'S WOBBLING IT
AROUND UP THERE.
Parker: OW.
[BLEEP] GUYS, WHAT DID YOU
PUT THIS ON WITH?
SUPER GLUE.
♪♪
-THERE YOU GO.
-WHOO!
-GET IN THERE!
-GOOD JOB, BOYS.
WELL DONE.
Narrator: NOW THE TEAM CAN
COLLECT ALL THE CARBON LUMPS
CONTAINING THE FINE GOLD.
WE'RE FLUSHING THE CARBON
INTO THE BAG.
THIS IS THE MOST CRUCIAL POINT.
ANY CARBON WE SPILL,
IT'S GOLD THAT WE'RE LOSING.
Tyler: THERE IT IS.
-LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT OVER.
-THAT'S ALL THE CARBON OUT.
Fred: WELL,
THAT'S A LOT OF CARBON.
CURL IN.
-YEAH. WELL DONE EVERYONE.
-GOOD JOB, FRED.
-HAPPY DAYS.
-AWESOME.
-WE'RE ALL STILL ALIVE.
-GOOD WORK.
SO, DO YOU JUST, LIKE,
TRADE THIS IN AT THE BAR
FOR CASES OF BEER?
WE'LL TAKE THIS DOWN
TO THE STRIPPING PLACE,
AND THEY'LL PROCESS IT
INTO STEEL WOOL FOR US,
AND THEN WE'LL POUR A BAR
OUT OF THAT.
SWEET.
WE'LL JUST FOLLOW YOU THEN?
-YEP. LET'S GO.
-LET'S GO MAKE SOME MONEY.
♪♪
Narrator:
JAKE DRIVES THE GROUP 20 MILES
SOUTH TO ONE OF HIS WORKSHOPS.
Parker: I'LL BE INTERESTED
TO SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
COMES OUT OF THAT
FROM A DIRT-MOVING STANDPOINT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE,
AND THEN THE COSTS ARE LOW
ONCE YOU GET TO THIS POINT.
BUT USING CHEMICALS,
I'M NOT REALLY SURE
HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THE CARBON IS LEACHED
AGAIN THROUGH A PROCESS
CALLED ELECTROWINNING
GIVING JAKE HIGH PURITY MATERIAL
HE MELTS FOR 20 MINUTES
AT 1,400 DEGREES.
♪♪
DANNY HAS TO PUT A CAMERA
ON ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING
INCLUDING THE TONGS
GOING INTO THE FURNACE.
♪♪
-OH.
-HOLY CRAP.
-WOW.
-WOW.
-NOT BAD.
-ONE GOLD CAKE.
-HAPPY WITH THAT?
-YEAH.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST PUT THIS BAR
IN A BIT OF NITRIC ACID.
THAT WILL CLEAN UP ALL OF
THE RUBBISH ON THE OUTSIDE
AND SHOW US
THE ACTUAL COLOR OF THE GOLD.
THE ACID DISSOLVES
THE REMAINING UNWANTED MATERIAL
LEAVING A GOLD BAR OF 98% PURITY
READY TO BE WEIGHED.
COOL. I LIKE IT.
28 OUNCES.
YOU READY?
OH, BLIMEY.
I'LL GO 29.
Narrator: JAKE'S FINAL BAR IS
THE PRODUCT OF 400 TONS OF DIRT.
-34.
-OOH.
-34.
-34.
SO, 35 OUNCES OF GOLD
WOULD MAKE JAKE'S GROUND
WORTH 10 TIMES WHAT
PARKER MINES IN THE YUKON.
Jake: YOU GOING TO SLAP IT
ON THE SCALES OR WHAT?
♪♪
-WHOA.
-OH [BLEEP]
-THAT'S A BIT MORE.
-SHUT UP.
Parker: 44.5.
Narrator: 44.5 OUNCES IS WORTH
OVER $66,000.
-GOOD WORK.
-THAT'S GOOD.
-THE OPTIMIST.
-YEAH.
SO, WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD
RESULT. ARE YOU INTERESTED?
GOD, THIS WHOLE PROCESS
IS JUST SO FOREIGN TO ME.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING
A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH IT.
IF I SHOWED UP HERE,
I WOULD MAKE
AN ABSOLUTE MESS OUT OF IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AS INTRIGUED AS I AM BY IT,
I REALLY GOT LEARN WAY MORE
ABOUT IT
BEFORE I START TAKING
SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON.
YEP. YOU CAN SEE IT
MAKES GOOD MONEY, THOUGH.
OH, YEAH.
-CHEERS. THANKS, GUYS.
-CHEERS.
REALLY GLAD I DID END UP
BRINGING THE BOYS HERE.
THEY LEARNED A LOT.
IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THREE
YOUNG MINERS WORKING TOGETHER.
YOU NEVER SEE THAT.
IT'S SO RARE.
AND YEAH, IT'S GOOD
TO SHOW THEM HOW WE DO IT
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
-THANKS AGAIN.
-NICE ONE, MATT.
-TAKE IT EASY, MATE.
-TAKE IT EASY, MATE.
PARKER, THERE'S THE GOLD.
THERE'S THE GOLD.
-SHALL WE GO?
-LET'S GET IN THE TRUCK AND GO.
THERE IT IS.
I DO LIKE THOSE GUYS.
DON'T LIKE THE MINING PROCESS.
♪♪
I LIKE DIGGING DIRT.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...IT'S A NUGGET.
...PARKER SWINGS
FOR THE FENCES....
SHOW ME THE MONEY.
...HIRING A 50-TON PLANT...
YEAH!
...WORTH HALF-A-MILLION
DOLLARS...
-WE ARE RUNNING.
-YEAH!
...IN A GAMBLE THAT PUSHES
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TYLER...
Tyler: I'VE GOT A LOT RIDING
ON THIS ONE.
WE'RE RUNNING DIRT
THAT HAS NO GOLD IN IT.
...TO ITS LIMIT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH
ON THE LINE THE WHOLE TRIP.
-I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!
-[ COUGHS ]
Danny: FRED?
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.