1
00:00:01,500 --> 00:00:03,500
[suspenseful music playing]
2
00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:06,700
[bird cawing]
3
00:00:08,967 --> 00:00:11,000
[Vaughn Riches] I'm definitely
a rookie miner,
4
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,567
learning from my mistakes
5
00:00:12,567 --> 00:00:16,400
and just trying
to make a future with this.
6
00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,266
I've got a great crew.
7
00:00:21,266 --> 00:00:23,367
He's been the best boss
I've ever had.
8
00:00:23,367 --> 00:00:26,266
[Vaughn] And I've worked
for a lot
of different [bleep].
9
00:00:26,266 --> 00:00:27,700
I promised him something
10
00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:30,166
and it's not happening.
11
00:00:30,166 --> 00:00:32,467
[suspenseful music playing]
12
00:00:32,467 --> 00:00:35,400
I'm thinking I'm losing
a half an ounce of gold a day.
13
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,900
When you pan, it's super hot,
14
00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:40,667
and then we just don't see it
in the sluices.
15
00:00:40,667 --> 00:00:44,567
We're down to about $75,000
owing on the excavator.
16
00:00:44,567 --> 00:00:46,867
We probably have about $40,000
17
00:00:46,867 --> 00:00:49,000
owing on the trommel.
18
00:00:49,567 --> 00:00:51,867
I'm $700,000 in the hole.
19
00:00:51,867 --> 00:00:54,367
I borrowed money
20
00:00:54,367 --> 00:00:57,367
from family, from friends,
21
00:00:57,367 --> 00:00:59,200
leasing companies,
22
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,400
credit cards, on and on.
23
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,266
Yup. So it's, um...
24
00:01:05,266 --> 00:01:06,433
I'm in deep.
25
00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,700
Freddy and Juan
are my best hope,
26
00:01:10,700 --> 00:01:13,200
my last hope,
the only hope I have.
27
00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,567
[bird cawing]
28
00:01:16,567 --> 00:01:17,867
[man] Let's make
some gold, guys.
29
00:01:17,867 --> 00:01:19,567
[narrator] Freddy Dodge...
30
00:01:19,567 --> 00:01:22,367
There's no guarantees
in gold, buddy.
31
00:01:22,367 --> 00:01:23,767
[narrator]
...and Juan Ibarra...
32
00:01:23,767 --> 00:01:25,200
All right.
Well, let's do it, huh?
33
00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,066
[narrator] ...have mastered
the art
34
00:01:27,066 --> 00:01:29,066
of getting gold
out of the ground...
35
00:01:29,066 --> 00:01:31,066
[Juan] Look at that.
36
00:01:31,066 --> 00:01:32,767
[narrator] In the most rugged
places on earth.
37
00:01:32,767 --> 00:01:34,600
[Juan] I'm feeling
a little sick, Freddy.
38
00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,667
[narrator] Now, they rescue
struggling miners...
39
00:01:37,667 --> 00:01:39,667
Ooh. That's not good.
40
00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:42,667
[narrator] Who've risked it
all to be rich...
41
00:01:42,667 --> 00:01:44,300
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Shut it down!
42
00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:46,567
[narrator] ...but are about
to lose everything.
43
00:01:46,567 --> 00:01:48,400
Eyeballs.
44
00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,467
[narrator] To revive
these failing mines,
45
00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:53,266
Freddy and Juan engineer
the impossible...
46
00:01:53,266 --> 00:01:55,300
[man] Well, I've never heard
of an under-sluice before.
47
00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:57,367
[narrator] ...deliver some
hard truths...
48
00:01:57,367 --> 00:02:00,567
This material
you're digging now
is totally worthless.
49
00:02:00,567 --> 00:02:02,900
[narrator] ...and track down
the gold.
50
00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:05,000
That's what dreams
are made of right there.
51
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:06,800
[narrator] But if they don't
at least double
52
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,667
the miner's gold recovery,
53
00:02:08,667 --> 00:02:11,367
they won't take
a dime in return.
54
00:02:11,367 --> 00:02:13,567
Put 10 times
the amount of gold.
55
00:02:13,567 --> 00:02:15,433
-That's awesome.
-[cheers and laughter]
56
00:02:20,467 --> 00:02:24,233
[dramatic music playing]
57
00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:28,166
[truck horn blows]
58
00:02:28,166 --> 00:02:30,367
So what do we know
about these guys, Fred?
59
00:02:30,367 --> 00:02:32,367
We know they're fairly
new miners.
60
00:02:32,367 --> 00:02:35,000
They've only been mining
for around three years, so,
61
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,767
you know, they're just getting
their feet on the ground.
62
00:02:36,767 --> 00:02:38,400
You know,
I kind of take it, Juan,
63
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,200
that these guys
are in pretty deep.
64
00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:41,734
[Juan] Yeah. 10-4.
65
00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:46,266
[narrator] Freddy and Juan
journey through
British Columbia
66
00:02:46,266 --> 00:02:49,400
on their way
to the Riches placer mine,
67
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,500
10 miles from the historic
mining town of Barkerville.
68
00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:56,500
[Freddy]
Some cool country, Juan.
69
00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:58,133
Mining country
and logging, huh?
70
00:02:58,967 --> 00:03:00,567
[Freddy] Yeah, they pulled
a lot of gold
71
00:03:00,567 --> 00:03:02,867
out of this country
back in the day.
72
00:03:02,867 --> 00:03:05,767
[country music playing]
73
00:03:05,767 --> 00:03:09,066
[narrator] Gold strikes here
in the early 1860s
74
00:03:09,066 --> 00:03:11,266
sparked the Cariboo Gold Rush.
75
00:03:11,266 --> 00:03:13,867
One of the thousands
of prospectors,
76
00:03:13,867 --> 00:03:16,867
Englishman "Billy" Barker,
struck it big,
77
00:03:16,867 --> 00:03:19,367
finding a huge
gold nugget deposit,
78
00:03:19,367 --> 00:03:22,767
paving the way
for a mass migration.
79
00:03:22,767 --> 00:03:26,300
The town of Barkerville
sprang up almost overnight
80
00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:29,166
as miners descended
on the region.
81
00:03:29,166 --> 00:03:32,100
Over 38 million ounces of gold
82
00:03:32,100 --> 00:03:33,700
has been mined here,
83
00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:36,800
worth $72 billion
84
00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,166
in today's money.
85
00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:40,867
-Hey, guys.
-How's it going today?
86
00:03:40,867 --> 00:03:42,500
-I'm Vaughn.
-Nice to meet you, Fred.
87
00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:43,867
-Nice to meet you, Vaughn.
-What's your name?
88
00:03:43,867 --> 00:03:44,967
-Rick.
-Nice to meet you, Rick.
89
00:03:44,967 --> 00:03:47,000
-Yeah.
-So how long have you guys
90
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,767
-been out here mining then?
-We had half season
here last year
91
00:03:49,767 --> 00:03:53,000
and now this is
our second season.
92
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:54,667
So, basically
it's your mine site?
93
00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:56,600
-That's right.
-So what's your job out here?
94
00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,867
I kind do a little bit of...
A little bit of everything.
95
00:03:58,867 --> 00:04:01,367
Kind of jump around
and, you know, weld and fix.
96
00:04:01,367 --> 00:04:02,467
[Juan] Wherever needed, huh?
97
00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:03,834
[Rick] Figure out
most problems,
if they're small.
98
00:04:03,834 --> 00:04:05,600
-[Juan] Okay.
-Not too much we don't work
our way through.
99
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,066
-[laughter]
-[Freddy] All right.
100
00:04:07,066 --> 00:04:09,000
Yeah. So you have
a lot invested in it?
101
00:04:09,567 --> 00:04:11,066
-Way too much.
-Way too much?
102
00:04:11,066 --> 00:04:13,867
Yeah. And then it just keeps
getting deeper and deeper.
103
00:04:13,867 --> 00:04:16,300
I've dumped everything,
104
00:04:16,300 --> 00:04:18,867
life savings is
on this property.
105
00:04:18,867 --> 00:04:21,266
-[Juan] Really? Okay.
-[Vaughn] Everything.
106
00:04:21,266 --> 00:04:22,767
[Rick] Vaughn holds everything
107
00:04:22,767 --> 00:04:24,634
as far as
the financial pressure.
108
00:04:26,166 --> 00:04:27,567
There's payments every month.
109
00:04:27,567 --> 00:04:28,900
I'm not sure
how much they are,
110
00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:31,667
but I know they're between
10,000 and 14,000 a month.
111
00:04:31,667 --> 00:04:33,767
And every month,
whether we're mining or not,
112
00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:35,567
whether we're bringing
in gold or not,
113
00:04:35,567 --> 00:04:37,000
those payments come out.
114
00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:40,266
I worry about keeping
the plant running,
115
00:04:40,266 --> 00:04:42,000
but compared
to what he's worried about,
116
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,200
there's a... There's
a big difference in worry.
117
00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:45,734
Mine's easy. [chuckles]
118
00:04:46,467 --> 00:04:48,166
You have any gold
we can look at?
119
00:04:48,166 --> 00:04:50,200
[Vaughn] Yeah, I do.
I happen to have a vial here.
120
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,133
Pretty fine, flowery.
121
00:04:54,567 --> 00:04:55,967
Hard to catch.
122
00:04:55,967 --> 00:04:57,667
This is all I have
at this moment.
123
00:04:57,667 --> 00:05:00,467
Every week I have
to sell my gold to make bills.
124
00:05:00,467 --> 00:05:02,800
-Yup. That's--
-Understood.
125
00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,166
I'm at my wits' end
and need gold...
126
00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:06,567
-Need more gold.
-...so bad.
127
00:05:06,567 --> 00:05:08,000
-So bad.
-Yeah.
128
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,867
[Freddy] What's your goal
for the season?
129
00:05:09,867 --> 00:05:12,567
200 ounces.
130
00:05:12,567 --> 00:05:15,266
I've got 30.
I need another 170 ounces.
131
00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:16,867
-That's a big jump.
-It's big gold.
132
00:05:16,867 --> 00:05:18,266
-[Juan] Yeah.
-[Vaughn] It is.
133
00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:19,800
Three months left
in the mining season,
134
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,266
every day counts. Every day.
135
00:05:22,266 --> 00:05:24,300
What have you been getting
so far daily roughly?
136
00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:26,667
-Well, an ounce and a half.
-[Juan] Yeah.
137
00:05:26,667 --> 00:05:28,500
Yup. And that's running
12 hours.
138
00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:32,200
If I don't get the 200 ounces
this year, it's bankruptcy.
139
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,467
Then what do you need
to get...
140
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,367
To get through the season
and make bills?
141
00:05:36,367 --> 00:05:38,567
[Vaughn] Yup.
Two ounces a day would just...
142
00:05:38,567 --> 00:05:41,000
-2 ounces?
-...do it.
143
00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,700
That's where you guys come in.
144
00:05:44,467 --> 00:05:46,567
[narrator] Half an ounce
more gold a day
145
00:05:46,567 --> 00:05:50,300
would get them an extra
$88,000 needed
146
00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:52,100
to pay investors and crew
147
00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:54,100
through to the end
of the season.
148
00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:56,000
Without it,
they will be forced
149
00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,667
to shut the mine down.
150
00:05:58,667 --> 00:06:00,266
[Vaughn] It's easy mining.
151
00:06:00,266 --> 00:06:02,667
-Infrastructure is all here.
-Yeah.
152
00:06:02,667 --> 00:06:04,467
We just need recovery
153
00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:06,567
and it's not happening.
There's something...
154
00:06:06,567 --> 00:06:09,266
There's something wrong
and we need you guys.
155
00:06:09,266 --> 00:06:11,767
-Well, let's watch you run.
-Yup.
156
00:06:11,767 --> 00:06:13,600
-Sounds great to me.
-[Juan] Let's do it.
157
00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,233
[Freddy] Let's fire it up.
158
00:06:17,767 --> 00:06:20,834
[machine whirring]
159
00:06:26,367 --> 00:06:28,100
Vaughn, you know...
You know, he's got
160
00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:30,133
his entire life savings
invested into it.
161
00:06:30,667 --> 00:06:32,000
It's a serious situation here.
162
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,300
You know, we're gonna
have to be able to get them
163
00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:35,066
up to 2 ounces a day
in order to be able
164
00:06:35,066 --> 00:06:37,100
to make this operation
profitable for him.
165
00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:38,767
[Vaughn] First bucket, Juan.
166
00:06:38,767 --> 00:06:42,100
Step back.
Start feeding the plant.
167
00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:43,567
Right on.
168
00:06:43,567 --> 00:06:45,600
[narrator]
Juan's operator, Stephan,
169
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,300
feeds gold bearing pay dirt
into the hopper,
170
00:06:48,300 --> 00:06:50,900
which then travels up
a conveyor
171
00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:54,900
before dropping
into a 21-foot
rotating trommel.
172
00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:57,367
A spray bar blasts the dirt,
173
00:06:57,367 --> 00:07:00,867
washing small material
and gold through the screen
174
00:07:00,867 --> 00:07:04,000
and down
into the 24-foot sluices
175
00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,700
where gold is caught
in the mats.
176
00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:09,667
Once the system's up
and running,
177
00:07:09,667 --> 00:07:12,166
Rick will be feeding me
in the rock truck
178
00:07:12,166 --> 00:07:16,266
and I'll haul pay to that site
and Steph will run it
179
00:07:16,266 --> 00:07:19,367
into the grizzlies
and we're rolling.
180
00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:21,066
[narrator]
Operator Stephan Gervais
181
00:07:21,066 --> 00:07:23,600
has been working with Vaughn
since day one.
182
00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:25,266
[Stephan] This is
my happy place here.
183
00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:27,467
It's so peaceful.
184
00:07:27,467 --> 00:07:30,600
A little noisy,
but peaceful. [chuckles]
185
00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,467
[narrator] Rick's buddy,
Lenny, completes the crew.
186
00:07:34,467 --> 00:07:35,667
Looks good. We're running.
187
00:07:35,667 --> 00:07:37,233
Everything's turning.
188
00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,333
Feeding it pay.
189
00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,367
He said their best gold
is right on the surface.
190
00:07:42,367 --> 00:07:44,300
Right there, huh?
191
00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:45,600
Lightly concentrated.
192
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:46,867
-[Freddy] Yeah.
-Very lightly.
193
00:07:46,867 --> 00:07:48,100
Yeah.
194
00:07:48,100 --> 00:07:50,166
[narrator] With lightly
concentrated gold
195
00:07:50,166 --> 00:07:51,900
throughout Vaughn's claim,
196
00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:54,367
it was left untouched
by the old timers.
197
00:07:54,367 --> 00:07:56,200
But with modern machinery,
198
00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,800
the ground can still
be profitable.
199
00:07:59,700 --> 00:08:02,233
[Rick] I know there's lots
of gold in this ground.
200
00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:06,266
The roots and everything go
between the boulders,
201
00:08:06,266 --> 00:08:08,734
so it becomes really hard
to separate.
202
00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,300
Look at the organics sticking
in the screen, huh, Juan?
203
00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:16,166
[Juan] That's definitely
gonna be an issue.
204
00:08:16,166 --> 00:08:18,567
With all the organics
that are stuck to the screen,
205
00:08:18,567 --> 00:08:19,867
there's a real good chance
206
00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,767
that we're losing material
that should be sluiced.
207
00:08:22,767 --> 00:08:24,900
[narrator] Roots and sticks
from the shallow ground
208
00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:28,100
called organics
clog the screens,
209
00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:30,000
meaning gold-rich material
may be lost
210
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,467
out the end of the trommel.
211
00:08:32,467 --> 00:08:33,400
I got a pan full,
212
00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,233
I'm gonna get water in there,
wash it up.
213
00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,100
Well...
214
00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:41,967
if you look here,
215
00:08:41,967 --> 00:08:44,066
there's a few pieces of gold
that should have made it down
216
00:08:44,066 --> 00:08:46,567
to the sluice box that never
had a chance to get recovered.
217
00:08:46,567 --> 00:08:48,800
You work hard, you get all
the material to the plant,
218
00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,767
you wash it, and for you
just to spit it out,
219
00:08:51,767 --> 00:08:53,567
that's never a good way
to do business,
220
00:08:53,567 --> 00:08:56,000
so that's something
we need to work on.
221
00:08:59,166 --> 00:09:01,033
Holy [bleep].
222
00:09:02,567 --> 00:09:04,300
Pretty violent, Juan.
223
00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,000
Too violent.
224
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,000
A little excessive.
225
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,567
[narrator] The water
at the top
226
00:09:11,567 --> 00:09:14,367
of the sluice box
is running too fast.
227
00:09:14,367 --> 00:09:16,100
They're actually
running light.
228
00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:17,500
[narrator] And there is
not enough pay dirt
229
00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:20,100
running through
the sluice box.
230
00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:23,500
Right now, I think they're
running about 40 to 45 yards
231
00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:25,166
an hour counting buckets
232
00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:28,000
and the sluices
from what I feel right now
233
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,100
can handle, you know,
double that.
234
00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:33,700
[narrator] If the sluices
run light on material,
235
00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:35,467
finer gold may be washed
236
00:09:35,467 --> 00:09:38,233
out of the mats
and into the tailings below.
237
00:09:39,567 --> 00:09:43,400
How come you aren't running
more material per hour?
238
00:09:44,166 --> 00:09:46,600
We've tried
and it just seems to pack
239
00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,600
our sluices right away.
240
00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,667
Your sluices
aren't packed though.
241
00:09:50,667 --> 00:09:53,467
When we were down there
earlier, we were kind of
feeling around
242
00:09:53,467 --> 00:09:55,500
and honestly they're running
a little light.
243
00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:57,266
They're a little lean?
Yeah, they're running lean.
244
00:09:57,266 --> 00:09:59,467
We just found
that when we shut down,
245
00:09:59,467 --> 00:10:03,100
the sluice box is...
Was so full,
246
00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:05,367
and that's why we tried
to dial it back a bit.
247
00:10:05,367 --> 00:10:08,700
You can never judge a sluice
box when you shut it down.
248
00:10:08,700 --> 00:10:10,367
You always have to judge
a sluice box
249
00:10:10,367 --> 00:10:12,400
while it's running
because it's a whole
250
00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,367
different environment
when you shut down.
251
00:10:14,367 --> 00:10:16,100
-Yeah.
-You're actually lean
on material...
252
00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:17,400
-It's lean.
-...on the sluice.
253
00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,066
Yeah.
254
00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:21,000
[water flowing]
255
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,900
[machine whirring]
256
00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:25,200
One of the biggest problems
I think we're seeing here,
257
00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,800
Juan, we could have twice
the amount
258
00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,100
of material going down
those sluice.
259
00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:29,867
Yeah. You know, realistically,
260
00:10:29,867 --> 00:10:32,000
we ought to be able to turn up
the feed on this plant
261
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,667
-by double.
-Double it.
262
00:10:33,667 --> 00:10:35,667
Their hydraulic oil
getting hot.
263
00:10:35,667 --> 00:10:36,767
It will slow them down.
264
00:10:36,767 --> 00:10:38,000
[Juan] That's an issue.
265
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,000
It's quite intimidating
having experts
266
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,700
such as Juan and Freddy here
looking at everything.
267
00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:45,266
We know there's issues,
268
00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:48,266
but we'll see what
the pros think. [chuckles]
269
00:10:48,266 --> 00:10:50,967
[Freddy] See, that's
four hours right there.
270
00:10:50,967 --> 00:10:52,400
You wanna call it?
271
00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,166
[Stephan] Yes, sir.
We'll do it.
272
00:10:54,166 --> 00:10:55,967
-Yup.
-This is the last bucket
273
00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:57,233
of the day, boys.
274
00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:00,900
Thank you, sir.
275
00:11:00,900 --> 00:11:03,800
[machine whirring]
276
00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,467
The good news is,
we did notice a few things
277
00:11:12,467 --> 00:11:13,767
that we can definitely
improve on,
278
00:11:13,767 --> 00:11:15,900
-so that's the problem.
-We knew that was coming.
279
00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:17,967
-[Juan] Yeah.
-Let's pull the box
280
00:11:17,967 --> 00:11:19,367
-and let's get it cleaned up.
-Yeah.
281
00:11:19,367 --> 00:11:20,800
And we'll see you
in the morning.
282
00:11:22,166 --> 00:11:24,200
Vaughn has everything
on the line,
283
00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,166
and he's got a lot of guys
here that are depending on him
284
00:11:27,166 --> 00:11:29,567
being profitable
so they can get a paycheck.
285
00:11:29,567 --> 00:11:31,967
His season goal is 200 ounces
for the season.
286
00:11:31,967 --> 00:11:34,867
Right now,
he's barely got 30 ounces in.
287
00:11:34,867 --> 00:11:36,300
We got our work cut
out for us.
288
00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:43,567
[dramatic music playing]
289
00:11:43,567 --> 00:11:46,300
-[wind howling]
-[bird cawing]
290
00:11:47,266 --> 00:11:49,266
Here's our gold, guys.
291
00:11:49,266 --> 00:11:51,166
[Len] It's good stuff.
292
00:11:51,166 --> 00:11:53,100
-Just need more. [laughs]
-Yeah.
293
00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:54,767
[Rick] Just need more of that.
294
00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:56,266
[narrator] On the Riches claim
295
00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:58,000
in British Columbia...
296
00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,367
-Good morning, guys.
-Morning.
297
00:11:59,367 --> 00:12:00,767
Hello, hello.
298
00:12:00,767 --> 00:12:02,767
[narrator]
Freddy and Juan arrive
299
00:12:02,767 --> 00:12:05,667
for the results
of the four-hour test run.
300
00:12:05,667 --> 00:12:07,266
[Vaughn] Well, moment
of truth, huh?
301
00:12:07,266 --> 00:12:09,066
-Ready for this?
-Yup.
302
00:12:09,066 --> 00:12:10,667
Well, she's zeroed out.
303
00:12:10,667 --> 00:12:12,066
You want me to pour it, Juano?
304
00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:13,200
[Juan] Pour it, Fred.
305
00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:14,600
See where we're at.
306
00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,200
[suspenseful music playing]
307
00:12:22,066 --> 00:12:23,500
-[man] Yeah.
-0.47,
308
00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:25,367
-close to half ounce.
-[man] Yeah.
309
00:12:25,367 --> 00:12:27,200
[Freddy] It's not good.
310
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,800
It's pretty standard
for what we're doing here.
311
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,266
-It's just--
-Well, that's exact...
312
00:12:30,266 --> 00:12:31,767
It's the numbers
with what you said too.
313
00:12:31,767 --> 00:12:32,533
-[Juan] Yeah.
-[Vaughn] It is.
314
00:12:32,533 --> 00:12:34,000
So for four hours,
half an ounce.
315
00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,500
-Yeah.
-So you said you're doing
316
00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,967
an ounce and a half
and 12 hours, right?
317
00:12:36,967 --> 00:12:39,200
Yeah. It's rare
we get any big gold
318
00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,800
as well, so it's all fine
like that.
319
00:12:42,367 --> 00:12:43,567
[Juan] And what
were you saying?
320
00:12:43,567 --> 00:12:44,600
You got to get 2 ounces a day
321
00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,066
to be able
to make this work, huh?
322
00:12:46,066 --> 00:12:48,000
Yeah, one and a half
isn't cutting it.
323
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,667
-More will be better.
-We're always hoping
for more, but...
324
00:12:49,667 --> 00:12:51,467
-Yeah.
-...it's just always been
around this,
325
00:12:51,467 --> 00:12:53,100
you know, five grams
plus or minus.
326
00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:55,467
-[Freddy] Out of this...
Out of this cut?
-Yup.
327
00:12:55,467 --> 00:12:57,166
-Got a lot of it too, right?
-We do.
328
00:12:57,166 --> 00:12:58,767
Yeah. We've got 1,000 acres
329
00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:01,000
of this material
right there, so...
330
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,767
[Freddy] It's easy, at least.
I mean...
331
00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,867
-[Vaughn] It is.
-you aren't taking...
having to take
332
00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:08,967
10 feet
of over-burden off of it,
it's the great thing about it.
333
00:13:08,967 --> 00:13:10,667
I think what we need
to do next is let Freddy and I
334
00:13:10,667 --> 00:13:12,767
go back to the truck
and kind of figure out
a plan for you guys.
335
00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:14,367
-Okay.
-[Juan] And then
we'll come back
336
00:13:14,367 --> 00:13:15,367
and talk to you,
see what you guys think.
337
00:13:15,367 --> 00:13:17,100
-Here's your gold.
-Thank you, sir.
338
00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:18,567
[Freddy] Thank you.
339
00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:20,800
-[Juan] Don't spend it all.
-[laughter]
340
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,200
-It's already spent.
-[laughter]
341
00:13:24,166 --> 00:13:26,600
[suspenseful music playing]
342
00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,233
[bird cawing]
343
00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,600
Well, what do you think
on the plant,
344
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,066
-Juan?
-The plant that they have,
345
00:13:36,066 --> 00:13:38,867
Freddy, is completely
100% driven by hydraulic.
346
00:13:38,867 --> 00:13:40,900
The reason why they're not...
They're not increasing
347
00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:42,967
their production,
they can't run it any faster
348
00:13:42,967 --> 00:13:44,967
than it is because
the hydraulics are heating up.
349
00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:45,967
[Freddy] Yup.
350
00:13:45,967 --> 00:13:48,667
If we put a liquid cooler
or heat exchanger...
351
00:13:48,667 --> 00:13:50,367
-Yup.
-...it allows us to actually
be able to run
352
00:13:50,367 --> 00:13:51,400
that plant a little...
A little harder.
353
00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,967
-Yup.
'Cause it'll cool that...
-[Juan] Yeah.
354
00:13:52,967 --> 00:13:55,700
cool that hydraulic fluid down
a lot more than it is now.
355
00:13:55,700 --> 00:13:59,266
So, by cooling that hydraulic
fluid, we actually
356
00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:01,667
can run more material
through it and get more gold.
357
00:14:01,667 --> 00:14:04,867
Well, you know, you see
how those organics
are plugging up,
358
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:07,667
-you know, the screen part
of their trommel, right?
-[Juan] Yeah.
359
00:14:07,667 --> 00:14:09,300
On the tailings
on the trommel, Fred,
360
00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:10,667
-I did find some gold.
-Should have went through.
361
00:14:10,667 --> 00:14:13,266
-Yeah.
-You think about like
a street sweeper brush.
362
00:14:13,266 --> 00:14:15,667
-Okay.
-So we mount it on the side,
363
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:16,900
the weight of it goes down
364
00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:18,266
and while
the trommel's turning,
365
00:14:18,266 --> 00:14:19,667
it's free energy that'll help
366
00:14:19,667 --> 00:14:21,667
pull those organics
out of there.
367
00:14:21,667 --> 00:14:23,867
-Yeah.
-It may or may not work.
368
00:14:23,867 --> 00:14:27,166
It's worth a shot
because right now,
it's absolutely clogged up.
369
00:14:27,166 --> 00:14:28,867
And if we tried
spraying water,
370
00:14:28,867 --> 00:14:30,166
my worry is we'd make a mess.
371
00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:31,700
-So we get
the production up...
-[Juan] Yeah.
372
00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:33,166
...and get the sluices
where they can handle
373
00:14:33,166 --> 00:14:34,800
-the upped production.
-Yeah. Yup. Yeah.
374
00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,266
One doesn't
go without the other.
375
00:14:36,266 --> 00:14:38,100
So all those things together
376
00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:40,500
means more gold
in their pockets.
377
00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:42,900
[narrator] The hydraulic
system that powers the plant
378
00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:46,367
overheat, restricting
its speed.
379
00:14:46,367 --> 00:14:49,467
Freddy and Juan
will fix a heat exchanger
380
00:14:49,467 --> 00:14:53,767
to keep the fluid cool
and double the process speed.
381
00:14:53,767 --> 00:14:57,266
Roots and vegetation clog
the trommel screens,
382
00:14:57,266 --> 00:15:00,367
reducing the ability
to catch gold.
383
00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:02,867
In a first for Mine Rescue ,
384
00:15:02,867 --> 00:15:06,266
Juan will construct a line
of brushes to sit on top
385
00:15:06,266 --> 00:15:09,000
of the rotating drum,
386
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:10,300
freeing the screens
387
00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:11,667
and allowing more gold
388
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:14,166
to wash into the sluice.
389
00:15:14,166 --> 00:15:18,100
Finally, Freddy will modify
Vaughn's sluice boxes,
390
00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:20,467
recycling the existing riffle
391
00:15:20,467 --> 00:15:22,500
and narrowing
the bottom sluice
392
00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:25,433
to recover more fine gold.
393
00:15:26,667 --> 00:15:30,000
-[dramatic music playing]
-[dog barking]
394
00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,233
[engine revs]
395
00:15:35,767 --> 00:15:37,467
-How's it going, guys?
-Good.
396
00:15:37,467 --> 00:15:38,700
-How are you, guys?
-Jeez. Good guys.
397
00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:40,600
-[Juan] Good.
-Doing all right.
398
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,500
So, watching the plant run,
we actually saw that,
399
00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:45,500
you know, you can actually run
quite a bit more material.
400
00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:47,367
Feeling the sluice boxes,
Freddy was able
to determine...
401
00:15:47,367 --> 00:15:48,867
-[Freddy] Yeah.
-...you know, the boxes,
402
00:15:48,867 --> 00:15:50,300
they're starving for material.
403
00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:53,266
You know, we're hoping
we can get you up
404
00:15:53,266 --> 00:15:55,133
by 50% more production.
405
00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,300
What we wanna do is now that
we're gonna be running
more material,
406
00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:01,000
it's gonna be...
That means more organics.
407
00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,166
You're gonna be going
through the trommel drum.
408
00:16:02,166 --> 00:16:03,667
-That's right.
-So what we wanna do
is build a scrubber
409
00:16:03,667 --> 00:16:04,800
for the outside of the trommel
410
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,567
to be able to drag
some of that out of it.
411
00:16:06,567 --> 00:16:08,767
So, it's gonna allow more
of your pay
412
00:16:08,767 --> 00:16:10,667
with the gold in it
to get to your sluice box
413
00:16:10,667 --> 00:16:12,667
instead of puking gold
out the end.
414
00:16:12,667 --> 00:16:14,367
I went down on the end
of the trommel,
415
00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:16,000
-grabbed a pan of material...
-Yes.
416
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,700
...and I did find a couple
pieces of gold in it.
417
00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:20,166
-Is that right?
-No, off the trommel end.
418
00:16:20,166 --> 00:16:22,100
Right now, it's an issue.
419
00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:23,567
Once we start running
more material,
420
00:16:23,567 --> 00:16:24,867
-it's gonna be a real
big issue.
-[Vaughn] Mmm-hmm.
421
00:16:24,867 --> 00:16:26,567
In order to be able
to run more material,
422
00:16:26,567 --> 00:16:28,200
we're gonna put
a little more strain
423
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,700
on your hydraulic system.
424
00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:31,700
-Yup.
-And put a heat exchanger
in there.
425
00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:32,734
-[Juan] Yeah.
-[Vaughn] Oh, okay.
426
00:16:32,734 --> 00:16:35,367
And by putting that cooler in
on the hydraulics,
427
00:16:35,367 --> 00:16:37,000
you're gonna be able to run
more material per hour.
428
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:38,967
-Yeah.
-Without your
system overheating.
429
00:16:38,967 --> 00:16:40,667
Next to your ground,
you know, your cut...
430
00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:42,667
-[Vaughn] Yeah.
-...the most valuable real
estate is that sluice box.
431
00:16:42,667 --> 00:16:44,166
-Yeah.
-'Cause that's where all...
432
00:16:44,166 --> 00:16:45,867
You know, all the recovery
takes place.
433
00:16:45,867 --> 00:16:47,967
By fixing the sluices,
we're gonna catch probably
434
00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:50,300
10% more gold in your sluices.
435
00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:52,266
And then get the production
of your plant up,
436
00:16:52,266 --> 00:16:55,000
you know, 50%, you know,
it could be more than 50%.
437
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,567
-Yeah.
-It's gonna take about $6,000
438
00:16:57,567 --> 00:16:59,700
in material to do it.
439
00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:01,400
What we'd like to see
is 4 ounces,
440
00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,367
2 ounces a piece
at the end of the season.
441
00:17:03,367 --> 00:17:05,367
-Yep.
-But if we don't double
your recovery,
442
00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:08,000
we won't take a cut,
so double or nothing.
443
00:17:09,100 --> 00:17:10,667
-So what are
your guys' thoughts?
-[exhales]
444
00:17:10,667 --> 00:17:13,100
You feel, uh,
feel good about that?
445
00:17:13,100 --> 00:17:15,500
We... We're not in a position
to say no and we...
446
00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:17,000
-Okay.
-...trust you guys 100%.
447
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,166
Yeah.
448
00:17:19,166 --> 00:17:21,700
-Well, it just sounds great
to me. You Rick?
-Yeah. Yeah.
449
00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:23,700
-No, I like it. I like it.
-[Freddy] Well, deal then.
450
00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:25,367
-[Vaughn] Whoa.
-[Rick] Yeah.
451
00:17:25,367 --> 00:17:27,100
Well, we better start
making some phone lcalls,
get al
452
00:17:27,100 --> 00:17:28,367
-the material we need.
-Thank you
very much, gentlemen.
453
00:17:28,367 --> 00:17:29,300
-Yup.
-Thank you.
454
00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:31,300
Sounds good.
455
00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:33,266
[Vaughn] We have to
trust them. We're trying
our hardest,
456
00:17:33,266 --> 00:17:34,767
but we're not
the professionals.
457
00:17:34,767 --> 00:17:37,100
I'm super stoked
to run some more material
458
00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,867
through the plant
and the ground is consistent.
459
00:17:39,867 --> 00:17:41,467
We're gonna get the gold.
460
00:17:41,467 --> 00:17:45,100
[intense music playing]
461
00:17:49,066 --> 00:17:51,467
It's a 48 by 35 and a half.
462
00:17:51,467 --> 00:17:53,300
That's that.
463
00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:55,600
We'll get rid
of these riffles.
464
00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,567
[narrator] Freddy and Rick
begin by tackling the sluices.
465
00:17:59,567 --> 00:18:01,166
You want me to cut these
or you're gonna--
466
00:18:01,166 --> 00:18:02,500
[Freddy] Oh, yeah,
if you want to
467
00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:03,567
and then,
I'll cut other things.
468
00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:05,433
[saw whirring]
469
00:18:09,066 --> 00:18:11,667
[Freddy] Rick's over there.
We're repurposing riffles.
470
00:18:11,667 --> 00:18:14,100
While he's doing that,
I'll get all these
angle clips cut.
471
00:18:14,767 --> 00:18:16,700
Talking to Rick,
he's a mechanic.
472
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:18,700
He's welded. So, you know,
473
00:18:18,700 --> 00:18:21,500
he's the perfect type of guy
to help on a job like this.
474
00:18:23,967 --> 00:18:26,000
So what I'm trying to do,
Rick, we're gonna flatten
475
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,667
this one out, right,
your top sluice.
476
00:18:27,667 --> 00:18:28,800
[Rick] Yup.
477
00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,900
And change the riffle system
in it a little bit, right?
478
00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:34,166
-[Rick] Yup.
-[Freddy] This top box
was way too violent.
479
00:18:34,166 --> 00:18:35,867
That's 'cause
of the pitch on it.
480
00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:37,367
You know, for your gold,
you aren't catching
481
00:18:37,367 --> 00:18:38,433
1-ounce nuggets out here.
482
00:18:38,433 --> 00:18:41,166
You're catching 20 mesh gold.
It brings the chance
483
00:18:41,166 --> 00:18:44,166
-of catching
that fine gold way up.
-[Rick] Yeah.
484
00:18:44,166 --> 00:18:47,266
[Freddy] Well, the bottom
sluice was plugging up.
485
00:18:47,266 --> 00:18:49,367
So we didn't have
enough water in that box
486
00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:50,967
when we ran that test run.
487
00:18:50,967 --> 00:18:52,667
It was starved for water,
so I'm gonna put
488
00:18:52,667 --> 00:18:54,266
new sides inside of it here.
489
00:18:54,266 --> 00:18:56,967
We're gonna narrow it up
by a couple feet.
490
00:18:56,967 --> 00:18:57,967
It'll run better.
491
00:18:59,266 --> 00:19:01,166
[narrator] Narrowing
the bottom sluice run
492
00:19:01,166 --> 00:19:03,467
should even out
the flow of water.
493
00:19:03,467 --> 00:19:04,600
-[dog whimpers]
-[Freddy] Eyeballs.
494
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,233
[welding sparks]
495
00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:13,000
What got you into gold mining?
496
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,000
Did a bunch
of prospecting trips
497
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,700
and found some gold
and got a...
498
00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:20,066
-Got hooked?
-[Rick] Yeah.
499
00:19:20,066 --> 00:19:22,367
The thing I enjoy the most
about being out here
500
00:19:22,367 --> 00:19:25,367
is being in the mountains
and just being away.
501
00:19:25,367 --> 00:19:27,166
We're at the end
of the road out here.
502
00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:28,367
There's nobody around.
503
00:19:28,367 --> 00:19:30,000
I was a tradesman
504
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,300
living in the city
for a lot of years.
505
00:19:33,100 --> 00:19:34,867
It's always been a dream
to live out in the...
506
00:19:34,867 --> 00:19:38,467
Out in the mountains and live
out away from the rat race.
507
00:19:38,467 --> 00:19:40,600
Gold mining is definitely
one of the last ways
508
00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,900
of being a pioneer
in this day and age.
509
00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:44,567
There's... You know, there's
not many things you can do
510
00:19:44,567 --> 00:19:48,367
where you can be off
by yourself doing your thing
511
00:19:48,367 --> 00:19:50,967
and be, you know,
sustaining an income.
512
00:19:50,967 --> 00:19:53,500
And that's exactly
why I love it.
513
00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,133
You got kids?
514
00:19:56,133 --> 00:19:58,300
Just the one,
four-and-a-half-months-old.
515
00:19:58,300 --> 00:20:00,867
-[Freddy] That's pretty young.
-[Rick] 21 pounds.
516
00:20:00,867 --> 00:20:02,600
[laughs] He's a...
He's a big boy.
517
00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:03,667
-[Freddy] Yeah.
-[Rick] Yeah.
518
00:20:03,667 --> 00:20:05,467
[Freddy] Yeah.
519
00:20:05,467 --> 00:20:07,600
So, you got a lot
of responsibility
on your shoulders?
520
00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:08,767
It has to work.
521
00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:10,133
-Yeah.
-[Rick] It has to.
522
00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:13,867
[suspenseful music playing]
523
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:16,100
[Rick] That sluice is warped.
524
00:20:16,100 --> 00:20:18,266
-[Freddy] What a mess, huh?
-[Rick] Yeah.
525
00:20:18,266 --> 00:20:21,100
[Freddy] We'd have
to start over, build
a whole new sluice box.
526
00:20:21,967 --> 00:20:24,100
-We don't have time for that.
-Yeah.
527
00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:26,500
[narrator] The bottom
sluice box is bent.
528
00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:30,000
Meaning the new sides
of the box won't sit flush.
529
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,667
The gap must be filled.
530
00:20:32,667 --> 00:20:34,900
I mean, it's still
gonna catch gold,
531
00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:37,433
but it's gonna take
twice as long to fix.
532
00:20:38,867 --> 00:20:40,700
[whimpers]
533
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,233
[country music playing]
534
00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:57,100
[Leanne] I have a little
list here of all our bills
535
00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,467
and our monthly payments
we make.
536
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:01,900
[narrator] On the Riches claim
in British Columbia...
537
00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:03,200
How we looking here?
538
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:07,000
We owe 25,000 to 30,000
a month with everything.
539
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,567
Well, our bills
are adding up again.
540
00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:12,200
We're looking at fuel
is 10 grand.
541
00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,367
We've got parts
for five grand.
542
00:21:15,367 --> 00:21:17,400
They're coming
in like no tomorrow.
543
00:21:18,100 --> 00:21:20,066
The guys are behind
on their wages.
544
00:21:20,066 --> 00:21:22,467
So, they're gonna be wanting
some cash soon.
545
00:21:22,467 --> 00:21:24,233
-They're gonna
be screaming, yep.
-Yup.
546
00:21:26,166 --> 00:21:28,467
This is his dream out here.
547
00:21:28,467 --> 00:21:30,500
He will make it successful.
It will be...
548
00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,100
It will be full of gold.
549
00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:34,100
We don't like
to have any down moments
550
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:37,266
because it does bring
the whole operation down.
551
00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:38,767
It's good to have good spirits
552
00:21:38,767 --> 00:21:41,000
and just stay positive
and it'll work.
553
00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,467
It's gonna work.
554
00:21:42,467 --> 00:21:43,500
And we'll have a good life.
555
00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:46,500
We'll have a bright future
is what we always say.
556
00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:48,233
This is for our future.
557
00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:50,767
[machine whirring]
558
00:21:50,767 --> 00:21:53,200
If it doesn't work
this season, it's done.
559
00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,300
It's done.
560
00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:56,200
The dream is over.
561
00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:02,900
[upbeat music playing]
562
00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,000
You wanna mark that
and get that drill down.
563
00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:10,867
Take measurements.
564
00:22:10,867 --> 00:22:13,000
[narrator] Juan and Vaughn
begin surgery
565
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,467
on the hydraulic system.
566
00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:15,600
[Juan] Perfect. Thank you.
567
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,166
[narrator] The goal, increase
the wash plant's ability
568
00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:19,867
to run pay quicker.
569
00:22:19,867 --> 00:22:22,000
So this is the heat exchanger
and what it has,
570
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,667
has the inlet and outlet.
571
00:22:23,667 --> 00:22:25,367
The hydraulic
oil's gonna come in here,
572
00:22:25,367 --> 00:22:27,266
get cooled off by the water
that's flowing
573
00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:28,767
inside this canister.
574
00:22:28,767 --> 00:22:30,900
And what it does is
it actually cools down
that hydraulic oil
575
00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:32,400
when it comes out
on the outlet,
576
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:33,533
it should be cooler.
577
00:22:33,533 --> 00:22:35,100
What that's gonna do is
gonna allow them to be able
578
00:22:35,100 --> 00:22:37,166
to run this a little higher
and a little harder
579
00:22:37,166 --> 00:22:39,300
and get more
through the plant.
580
00:22:39,667 --> 00:22:42,800
[upbeat music playing]
581
00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:51,667
We could actually run
fresh water to this
582
00:22:51,667 --> 00:22:54,567
and have nice hot water
coming up for a shower.
583
00:22:54,567 --> 00:22:56,867
-Hey.
-See?
584
00:22:56,867 --> 00:22:58,967
-Gotta think about everything.
-[chuckles] That's right.
585
00:22:58,967 --> 00:23:00,100
There we are.
586
00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:02,300
Good. Perfect.
587
00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:04,100
All right. Well, let's put
these hydraulic lines on.
588
00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:05,767
Sounds good.
589
00:23:05,767 --> 00:23:08,934
[machine whirring]
590
00:23:14,166 --> 00:23:15,900
[Vaughn] The plumbing skills
coming in, eh?
591
00:23:15,900 --> 00:23:17,834
[Juan] Revert back
to my roots.
592
00:23:20,567 --> 00:23:22,100
-[Vaughn] There it is.
-Yeah.
593
00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:23,867
All we gotta do
is put it up on top,
594
00:23:23,867 --> 00:23:25,867
zip tie it up to that hose
and call it good.
595
00:23:25,867 --> 00:23:27,767
Pretty simple fix. Looks good.
596
00:23:27,767 --> 00:23:31,000
[narrator] The heat exchanger
will cool the hydraulics
597
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,900
that power
Vaughn's wash plant.
598
00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:37,266
Now we'll be able
to run the trommel faster,
599
00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:40,166
put more material through
without heating up.
600
00:23:40,166 --> 00:23:42,000
It's, uh, it's perfect.
601
00:23:42,767 --> 00:23:44,934
"High ho. High ho..."
602
00:23:45,867 --> 00:23:48,500
Well, this angle
should fill these gaps in.
603
00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:52,367
[narrator] In the cut
to plug the gaps caused
by the warped base,
604
00:23:52,367 --> 00:23:55,100
lengths of flexible
angle iron will be welded
605
00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:56,600
to the bottom of the sluice.
606
00:23:57,767 --> 00:23:59,166
This'll work.
We didn't have time
607
00:23:59,166 --> 00:24:00,834
to build a whole new sluice.
608
00:24:07,367 --> 00:24:08,967
The welds look good.
609
00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:10,100
[Rick] Are they all right?
610
00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:11,667
[Freddy] Yeah, they look good.
611
00:24:11,667 --> 00:24:12,867
Weld it for strength
612
00:24:12,867 --> 00:24:14,367
and then seal it
with silicone.
613
00:24:14,367 --> 00:24:15,900
[Rick] Yeah.
That sounds good, Freddy.
614
00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:19,367
[narrator] The silicone makes
the box water-tight,
615
00:24:19,367 --> 00:24:22,867
and the new sides have
narrowed the sluice to 5 feet
616
00:24:22,867 --> 00:24:25,700
to keep a consistent flow
of water.
617
00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:27,133
[Freddy] One down.
618
00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:32,533
[narrator] Next job, adjust
the angle of the top sluice.
619
00:24:33,266 --> 00:24:35,600
This box
was just way too steep
620
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,000
-and too violent before.
-[Rick] Yeah.
621
00:24:39,300 --> 00:24:40,700
[Rick] More.
622
00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:42,667
I think we'll try her there.
623
00:24:42,667 --> 00:24:43,967
[Rick] Yeah.
624
00:24:47,900 --> 00:24:50,367
So basically, what we got left
here on the sluice
625
00:24:50,367 --> 00:24:54,367
is, uh, get 'em
cleaned out first
626
00:24:54,367 --> 00:24:56,667
and then start putting
our carpets and riffles in.
627
00:24:56,667 --> 00:24:58,200
We'll get her done.
628
00:24:58,867 --> 00:25:01,300
[Rick] I'm just throwing
the knots in here.
629
00:25:04,767 --> 00:25:06,433
-[Freddy] Good.
-[Rick] Yup.
630
00:25:08,667 --> 00:25:10,467
Hand over a hair a bit.
631
00:25:10,467 --> 00:25:11,700
[Rick] Bit by bit.
632
00:25:14,367 --> 00:25:16,166
[Freddy] I'll always
put a different gap.
633
00:25:16,166 --> 00:25:18,467
Like, I'll leave a, say
an inch and a half on one,
634
00:25:18,467 --> 00:25:20,166
then a 2-inch gap
between my riffles.
635
00:25:20,166 --> 00:25:21,667
It's a change.
636
00:25:21,667 --> 00:25:23,467
If you look where
you have those changes,
637
00:25:23,467 --> 00:25:25,767
there's always some gold
that likes that change.
638
00:25:25,767 --> 00:25:27,500
Yeah. Yeah.
639
00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:29,400
So we've got
a 3-foot wide sluice box,
640
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:30,700
a 4-foot wide,
641
00:25:30,700 --> 00:25:33,567
-and over 5 feet here.
-[Rick] Yup.
642
00:25:33,567 --> 00:25:36,100
So, hopefully,
643
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:37,600
when we get running here,
644
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,767
hopefully it kicks ass.
645
00:25:39,767 --> 00:25:41,266
I'm sure it will, Freddy.
646
00:25:41,266 --> 00:25:42,700
[chuckles]
647
00:25:46,066 --> 00:25:49,233
[country music playing]
648
00:25:53,467 --> 00:25:54,767
[Juan] We'll do 160.
649
00:25:54,767 --> 00:25:56,600
-[Vaughn] Okay.
-[Juan] Yeah. On the shaft.
650
00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,100
[narrator] On the trommel,
651
00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:00,166
Juan's prototype brush fix
652
00:26:00,166 --> 00:26:04,500
to clear trapped vegetation
from the screens is underway.
653
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:06,667
-So it'll be one big roller.
-Oh, okay. Yup.
654
00:26:06,667 --> 00:26:08,767
Arm that comes across here...
655
00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:10,800
-Yeah.
-...and hold
the brush assembly.
656
00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,567
As the trommel turns,
it's gonna use the brushes
657
00:26:13,567 --> 00:26:16,266
to be able to clean out
the screens.
658
00:26:16,266 --> 00:26:17,767
Let me go down to the trailer.
I'm gonna start getting
659
00:26:17,767 --> 00:26:19,266
everything figured out
on the computer.
660
00:26:19,266 --> 00:26:20,266
We'll start cutting
out all the pieces
661
00:26:20,266 --> 00:26:21,500
and if you wanna come down
and give me a hand,
662
00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:22,667
we can start
welding it together.
663
00:26:22,667 --> 00:26:23,433
-You good with that?
-Awesome.
664
00:26:23,433 --> 00:26:25,600
-All right.
-Sounds good, buddy.
665
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,500
The rotating brush assembly
666
00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:31,100
is something
we've never done before,
667
00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:34,000
but what we're gonna do is
we're gonna repurpose brushes,
668
00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,166
rotary brushes
for like a street sweeper.
669
00:26:36,166 --> 00:26:37,767
We're gonna build
a new drum for it
670
00:26:37,767 --> 00:26:39,100
and put 'em on top
of the trommel
671
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:41,266
to be able to help it clean
that organic material
672
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:43,734
that's getting caught
on the screens
on the trommel.
673
00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,200
So these are the pieces
and the spacers
674
00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:48,767
that we're gonna put
on the shaft
675
00:26:48,767 --> 00:26:50,900
to be able to hold the brushes
in center.
676
00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:54,133
[machine whirring]
677
00:26:59,767 --> 00:27:00,900
-[Juan] There it goes.
-[Vaughn] Boom.
678
00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:02,567
[Juan] Let's see what
this looks like real quick.
679
00:27:02,567 --> 00:27:04,500
-[Vaughn] There it is.
-[Juan] Perfect.
680
00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:06,200
[Vaughn] Super happy
with everything
681
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,100
that's happening here.
682
00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:09,667
Do some welding on some mounts
683
00:27:09,667 --> 00:27:11,834
and I'm looking forward to it.
684
00:27:17,867 --> 00:27:21,033
[soft music playing]
685
00:27:22,166 --> 00:27:23,300
[Candice clicking tongue]
686
00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:24,900
Right. I'll make some coffee.
687
00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,467
[narrator] 10 miles
from the mine site
688
00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:29,467
in British Columbia.
689
00:27:29,467 --> 00:27:31,400
Just trying to...
Trying to make things work.
690
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,000
Oh, [bleep].
691
00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,367
could you grab me a cleaner?
692
00:27:34,367 --> 00:27:37,500
[Candice laughs]
693
00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:38,867
[Rick] Hmm.
694
00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:40,800
It's always been our dream
to get away from the city.
695
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,400
We just didn't think
we'd actually be able
696
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,166
to ever make it happen
697
00:27:44,166 --> 00:27:45,567
and, well, now we're here
698
00:27:45,567 --> 00:27:47,266
and now things are,
699
00:27:47,266 --> 00:27:49,500
you know, not really working
700
00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:50,967
as well as they need to be
701
00:27:50,967 --> 00:27:52,900
in order for us
to stay here, so...
702
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:54,300
We wanna stay in Wells.
703
00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:55,667
I want him to keep mining.
704
00:27:55,667 --> 00:27:57,300
That's what he loves to do.
705
00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:00,266
And, yeah, I don't know.
706
00:28:00,266 --> 00:28:01,300
[Rick] And I'm... And I'm glad
707
00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:02,667
that she puts enough
faith in me.
708
00:28:02,667 --> 00:28:04,800
You know, there's
also a breaking point
709
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,000
where, uh, it doesn't
work anymore.
710
00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,000
So it's, uh...
711
00:28:09,967 --> 00:28:13,266
It's pretty,
uh, pretty anxious days here.
712
00:28:13,266 --> 00:28:16,033
I know they can do it.
They just need
a little bit of help.
713
00:28:21,467 --> 00:28:24,000
[dramatic music playing]
714
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,767
Good start to the morning.
715
00:28:25,767 --> 00:28:28,767
[narrator] At the Riches mine,
the central core,
716
00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:31,166
which will hold the 24
mounted brushes,
717
00:28:31,166 --> 00:28:32,600
takes shape.
718
00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,467
Oh, I'm just getting rid
of the extra slag
on these parts.
719
00:28:36,467 --> 00:28:38,367
My pay has a lot of organics,
720
00:28:38,367 --> 00:28:40,600
so these scrubber brushes
721
00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,433
are gonna take care of it.
722
00:28:45,166 --> 00:28:47,700
So Vaughn, you told us
in the beginning that there...
723
00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:49,967
You got quite a bit of money
invested into this operation.
724
00:28:49,967 --> 00:28:52,166
You know, I came in
with the basic equipment
725
00:28:52,166 --> 00:28:53,200
and just to get going
726
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,900
and as it progressed,
727
00:28:55,900 --> 00:28:58,467
um, I just needed
more, more money.
728
00:28:58,467 --> 00:29:00,166
So I kept borrowing
and borrowing
729
00:29:00,166 --> 00:29:02,500
from family and friends
730
00:29:02,500 --> 00:29:04,000
just to keep this running.
731
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:08,000
There has been
no paying back of anybody.
732
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,834
It's all sitting
in the ground here
733
00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:13,033
and I need it.
734
00:29:13,967 --> 00:29:17,900
I worked overseas
for seven years in Africa,
735
00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:20,967
built two gold mines there,
hard rock, ended that career
736
00:29:20,967 --> 00:29:22,667
and went full force
737
00:29:22,667 --> 00:29:24,166
into placer mining
when I got back.
738
00:29:24,166 --> 00:29:27,066
And I have to stop borrowing.
739
00:29:27,066 --> 00:29:28,333
I see the end.
740
00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:30,967
It's not pretty.
741
00:29:30,967 --> 00:29:32,800
Yeah, it's not pretty at all.
742
00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,400
[Juan] Nice.
743
00:29:36,567 --> 00:29:39,266
We're sliding the bristles on
right now.
744
00:29:39,266 --> 00:29:41,133
They're tight, which is good.
745
00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:42,634
It's perfect.
746
00:29:42,634 --> 00:29:45,200
And, you know, these are just
common street sweeper brushes,
747
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,000
so you'll be able
to grab these
748
00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:48,867
at any rental yard
and put 'em back on.
749
00:29:48,867 --> 00:29:50,300
[Vaughn] Huh. Amazing.
750
00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:51,700
[Juan] Yeah. Yeah.
751
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,900
We're plugging away here
and it's almost done.
752
00:29:56,900 --> 00:29:58,867
And, uh, yeah, we're...
753
00:29:58,867 --> 00:30:01,200
We can't wait to see
that trommel fire up again,
754
00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:02,867
start running
some dirt through
755
00:30:02,867 --> 00:30:05,300
and, uh, make some money.
756
00:30:05,300 --> 00:30:07,100
[Juan] I'm just hoping
that it works properly.
757
00:30:07,100 --> 00:30:08,500
We told him double or nothing,
758
00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:10,500
so if we don't get
that double mark,
759
00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:12,400
you know, we don't get paid
for our labor,
760
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,567
which I'm okay with,
you know, either way.
761
00:30:14,567 --> 00:30:15,767
Honestly, I'm just happy
to be here
762
00:30:15,767 --> 00:30:16,734
to help Vaughn and his crew
763
00:30:16,734 --> 00:30:19,500
because genuinely
these guys need the help.
764
00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:28,100
[rock music playing]
765
00:30:28,100 --> 00:30:29,066
Let's get it up there
and get it on, huh Juan?
766
00:30:29,066 --> 00:30:30,166
[Juan] Sounds good.
I'll drive the truck up
767
00:30:30,166 --> 00:30:31,300
and if you wanna bring
that up,
768
00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:32,333
I'll pick it up off you.
769
00:30:32,333 --> 00:30:33,700
-[Freddy] Yup.
See you in a second.
-All right.
770
00:30:34,767 --> 00:30:36,266
[narrator] The innovative
trommel brush
771
00:30:36,266 --> 00:30:38,266
that will clear
the clogged screen
772
00:30:38,266 --> 00:30:41,934
is ready to install
onto Vaughn's wash plant.
773
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,567
I'm really excited to put
this brush assembly together,
774
00:30:45,567 --> 00:30:47,567
this is something new
that we haven't done before.
775
00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:49,934
Um, if it works,
this could be a game changer.
776
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:53,900
-[Juan] Got her, Fred.
-[Freddy] Got her.
777
00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,767
[narrator] Once held in place,
778
00:30:56,767 --> 00:31:00,400
Juan will weld arms
to the side of the trommel.
779
00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:02,900
Okay. I'll get up there.
780
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:06,500
Thank you.
781
00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:10,166
-That looks pretty good.
-[Vaughn] Yeah, [bleep].
782
00:31:10,166 --> 00:31:11,800
I like it.
783
00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,867
It's definitely not
the most convenient workspace,
784
00:31:13,867 --> 00:31:16,367
but we're so close right now,
785
00:31:16,367 --> 00:31:18,467
I just gotta deal with it
and get it put together
786
00:31:18,467 --> 00:31:20,000
and get this on the trommel
787
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,934
so that way we can get going
on our test run.
788
00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:26,567
[narrator] The arms are
fabricated to hold the weight
789
00:31:26,567 --> 00:31:29,300
of the 400-pound
brush assembly.
790
00:31:31,166 --> 00:31:33,200
These arms,
they're on bearings,
791
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,000
and that way the weight
of the brush
792
00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,367
and gravity will do its thing
793
00:31:36,367 --> 00:31:38,867
and push down on the screens
and clean 'em out.
794
00:31:38,867 --> 00:31:40,100
Are you ready for these or no?
795
00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:42,100
[Juan] Yeah, let's do it.
796
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:45,000
[narrator] The arms are braced
to strengthen the build.
797
00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:47,567
[Freddy] Almost there.
798
00:31:47,567 --> 00:31:49,600
Almost ready to run.
799
00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,367
-Mucho grande.
Way better, huh, Juan?
-Mucho...
800
00:31:51,367 --> 00:31:52,867
[Juan] Way better.
801
00:31:52,867 --> 00:31:55,166
Can't wait to see
some gold in the sluices.
802
00:31:55,166 --> 00:31:57,700
-Last weld, Juano?
-Last one, Freddy.
803
00:31:57,967 --> 00:31:59,467
Done.
804
00:31:59,467 --> 00:32:01,000
Let's run a plant,
catch some gold.
805
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:02,333
[Juan] Let's do it.
806
00:32:03,367 --> 00:32:04,900
Well, it looks good, Juan.
807
00:32:04,900 --> 00:32:07,367
[Juan] Hopefully it works
as good as it looks.
808
00:32:07,367 --> 00:32:10,266
So we saw nearly half an ounce
on the last test run.
809
00:32:10,266 --> 00:32:12,367
I'd like to see an ounce
of gold this time.
810
00:32:12,367 --> 00:32:14,967
An ounce of gold
would be fantastic.
811
00:32:14,967 --> 00:32:16,367
[Juan] There's only one way
to find out.
812
00:32:16,367 --> 00:32:17,767
Let's run it. We gotta run.
813
00:32:17,767 --> 00:32:19,066
[Vaughn] All right.
Let's do it.
814
00:32:19,066 --> 00:32:22,233
[dramatic music playing]
815
00:32:32,667 --> 00:32:35,000
I think all the improvements
are where they should be
816
00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:36,900
and, uh, we're gonna up
the volume
817
00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:38,467
and rate, speed rate,
818
00:32:38,467 --> 00:32:41,867
so it's gonna be a...
819
00:32:41,867 --> 00:32:43,467
super amazing time.
820
00:32:43,467 --> 00:32:46,000
The next four hours
is gonna be hectic, hectic.
821
00:32:46,967 --> 00:32:49,767
[narrator] To hit their
double-or-nothing target,
822
00:32:49,767 --> 00:32:53,900
Juan's plant must recover
over an ounce of gold.
823
00:32:53,900 --> 00:32:56,367
All in all, I'm really happy
with what we were able to do.
824
00:32:56,367 --> 00:32:57,400
I'm just not 100% sure
825
00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:58,967
that we're gonna be able
to get as much material
826
00:32:58,967 --> 00:33:00,900
through the plant
that we wanted,
827
00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:03,400
but really, yeah,
tomorrow we'll find out.
828
00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:05,133
We'll find out what we were
able to accomplish here.
829
00:33:05,867 --> 00:33:08,000
-First bucket, Juan.
-Perfect.
830
00:33:09,967 --> 00:33:12,500
[Freddy] Well, let's see
how the hydraulics are doing.
831
00:33:14,500 --> 00:33:15,867
[Juan] Staying cool.
832
00:33:15,867 --> 00:33:17,367
Right now,
that's extremely cool.
833
00:33:17,367 --> 00:33:18,867
[Freddy] It is.
834
00:33:18,867 --> 00:33:20,667
[narrator]
Juan's heat exchanger
835
00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:24,367
keeps the hydraulic oil
that powers the plant cool,
836
00:33:24,367 --> 00:33:27,233
allowing the wash plant
to be dialed up.
837
00:33:29,166 --> 00:33:30,767
That's pretty neat, Freddy,
you can actually see
838
00:33:30,767 --> 00:33:32,400
-the bristles come through.
-Yeah.
839
00:33:33,467 --> 00:33:36,400
[narrator] The trommel brush
is a game changer.
840
00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,767
By keeping the screens free
of debris,
841
00:33:38,767 --> 00:33:42,300
more gold can pass
into the sluices.
842
00:33:42,300 --> 00:33:46,467
They're a lot cleaner
than they were, a lot.
843
00:33:46,467 --> 00:33:47,800
And we're running
more material.
844
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,000
-Yeah.
-So we've got more organics
coming through.
845
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,266
Exactly right. Nope,
they're doing their job, bud.
846
00:33:52,266 --> 00:33:54,166
Yup. Good job, brother.
847
00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:56,600
-We did okay.
-[Freddy] We did all right.
848
00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,767
[Juan] Freddy and I
have built a lot
of things over the years.
849
00:33:58,767 --> 00:34:00,066
We had an idea
this would work,
850
00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:00,967
but you really don't know
851
00:34:00,967 --> 00:34:03,166
until you actually put it in
and run it.
852
00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:04,200
And right now
it's doing great.
853
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,133
So I'm extremely happy
with it.
854
00:34:07,567 --> 00:34:09,300
Juan's build with the brush,
855
00:34:09,967 --> 00:34:11,900
it's, uh, it's a work of art.
856
00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:14,333
It's working flawlessly.
857
00:34:17,967 --> 00:34:19,300
Definitely the pressure's on.
858
00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:21,900
We're sending a lot
more material.
859
00:34:23,567 --> 00:34:25,200
Brand-new problem for us.
860
00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:26,567
We're really having
to rush the pay in
861
00:34:26,567 --> 00:34:29,467
and it's a good problem
to have.
862
00:34:29,467 --> 00:34:31,500
It seems like it's moving
in the right direction
863
00:34:31,500 --> 00:34:32,967
all of a sudden.
864
00:34:32,967 --> 00:34:34,900
Vaughn definitely looks
a lot happier
865
00:34:34,900 --> 00:34:37,200
with the way that things
are running now.
866
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,900
I mean, we're getting
more yardage in
867
00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:42,700
and that in turn should
mean more gold.
868
00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:46,100
[horn honking]
869
00:34:51,900 --> 00:34:54,066
[Rick] First time out
to the mine.
870
00:34:54,066 --> 00:34:56,166
Figure what a bit...
Why not a better time
871
00:34:56,166 --> 00:34:58,000
than when Freddy and Juan
are here.
872
00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,200
[Candice] He's definitely
interested in it, though.
873
00:35:00,900 --> 00:35:02,600
[Rick] Candice was out
here helping me a bit,
874
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,800
but last year
she's run rock truck a bit
875
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:06,066
on a few different sites
and that.
876
00:35:06,066 --> 00:35:08,800
So, once he's old enough,
877
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,567
he'll probably run
something like that, too.
878
00:35:12,567 --> 00:35:13,767
[Candice] A couple years
or so.
879
00:35:13,767 --> 00:35:14,867
[laughs] Two or three
more years.
880
00:35:14,867 --> 00:35:16,133
[Candice] Yeah.
881
00:35:18,900 --> 00:35:20,900
Hey, Stephan, you got a copy?
882
00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:23,233
[Stephan] Copy.
883
00:35:23,667 --> 00:35:24,634
[Freddy] Last bucket.
884
00:35:24,634 --> 00:35:26,400
[Stephan] Done, last bucket
of the day.
885
00:35:32,700 --> 00:35:33,900
[Vaughn] Oh, yeah. Holy.
886
00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:36,200
These are working way better.
You can tell.
887
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,367
Well, we're seeing
some gold anyway.
888
00:35:38,367 --> 00:35:40,266
-[Juan] That's promising.
-[Freddy] Yeah.
889
00:35:40,266 --> 00:35:41,900
[Juan] Well,
what do you guys say?
You guys wanna clean it up
890
00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:44,066
and we'll come back
in the morning
and see what it is?
891
00:35:44,066 --> 00:35:45,467
[Rick] That sounds great.
892
00:35:45,467 --> 00:35:46,400
-That sounds great guys.
-[Freddy] Great.
893
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:47,500
-Sounds good guys.
-[Vaughn] Thanks a lot.
894
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:48,800
Thank you.
895
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:51,867
These guys are gonna win
896
00:35:51,867 --> 00:35:54,000
because better production,
897
00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:55,667
better running sluices,
898
00:35:55,667 --> 00:35:57,800
plants not plugged up
with organics.
899
00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,767
Uh, so all in all,
it's a win for all of us,
900
00:36:01,767 --> 00:36:05,233
but pretty sure it's gonna be
a really big win for them.
901
00:36:09,767 --> 00:36:11,166
[Juan] Want a drink, Fred?
902
00:36:11,166 --> 00:36:12,400
Yeah.
903
00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:13,867
[Juan] Yeah.
It's kind of nice, Freddy.
904
00:36:13,867 --> 00:36:15,166
Beautiful scenery.
905
00:36:15,166 --> 00:36:16,567
Pretty lucky, Fred.
906
00:36:16,567 --> 00:36:18,400
Pretty lucky.
907
00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,166
[Freddy] Brought pocket
oysters again, huh?
908
00:36:20,166 --> 00:36:22,200
[Juan] Yeah, these
are pretty fancy, too.
909
00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:23,834
Nice to relax for a minute.
910
00:36:25,867 --> 00:36:27,800
[horn honks]
911
00:36:29,500 --> 00:36:31,600
You know
what that means, Juan?
912
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,367
Yup. Probably time
to get back at it, huh?
913
00:36:33,367 --> 00:36:34,667
Time to get back to work. Yup.
914
00:36:34,667 --> 00:36:36,233
Lunch is over, Fred.
915
00:36:40,567 --> 00:36:42,133
[dramatic music playing]
916
00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:50,266
-Morning.
-[Leanne] Good morning.
917
00:36:50,266 --> 00:36:51,367
-[Freddy] Good morning.
-Okay.
918
00:36:51,367 --> 00:36:53,000
-Ready to weight some gold up?
-[Vaughn] You betcha.
919
00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,867
[narrator] On the Riches mine
in British Columbia...
920
00:36:55,867 --> 00:36:57,166
[Juan] We should probably
do it inside, huh?
921
00:36:57,166 --> 00:36:59,066
[Freddy] Yeah, it's raining
while we're out here.
922
00:36:59,066 --> 00:37:00,800
[narrator] Success or failure
923
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,667
after a week
of resourceful upgrades
924
00:37:03,667 --> 00:37:06,900
all comes down
to the final gold weigh.
925
00:37:08,266 --> 00:37:10,066
-[Juan] You got the gold?
-[Vaughn] I do.
926
00:37:10,066 --> 00:37:11,700
-[Juan] Oh, shoot.
-[man] Yeah.
927
00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:13,000
-Holy cow.
-[Freddy] Really?
928
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,500
-[Vaughn] Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
-[Freddy] Really?
929
00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:15,900
[Juan] Really? Yeah. [laughs]
930
00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:17,867
-[Freddy] Yeah. Yeah.
-[Vaughn] Feeling good.
931
00:37:17,867 --> 00:37:19,767
-[Freddy] Yeah. Yeah.
-[man] Mmm-hmm.
932
00:37:19,767 --> 00:37:21,300
-[Freddy] You guys ready?
-[man] I think so.
933
00:37:21,300 --> 00:37:23,266
-[Freddy] Let's do this.
-[man chuckles]
934
00:37:23,266 --> 00:37:25,500
[narrator] To prove
the mine's viability,
935
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:28,000
the result of the second test
must deliver
936
00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,333
at least 1 ounce of gold.
937
00:37:36,266 --> 00:37:38,367
-Well, there's 0.47, right?
-[Vaughn] Oh, yeah.
938
00:37:38,367 --> 00:37:39,900
That was the first cleanup.
939
00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:41,100
[Juan] Look how much more
is left.
940
00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:41,900
We're a third of the way
941
00:37:41,900 --> 00:37:43,100
through what's in
that jar, right?
942
00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:45,367
-Yeah.
-[laughing]
943
00:37:45,367 --> 00:37:47,066
[Juan] That's awesome.
944
00:37:47,066 --> 00:37:48,467
-There's an ounce.
-[Juan] Yeah.
945
00:37:48,467 --> 00:37:50,567
-An even ounce right there.
-[man] Oh.
946
00:37:50,567 --> 00:37:52,000
Holy [bleep].
947
00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:53,100
There's still gold
in the jar, guys.
948
00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:55,667
-[man 1] Oh, that's awesome.
-[man 2] That's awesome.
949
00:37:55,667 --> 00:37:57,033
No [bleep].
950
00:37:57,800 --> 00:37:59,266
-What?
-[laughter]
951
00:37:59,266 --> 00:38:02,700
1.58 for four freaking hours.
952
00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:04,700
-[cheering and laughing]
-Hey!
953
00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:06,667
So that's four
and a half ounces a day
954
00:38:06,667 --> 00:38:07,967
if it stays
at that rate, right?
955
00:38:07,967 --> 00:38:10,100
-Nice!
-It's a 12-hour day.
956
00:38:10,100 --> 00:38:11,166
[Juan] And that's the same
exact pay
957
00:38:11,166 --> 00:38:12,166
you guys were running
before, right?
958
00:38:12,166 --> 00:38:14,567
And that's... There's a huge
improvement there.
959
00:38:14,567 --> 00:38:16,400
[narrator]
Freddy and Juan's fixes
960
00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:19,300
have tripled
Vaughn's gold count.
961
00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:22,000
It turns your dream out here
into a reality.
962
00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,200
-It does.
-[Juan] It really does.
963
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,800
It completes...
It changes everything, right?
964
00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,166
You know,
from just barely scraping
965
00:38:27,166 --> 00:38:28,667
by having the money
to be able to make,
966
00:38:28,667 --> 00:38:30,300
you know, repairs
and everything else.
967
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:32,567
Now that actually puts
a little bit of cushion
968
00:38:32,567 --> 00:38:33,967
in, you know, in the bank.
969
00:38:33,967 --> 00:38:35,800
It certainly does, Juan. Yeah.
970
00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:37,100
-Freddy, amazing.
-[man chuckles]
971
00:38:37,100 --> 00:38:38,467
Look at all the fines
in there.
972
00:38:38,467 --> 00:38:39,533
There's a lot more fines
in there
973
00:38:39,533 --> 00:38:41,300
-than we have before.
-Oh, that's the difference.
974
00:38:41,300 --> 00:38:43,800
[Juan] Yeah, there's a lot
more fines in there.
975
00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,266
-I still don't believe that.
-[Juan] That's huge.
976
00:38:45,266 --> 00:38:46,667
-That's awesome.
-[laughter]
977
00:38:46,667 --> 00:38:49,266
[Rick] It's amazing.
No, it's...
978
00:38:49,266 --> 00:38:50,767
We definitely knew
we had losses,
979
00:38:50,767 --> 00:38:53,100
-but not like that.
-Not like that. No.
980
00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:55,100
You know, I haven't seen
you smile this much.
981
00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:56,500
I know.
982
00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:58,367
Or Rick.
983
00:38:58,367 --> 00:39:00,667
-Especially me.
-I know. Yeah.
984
00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:02,500
It's been a... It's been
a struggle for a while
985
00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:05,200
and it, uh, it means
a lot to Vaughn,
986
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:06,967
I know that for sure.
987
00:39:06,967 --> 00:39:09,166
And it means a lot
to everybody. It's...
988
00:39:09,166 --> 00:39:11,767
It means everything.
And I really, really,
989
00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:13,667
really wanna
thank you, gentlemen,
990
00:39:13,667 --> 00:39:15,567
-like sincerely.
-You're welcome. Yup.
991
00:39:15,567 --> 00:39:17,667
You're welcome. All you guys.
992
00:39:17,667 --> 00:39:19,367
Oh, you're not getting away
with a handshake.
993
00:39:19,367 --> 00:39:21,033
[laughter]
994
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:24,600
-[Vaughn] Thanks, big man.
-You're welcome,
995
00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:26,100
very welcome, buddy.
996
00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:28,900
-[Freddy] That's awesome.
-Woo!
997
00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,100
Holy [bleep].
998
00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:33,567
-Truly blessed.
-[man] That's awesome.
999
00:39:33,567 --> 00:39:34,800
[Rick] Yeah.
1000
00:39:35,166 --> 00:39:36,400
Changes everything.
1001
00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:38,166
Yup. Yup.
1002
00:39:38,166 --> 00:39:40,600
There's a huge relief
off these shoulders
1003
00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:44,333
and everybody
that believed in me,
1004
00:39:45,066 --> 00:39:47,600
that feels nice. Yeah.
1005
00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:49,700
Ah, yeah.
1006
00:39:53,266 --> 00:39:54,900
Yeah, it's good.
1007
00:39:57,467 --> 00:40:00,233
Oh, jeez. Means, uh...
1008
00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:04,667
the dream moves forward
1009
00:40:04,667 --> 00:40:07,166
and, uh, in a healthy way.
1010
00:40:07,166 --> 00:40:09,300
So, uh, I can...
1011
00:40:12,967 --> 00:40:14,500
move forward.
1012
00:40:18,500 --> 00:40:20,033
Sorry.
1013
00:40:21,066 --> 00:40:23,200
They have a real possibility
with their dream.
1014
00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:25,467
You know, before they were,
you know, week to week
1015
00:40:25,467 --> 00:40:27,166
selling every bit of gold
that they had
1016
00:40:27,166 --> 00:40:28,567
to try to pay bills,
1017
00:40:28,567 --> 00:40:30,100
uh, without really, you know,
1018
00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:31,800
any reassurance
or any future out here.
1019
00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:33,800
But now, they have
a solid plan.
1020
00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:35,900
They have a solid plan
and a real future
1021
00:40:35,900 --> 00:40:38,100
to be able to make
their dreams come true.
1022
00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:40,100
It's gonna be
life changing for him.
1023
00:40:40,100 --> 00:40:41,700
We're leaving on a high.
1024
00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:45,900
[Rick] Juan and Freddy
have truly, truly turned
1025
00:40:45,900 --> 00:40:47,166
everything around for us.
1026
00:40:47,166 --> 00:40:49,200
And so now, there is a future
1027
00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:52,700
for my family and me
and everybody else here.
1028
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:55,433
[horn honking]
1029
00:40:59,667 --> 00:41:02,066
Hi, Freddy. Hi, Juan.
1030
00:41:02,066 --> 00:41:04,467
Just a little update
from our mine.
1031
00:41:04,467 --> 00:41:07,867
We've been doubling
our gold tallies every day.
1032
00:41:07,867 --> 00:41:10,667
And I'm actually starting
to pay off investors
1033
00:41:10,667 --> 00:41:12,300
and my family members
1034
00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:13,867
that have helped
all the way through.
1035
00:41:13,867 --> 00:41:14,867
Woo!
1036
00:41:14,867 --> 00:41:16,500
The scrubber on the trommel
1037
00:41:16,500 --> 00:41:19,000
is still working amazing.
1038
00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,100
The organics
are not a problem anymore.
1039
00:41:22,100 --> 00:41:25,100
The sluice boxes are
still catching everything.
1040
00:41:25,100 --> 00:41:27,767
It's looking good,
so it's good times here still,
1041
00:41:27,767 --> 00:41:29,300
thanks to you guys.