Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE OF "PARKER'S TRAIL"...
SHOW ME THE MONEY.
...PARKER AND HIS TEAM FIND THEMSELVES
CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK...
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
THERE COULD BE A [BLEEP] LOAD OF GOLD IN IT.
...AND A HARD PLACE...
-I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING! -[ COUGHS ]
Narrator: ...AS THEY GRAPPLE WITH A MONSTER MACHINE...
PARKER SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THAT DRY BLOWER.
WHOLE THING JUST SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: ...AND MINE THE RICHEST GROUND
THEY'VE EVER SEEN.
THAT'S A NUGGET.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH ON THE LINE FOR THE WHOLE TRIP.
FOR [BLEEP] SAKE!
GO ON! THE WHOLE THING'S GOING IN HALF!
YEAH!
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
-GOOD FIRE, TYLER. -THANK YOU.
I LIKE OUR STOVE.
-IT'S WICKED, ISN'T IT? -YEAH.
THIS IS AN OLD SHEEP STATION,
AND THIS IS THE ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.
-IS THIS THE ORIGINAL OVEN? -YEAH.
THIS IS WHAT THEY USED TO COOK THEIR FOOD.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T BURN MY TOAST.
WHAT WE HAVING ON IT?
WE'VE GOT VEGEMITE AND BUTTER.
WHAT'S VEGEMITE?
IT'S MY FAVORITE SPREAD BY FAR.
EVERYONE LOVES VEGEMITE HERE.
FRED, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT.
♪♪
[ Laughing ] OH, GET OUT, FRED.
[ FRED SPITTING ]
[BLEEP] HORRIBLE.
OH, MY GOD.[BLEEP]
[ Laughing ] FRED.
YOU'RE OFFENDING A WHOLE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
I'M SORRY, AUSTRALIA, BUT THAT IS HORRIBLE.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL AND HIS TEAM ARE SIX WEEKS
INTO AN 8-WEEK PROSPECTING MISSION...
-LET'S GO, GUYS. -WE'RE COMING.
Narrator: ...TO EXPAND AND EXTEND
HIS MINING SEASON YEAR-ROUND.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
FROM SANDSTONE, THEY'RE HEADING 30 MILES NORTHEAST
TO THE MURCHISON GOLD FIELDS TO MEET A LOCAL MINING CLAN.
SO THE PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO MEET TODAY ARE THE McCLARENS,
AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST MINING FAMILIES BY FAR.
Parker: OH, WOW.
THEY'VE GOT SOME LAND AND LEASES TO SELL.
THIS IS A GOOD LEAD THEN.YEAH.
THEY'VE GOT ABOUT 800 SQUARE KILOMETERS OF MINING LEASES.
WOW.
IS HE, LIKE, ACTIVELY MINING THIS GROUND?
YEAH, YEAH. SURE IS.
WITH WHAT? A WASH PLANT?
I HAVEN'T SEEN A DROP OF WATER.
HE'S GOT A DRY BLOWER ACTUALLY.
WELL, THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY OPTION OUT HERE, IS DRY BLOWING.
SHOW ME THE MONEY.
♪♪
Narrator: THE McCLARENS' LEASES ARE LOCATED
IN ONE OF THE DRIEST PLACES ON EARTH,
WITH ONLY 5 INCHES OF RAINFALL A YEAR,
THE FAMILY OPERATES WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST DRY BLOWER.
WORTH HALF A MILLION DOLLARS,
IT'S DESIGNED TO REMOVE FINE GOLD
FROM PAY DIRT WITHOUT A DROP OF WATER.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH. WHAT?
THAT'S ENORMOUS. -THAT'S HUGE.
IT'S THE BIGGEST BY FAR IN THE AREA.
YEAH.
Narrator: THE FIRST DRY BLOWER WAS INVENTED
BY PROSPECTOR STEPHEN LORDEN IN 1893.
IT REVOLUTIONIZED MINING
IN THE DROUGHT-RAVAGED REGIONS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
HELLO.
SO WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
CASS, THIS IS FRED.
-NICE TO MEET YOU. -HELLO.
I'M PARKER.
DANNY. NICE TO MEET YOU.
Cass: NICE MACHINE, ISN'T IT?
-OH, WOW. -THAT'S A BIG OLD PLANT.
THE BIGGEST THING WE'VE SEEN
SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN AUSTRALIA ACTUALLY.
REALLY?
GET THIS SHUT DOWN SO WE CAN HEAR, EH?
Tyler: YEAH.
SO, MUZ, HOW MUCH GOLD WERE YOU GETTING OUT OF THE DRY BLOWER?
THAT'S PRETTY COOL. QUITE THE MACHINE.
Cass: SO YOU HAVEN'T USED A DRY BLOWER BEFORE?
NO. WE SAW, LIKE,
A VERY MINIATURE VERSION OF THIS THE OTHER DAY,
BUT I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN AROUND THEM BEFORE.
YEAH.
SO WHAT BRINGS YOU TO THIS END OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA?
WELL, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A BUNCH
OF MINING PROPERTY ALL OVER AUSTRALIA,
AND TYLER SUGGESTED WE COME TALK TO YOU GUYS
AND SEE IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY GROUND AROUND.
DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BIG BLOCK OF GROUND
THAT HAS LOTS OF GOLD ON IT
THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY COME MINE 12 MONTHS A YEAR.
YOU'RE FROM THE SNOW.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
HUH. IS THERE GROUND FOR SALE?
YEAH, SO WE'RE HERE AT THE GOAT FARM.
WE ESSENTIALLY WANT TO GO OVER TO THE 3 MILE.
SO THIS IS THE PIECE OF GROUND
THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROSPECT ON?
AWESOME.
SHOULD WE GO CHECK IT OUT?
DEFINITELY.LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: THE GROUND THE McCLARENS ARE WILLING TO SELL
IS A 29-ACRE PLOT CALLED 3 MILE.
IT'S A PRIME PIECE OF VIRGIN GROUND LOCATED ON THE EDGE
OF THEIR 200,000-ACRE PROPERTY, ALL OF WHICH SITS ON TOP
OF THE 25,000-SQUARE-MILE YILGARN CRATON,
WHERE GEOLOGISTS ESTIMATE
30% OF THE WORLD'S UNMINED GOLD IS BURIED --
WORTH $800 BILLION.
TYLER, HAVE YOU MINED HERE BEFORE?
ME AND FAMILY MINED JUST OVER THAT WAY.
AND IS IT GOOD?YEAH, WE DID WELL OUT OF IT.
WE GOT 25 OUNCES OF NUGGETS.
Fred: OH, WOW.
SO I CAN ACTUALLY VOUCH FOR THE GROUND.
IT'S THE RICHEST IN AREA BY FAR.
WOW.
♪♪
SO IS THIS 3 MILE?
GOT YOU.
IS IT ALRIGHT IF WE COME TEST SOME OF THIS GROUND?
I GUESS THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL TESTING EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A DRY BLOWER,
BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WORKS
OR THAT PEOPLE WILL LET US USE,
SO IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD YOUR GUYS'?
THE DRY BLOWER IS IN REALLY HIGH DEMAND, TO BE HONEST.
OKAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT FOR.
MAYBE A COUPLE DAYS?
OKAY.
WHAT KIND OF, LIKE, MONEY WOULD YOU WANT FOR IT?
SO $3,000 A DAY WOULD BE WHAT YOU WOULD USUALLY
HIRE THE DRY BLOWER OUT FOR.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M GUESSING THERE'S NOT ANOTHER ONE WITHIN, LIKE,
100 MILES OF HERE, IS THERE?
NO.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING YOU 3 GRAND A DAY.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GOLD WE FIND?
HOW ABOUT WE SPLIT IT HALF AND HALF, 50/50?
WELL, WE'RE DOING THE LABOR.
ALRIGHT.
THAT'S A DEAL. LET'S DO IT.
-ALRIGHT. -THANK YOU, GUYS.
Parker: CASS AND MUZ SEEM LIKE THEY'RE A BIT CAGEY,
WHICH I'M USED TO.
YOU KNOW, HEY, MUZ IS NOT SCREWING AROUND
WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATING,
AND 3 GRAND A DAY IS A LOT FOR A WASH PLANT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TYLER IS PERSONALLY VOUCHING
FOR THIS GROUND, SO THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, SHE WOULDN'T BE AS CONFIDENT AS SHE SEEMS
IF THERE WEREN'T A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE.
Cass: PARKER HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN AROUND AUSTRALIA,
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES
HE'S GONNA COME ACROSS.
I'M EXCITED THAT THEY'VE LET US USE THE DRY BLOWER
BECAUSE WE HAVE ZERO OTHER OPTIONS,
BUT, YEAH, WE HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR IT,
WHICH I UNDERSTAND.
I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND ENOUGH GOLD
TO HOPEFULLY PAY FOR SOME OF IT.
ALRIGHT. WHERE SHOULD WE START?
YEAH. LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: PARKER'S $6,000 DEAL FOR JUST 2 DAYS
PROSPECTING WITH THE DRY BLOWER
MEANS HE NEEDS OVER 10 OUNCES OF GOLD TO BREAK EVEN.
IF HE'S SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL ALSO MEAN
THE 3 MILE CLAIM IS THE RICHEST HE HAS EVER TESTED.
I WAS SAYING THAT WAS THE EASY PART.
NOW WE GOT TO GET IT THERE.
Tyler: WHO'S DRIVING THE TRUCK?
I'M NOT A SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER.
ARE YOU SURE YOU TRUST ME?
ALRIGHT.
SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
Fred: GOOD TO GO.
[ HORN HONKS ] HEY.
Danny: COME ON, MATE.
WE'RE MOVING.
YES.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DROVE ONE OF THESE?
OH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
MITCH DOES ALL THIS STUFF NOW.
Narrator: TO REACH THE McCLARENS' VIRGIN GROUND,
PARKER MUST DRIVE THE 45-TON PLANT 3 MILES
ALONG A BUSH TRACK.
Danny: HOW FAR OFF ARE WE? HAVE WE ANY IDEAS?
I THINK LESS THAN A MILE.
HEY, FRED. YOU CAN HEAR US?
YEAH. COPY.
HOW IS SHE LOOKING UP THERE, MAN?
ARE WE ALL GOOD?
IT'S LOOKING GOOD, BUT IT'S GETTING A LITTLE NARROW.
OKAY. ROGER THAT, MATE.
Narrator: AT THE REAR, TYLER KEEPS A LOOKOUT
FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE LOAD.
[BLEEP] I'M EXCITED, BUT I'M ALSO VERY [BLEEP] NERVOUS.
NOT EXACTLY THE IDEAL ROAD TO BE TAKING
THE $500,000 DRY BLOWER DOWN.
WHOA.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT NOISE WAS?
SOMETHING.
COPY, DANNY.
GO, TYLER.
YEAH, THE LEFT CONVEYOR'S QUITE WOBBLY.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
YEAH, THAT THING IS SHAKING QUITE VIOLENTLY.
SHOULD I GO SLOWER?
YEAH, MAYBE JUST SLOW HER UP A LITTLE BIT.
Fred: THIS IS OUR LAST BIG TURN?
HEY, GUYS, WATCH THIS LAST BIG CORNER.
IT'S GONNA BE A TIGHT TURN GOING INTO THAT OPEN AREA.
ROGER THAT, MATE.
WE'LL JUST KEEP CREEPING ALONG HERE NICE AND SLOW.
Parker: ALRIGHT.
IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT, BUT LET'S DO IT.
♪♪
THAT'S A TIGHT SQUEEZE.
GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIGHT HERE.
WE GONNA GET THROUGH HERE?
WHAT THE...
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
Parker: [BLEEP] A LITTLE DUSTY.
Narrator: ...FRED GETS GOLD FEVER.
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO [BLEEP] AROUND WITH YOUR ROCK.
AND PARKER LEARNS DRY BLOWING THE HARD WAY.
-I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. -[ COUGHS ]
Danny: FRED!
Parker: IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT, BUT LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: PARKER IS MOVING
WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST DRY BLOWER
TO TEST GROUND IN A VIRGIN CLAIM CALLED 3 MILE.
THAT'S A TIGHT SPACE.
GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIGHT HERE.
WE GONNA GET THROUGH HERE?
WHAT THE...
SLOW AND STEADY, GUYS.
NEARLY THERE.
-YEAH, WE [BLEEP] MADE IT. -YES.
[ HORN HONKS ]YEAH!
-[ LAUGHING ] YEAH. -YEAH.
-UP TOP. -WE MADE IT.
Fred: THIS IS THE BEST PART RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM HAVE JUST TWO DAYS
TO TEST THE VIABILITY OF THE GROUND
AND FIND ENOUGH GOLD TO COVER HIS $6,000 DRY BLOWER RENTAL.
DO YOU FEEL THE GOLD?WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
OH, I CAN FEEL THE GOLD.
DON'T GET TOO EXCITED.
I FEEL THE GOLD.
THAT WAS REALLY STRESSFUL, BUT WE GOT IT HERE IN ONE PIECE.
-YEAH! -WHOO!
NOTHING IS BROKEN, AND IT'S WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
Parker: YEAH, THERE'S NOT MUCH SETUP ON THIS PLANT TO DO,
SO ASSUMING WE DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING IN TRANSPORT,
THEN WE SHOULD BE RUNNING PRETTY SOON HERE.
Narrator: BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK
ON ANOTHER OF HIS MINE SITES,
MUZ GIVES PARKER AND HIS TEAM A BEGINNER'S GUIDE
ON HOW TO OPERATE THE HALF A MILLION DOLLAR DRY BLOWER.
YEAH.
[BLEEP] A LITTLE DUSTY.
WHOO. THAT WORKS.
AND THEN YOU JUST HOPE THE WIND BLOWS THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ALRIGHT. WELL, WE'RE RUNNING.
THANKS, MUZ. APPRECIATE IT.
Danny: CHEERS, MATE.
-WE'RE BLOWING ROCKS. -WE'RE BLOWING.
BLOWING. WE'RE BLOWING.
Narrator: UNLIKE PARKER'S WASH PLANTS IN THE YUKON,
THE DRY BLOWER IS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE FINE GOLD
WITHOUT USING ANY WATER.
PAY DIRT IS LOADED INTO THE HOPPER
AND FED DIRECTLY INTO A ROTARY TROMMEL.
THE TROMMEL DRY SPINS THE DIRT,
SEPARATES ROCKS FROM PAY LESS THAN 1/3 INCH,
AND FEEDS THAT INTO A CLAY BREAKER,
REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE DIRT FURTHER.
THIS IS THEN SPREAD EVENLY ONTO THE SCREENS ON THE SHAKE DECK.
FANS THEN BLAST CONTROLLED AIR THROUGH THE DIRT
TO LIFT LIGHTER DUST UP AND AWAY FROM THE SCREENS
AND ONTO A WASTE CONVEYOR,
LEAVING THE HEAVIER GOLD CONCENTRATE
TRAPPED IN THE RIFFLES.
ALRIGHT. I'D BETTER START THROWING SOME DIRT IN IT.
♪♪
HERE WE GO. FIRST BUCKET.
♪♪
IN SHE GOES.
-WHOO. -YAY.
WHOA!
-YEAH! -YEAH!
Danny: WE ARE RUNNING.
PERFECT.
-OH [BLEEP] -OH [BLEEP]
OH, MY [BLEEP]
[ COUGHS ]
GEEZ! [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING ]
I CAN'T SEE ANYBODY.
BEHIND ME?
CAREFUL WITH THE LOADER!
WHERE'S THE [BLEEP] LOADER?
FRED!
TYLER, THIS WAY!
FRED? FRED!
-FRED! -FRED!
OH [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING ]
[BLEEP] HELL, MAN.
Tyler: LET'S JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE LOADER.
COME ON. COME ON.LET'S JUST MOVE OUT, FRED.
[BLEEP] HOLY [BLEEP]
ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
DUDE, WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL
BECAUSE HE IS WHERE WE WERE JUST STANDING.
[BLEEP] I COULDN'T EVEN SEE TYLER.
I ACTUALLY [BLEEP] MYSELF THEN.
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?
ALL GOOD. ALL GOOD, PARKER.
WE PANICKED A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SEE WHERE YOU WERE GOING.
I STILL CAN'T SEE YOU GUYS.
WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DRY BLOWER NOW.
YOU CAN'T HIT US NOW.
COPY.
THIS IS [BLEEP] DANGEROUS
BECAUSE MY VISIBILITY IS WORSE
THAN ANY OTHER CONDITIONS YOU COULD BE IN.
LIKE, RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST DRIVING THROUGH A CLOUD OF DUST.
OKAY.
AS SOON AS THIS HOPPER RUNS OUT, DANNY,
I'M PROBABLY GONNA SHUT IT DOWN.
OKAY. ROGER THAT.
Tyler: ALRIGHT. I NEED A BEER AFTER THAT.
OH [BLEEP] YEAH.
♪♪
Parker: I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY WORRIED
ABOUT RUNNING SOMEBODY OVER.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE COULD BE DOING?
DETECTING?YEAH, SOUNDS GREAT.
Tyler: WE'LL HAVE TO DETECT THE SCRAPES ANYWAY,
SO ME AND FRED CAN DO THAT.
NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING SOME GOLD.
I'VE BEEN IN SOME PRETTY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS,
AND I'M NOT GONNA LIE, THAT...
WHEN THE DUST JUST KIND OF DESCENDED ON ME,
TYLER AND DANNY, THAT WAS [BLEEP] SCARY.
I'VE BEEN AROUND DRY BLOWERS SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,
SO THAT WAS JUST A VERY STUPID MISTAKE ON MY BEHALF.
YEAH, I THOUGHT WE'D LOST FRED THERE FOR A SECOND.
[BLEEP] THIS DUST.
THAT THING SPITS OUT DUST IN EVERY DIRECTION,
AND YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE 2 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU,
SO RUNNING THIS THING FOR AN ENTIRE DAY
IS GONNA SUCK [BLEEP] BALLS.
♪♪
WHAT'S THE PLAN, DANNY? WHAT ARE WE DOING?
YEAH.
WELL, PLAN "A" WOULD BE TO GET PARKER UP.
-I AM UP! -AH.
IN MY BOOTS, ALL READY TO GO TO WORK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND I'LL HAVE TO START CLEARING AND SCRAPING,
AND YOU GUYS CAN DETECT WHEREVER I GO.
Fred: YEAH, SOUNDS GREAT.
WELL, SHOULD WE GET TO IT?
GOLD IS NOT FINDING ITSELF.
YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM ARE TESTING A VIRGIN CLAIM
LOCATED WITHIN THE YILGARN CRATON,
WHERE AN ESTIMATED 30% OF THE WORLD'S UNMINED GOLD
IS STILL IN THE GROUND.
WOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
TYLER, IS THERE GOLD DOWN THERE?
Tyler: I'LL HAVE TO GET THE DETECTOR OUT.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO BE ON THIS VIRGIN GROUND.
ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE WORKED THE GROUND JUST OUT FROM IT,
AND WE PULLED A LOT OF GOLD.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO DRY BLOW,
SO THE FACT THAT WE GET TO DO IT TODAY IS REALLY EXCITING.
Narrator: WITH THE HALF A MILLION DOLLAR DRY BLOWER
SUCCESSFULLY SET UP AND READY TO RUN,
PARKER CLEARS 100 SQUARE YARDS OF LAND.
WELL, RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST CLEARING A PIECE OF GROUND
THAT WE'RE GONNA TEST HERE.
IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT DIFFERENT GROUND
THAN I'M USED TO, YOU KNOW?
NO PERMAFROST, NO OVERBURDEN REALLY.
Narrator: PARKER AVERAGES $15 TO $20 WORTH OF GOLD
IN EVERY YARD OF PAY DIRT HE PROCESSES IN THE YUKON.
A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF GOLD HERE,
WITH NO PERMAFROST AND NO OVERBURDEN,
COULD MEAN A MUCH LARGER PROFIT.
THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF IN MY MIND
IS THERE'S A KILOGRAM NUGGET SITTING OVER THERE,
AND WE JUST DISTURBED ALL THESE NICE TREES.
AND NOW IT'S JUST POPPED RIGHT UP TO THE SURFACE.
IS THAT GOLD FEVER, OR IS THAT ACTUAL INSTINCT?
HEY, PARKER.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE DONE, AND I'LL COME IN AND DETECT.
YOU CAN START OVER THERE ON MY RIGHT WHERE I STARTED.
YEAH, SWEET. I'LL START OVER THERE.
I ALREADY CLAIMED THIS SPOT, TYLER.
BACK OFF.
YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE.
Narrator: IN ADDITION TO NO OVERBURDEN,
THIS CLAIM OFFERS ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OVER THE YUKON --
THE POTENTIAL OF BIG GOLD NUGGETS.
[ DETECTOR WARBLING ]
SOUNDS LIKE A DYING MANATEE.
Tyler: YOU CAN WALK A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
NO, I CAN'T.
I WOULD FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING THINGS.
YOU'VE GOT GOLD FEVER BAD, FRED.
NOTHING SO FAR, HUH, TYLER?
NOTHING SO FAR,
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL
WE GET A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, I THINK.
ALRIGHT. I'LL TAKE ANOTHER PASS AT IT NOW.
YEAH, PERFECT.
LIKE, 6 TO 8 INCHES WOULD BE GREAT.
COPY.
Narrator: PARKER SCRAPES ANOTHER 6 INCHES OF PAY DIRT
AND STOCKPILES IT TO BE RUN THROUGH THE DRY BLOWER.
Tyler: SO WE'RE TAKING OFF, LIKE, A GOOD AMOUNT OF DIRT,
WHICH MEANS THE DETECTORS CAN GET DEEPER.
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
YEAH, HE'S DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
ALRIGHT. LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.
I'M A LITTLE BIT ANXIOUS ABOUT THIS.
I'VE SAID THAT THERE'S GOLD HERE,
AND PARKER HAS SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THAT DRY BLOWER.
SO IF WE TAKE 6 INCHES OFF THIS SPOT RIGHT NOW
AND DIDN'T HIT A SINGLE NUGGET, WE'D BE IN THE [BLEEP]
YEAH, I'VE GOT A LOT RIDING ON THIS ONE.
[ DETECTOR BEEPS ]
OOH! THERE WE GO!
YES, FRED!
-BLOODY GOOD NOISE. -IS IT?
YEP.
[ WARBLING ]
IT'S IN THERE.
[ BEEPING ]
OOH.
OH, IT'S GOLD! GOOD JOB.
-IS THAT GOLD? -YEAH.
IT'S NOT MASSIVE, BUT...
IT'S A START.
FRED, THE BEST INDICATOR FOR GOLD IS GOLD.
IS GOLD. GOOD.
TO ME, IT'S TAKEN THE WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE'RE IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
AWESOME.
YOU GUYS ARE STANDING ON MY WORK STATION.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, TYLER?
I'M JUST DETECTING THE EDGES OF THE SCRAPES
TO MAKE SURE I HAVEN'T MISSED ANYTHING.
[ WARBLING ]
IT'S A SIGNAL.
[ WARBLING ]
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY THE ROCK.
THE ROCK ITSELF?
YEAH, BECAUSE... YEAH, IT IS.
[ BEEPING ]
OH, WOW. DO THAT AGAIN.
[ BEEPING ]
[BLEEP]
THAT'S...
-WHAT IS THAT? -FRED, COME HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A GOOD THING OR NOT,
BUT WE'VE GOT A MASSIVE SIGNAL IN THIS MASSIVE ROCK.
LIKE GOLD SIGNAL?
YEAH, WELL, IT'S A DEFINITE SIGNAL.
THERE COULD BE A [BLEEP] LOAD OF GOLD IN THAT BOONDIE.
A BUNDIE? A...NO, BOONDIE.
BOONDIE. BOONDIE, YEAH.
BOONDIE.
TRY IT WITH YOURS. SEE.
I THINK IT'S DEEPER THAN WHAT --
WHOA. WHOA. THERE.
[BLEEP]
CAN YOU HEAR THAT?
I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO LEAVE IT. I WANT TO GET IT OPEN.
LET'S BREAK IT OPEN.THAT'S IT, FRED.
OUT OF THE WAY, DANNY.
OH.
HELLO. COME ON.
HIT IT, FRED!OH, HE'S ACTUALLY HITTING...
WHOA!
BREAK IT!BREAK IT!
DID YOU GET ANY?
YEAH, I MEAN, A COUPLE HOURS OF THAT, WE'D BE IN THERE.
OH, WHAT THE [BLEEP] HAPPENED NOW?
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
Tyler: WE'VE GOT A SIGNAL.
WE'RE HITTING THIS BIG BOONDIE!
BOONDIE. BOONDIE.
-BOONDIE. -IT'S A BOONDIE.
WHAT'S A BOONDIE?
IT'S A BIG ROCK. OKAY.
YOU FOUND A BIG ROCK. WE HAVE [BLEEP] TO DO.
NO, THERE'S A SIGNAL INSIDE OF THE BOONDIE.
THE DETECTORS ARE GOING CRAZY, DUDE.
IT'S PROBABLY JUST SOME IRON.
I DOUBT IT. HONESTLY.
Fred: I WAS TRYING TO HIT IT, AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
-WE CANNOT LEAVE. -FRED...FRED...
-WE CAN'T LEAVE IT. -NO.
WE'LL HAVE TO DROP IT ON SOMETHING,
LIKE YOUR HEAD.
Fred: IT'S NOT OUR FAULT WE HAVE GOLD FEVER.
HOW ABOUT IF YOU PUT IT IN THERE
AND THEN LIFT IT UP REALLY HIGH...
WE NEED TO BLOW, MAN.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO LIFT THIS UP...
YOU'RE CUTTING INTO MY BLOW...
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DROP IT ON, FRED?
ANOTHER BOONDIE.I'M LOOKING FOR ONE.
-THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE. -WHERE?
Tyler: RIGHT BEHIND THAT TREE. THAT'S PERFECT.
WE COULD PICK THAT ONE UP AND DROP IT ON THAT ONE.
WELL, LET'S JUST SEE IF I CAN PICK IT UP.
-YES! -YES!
YES, PARKER!
Fred: WE GOT TO NAME THIS THING
SO WE CAN STOP CALLING IT THE ROCK.
THE ROCK? WHAT'S IN THE ROCK?
-CALL IT... -LET'S NAME IT.
CROCODILE BOONDIE.
Narrator: FINDING A HUGE NUGGET IN CROCODILE BOONDIE...
-WHERE'S HE GOING? -TO GET THE ROCK.
Narrator: ...COULD BE WORTH MORE
THAN ALL OF THE FINE GOLD PARKER RECOVERS
USING THE DRY BLOWER,
PAY FOR ITS HIRE AND MAKE A PROFIT OFF IT.
YES. NICE.
Tyler: FRED, HE'S GOT THE OTHER BOONDIE.
Fred: THE BABY BOONDIE?
GOOD START.
SO I'M GONNA BRING THIS ROCK OVER TO THE OTHER ROCK
WITH THE SIGNAL IN IT AND START,
I DON'T KNOW, DROPPING THEM ON EACH OTHER, I GUESS.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I...
IF I PAY SOMEBODY TO BE GOLD MINING,
AND THEY WERE DOING THIS, THEY WOULD PROBABLY GET FIRED,
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALL CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE SIGNAL IS.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON IT.
YEP. YEP.
THAT'S GONNA BE A DIRECT HIT.
ALRIGHT. LET'S TRY DROPPING IT.
OH.
♪♪
-OH! -GEEZ.
THAT'S GOT TO HAVE DONE IT.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
[BLEEP] NO!
IT JUST CRACKED THAT ONE IN HALF.
-OH, MY GOODNESS. -WE BROKE THE WRONG ROCK.
WE KILLED THE WRONG BOONDIE.
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO [BLEEP] AROUND WITH YOUR ROCK.
-OH. -WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
-DON'T GO. -WHAT?
DON'T GO. CALL MUZ.
MAYBE HE'S GOT SOME DYNAMITE OR SOME [BLEEP]
I GOT TO GET BACK TO THE PLANT.
BOO.
THAT'S ANNOYING.
THE ROCK SURVIVES FOR NOW.
♪♪
Parker: WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY GOOD PILES STACKED UP HERE,
SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY GO FIRE UP.
Narrator: AFTER 2 HOURS SCRAPING GROUND AT 3 MILE,
PARKER IS READY TO RUN PAY DIRT
THROUGH THE DRY BLOWER TO TEST FOR FINE GOLD.
Parker: ALRIGHT. LET'S DO IT.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
♪♪
FOUR IS THE...
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE FEED PLATE IS,
BUT WE'RE TURNING IT ON.
ALRIGHT. WE'RE...BLOWING?
I'M GONNA STICK WITH SLUICING,
EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE SLUICING.
I THINK I STARTED EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
THERE'S A [BLEEP] LIST IN THE ORDER
THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN, SO, YOU KNOW,
I [BLEEP] A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS UP,
BUT HOPEFULLY THAT ONE, I DON'T.
SO LET'S SEE IF OLD BLOW DIRT CAN FIND ANY GOLD.
♪♪
I LIKE THE SIMPLICITY OF IT.
LIKE, WHAT A NICE WAY OF SLUICING.
LIKE, NO WATER, NO PONDS, NO STUPID PUMPS.
IT COSTS 1,000 BUCKS A DAY TO RUN.
IN THE YUKON, WE SPEND THAT EVERY HOUR.
YEAH, I MEAN, FIRST IMPRESSION
IS THAT DRY BLOWER IS PRETTY SWEET.
♪♪
OH, WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE WHOLE THING JUST SHUT DOWN.
FOR [BLEEP] SAKE!
Narrator: AT $3,000 A DAY,
EVERY MINUTE OF DOWNTIME COSTS PARKER
THE GOLD HE NEEDS TO COVER HIS INVESTMENT.
HMM.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
OH.
BIT OF A LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION THERE.
WE CAN START BY TIGHTENING THAT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
ALRIGHT.
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.
♪♪
ALRIGHT. MAYBE THIS THING WILL STAY RUNNING NOW.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ANY MAJOR ISSUES.
Narrator: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE McCLARENS' 3 MILE CLAIM,
FRED, DANNY AND TYLER HAVE GOLD FEVER,
TRYING TO CRACK OPEN THE BOULDER THEY NAMED CROCODILE BOONDIE...
-YES, FRED. -COME ON, FRED.
Narrator: ...HOPING TO FIND A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR NUGGET.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE...
WE DRILLED THESE HOLES IN HERE,
AND WE'RE TRYING TO POUND THE WEDGES IN
HOPEFULLY FAR ENOUGH TO CRACK THIS PART OF THE ROCK OFF.
IS IT WORKING?
NOPE.
OOH. GO ON, FRED.
Tyler: YES, FRED, GO!
GIVE IT SOME.
IT'S CRACKING.IT'S CRACKING.
IT'S CRACKING. GO!HIT IT!
GIVE IT ONE, FRED!
HARDER!IT'S GOING!
GO ON!
HOLY [BLEEP] YOU'RE TAKING OFF THE WHOLE ROCK.
OH, MY. THE WHOLE THING'S GOING IN HALF.
YES, FRED! GO!
OH! OH, MY!
LOOK AT ALL THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
OH, MY GOSH. CAN YOU SEE SOMETHING?
GET BOTH OF YOU ON IT.
DOUBLE ARM IT, NO?
OOF.
YES. ANYTHING?
I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN SEPARATE THESE TWO?
DRAG IT WITH THE TRUCK.
YEAH.
LET'S DO THAT.
YES, LET'S DO THAT.
♪♪
THIS IS IT.
YES, FRED.
WE WERE PICKING UP A SIGNAL IN HERE,
AND IT'S JUST AN ENORMOUS SIGNAL.
THE DETECTOR WAS SCREAMING, SO IF WE CAN'T FIND IT IN HERE,
AND IT'S IN THIS ONE, IT'S GONNA BE, LIKE,
AT LEAST 4- OR 5-OUNCE PIECE.
WHAT?THIS IS EXCITING.
Fred: HERE WE GO.
♪♪
HERE WE GO. WATCH OUT. IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD.
IT'S COMING. OH, YEAH.
OH! YES, THAT'LL DO.
BEAUTIFUL. THAT'LL DO, RIGHT?
GOOD JOB. YEP.THAT'LL DO.
CHECK IT, TYLER.
[BLEEP] HOPE IT'S GOLD.
HEY, TYLER.
THIS IS THE PIECE OVER HERE THAT WAS WHERE THE SIGNAL WAS.
LET'S START THERE.
[ BEEPING ]
I THINK WE'VE FOUND IT, GUYS.
WE'VE FOUND IT, HAVEN'T WE?
YEAH. WE HAVE.
IT'S IN THAT ROCK. IF YOU CRACK THAT OPEN...
YOU READY?
READY.
[ BEEPING ]
[BLEEP] SO IT'S IN THERE.
IT'S IN THERE.
IT'S GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER!
YEAH. IT'S GOT TO BE SHOWING NOW.
COME ON.
[ LOUD BEEP ]
OH [BLEEP] THAT'S SCREAMING NOW.
OH! THAT'S GOLD.
IS THAT GOLD? YEAH.
GUYS, WE GOT THE GOLD.
IS THAT IT?YEAH.
WOW.
WE BROKE A ROCK OPEN AND PULLED GOLD OUT OF IT.
YEAH. YEAH.
WE MINED A BIT OF GOLD THERE.
YOU DON'T SOUND VERY ENTHUSED.
YEAH.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING IT WAS GONNA BE THAT SIZE.
YEAH.
Narrator: THIS TINY NUGGET IS WORTH LESS THAN $100.
WE HAVE NOT JUST DONE THAT FOR A COUPLE OF GRAMS THOUGH, SURELY.
THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE THAN THAT.
THERE'S GOT TO BE. COME ON.
ANYTHING?
NO.
THAT'S BAD.
Narrator: AFTER BURNING THREE HOURS
PLAYING THE GOLD-MINING LOTTERY,
THEY HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.
Tyler: I'M REALLY [BLEEP] WORRIED.
I'VE GOT A REPUTATION I HAVE TO KEEP GOING HERE.
I'VE SAID THERE'S 100% GOLD HERE,
BUT WE'VE ONLY GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT,
AND PARKER SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THAT DRY BLOWER.
SO IF THIS FLOPS, AND THERE'S NO GOLD,
PARKER IS GOING TO HAVE NO TRUST IN ME WHATSOEVER,
AND I'M GONNA LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT.
THEY SAY IN AUSTRALIA,
ONE THING YOU GOT TO WORRY ABOUT IS SPIDERS.
Narrator: AUSTRALIA IS HOME
TO SOME OF THE DEADLIEST SPIDERS IN THE WORLD,
INCLUDING THE REDBACK AND FUNNEL-WEB.
LURKING UNDER TOILET SEATS,
AUSTRALIA'S SPIDERS BITE UP TO 4,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
WHY WOULD THEY PUT A SPIDER ON A TOILET?
IT JUST MAKES YOU MORE SCARED.
SO YOU GOT TO REALLY LOOK UNDER HERE.
IT'S NOT BAD.
OKAY. IT'S ALL CLEAR.
Narrator: ONE BITE FROM THE SYDNEY FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER
COULD BE FATAL, WITH 13 DEATHS RECORDED SINCE RECORDS BEGAN.
♪♪
ALRIGHT. LET'S VACUUM THIS STUFF UP.
Narrator: AFTER RUNNING 42 YARDS OF DIRT
TO TEST THE GROUND AT 3 MILE...
SEE HOW THIS GOES.
Narrator: ...IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT
IF PARKER'S $6,000 INVESTMENT WILL PAY OFF.
Tyler: I'M SUPER ANXIOUS ABOUT THIS CLEANUP.
THIS IS DEFINITELY THE FIRST PLACE
THAT I'VE PUT MY NAME ON THE LINE,
AND PARKER SPENT 6 GRAND TO PUT THE DRY BLOWER HERE,
AND THAT'S SO MUCH MONEY.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD HERE, WE'RE LITERALLY IN THE [BLEEP]
Danny: FRED, SEE ANYTHING?
Narrator: PARKER AND THE TEAM
USE THE DRY BLOWER'S VACUUM SYSTEM
TO COLLECT THE GOLD CONCENTRATE FROM THE RIFFLES
AND INTO A BARREL.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
SEE ANYTHING, TYLER?
THERE'S THREE LITTLE PIECES THERE.
THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE OF GOLD
I'VE SEEN OUT OF THIS THING, BUT THEY WERE TINY,
WHICH FROM WHAT I'M USED TO IN THE YUKON,
WOULD BE DOG [BLEEP] TERRIBLE,
BUT WHAT [BLEEP] DOES THAT MEAN HERE?
THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING IN THE WORLD.
I DON'T THINK PARKER IS HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
NOW, THE CONCENTRATE SHOULD BE IN HERE.
♪♪
THE DRY BLOWING IS SOMETHING
THAT I'M JUST COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WITH,
AND THEY'RE NOT VERY EFFICIENT MACHINES.
IN THE YUKON, I'M USED TO DEALING
WITH A 99% RECOVERY RATE.
AND DRY BLOWERS SOUND LIKE THEY HAVE,
LIKE, 60% OR 70%, BUT, YOU KNOW,
TYLER IS PERSONALLY VOUCHING FOR THIS GROUND,
SO THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
PARKER. Parker: WHAT?
WE'VE GOT THE CONCENTRATE.
ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT.
LET'S DO IT, OKAY?YEAH.
Narrator: WHILE TYLER AND FRED WASH THE CONCENTRATE
THROUGH THE GOLD QUEUE, PARKER HAS ONE LAST TEST TO DO
IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE THE LAND IS VIABLE.
SO NOW THIS IS THE COARSE ROCK,
AND I'M JUST GONNA SPREAD IT OUT AND METAL DETECT IT.
Narrator: THE DRY BLOWER IS 30% LESS EFFICIENT AT GOLD RECOVERY
THAN PARKER'S WASH PLANTS IN THE YUKON.
BUT UNLIKE THE YUKON, THE TAILINGS IN AUSTRALIA
ARE ALWAYS DETECTED FOR NUGGETS.
[ DETECTOR WARBLING ]
THE TROMMEL IS, LIKE, 1/2 INCH MINUS,
BUT WHAT'S GOING INTO THE TROMMEL IS,
WELL, THIS SIZE, SO ANY NUGGETS THAT WE FIND IN HERE
WILL BE OVER 1/2 INCH,
SO THAT'LL BE A BIG ONE IF WE DO FIND ANYTHING.
Danny: NO WAY.
ANYTHING?
NOPE.
[ BEEPING ]
OH!
OH, YEAH.
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
[BLEEP] LOOK AT THAT.
SHUT UP!
IS THAT IT, WHAT YOU TOOK OFF IT THEN?
OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S A NUGGET.
OH, MAN. LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A BEAST.
PROBABLY OVER 1/2 AN OUNCE...
AT LEAST.
CHUCK US YOUR WATER.
OH, DUDE.
HOW COOL WAS THAT, FINDING THAT, PARKER?
WELL, IN THE YUKON, WE'VE NEVER FOUND A NUGGET THAT SIZE,
BUT THAT'S A REALLY NICE ONE.
I BET THAT NUGGET IS PROBABLY WORTH 2 GRAND.
REALLY?
YEAH, IT'S A GOOD CHUNK OF GOLD.
[ LAUGHING ]
♪♪
HOW'S IT GOING? ALRIGHT.
YOU GUYS FIND SOME NUGS?
YEAH.
28 NUGGETS. YEAH.
WELL DONE, MATE.
Parker: THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
I'M [BLEEP] STOKED.
ALRIGHT. LET'S COOK THIS [BLEEP] UP.
Narrator: TYLER DRIES THE FINE GOLD COLLECTED
FROM THE CONCENTRATE...
YOU CAN PUT THE NUGGETS IN THERE.
...AND ADDS IT TO THE NUGGETS FOR THE FINAL GOLD WEIGH.
Tyler: HEY, MUZ.
GOOD.
Narrator: TO BREAK EVEN,
PARKER NEEDS AT LEAST 10 OUNCES OF GOLD.
Parker: ALRIGHT. LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
Fred: 2.1.
-2.4 OUNCES. -OH, YEAH.
Narrator: WORTH $3,600 U.S.
THAT'S NOT BAD.
THAT'S 85 BUCKS A YARD,
I MEAN, IN THE YUKON, WE'RE MINING 20.
-NICE. -WOW.
THAT'S REALLY GOOD GROUND.
Narrator: THE GROUND HERE IS MORE THAN THREE TIMES RICHER
THAN PARKER MINES IN THE YUKON,
SO DESPITE NOT BREAKING EVEN ON HIS PROSPECTING COSTS,
THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG OPPORTUNITY.
Parker: I AM GENUINELY INTERESTED
IN WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON HERE.
YEAH, THANKS, MUZ. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP.
-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU, MUZ.
Parker: YEAH, I MEAN, OVERALL, GOOD RESULT.
THE BEST GROUND WE'VE FOUND ON THIS WHOLE TRIP.
THE FACT THAT WE TESTED ALL THAT GROUND AND THE RESULTS
WERE SO GOOD, YEAH, IT'S JUST THE BIGGEST RELIEF.
YEAH, WE'VE PROVEN THAT THERE'S GOLD HERE.
Parker: BUT TYLER HAS STILL GOT A COUPLE OTHER PLACES LINED UP
FOR US TO GO TO, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON OUR TRIP.
WHOA!
MISSION SUCCESSFUL.
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
FRED, LOOK OUT!
...THE PRESSURE MOUNTS...
Tyler: PRESSURE! PRESSURE! PRESSURE!
GIVE IT A [BLEEP] MINUTE, FRED.
THIS IS ON ME.
Narrator: ...AS PARKER BREAKS NEW GROUND...
SMELL IT? THAT'S THE SMELL OF MONEY.
MAN, I WISH I COULD HAVE SOME OF THAT.
...PROSPECTING A HARD ROCK MINE.
HOW DEEP ARE WE RIGHT NOW?
Man: 40 METERS.
Danny: THAT COULD BLOW YOUR HAND OFF.
THAT WOULD KILL YOU.THAT WOULD KILL YOU?
Man #2: FIRE IN THE HOLE!
OOH, BOY. [BLEEP]