1
00:00:04,166 --> 00:00:06,033
Get ready
for the violence.
2
00:00:07,667 --> 00:00:11,066
This is absolutely
the make it
or break it year.
3
00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:15,266
The spray bar
broke off
11 seconds in.
4
00:00:15,333 --> 00:00:17,367
Terry's a very
sharp businessman.
5
00:00:17,367 --> 00:00:18,734
[Freddy Dodge]
Sparks will fly.
6
00:00:19,667 --> 00:00:21,767
Very hopeful
for the big investment.
7
00:00:21,767 --> 00:00:23,266
[man] He needs
to survive
8
00:00:23,266 --> 00:00:25,767
but I know
and I'd like to see
to stay involved with.
9
00:00:28,967 --> 00:00:30,567
I'm at 50-50
all summer.
10
00:00:30,567 --> 00:00:32,000
Oh, that's
an ash heap.
11
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,367
[Juan Ibarra] So
that's going to be
pretty ambitious
12
00:00:33,367 --> 00:00:34,467
for the time
we have here.
13
00:00:34,467 --> 00:00:35,867
[man] It definitely
seems like
14
00:00:35,934 --> 00:00:37,867
if it's not
one thing,
it's another.
15
00:00:37,867 --> 00:00:40,266
[man] I'm clogging up
down here.
16
00:00:40,333 --> 00:00:41,467
As of right now,
it doesn't look good.
17
00:00:41,467 --> 00:00:44,266
You can feel
the tension in
the air a little bit.
18
00:00:44,266 --> 00:00:47,133
We've pushed ourselves
maybe a bit too harsh
this time.
19
00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:06,266
[Freddy] We're going
down here
to a gentleman.
20
00:01:06,333 --> 00:01:07,667
Sounds like he is
pretty much
21
00:01:07,667 --> 00:01:09,133
bunked up
in a tent
out here.
22
00:01:10,066 --> 00:01:11,667
Man, it's got
to be tough.
23
00:01:11,667 --> 00:01:14,767
The past two seasons,
he hasn't done
well at all
24
00:01:14,834 --> 00:01:16,867
on recovering gold.
25
00:01:16,867 --> 00:01:18,467
You know,
if he doesn't make
it this year,
26
00:01:18,533 --> 00:01:20,266
his gold mining career
is probably done.
27
00:01:21,166 --> 00:01:22,667
[Juan] He's got to really
love what he is doing
28
00:01:22,667 --> 00:01:24,667
or really, really believe
in what he's doing.
29
00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:28,166
Kind of like us,
Juano.
30
00:01:28,233 --> 00:01:29,567
That or he's just
plain crazy,
31
00:01:29,567 --> 00:01:31,433
which, very well,
could be too.
32
00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:39,166
[narrator] Freddy
and Juan race through
Northeast Oregon
33
00:01:39,166 --> 00:01:41,967
on course for
a 60-acre
placer mine
34
00:01:41,967 --> 00:01:44,834
in the historic
mining area
of Granite,
35
00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,467
twelve miles
northwest of Sumpter.
36
00:01:53,467 --> 00:01:54,667
[man] Jasper.
37
00:01:54,667 --> 00:01:57,867
The claim is owned
by 53-year-old
struggling miner
38
00:01:57,867 --> 00:02:00,266
Chad Marmolejo.
39
00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:02,367
He's called in
best friend, Terry
40
00:02:02,367 --> 00:02:04,333
for a final
roll of the dice.
41
00:02:05,867 --> 00:02:07,367
-[Juan] Hey, guys.
-[Terry] Good morning, hi.
42
00:02:07,433 --> 00:02:08,667
-[Juan] Hey.
-[Chad] Good morning,
I'm Chad.
43
00:02:08,734 --> 00:02:10,166
-[Juan] Nice to
meet you, Chad.
-[Freddy] Chad, Freddy.
44
00:02:10,166 --> 00:02:11,467
[Terry Larimer] Hi, Freddy,
it's a real pleasure.
45
00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:12,467
-What's your name?
-Terry.
46
00:02:12,533 --> 00:02:13,867
-Terry.
-Yup, good
to meet you.
47
00:02:13,867 --> 00:02:15,000
[Freddy] Nice to
meet you, Terry.
48
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,967
How long have
you been out here
running, Chad?
49
00:02:17,033 --> 00:02:19,567
Well, at this spot, here,
about ten years.
50
00:02:19,567 --> 00:02:22,567
I had some pans,
a little trommel,
51
00:02:22,634 --> 00:02:24,166
and I started there,
[laughs]
52
00:02:24,233 --> 00:02:26,266
and just doing
little bits at a time
53
00:02:26,266 --> 00:02:28,767
-evolving into this.
-[Freddy] This way
you got now, huh?
54
00:02:28,834 --> 00:02:30,533
This is what
I have now.
55
00:02:32,667 --> 00:02:36,166
2008, I was a heating and
air conditioning contractor.
56
00:02:36,166 --> 00:02:38,367
One-man shop,
the housing crashed,
57
00:02:38,367 --> 00:02:40,533
forced my company
to fail.
58
00:02:41,166 --> 00:02:43,567
Being that I
just became a dad
59
00:02:43,567 --> 00:02:44,967
a few years
before that,
60
00:02:45,033 --> 00:02:47,667
I was, like, "Man,
what the heck am I
going to do now?"
61
00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:49,767
You know,
a lot of the places
weren't hiring.
62
00:02:49,767 --> 00:02:51,767
Just clicked
in my brain,
63
00:02:51,834 --> 00:02:53,767
I was like, "You know,
I grew up in
Gold Country."
64
00:02:53,767 --> 00:02:56,867
I first started hunting
on that very hill,
65
00:02:56,867 --> 00:02:58,000
right there
behind me
66
00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,967
when I was
11 years old,
67
00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:01,567
and I was like,
68
00:03:01,634 --> 00:03:04,166
"Man, I think
I ought to give that
a whirl."
69
00:03:04,166 --> 00:03:06,367
So I came up
with a shovel
and pans
70
00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:08,767
and started finding
gold right away.
71
00:03:08,767 --> 00:03:11,734
Pretty much gold fever
right then, right out
of the gate.
72
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,066
[narrator] But just as
Chad started out
73
00:03:15,133 --> 00:03:17,467
on his dream
to mine gold,
74
00:03:17,467 --> 00:03:19,467
life had other ideas.
75
00:03:19,467 --> 00:03:21,066
[Chad] My mom
passed away
76
00:03:21,133 --> 00:03:23,333
and that hit me
pretty hard.
77
00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:25,667
I took
a one-year break.
78
00:03:25,667 --> 00:03:27,734
It was just
too hard to
be over here.
79
00:03:29,667 --> 00:03:31,467
So the first year
when I got back,
80
00:03:31,467 --> 00:03:34,367
and the wash plant
would break down
and then,
81
00:03:34,433 --> 00:03:37,467
this year,
all gung-ho, again
82
00:03:37,533 --> 00:03:39,166
to get back at it,
83
00:03:39,233 --> 00:03:41,166
but still kept
fighting breakdowns.
84
00:03:41,166 --> 00:03:42,967
It's just been
85
00:03:43,033 --> 00:03:45,166
one challenge
after another.
86
00:03:45,166 --> 00:03:48,867
I can't keep having
horrible season
after horrible season
87
00:03:48,934 --> 00:03:50,367
and not face reality
88
00:03:50,433 --> 00:03:52,467
that, either,
I'm not meant
to do this,
89
00:03:52,533 --> 00:03:54,667
or I'm not capable
of doing this.
90
00:03:55,367 --> 00:03:57,166
This is absolutely
91
00:03:57,233 --> 00:03:59,634
the make-it
or break-it-year.
92
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:03,567
How have you
done the last
few years,
93
00:04:03,567 --> 00:04:05,066
as far as
gold recovery?
94
00:04:05,133 --> 00:04:07,667
To be honest,
last couple of years
were horrible.
95
00:04:07,667 --> 00:04:09,567
-Okay.
-[Chad] Between
breakdowns
96
00:04:09,567 --> 00:04:12,367
and the time
that I could
actually run,
97
00:04:12,367 --> 00:04:15,166
it was very
disheartening.
98
00:04:15,166 --> 00:04:16,867
My driving force
was that I wanted to
99
00:04:16,934 --> 00:04:19,767
turn it into something
that I could provide
for my family.
100
00:04:19,767 --> 00:04:23,467
And, when I started out
in the beginning,
it was very exciting.
101
00:04:23,533 --> 00:04:25,767
I had a
12-ounce season.
102
00:04:25,834 --> 00:04:27,166
That was my best year.
103
00:04:27,166 --> 00:04:30,066
That doesn't even
cover the money
that I spent
104
00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:31,867
getting over here
and the fuel.
105
00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:34,233
[Freddy] Yeah,
that's not good.
106
00:04:36,667 --> 00:04:38,266
[narrator] To keep
this dream alive,
107
00:04:38,266 --> 00:04:40,066
Chad called in
the cavalry,
108
00:04:41,667 --> 00:04:45,266
best friend
and retired businessman,
Terry Larimer.
109
00:04:45,333 --> 00:04:46,767
Now, how long
have you been
up here, Terry?
110
00:04:46,767 --> 00:04:48,767
I just started
coming up
this spring,
111
00:04:48,767 --> 00:04:50,000
helping him
repair stuff
112
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:51,567
and just trying
to help him.
113
00:04:51,567 --> 00:04:53,166
I got to admit,
I got a little bite
114
00:04:53,166 --> 00:04:54,767
of the gold
fever, maybe.
115
00:04:54,834 --> 00:04:56,567
-Okay.
-I was mechanical
heating,
116
00:04:56,567 --> 00:04:59,000
air conditioning
contractor for
36 years.
117
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,867
-[Freddy] Okay.
-Yeah. Sold out
back in January
118
00:05:01,934 --> 00:05:05,066
and, actually,
retired and looking
for an investment.
119
00:05:05,133 --> 00:05:06,266
[narrator] Terry's
promised Chad
120
00:05:06,333 --> 00:05:08,266
a much-needed
cash injection
121
00:05:08,266 --> 00:05:10,000
for fuel
and equipment.
122
00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,467
But first, he needs
to be certain
123
00:05:12,467 --> 00:05:14,567
the mine can turn
a profit.
124
00:05:14,634 --> 00:05:16,767
[Chad] And, you know,
Terry's not only
my best friend
125
00:05:16,834 --> 00:05:18,266
but he's very
sharp businessman,
126
00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:20,967
so, he crunches numbers
way better than I do,
127
00:05:21,033 --> 00:05:23,266
and I'm very hopeful
for the big investment
128
00:05:23,333 --> 00:05:25,667
and that's a make-it
or break-it decision.
129
00:05:27,967 --> 00:05:30,066
[Terry] You know,
I haven't made
that decision, yet.
130
00:05:30,066 --> 00:05:31,467
That kind of stinks.
131
00:05:31,467 --> 00:05:34,266
You know,
for it to be,
for my decision
132
00:05:34,266 --> 00:05:37,467
to affect
his final decision.
133
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,266
But, you know,
I ran a business
for 30 years.
134
00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:44,634
I know how
business needs
to run.
135
00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:48,367
What do you need
per day to make
a living out here?
136
00:05:48,367 --> 00:05:51,967
We're currently running
about 50 yards a week,
137
00:05:52,033 --> 00:05:53,767
getting ounce,
ounce and a half.
138
00:05:53,767 --> 00:05:57,667
If we get
two and a half
ounces a week,
139
00:05:57,667 --> 00:06:00,266
-we're starting
to break even.
-Yeah.
140
00:06:00,266 --> 00:06:02,133
He knows
what he needs
to survive,
141
00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:04,767
but, I know
what I'd like to see
142
00:06:04,767 --> 00:06:06,133
to stay involved
with him.
143
00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:09,100
You know,
I think my goal
would be
144
00:06:09,100 --> 00:06:11,166
to see him
pull five ounces
a week.
145
00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:16,367
[Juan] So we got
to double up here.
146
00:06:16,433 --> 00:06:18,166
Yeah, it would definitely
make the difference.
147
00:06:18,166 --> 00:06:19,166
[Freddy and Juan] Okay.
148
00:06:19,233 --> 00:06:20,767
When we drove up,
I saw a camper.
149
00:06:20,767 --> 00:06:22,066
-That's got to
be yours, huh?
-[Terry] Yeah.
150
00:06:22,066 --> 00:06:23,066
Are you in
that tent?
151
00:06:23,066 --> 00:06:24,667
-Yes, I'm in the tent.
-[Juan laughs]
152
00:06:24,734 --> 00:06:26,767
-In the little Taj Mahal.
-[Juan] Roughing it
a little.
153
00:06:26,767 --> 00:06:29,367
Well, let's fire up
a plant,
154
00:06:29,367 --> 00:06:30,367
and, maybe,
help him get
155
00:06:30,367 --> 00:06:32,367
where he can go
from a tent
to a camper.
156
00:06:32,433 --> 00:06:34,100
-[Juan] Yeah, let's go.
-Amen to that.
157
00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:35,367
-Here you go.
-[laughs]
158
00:06:35,367 --> 00:06:36,433
Let's make some gold.
159
00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:43,367
[Chad] Get ready
for the violence.
160
00:06:44,266 --> 00:06:45,634
[motor starts]
161
00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,967
-It's a noisy
little plant.
-Yeah.
162
00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:54,166
Jasper won't
be able to take
a nap, huh?
163
00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:55,867
[Freddy] I'll start
the timer.
164
00:06:56,967 --> 00:06:58,467
[Juan] Water test,
here it goes.
165
00:06:58,467 --> 00:06:59,867
-First bucket.
-Press timer.
166
00:06:59,867 --> 00:07:01,233
[Juan] Fred, that...
167
00:07:02,467 --> 00:07:03,867
-Spray bar
just broke down.
-[Freddy] It did.
168
00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,533
Spray bar broke off
11 seconds in.
169
00:07:08,467 --> 00:07:10,266
[Juan] Oh, here goes
your water bar.
170
00:07:11,567 --> 00:07:13,867
[Chad] Yeah, it's not
what I was
expecting to break.
171
00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,333
You got a couple
of them big zip ties
or something?
172
00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:21,567
Hi-tech stuff.
173
00:07:21,567 --> 00:07:23,367
It's embarrassing
when I have something
174
00:07:23,433 --> 00:07:25,066
like a waterline break.
175
00:07:25,066 --> 00:07:28,433
It definitely seems like,
if it's not one thing,
it's another.
176
00:07:30,867 --> 00:07:32,767
[narrator] Juan's
past experience
177
00:07:32,767 --> 00:07:35,066
working for his father's
plumbing business
178
00:07:35,133 --> 00:07:36,667
gives them
a vital perspective
179
00:07:36,667 --> 00:07:37,767
on the pipework.
180
00:07:39,100 --> 00:07:40,467
[Juan] He's got
a double 90
down here
181
00:07:40,467 --> 00:07:42,233
-and then, got
a double 90 up here.
-[Freddy] Yeah.
182
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,233
[Juan] He's got four 90s
within about 10 feet.
183
00:07:46,667 --> 00:07:50,367
[narrator] Every time
the water in the pipe
hits a 90-degree bend,
184
00:07:50,433 --> 00:07:52,367
and heads off
in a new direction,
185
00:07:52,367 --> 00:07:54,367
it loses pressure.
186
00:07:54,367 --> 00:07:56,567
Less water pressure
in the wash plant
187
00:07:56,567 --> 00:08:00,133
means gold and clay
stay stuck to the rocks.
188
00:08:01,367 --> 00:08:03,166
He's killing
his flow right there.
189
00:08:03,166 --> 00:08:06,166
-Probably 20-25%
right there.
-Mm-hmm.
190
00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:08,634
[Freddy] All right.
Let's try
this again.
191
00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:19,834
[narrator] Chad's
operation features
an unusual set-up.
192
00:08:20,867 --> 00:08:23,934
Terry loads
clay-rich pay
into the hop.
193
00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:26,667
It passes into
a makeshift
194
00:08:26,734 --> 00:08:29,100
vibrating mini
screen deck
195
00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:30,767
where the reattached
spray bar
196
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:34,634
washes the first
of the gold-bearing material
of the rocks.
197
00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:37,367
Grizzly bars
screen off anything
198
00:08:37,367 --> 00:08:38,934
bigger than
five inches.
199
00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:43,367
Next, the ten-foot
trommel washes
the material
200
00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:46,533
and screens it down
to less than
half an inch.
201
00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:52,767
Finally, it passes
into the 40-foot
sluice box,
202
00:08:52,834 --> 00:08:55,433
where the gold
should settle
in the riffles.
203
00:08:57,367 --> 00:08:59,266
[Chad] Hey, Terry.
I think they're
going to check
204
00:08:59,333 --> 00:09:01,000
the box down
at the end
205
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,367
to see if we have
any fine gold
206
00:09:02,367 --> 00:09:03,767
getting out
of the sluice.
207
00:09:15,567 --> 00:09:16,767
[Juan] I found
one piece.
208
00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,066
You know,
this is off the end
of the sluice box,
209
00:09:23,133 --> 00:09:25,967
but if in one pan
I was able to find
that one piece,
210
00:09:25,967 --> 00:09:26,967
you know
we're losing gold.
211
00:09:26,967 --> 00:09:28,266
So, we're going to
have to do something
212
00:09:28,333 --> 00:09:29,634
about the recovery
as well.
213
00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:33,133
[Terry] That's pretty
heavy clay.
214
00:09:38,266 --> 00:09:40,266
[narrator] Former wrench
and Freddy
215
00:09:40,266 --> 00:09:42,767
spots another problem
in the wash pan.
216
00:09:42,834 --> 00:09:44,166
[Freddy] The screen
is there.
217
00:09:44,166 --> 00:09:45,967
I think it's an
old grain screen,
218
00:09:45,967 --> 00:09:47,166
-like, for reed
or crops.
-Really?
219
00:09:47,166 --> 00:09:49,567
Something, you know,
to get the dust
and stuff out of it.
220
00:09:49,567 --> 00:09:51,967
It's not made
for rocks like that.
221
00:09:52,033 --> 00:09:53,767
Yeah, I know.
That thing's about
ready to break apart.
222
00:09:53,767 --> 00:09:55,967
[Freddy] Lightweight
as it is, with all
these big rocks.
223
00:09:56,033 --> 00:09:57,066
-[Juan] I know.
-That's kind of like
224
00:09:57,133 --> 00:09:58,433
bringing a spoon
to a gun fight.
225
00:10:05,500 --> 00:10:06,767
I'm looking at
the trommel run
right now.
226
00:10:06,834 --> 00:10:07,667
You can see
that material
227
00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:09,266
is coming off the end
of the trommel.
228
00:10:09,333 --> 00:10:10,667
It's still
really dirty.
229
00:10:10,667 --> 00:10:12,166
When it's still
really dirty like that,
230
00:10:12,233 --> 00:10:13,367
we know
we're losing gold.
231
00:10:13,367 --> 00:10:14,567
So, that's going to
be something
232
00:10:14,567 --> 00:10:15,867
we're going to
have to address.
233
00:10:31,767 --> 00:10:34,867
[narrator] Clay
is the biggest
gold thief,
234
00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:37,767
and the lack
of water pressure
at Chad's plant
235
00:10:37,767 --> 00:10:41,333
is costing him gold
he can ill-afford
to lose.
236
00:10:42,467 --> 00:10:44,066
[Terry] I'm loaded
up here.
237
00:10:44,066 --> 00:10:46,967
[Chad] I'm just
really wanting
to make this work
238
00:10:47,033 --> 00:10:49,467
for being able to
provide for
my family,
239
00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:51,767
actually make
decent money.
240
00:10:51,834 --> 00:10:54,266
I know what
I'm out here
trying to do.
241
00:10:54,266 --> 00:10:56,467
But then, I also have
my emotional breakdowns.
242
00:10:56,467 --> 00:10:59,166
Being away
from my daughters
and my wife.
243
00:10:59,166 --> 00:11:00,667
You know,
missing them.
244
00:11:01,767 --> 00:11:04,467
It is hard, especially
on my youngest
daughter, Paige,
245
00:11:04,533 --> 00:11:07,066
because she is
very active
in sports.
246
00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:08,867
And, where it
gets hard is when
they're like,
247
00:11:08,867 --> 00:11:11,166
"Hey, Dad.
I want a new pair
of basketball shoes."
248
00:11:11,166 --> 00:11:13,066
I'm like, "Yeah.
It's not in the budget
right now."
249
00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,100
And my oldest
daughter, Iris,
250
00:11:16,100 --> 00:11:18,166
is mostly 17
right now.
251
00:11:18,166 --> 00:11:19,567
She's a senior
in high school.
252
00:11:19,634 --> 00:11:21,367
College is right
around the corner
253
00:11:21,367 --> 00:11:24,166
and I honestly
don't have
the means,
254
00:11:24,166 --> 00:11:26,100
saved debt
to be able to
255
00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:27,367
put her
through college.
256
00:11:27,433 --> 00:11:30,533
You know,
that's brutal on me
as a dad.
257
00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,667
I love Chad
but do I have
the time
258
00:11:36,734 --> 00:11:40,367
or the desire
to be in another
business again?
259
00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:42,567
Or am I ready
to, you know,
just spend time
260
00:11:42,567 --> 00:11:44,867
with my wife
and my grandkids.
261
00:11:44,867 --> 00:11:46,567
I haven't made
that decision, yet.
262
00:11:49,166 --> 00:11:51,266
[Juan] What do you
think about
the sluice pipings?
263
00:11:51,266 --> 00:11:52,667
[Freddy] They don't
have enough water.
264
00:11:52,667 --> 00:11:54,233
So we narrow
it up.
265
00:11:54,967 --> 00:11:56,066
Just a little bit,
266
00:11:56,133 --> 00:11:57,934
-to get more
water in there.
-[Juan] Yup.
267
00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:01,734
-And then, remodify
the sluices.
-[Juan] Yeah.
268
00:12:06,066 --> 00:12:08,867
[Freddy] Well, that's
four hours, Juano.
269
00:12:08,934 --> 00:12:09,867
[Juan] Should we
call it last bucket?
270
00:12:09,867 --> 00:12:11,667
I think so.
Let's call it.
271
00:12:11,734 --> 00:12:13,166
Last bucket, guys.
272
00:12:13,166 --> 00:12:14,634
Last bucket.
273
00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:30,467
-[Chad] Oh, yeah.
-[Juan] Well, that doesn't
look too horrible.
274
00:12:30,533 --> 00:12:31,533
[Freddy] No.
275
00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,066
[Freddy] There's some
color there.
276
00:12:34,133 --> 00:12:35,367
[Juan] Well, why don't
we pull it apart
277
00:12:35,367 --> 00:12:36,734
-and get it
cleaned up.
-[Chad] Okay.
278
00:12:58,100 --> 00:12:59,867
[Juan] You know,
that run wasn't
the greatest, Fred
279
00:12:59,867 --> 00:13:01,767
because the screen
they had wasn't
doing it.
280
00:13:01,834 --> 00:13:03,967
I didn't think
it was going to run
four hours long.
281
00:13:04,033 --> 00:13:05,000
From the sounds
of it, Freddy,
282
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,867
it seems like
they need five ounces
a week
283
00:13:06,934 --> 00:13:08,667
to be able to
be making
a little bit of money.
284
00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:10,667
Well, you got to
make money on it
or you can't do it.
285
00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:12,767
-Yeah.
-And that's what
worrying Terry
286
00:13:12,834 --> 00:13:14,667
-about investing
money into this--
-Yeah.
287
00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:16,667
...is he just
doesn't want to,
288
00:13:16,734 --> 00:13:19,667
-you know, throw things
at a sinking ship.
-No kidding.
289
00:13:19,734 --> 00:13:22,166
Really, the determining
factor's going to be,
290
00:13:22,233 --> 00:13:23,867
once we see
the gold weight,
where we're at.
291
00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:26,367
But the plant
need work.
292
00:13:26,433 --> 00:13:28,367
-Needs a lot of work.
[chuckles softly]
-Might parts as well.
293
00:13:34,066 --> 00:13:35,367
-[Freddy] How's it
going, guys?
-[Juan] Morning, guys.
294
00:13:35,433 --> 00:13:36,200
[Terry] Good morning.
295
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:37,667
[narrator] In
Northeast Oregon...
296
00:13:37,734 --> 00:13:38,667
Oh, you got it
pretty clean.
297
00:13:38,667 --> 00:13:40,567
-Yeah, looks good.
-[Chad] I tried. [chuckles]
298
00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:44,166
[narrator] ...the first
gold weigh at Chad
Marmolejo's mine.
299
00:13:44,166 --> 00:13:45,467
Well, guys,
let's weigh it up.
300
00:13:45,467 --> 00:13:46,467
See what you got.
301
00:13:46,467 --> 00:13:47,567
Let's do it.
302
00:13:47,567 --> 00:13:49,266
[narrator] To hit
the five ounces
303
00:13:49,266 --> 00:13:51,567
required to make
the mine viable,
304
00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:55,567
the four-hour test
must produce
1.25 ounces.
305
00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,867
[Freddy] That's
not horrible, 0.86.
306
00:14:02,867 --> 00:14:04,667
-[Juan] Yeah,
that's actually pretty-
-[Terry] 0.86.
307
00:14:05,767 --> 00:14:08,667
[Freddy] Not a lot
of super fine golden,
though Juano.
308
00:14:08,734 --> 00:14:10,266
You got
super fine gold
how much?
309
00:14:10,266 --> 00:14:12,066
I don't know,
but the way
your sluice is running.
310
00:14:12,133 --> 00:14:13,567
[Juan] Yeah,
you're going to be
losing that.
311
00:14:14,367 --> 00:14:15,834
[Chad] Well,
I wish it was more.
312
00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:19,467
That's got me stressed.
313
00:14:19,467 --> 00:14:20,767
[narrator] It's enough
to break even.
314
00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:23,000
But only two-thirds
of what they need
315
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,567
to make this mine
profitable.
316
00:14:24,567 --> 00:14:27,567
[Chad] Really need to
step it up to that
next level,
317
00:14:27,567 --> 00:14:29,767
to turn this into
a viable business.
318
00:14:29,834 --> 00:14:31,066
[narrator] And not
nearly enough
319
00:14:31,133 --> 00:14:33,367
to convince Terry
to invest.
320
00:14:33,367 --> 00:14:36,166
[Terry] We need to run
twice as much material
as what we are running.
321
00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:38,367
And for us
to really make
this a go,
322
00:14:38,367 --> 00:14:40,567
ultimately, to do
what we want
to do here.
323
00:14:40,567 --> 00:14:42,767
We need five
ounces a week,
324
00:14:42,834 --> 00:14:45,667
before saying
I will be part of it
next year.
325
00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:47,567
We got some ideas
we'd want to,
kind of, put
326
00:14:47,567 --> 00:14:48,667
pen to paper
and figure out
327
00:14:48,667 --> 00:14:50,767
what it's
going to be.
328
00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:52,166
Here's your
gold back.
329
00:14:52,233 --> 00:14:54,066
[Freddy] We'll go talk,
and we'll talk to you
in a minute.
330
00:14:54,066 --> 00:14:56,133
Okay, sounds great.
Thank you.
331
00:15:00,867 --> 00:15:02,367
What do you
got, Juano?
332
00:15:02,367 --> 00:15:03,967
Well, starting with
that screen, Freddy.
333
00:15:04,033 --> 00:15:06,567
Think it used to
be like a grain screen
of some kind.
334
00:15:06,567 --> 00:15:08,867
We need to figure
a way to be able to
reinforce it,
335
00:15:08,867 --> 00:15:10,367
and, maybe, it'll redo
the drive system in it,
336
00:15:10,367 --> 00:15:11,767
because it's
going to beat
itself apart.
337
00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:13,467
It's either got
another 10 minutes
338
00:15:13,533 --> 00:15:14,767
or 10 days
on this earth.
339
00:15:14,767 --> 00:15:17,066
-I don't know which one
but not very long.
-Yeah.
340
00:15:17,066 --> 00:15:19,734
[Freddy] So, I think,
we pull this
screen out,
341
00:15:21,066 --> 00:15:22,467
-get rid of it.
-Okay.
342
00:15:22,533 --> 00:15:25,066
[Freddy] Then,
I think, we just
build a pipe scrapper.
343
00:15:25,066 --> 00:15:27,767
-[Juan] We'll have to do
a sub-frame for it.
-Yup.
344
00:15:27,834 --> 00:15:28,967
-[Juan] Rollers.
-Yup.
345
00:15:28,967 --> 00:15:30,867
We're going to
have to add
a drive system.
346
00:15:30,934 --> 00:15:32,467
We're going to
have to find
a pipe.
347
00:15:32,467 --> 00:15:34,000
[Freddy] That's
going to be
a tough one.
348
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,467
So, if we have
that scrubber,
349
00:15:35,533 --> 00:15:36,967
that have bars
inside of it.
350
00:15:37,033 --> 00:15:38,066
All right. I really
like that Fred.
351
00:15:38,066 --> 00:15:39,266
That's going to be
pretty ambitious.
352
00:15:39,333 --> 00:15:40,667
[Freddy] It's going
to be a lot of work.
353
00:15:40,734 --> 00:15:41,767
[Juan] And we
maybe able to do
354
00:15:41,834 --> 00:15:43,100
-couple of other
little things, but--
-Hmm.
355
00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:44,967
...that's going to take
every bit of time
that we have here.
356
00:15:45,033 --> 00:15:46,867
[Freddy] Yup.
He's low on water.
357
00:15:46,934 --> 00:15:48,767
-Probably 20%
low on water.
-[Juan chuckles]
358
00:15:48,767 --> 00:15:49,867
We'd be getting
that back,
359
00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:52,367
that will alleviate
the water in the sluice.
360
00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:53,767
Juan, here's the sluice.
361
00:15:53,834 --> 00:15:55,467
I seen a few
simple issues.
362
00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:56,867
It needs a ramp
in the front.
363
00:15:56,867 --> 00:15:58,100
-[Juan] Mm-hmm.
-There's one riffle
364
00:15:58,100 --> 00:15:59,166
-in there that's
doing nothing.
-[Juan] Saw that.
365
00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:00,266
[Juan] I saw that.
[chuckles]
366
00:16:00,333 --> 00:16:02,367
[Freddy] It maybe,
actually,
367
00:16:02,367 --> 00:16:05,934
it may be designed
as a gold losing
riffle system.
368
00:16:06,767 --> 00:16:09,634
The first only
gold losing
riffle system.
369
00:16:12,767 --> 00:16:14,667
[narrator] Freddy and
Juan's success
370
00:16:14,734 --> 00:16:16,767
relies on
increasing production
371
00:16:16,767 --> 00:16:20,066
with two innovative
multi-step fixes.
372
00:16:20,133 --> 00:16:23,467
First, they'll cut away
the vibrating screen deck
373
00:16:23,467 --> 00:16:25,967
and replace it
with a rock scrubber,
374
00:16:26,033 --> 00:16:27,867
fed by the
existing hopper.
375
00:16:27,867 --> 00:16:29,367
It will have
steel rods
376
00:16:29,433 --> 00:16:32,867
to break away
the clay-rich,
gold-bearing material.
377
00:16:32,867 --> 00:16:35,567
Next, Freddy will
reconfigure the plumbing
378
00:16:35,567 --> 00:16:38,367
to increase
the water pressure
to wash the rocks.
379
00:16:38,367 --> 00:16:41,367
And, finally,
add a ramp,
a new riffle system
380
00:16:41,433 --> 00:16:45,133
to the sluice box
to help catch
the fine gold.
381
00:16:50,166 --> 00:16:52,233
-[Juan] You guys
looking for more gold?
-[both] Yeah.
382
00:16:53,367 --> 00:16:55,467
As you know,
there are a little lot
that we want to do.
383
00:16:55,533 --> 00:16:57,367
That screen,
we want to completely
eliminate it,
384
00:16:57,367 --> 00:16:58,767
and actually
build you
a scrubber.
385
00:16:58,767 --> 00:17:01,266
[Terry] I actually...
I was hoping,
386
00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:03,066
praying that
you would get
rid of that
387
00:17:03,066 --> 00:17:04,567
violent piece
of equipment.
388
00:17:04,567 --> 00:17:07,667
That's plagued me
all summer.
389
00:17:07,667 --> 00:17:09,567
[Juan] The scrubber's
going to look
a lot like a trommel.
390
00:17:09,567 --> 00:17:11,066
Basically, it's just
tumbling that material
391
00:17:11,066 --> 00:17:12,467
and actually
giving it a chance
to fall back
392
00:17:12,467 --> 00:17:14,667
on top of the material
and get scrubbed.
393
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:16,867
Right now,
you're trying to
use that screen.
394
00:17:16,934 --> 00:17:18,567
-[Chad] Uh-huh.
-And I'm
a screen guy.
395
00:17:18,634 --> 00:17:21,166
Right? But not
with balls of clay
like you have.
396
00:17:21,166 --> 00:17:22,266
First thing
we're going to do
397
00:17:22,266 --> 00:17:23,467
-is trying to
find that pipe.
-[Juan] Yeah.
398
00:17:23,467 --> 00:17:24,667
-Okay.
-We got to get
that pipe coming.
399
00:17:24,667 --> 00:17:26,367
Without it,
it changes everything.
400
00:17:26,433 --> 00:17:27,634
-[Terry] All right.
-I got you.
401
00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:30,166
[Juan] So, the scrubber's
one of the things
we wanted to do.
402
00:17:30,233 --> 00:17:32,066
You know, obviously
the material's not
getting properly washed.
403
00:17:32,066 --> 00:17:33,667
So we want
to reconfigure
the plumbing
404
00:17:33,667 --> 00:17:35,667
going to the inlet
of the water.
405
00:17:35,667 --> 00:17:37,967
Yeah, that was
just trying when
we moved some stuff,
406
00:17:37,967 --> 00:17:40,767
what we had on site
that put together
to connect it,
407
00:17:40,767 --> 00:17:42,767
-and it was like--
-[Freddy] Yeah,
we understand.
408
00:17:42,767 --> 00:17:44,467
Juan seems to think
409
00:17:44,467 --> 00:17:45,967
that we could
probably get another...
410
00:17:45,967 --> 00:17:48,166
-[Juan] 15-20%...
-[Freddy] And I agree
with him.
411
00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:50,367
The next thing is,
we want to do
some work
412
00:17:50,433 --> 00:17:51,867
-on the sluice box
as well.
-Okay.
413
00:17:51,867 --> 00:17:53,166
We want to change
some of your carpets
414
00:17:53,166 --> 00:17:55,166
and redo a few
things, so.
415
00:17:55,166 --> 00:17:57,367
-[Chad] Okay.
-As far as
the gold goes,
416
00:17:57,367 --> 00:17:58,667
you know,
as far as payment,
417
00:17:58,667 --> 00:18:00,166
we know
you don't have it
at the moment.
418
00:18:00,166 --> 00:18:03,166
-Right.
-But we'd like to seek
two ounces a piece.
419
00:18:03,233 --> 00:18:04,266
-[Chad] Okay.
-Our time for the week,
420
00:18:04,266 --> 00:18:06,166
for our material,
our fabrication,
421
00:18:06,166 --> 00:18:08,166
-and our expenses.
-Right.
422
00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:14,000
I guess, my one
quick question
I have is,
423
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,266
with doing
these things,
424
00:18:16,266 --> 00:18:20,767
what do you think
the increase in
the production will be?
425
00:18:20,834 --> 00:18:22,166
Well, you know,
if we could double
426
00:18:22,166 --> 00:18:24,567
-your production
going through the plant--
-[Chad] Yeah.
427
00:18:24,567 --> 00:18:28,834
-[Freddy] You know,
you go from 0.86 to 1.72.
-Yeah.
428
00:18:29,967 --> 00:18:31,467
And then,
you're making
a good living.
429
00:18:31,533 --> 00:18:33,100
-[Chad] Yeah.
-[Freddy] A really
good living,
430
00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:34,433
off this little plant.
431
00:18:35,567 --> 00:18:37,467
Praise the Lord
on that.
432
00:18:37,467 --> 00:18:38,767
We're done, then.
433
00:18:38,834 --> 00:18:40,767
-[Terry] Be up.
Let's do it.
-[Chad] Nice, guys.
434
00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:42,767
[Freddy] Well, first thing
we got to do,
435
00:18:42,767 --> 00:18:44,367
we're going to go
try to find some pipes,
won't we?
436
00:18:44,367 --> 00:18:45,867
-Yeah, let's go
do it.
-[Terry] All right.
437
00:18:45,934 --> 00:18:47,967
-Talk to you guys in a bit.
-[Freddy] See you
in a bit, guys.
438
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,467
[Chad] It's a lot
of work ahead,
439
00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:53,000
but doubling
that production
440
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,467
is just going to
make the difference
441
00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:57,767
from [inhales]
eating hotdogs
442
00:18:57,767 --> 00:18:59,867
to maybe, I'll have
a steak once a week,
443
00:18:59,867 --> 00:19:01,567
and know that
my kids can get
444
00:19:01,567 --> 00:19:02,467
their new
basketball shoes
445
00:19:02,467 --> 00:19:03,867
when the want them.
446
00:19:03,867 --> 00:19:05,967
[Terry] If we could,
potentially double
our production,
447
00:19:05,967 --> 00:19:09,266
I think it's feasible
to take that step
448
00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:11,967
from slightly above
a hobby miner
449
00:19:12,033 --> 00:19:13,667
to a full
commercial mine.
450
00:19:15,166 --> 00:19:16,266
But, like
anything else,
451
00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,467
it takes money
to make money,
452
00:19:18,533 --> 00:19:20,000
and I'm just
trying to decide
453
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,367
if, you know,
how big of
investment,
454
00:19:22,433 --> 00:19:24,367
you know, financially,
and physically
455
00:19:24,433 --> 00:19:25,367
and with equipment
456
00:19:25,367 --> 00:19:28,066
do I want to
have in this
at this point.
457
00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:30,066
So, still a lot
to think about.
458
00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:40,266
[Juan] So what
Freddy and I
would like to do
459
00:19:40,333 --> 00:19:42,100
is actually
build a scrubber,
460
00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:45,100
but we got to find
about 20-24 inch
diameter pipe.
461
00:19:45,100 --> 00:19:47,266
So we're heading
into town right now.
462
00:19:47,266 --> 00:19:49,467
But, if we have to,
if we can't find
the pipe,
463
00:19:49,467 --> 00:19:51,066
we're going to
have to reuse
what he has
464
00:19:51,066 --> 00:19:53,667
and just fix it,
so it lasts
a little longer.
465
00:19:53,734 --> 00:19:55,767
That's really not
what Freddy and I
want to do,
466
00:19:55,767 --> 00:19:57,567
but if we can't
find the pipe,
467
00:19:57,634 --> 00:19:59,433
that might be
the only resort
we have.
468
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,000
[Freddy] So we got
our gold-losing riffle.
469
00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,567
[narrator] Back
at the claim,
470
00:20:06,634 --> 00:20:09,266
Freddy's first priority,
the sluice.
471
00:20:09,333 --> 00:20:10,967
So I want to wanted
to put a ramp in.
472
00:20:11,033 --> 00:20:13,767
Then we're getting
all the material
underneath the carpet.
473
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:22,266
[narrator] Freddy's simple
but ingenious plan,
474
00:20:22,333 --> 00:20:24,567
a three-foot long
steel strip
475
00:20:24,567 --> 00:20:26,467
welded in
as a ramp,
476
00:20:26,467 --> 00:20:29,066
to force the material
into the carpets
477
00:20:29,133 --> 00:20:31,066
and riffles,
tucked underneath.
478
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,467
[Freddy] So we got
a ramp welded in,
479
00:20:34,467 --> 00:20:36,367
with this gold
and with the water
and material,
480
00:20:36,433 --> 00:20:38,867
you have to force it to do
what you want it to do.
481
00:20:38,867 --> 00:20:41,567
If you turn it loose,
it's like a stray dog.
482
00:20:41,567 --> 00:20:44,166
It's just gonna go
from place to place to place.
483
00:20:44,233 --> 00:20:46,867
One of the main things
is get control
over the material,
484
00:20:46,934 --> 00:20:49,233
let it know that
you are the boss,
it's not the boss.
485
00:20:52,066 --> 00:20:53,467
[narrator] 20 miles away,
486
00:20:53,533 --> 00:20:57,467
Juan hunts for a 20-inch pipe
at the local boneyard.
487
00:20:58,367 --> 00:21:00,867
Unable to source
a new one in time,
488
00:21:00,867 --> 00:21:03,367
it's urgent that he find
something usable.
489
00:21:04,667 --> 00:21:07,166
[Juan] I don't know
if there's something here
that they might sell.
490
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:09,567
There's an old trommel drum
right there, but, uh,
491
00:21:09,567 --> 00:21:10,867
I don't really need
to perforate it,
492
00:21:10,867 --> 00:21:12,867
I actually just need
a solid piece of pipe, so.
493
00:21:12,867 --> 00:21:15,000
I'm just gonna poke around,
see what they got,
494
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,834
maybe there's something here
we can use.
495
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,867
[narrator] The boneyard
is a legacy of Granite's
mining heritage.
496
00:21:24,867 --> 00:21:28,100
Prospectors first arrived
in the 1860s,
497
00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:32,367
and it soon became
the most prominent
mining region in Oregon.
498
00:21:32,367 --> 00:21:36,166
It's produced nearly
4.5 million ounces of gold
499
00:21:36,166 --> 00:21:40,367
from lode, placer,
and dredge operations.
500
00:21:40,367 --> 00:21:42,467
But when the US
stopped gold mining
501
00:21:42,533 --> 00:21:45,767
in 1942 for the war effort,
502
00:21:45,834 --> 00:21:48,767
...the landscape became
littered with ghost towns.
503
00:21:49,767 --> 00:21:53,767
But even with so many relics
left from a bygone era,
504
00:21:53,834 --> 00:21:57,266
usable scraps are still
hard to find.
505
00:21:57,333 --> 00:22:00,100
I was hoping to find maybe
a piece of 24-inch pipe
506
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:02,066
or something that
we could cut up and,
507
00:22:02,066 --> 00:22:04,667
and turn it into a scrubber
that we needed, but, uh,
508
00:22:04,667 --> 00:22:07,133
doesn't look like
anything's here,
nothing that we can use.
509
00:22:09,100 --> 00:22:11,166
You know, it puts us
in a tough spot.
510
00:22:11,166 --> 00:22:12,767
We may have to go back
to the drawing board,
511
00:22:12,834 --> 00:22:14,567
I'm not 100% certain that
we're gonna be able to find
512
00:22:14,567 --> 00:22:16,667
that piece of pipe
that we need in time.
513
00:22:16,667 --> 00:22:18,867
So we may actually have
to change our plan.
514
00:22:29,767 --> 00:22:32,367
Hey, I'm looking for a piece
of 20-inch pipe.
515
00:22:32,367 --> 00:22:34,967
[narrator] With Juan's
scavenge mission dead,
516
00:22:35,033 --> 00:22:38,734
Freddy puts out an SOS
to the Oregon
mining community.
517
00:22:39,467 --> 00:22:41,066
[Freddy] 10, 12, 15 feet long.
518
00:22:41,066 --> 00:22:42,967
I don't care,
beggars can't be choosers.
519
00:22:43,033 --> 00:22:45,634
Whatever we can scrounge,
we can't find any locally.
520
00:22:55,367 --> 00:22:57,867
[Chad Marmolejo]
This is my casa,
from spring
521
00:22:57,934 --> 00:23:01,567
through whenever I close up
for the late fall.
522
00:23:01,567 --> 00:23:02,867
[narrator]
Later that afternoon...
523
00:23:02,934 --> 00:23:04,367
[Juan] Your summer
vacation home, huh?
524
00:23:04,367 --> 00:23:07,367
-[Chad] Yeah, this is my
summer vacation home.
-[both laugh]
525
00:23:07,367 --> 00:23:09,166
[Chad] You know,
I make the best of it.
526
00:23:09,166 --> 00:23:13,066
[narrator] ...Juan takes
a tour of Chad's
grade-A accommodation...
527
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:16,166
...where he spends
seven months a year
528
00:23:16,233 --> 00:23:20,767
isolated on this remote
60-acre mountain claim.
529
00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:22,166
[Juan] You don't have
any power out here, huh?
530
00:23:22,233 --> 00:23:23,367
[Chad] No. I have a cot,
531
00:23:23,367 --> 00:23:26,867
I got Jasper's bed, of course,
right next to my heater.
532
00:23:26,867 --> 00:23:28,667
I try to conserve
the propane as much,
533
00:23:28,734 --> 00:23:31,767
'cause fuel prices
has gotten pretty crazy.
534
00:23:31,767 --> 00:23:36,000
-I have to go to Sumpter
to be able to take a shower,
-[chuckles]
535
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,767
do laundry, you know?
536
00:23:37,767 --> 00:23:39,767
-[Chad] It's brutal sometimes.
-It is, that's tough.
537
00:23:39,767 --> 00:23:42,367
[Chad] You know,
my existence up here
538
00:23:42,367 --> 00:23:43,967
is very primitive.
539
00:23:44,033 --> 00:23:47,266
And it's hard living
in the tent,
540
00:23:47,266 --> 00:23:49,667
you know, springtime
you're dealing with
541
00:23:49,667 --> 00:23:51,667
rain, snow, and mud.
542
00:23:51,667 --> 00:23:55,967
And in the summertimes,
it's baking ya out here.
543
00:23:55,967 --> 00:23:57,166
You are so remote
544
00:23:57,166 --> 00:24:00,166
and supplies and things
are so far away,
545
00:24:00,233 --> 00:24:02,934
um, including help
if you needed it.
546
00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,000
And the time away
from my family, too.
547
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,667
Trying to be a father
and trying to be, uh,
548
00:24:08,734 --> 00:24:10,567
man and provide
for your family, it's tough,
you know?
549
00:24:10,567 --> 00:24:11,867
-All the sacrifices
that are made.
-Yeah.
550
00:24:11,934 --> 00:24:14,166
All that time away
from the family and the kids,
551
00:24:14,166 --> 00:24:17,266
and missing a lot
of how they're developing,
it's tough.
552
00:24:17,266 --> 00:24:19,667
You know, my little ones
are still really small, but...
553
00:24:19,734 --> 00:24:22,000
-Yeah.
-You know, being on the road
and still trying to keep up
554
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:23,467
-with being a dad.
-Right.
555
00:24:23,467 --> 00:24:25,166
-Look what you're doing.
-Yeah.
556
00:24:25,166 --> 00:24:27,166
You're out here roughing it,
you know,
557
00:24:27,166 --> 00:24:28,767
working day in and day out,
558
00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:30,567
living in a tent, but,
you know,
559
00:24:30,634 --> 00:24:32,066
the goal is to try
and make a living.
560
00:24:32,066 --> 00:24:34,967
That's the goal, 100%.
561
00:24:35,033 --> 00:24:37,266
[Juan] What he's got
going on here is not
luxurious at all.
562
00:24:37,266 --> 00:24:39,567
It's pretty basic and, uh,
563
00:24:39,634 --> 00:24:41,367
you know, the lengths
that a man goes through
564
00:24:41,367 --> 00:24:43,166
to be able to make
a living for his family
565
00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:45,166
and provide for his family,
it's inspiring, you know?
566
00:24:45,166 --> 00:24:47,467
And, uh, really,
it's motivation for us
567
00:24:47,467 --> 00:24:48,867
and do even more
to help him out,
568
00:24:48,934 --> 00:24:49,900
and help his situation out.
569
00:24:49,967 --> 00:24:51,634
Because ultimately,
that'll help his family out.
570
00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:11,533
[car honks]
571
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,867
[narrator] 24 hours after
they send out their SOS,
572
00:25:15,934 --> 00:25:19,433
Freddy and Juan's prayers
are answered...
573
00:25:20,767 --> 00:25:23,467
...by some youthful miners
they've met before.
574
00:25:23,467 --> 00:25:25,333
-[Juan] Hey, guys.
-How you doing, Juan?
575
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,467
[narrator] Two years ago,
Freddy and Juan
came to Oregon
576
00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:36,467
to help out three
young brothers,
the Folletts...
577
00:25:36,533 --> 00:25:39,233
[Dave Follett] That's Wylder,
Rider, and Jagger.
578
00:25:40,066 --> 00:25:41,867
[narrator] ...turning their
fading dream...
579
00:25:41,867 --> 00:25:45,266
I would say this stuff has
almost no gold at all in it.
580
00:25:45,266 --> 00:25:46,867
[narrator]
...into a lucrative business.
581
00:25:46,867 --> 00:25:47,867
[all exclaiming]
582
00:25:47,867 --> 00:25:49,467
-[Freddy] Holy cow.
-[Juan] Look at that.
583
00:25:49,533 --> 00:25:51,567
[Juan laughs] Now look
at this one, guys.
584
00:25:51,567 --> 00:25:54,266
-[Freddy] Half-ounce nugget.
-Holy crap!
585
00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:56,667
[Juan] There it is.
586
00:25:56,734 --> 00:25:58,767
-Jagger, how you doing, buddy?
Good to see you.
-Good to see you too, dude.
587
00:25:58,834 --> 00:26:00,367
-How's it going?
-How're you doing?
588
00:26:00,367 --> 00:26:01,567
-Pretty good.
-What's going on, boys?
589
00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,667
[Juan]
Dude, that's awesome, I...
590
00:26:04,667 --> 00:26:05,867
She gonna work for ya?
591
00:26:05,867 --> 00:26:07,266
[Juan] Yeah, you bailed
us out big time.
592
00:26:07,266 --> 00:26:09,767
It's exactly what
we're looking for.
593
00:26:09,834 --> 00:26:11,767
-[Juan] How you guys been?
-We just bought our own mine.
594
00:26:11,767 --> 00:26:14,367
-Where are you guys at?
-The new one's out
in the Mormon Basin.
595
00:26:14,367 --> 00:26:15,667
[Jagger] I haven't
touched that one yet,
596
00:26:15,667 --> 00:26:17,367
but we've been
running the baker.
597
00:26:17,433 --> 00:26:18,667
[Juan] Awesome.
598
00:26:18,667 --> 00:26:21,867
You know, Freddy and Juan
called me up, uh,
needing some pipe.
599
00:26:21,867 --> 00:26:24,467
And we had
plenty of extra pipe
just laying around,
600
00:26:24,467 --> 00:26:26,467
but I'm just happy
to help another miner
601
00:26:26,533 --> 00:26:28,667
'cause there's gold
in the ground,
we just all gotta get it.
602
00:26:28,734 --> 00:26:31,867
If we can help each other
get it, fantastic.
We can all get rich together.
603
00:26:31,867 --> 00:26:34,767
Without you guys having
that pipe locally here,
604
00:26:34,834 --> 00:26:36,266
we wouldn't have been
able to do it.
605
00:26:36,266 --> 00:26:37,667
And we're still pushing it.
606
00:26:37,667 --> 00:26:39,066
-Appreciate it.
-Good luck mining, guys.
607
00:26:39,133 --> 00:26:40,767
-[Jagger] Thank you, guys.
Have a good one.
-Find lots of gold.
608
00:26:40,767 --> 00:26:42,166
[Jagger] We will.
609
00:26:45,166 --> 00:26:46,533
[narrator] As the pipe
is prepped...
610
00:26:48,567 --> 00:26:51,166
[Freddy] Sparks will fly.
611
00:26:51,166 --> 00:26:53,667
[narrator] ...Terry and Chad
remove the part of the plant
612
00:26:53,667 --> 00:26:55,166
they hate the most.
613
00:26:55,166 --> 00:26:56,367
[Terry Larimer] There's one.
614
00:27:02,166 --> 00:27:03,467
And that should be free.
615
00:27:06,266 --> 00:27:09,166
Okay. I just wanna
walk this trough...
616
00:27:10,166 --> 00:27:12,867
...right down
to the grizzlies
just from here.
617
00:27:17,567 --> 00:27:20,066
-Okay, it'll set
right there just fine.
-Yeah.
618
00:27:20,066 --> 00:27:21,767
-[Chad] Perfect.
-Thank you, sir.
619
00:27:24,767 --> 00:27:26,233
[Terry] Okay, it's all clear.
620
00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,834
She knows I wanna
get rid of her.
621
00:27:35,900 --> 00:27:38,767
-[Terry] She doesn't
wanna give up.
-No, she doesn't.
622
00:27:38,767 --> 00:27:41,634
-[Chad] She's fighting.
-She's gonna fight
the whole way.
623
00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:46,467
[Chad] So long, sucka.
624
00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:49,967
[Terry] You're the one
that didn't wanna
see her go.
625
00:27:50,033 --> 00:27:51,433
[Chad] Yeah, I know.
626
00:27:52,367 --> 00:27:54,033
It's making me so happy.
627
00:27:55,767 --> 00:27:58,100
Actually, I'm grateful
to see it move.
628
00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:01,367
But to be honest,
a little emotional
in some aspects.
629
00:28:01,367 --> 00:28:04,033
I've had a love-hate
relationship with that thing.
630
00:28:05,066 --> 00:28:06,433
Mine's all hate.
631
00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:10,734
Perfect. That's good
right there.
632
00:28:12,066 --> 00:28:14,967
[Chad] It's a big part
of the mine going, um,
633
00:28:15,033 --> 00:28:17,367
this was the only thing
I had for a pre-wash
634
00:28:17,367 --> 00:28:20,867
and, uh,
now I won't have that,
635
00:28:20,867 --> 00:28:23,767
but I'm gonna have some
new Freddy and Juan magic
636
00:28:23,767 --> 00:28:27,066
that I am super excited for.
637
00:28:27,133 --> 00:28:28,767
So, um, yeah.
638
00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:32,166
I am completely fine
saying adios to this thing.
639
00:28:38,867 --> 00:28:40,266
[in Spanish]
640
00:28:40,333 --> 00:28:42,066
[Juan chuckles]
641
00:28:42,133 --> 00:28:44,767
-Cool now, Chad.
How you doing, buddy?
-Not too bad.
642
00:28:46,266 --> 00:28:49,166
Been really curious
about what's been
going on over here.
643
00:28:49,166 --> 00:28:51,767
[Juan] Oh, I'm just trying
to get everything together.
We actually just got the pipe.
644
00:28:51,767 --> 00:28:53,266
Uh, let me show you the,
645
00:28:53,266 --> 00:28:56,367
let me show you the actual
tube that we're gonna be using
for your scrubber.
646
00:28:56,367 --> 00:28:57,567
So...
647
00:28:58,767 --> 00:29:00,767
[Chad] Wow, that's
a heavy one.
648
00:29:00,767 --> 00:29:04,367
So then inside here,
we're gonna actually put
bars to lift it.
649
00:29:04,433 --> 00:29:07,867
And that way, the material,
when it's inside there,
it just doesn't slide.
650
00:29:07,934 --> 00:29:10,467
It actually, it's forced
to get lifted up and then
tumble down.
651
00:29:10,533 --> 00:29:12,467
-Okay.
-So that tumbling action
652
00:29:12,533 --> 00:29:15,266
is actually what's gonna
clean up that material
to break up that clay.
653
00:29:15,333 --> 00:29:17,266
-Yeah.
-It'll try to get some
of that gold released
654
00:29:17,266 --> 00:29:19,066
from that, that clay.
655
00:29:19,133 --> 00:29:20,567
[Chad] Awesome.
656
00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,467
[Juan] So, I got the basic
frame built this morning.
657
00:29:36,467 --> 00:29:39,066
[narrator]
On the Marmolejo Claim,
658
00:29:39,133 --> 00:29:42,066
Juan fabricates a base
for the scrubber
659
00:29:42,133 --> 00:29:44,767
in a race to double
the operation's
gold production.
660
00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:48,967
So, uh, the design here,
it's a little different.
661
00:29:49,033 --> 00:29:50,467
Instead of using the casters,
662
00:29:50,533 --> 00:29:52,867
we're actually just gonna
use the rollers off the caster
663
00:29:52,867 --> 00:29:54,166
and we're gonna build
our own bracket.
664
00:29:54,166 --> 00:29:56,967
[narrator]
The delay in finding
a pipe for the scrubber
665
00:29:57,033 --> 00:29:59,367
means they're already
behind schedule,
666
00:29:59,433 --> 00:30:03,100
and each innovation
has a trickle-down effect.
667
00:30:03,100 --> 00:30:04,767
[Juan] What we've done
in the past is we'll just use
668
00:30:04,767 --> 00:30:06,333
these brackets that
come with the casters.
669
00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:09,667
But if you see here,
you know the load's
670
00:30:09,667 --> 00:30:11,266
gonna be pushing
against the casters.
671
00:30:11,266 --> 00:30:13,266
That way, and what happens
a lot of times,
672
00:30:13,333 --> 00:30:14,767
it'll either bend
this bottom plate,
673
00:30:14,834 --> 00:30:17,467
bend these arms,
or break that well.
674
00:30:17,467 --> 00:30:20,567
So we're gonna build
a whole bracket to be able
to paddle these in place.
675
00:30:22,867 --> 00:30:25,100
At the end of the day
it's gonna be a lot
better design,
676
00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:28,333
it's gonna be a lot
more durable, and really,
that's what they need.
677
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:35,667
So we're just getting
all the parts cut out
678
00:30:35,734 --> 00:30:38,066
for its rollers,
and these are the supports.
679
00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:45,066
-[Freddy] So this is your
deep cut, huh?
-[Terry] Yeah.
680
00:30:45,066 --> 00:30:47,767
[Terry] I think I'm into
some stuff you're gonna
wanna check out.
681
00:30:47,834 --> 00:30:49,533
-[Freddy] Lead the way.
-[Terry] Come on down.
682
00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:54,367
Got a lot of overburden.
That's nasty.
683
00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,934
Just trying to get a look
at the wall here
from a distance.
684
00:31:01,567 --> 00:31:03,467
That clay layer there,
685
00:31:03,467 --> 00:31:05,166
if gold mining doesn't
work out for you,
686
00:31:05,166 --> 00:31:07,066
you could start
a pottery store.
687
00:31:07,133 --> 00:31:09,266
-[laughs] Yeah.
-[Freddy] You got
enough clay.
688
00:31:09,266 --> 00:31:11,066
[Terry] Yeah, I don't
think so.
689
00:31:11,066 --> 00:31:12,767
I think if gold mining
doesn't work out,
690
00:31:12,767 --> 00:31:14,634
-I won't be in
this hole anymore.
-[Freddy laughs]
691
00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:19,667
[narrator] The time it takes
to remove overburden
692
00:31:19,667 --> 00:31:22,166
and haul pay
to the plant means
693
00:31:22,166 --> 00:31:24,734
Chad can only run
two days a week.
694
00:31:25,967 --> 00:31:27,967
[Freddy] Well, let's get
outta the whole now.
695
00:31:28,033 --> 00:31:29,367
Let's have a look at her.
696
00:31:29,367 --> 00:31:31,767
There's definitely some
nice color there.
697
00:31:31,834 --> 00:31:33,266
-[Chad] Yeah.
-[Freddy] And decent pieces.
698
00:31:33,333 --> 00:31:36,166
[Freddy] For their size,
they got some weight to 'em,
looking at 'em.
699
00:31:36,166 --> 00:31:39,000
-[Terry] Good.
-Yeah, and this is where
we got the material
700
00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,767
that we ran the, the test,
701
00:31:40,767 --> 00:31:43,066
-Okay.
-for our test the other day.
702
00:31:43,667 --> 00:31:45,667
[Freddy]
This is promising material.
703
00:31:45,734 --> 00:31:47,433
I mean, if it didn't have...
704
00:31:48,467 --> 00:31:50,266
...40-foot overburden on it.
705
00:31:50,333 --> 00:31:52,367
-[Chad] I agree.
-[Freddy] Sure, it's pretty
in the pan,
706
00:31:52,433 --> 00:31:55,567
but it costs you two dollars
to get one dollar's
worth of gold,
707
00:31:55,567 --> 00:31:57,367
-it's no longer feasible.
-[Chad] Yeah, that's,
that's some math.
708
00:31:57,433 --> 00:31:59,834
[Chad]
'Cause that's the only thing
holding me back right now.
709
00:32:00,567 --> 00:32:02,100
[narrator] In addition
to the fixes,
710
00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:04,967
Freddy must help Chad
solve the economics
711
00:32:05,033 --> 00:32:07,834
of his mine site
to make it truly viable.
712
00:32:09,467 --> 00:32:11,667
It's all numbers,
it's all dollars and cents,
you know?
713
00:32:11,667 --> 00:32:14,467
Just don't let gold
lie to your wallet.
714
00:32:14,533 --> 00:32:16,667
They gotta crunch
their numbers
715
00:32:16,734 --> 00:32:19,767
and find out if this one's
cost-feasible to mine
716
00:32:19,767 --> 00:32:21,667
to get that much
material off of it.
717
00:32:21,734 --> 00:32:24,266
Uh, you know, we had
good gold in the cleanup
718
00:32:24,266 --> 00:32:26,467
for the amount of material
that was ran,
719
00:32:26,533 --> 00:32:29,333
but is it good enough
to take that 40 feet off?
720
00:32:33,166 --> 00:32:35,100
[narrator] Back at the claim,
721
00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:38,667
Juan makes slow progress
on the scrubber fix.
722
00:32:38,667 --> 00:32:41,066
We can see right now
this is just
the beginning of it.
723
00:32:41,066 --> 00:32:45,367
But this is a lot heavier duty
than just having
regular rollers pick it up.
724
00:32:45,367 --> 00:32:47,266
The whole point
is we wanna build something
that's gonna last,
725
00:32:47,266 --> 00:32:50,333
and it's gonna be here
for a while for these guys
to be able to make some money.
726
00:32:53,767 --> 00:32:55,467
We're actually gonna get
the drum on top,
727
00:32:55,533 --> 00:32:57,266
get it on there,
get it lined up
where we want it,
728
00:32:57,266 --> 00:33:00,867
so that way we can start
figuring where we're gonna
put the drive system on it.
729
00:33:00,867 --> 00:33:03,266
You know, hopefully by the end
of the day we'll be in
a little better,
730
00:33:03,266 --> 00:33:04,867
better position than
we're in right now.
731
00:33:04,867 --> 00:33:07,834
I'm a little nervous right now
because, uh, there's still
is so much to do.
732
00:33:15,667 --> 00:33:17,367
Let's get the drum on there.
733
00:33:21,066 --> 00:33:24,166
I just wanna see how it looks,
see how it feels,
734
00:33:24,166 --> 00:33:26,066
make sure my measurements
are correct.
735
00:33:33,867 --> 00:33:35,333
We're clear. Drop.
736
00:33:41,767 --> 00:33:43,166
Well, looks good.
737
00:33:44,166 --> 00:33:45,767
You know, this is just
the beginning of it.
738
00:33:46,867 --> 00:33:49,000
I wanted to kinda test it
on, uh, on the frame,
739
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:50,667
make sure we're good
with the frame.
740
00:33:50,667 --> 00:33:52,367
Uh, looks good right now.
741
00:33:52,433 --> 00:33:54,967
Next, we're gonna cut out
a sprocket for it.
742
00:33:55,033 --> 00:33:57,667
And then we have
to build an engine mount
and a gear drive mount.
743
00:33:57,667 --> 00:33:59,867
So, uh, we still got
a lot to do.
744
00:33:59,867 --> 00:34:03,467
Fortunately, uh, I'm starting
to see a little bit of light
at the end of the tunnel.
745
00:34:10,367 --> 00:34:13,233
[Freddy] Well, I wanna look
at your ground a little bit
up here, too.
746
00:34:14,567 --> 00:34:17,767
[narrator] To solve Chad's
all-time issue,
747
00:34:17,767 --> 00:34:20,266
Freddy investigates an old cut
748
00:34:20,266 --> 00:34:22,934
just a few hundred feet
away from the wash plant.
749
00:34:24,266 --> 00:34:25,867
[Chad] The dilemma
that I'm facing,
750
00:34:25,867 --> 00:34:29,567
the dirt here is sporadic
to say the best.
751
00:34:29,634 --> 00:34:31,767
It peters out into nothing.
752
00:34:31,767 --> 00:34:34,767
[Freddy] It's not all
full of clay, which is good.
753
00:34:34,767 --> 00:34:38,166
[Chad] You know,
the other mine site,
it's a lot more identifiable.
754
00:34:38,166 --> 00:34:40,834
-Uh-huh.
-But this is right here
next to the plant.
755
00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,166
[Freddy] What you got here
in my estimation
756
00:34:44,166 --> 00:34:48,166
of the five minutes
I've looked at it now,
757
00:34:48,233 --> 00:34:51,000
-decomposed bedrock.
That's what this is.
-Mmm-hmm.
758
00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,266
-[Chad] Okay.
-Right? All this stuff here,
759
00:34:53,266 --> 00:34:55,033
I think it's pay
from here to here...
760
00:34:56,066 --> 00:34:58,567
-...looking at it.
-Okay.
761
00:34:58,567 --> 00:35:02,266
So, what I would do,
I would get the topsoil
off of it, and the ash.
762
00:35:02,333 --> 00:35:04,667
-Mmm-hmm.
-Get it off of it,
I'd run all this.
763
00:35:04,667 --> 00:35:07,767
-Here down,
and see what you got.
-Yep.
764
00:35:07,767 --> 00:35:09,066
[Chad] Trust the color
that's in the box.
765
00:35:09,133 --> 00:35:11,166
-That's right.
That's exactly... hey.
-[chuckles]
766
00:35:11,166 --> 00:35:13,667
That's a good call. Yup.
767
00:35:13,667 --> 00:35:16,734
I wanna try a little bit
way down the face here.
768
00:35:17,900 --> 00:35:19,767
-[Freddy]
Well, let's go pan this.
-Yeah.
769
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,033
[Freddy] A lot less clay here
than the stuff we ran.
770
00:35:34,667 --> 00:35:36,734
-[Freddy] Good earth
color in there.
-Yeah.
771
00:35:38,100 --> 00:35:41,567
I mean, it's...
there's three pieces,
four pieces right there.
772
00:35:41,567 --> 00:35:43,967
Think probably
with those smaller pieces,
773
00:35:43,967 --> 00:35:48,166
I've been really struggling
to catch those in my box.
774
00:35:48,233 --> 00:35:50,867
Well, let's get your plant
set up where you're catching
more of this fine gold.
775
00:35:50,867 --> 00:35:53,567
I think that could really
make a difference here.
776
00:35:53,634 --> 00:35:56,000
For an ounce a hundred here
and we're two ounces there,
777
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,000
-Yeah.
-that ounce in the middle,
that extra ounce,
778
00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,166
will it pay to get rid
of that overburden?
779
00:36:01,166 --> 00:36:03,100
-And to truck it
up here, right?
-Right. Right.
780
00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:06,066
-Especially with just
two guys, right?
-Right.
781
00:36:06,133 --> 00:36:08,467
-So here, you could
almost run every day.
-Yes.
782
00:36:08,467 --> 00:36:11,066
There, you can't.
You gotta go down there
and strip and dig.
783
00:36:12,367 --> 00:36:14,166
[Chad] What I was
really excited about learning
784
00:36:14,233 --> 00:36:16,667
at the upper cut
where the wash plant is,
785
00:36:16,734 --> 00:36:18,567
that material's
much easier to mine,
786
00:36:18,567 --> 00:36:21,667
and even if it doesn't,
you know, pay the same,
787
00:36:21,667 --> 00:36:26,066
the actual cost
of running that material
is a lot cheaper.
788
00:36:26,066 --> 00:36:30,000
Well, this stuff here
is cheaper by far.
You have no overburden.
789
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,567
If this was my mine,
I would mine this spot
right here.
790
00:36:35,567 --> 00:36:38,667
What we thought was clay
we now know from Freddy
791
00:36:38,667 --> 00:36:41,467
that is decomposed,
uh, bedrock.
792
00:36:41,467 --> 00:36:45,266
So, it doubles the amount
of pay material
we have to run here,
793
00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:49,266
which excites me.
It makes me feel better
about this claim.
794
00:36:49,266 --> 00:36:52,333
But you know,
there's still a lot
to think about.
795
00:37:06,467 --> 00:37:09,266
[Juan] You know, I would say
I'm probably halfway on
the build on the scrubber.
796
00:37:09,266 --> 00:37:11,266
-[Freddy] Okay.
-[Juan] Roughly about halfway.
797
00:37:11,333 --> 00:37:13,266
[narrator]
In northeast Oregon,
798
00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:16,166
there's only two days left
for Freddy and Juan
799
00:37:16,233 --> 00:37:19,467
to complete their most
ambitious fix to date
800
00:37:19,533 --> 00:37:22,066
and double Chad's
gold production.
801
00:37:22,133 --> 00:37:23,867
Sorry I'm not over there
helping you with that.
802
00:37:23,867 --> 00:37:25,467
No. So I didn't get
to see the cuts, Freddy.
803
00:37:25,467 --> 00:37:27,567
-What's the differences there?
-Well, that,
804
00:37:27,634 --> 00:37:30,266
that material we ran
had 40 foot
of overburden on it,
805
00:37:30,266 --> 00:37:33,867
plus they have to truck it
a couple miles
with a dump truck
806
00:37:33,934 --> 00:37:35,667
to get it to the plant.
807
00:37:35,734 --> 00:37:37,266
That other... now,
the other cut,
808
00:37:37,333 --> 00:37:39,467
-it's right next to the plant.
-Yeah.
809
00:37:39,533 --> 00:37:42,166
You know, the stuff,
it's got gold in it.
there's only two foot
810
00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:44,266
-of overburden on top of it.
-Well.
811
00:37:44,266 --> 00:37:48,367
So, it may not be
as good a gold,
but they'll make more money.
812
00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:50,266
[Juan] Yeah, well,
less work to get to it.
813
00:37:50,266 --> 00:37:51,767
I mean, if it was
half the gold,
814
00:37:51,767 --> 00:37:54,467
I think it would
still be better to run
what you have there
815
00:37:54,467 --> 00:37:57,100
-at the site, less time
to truck it in.
-That's my thought.
816
00:37:57,100 --> 00:37:58,634
[Freddy] My thoughts as well.
817
00:38:08,867 --> 00:38:11,166
We're gonna cut up
the most intricate piece
for the scrubber build.
818
00:38:11,166 --> 00:38:13,567
And it's a sprocket.
'Cause without that sprocket,
819
00:38:13,567 --> 00:38:15,567
we can't get a chain around it
to drive it.
820
00:38:15,567 --> 00:38:17,867
So this is actually gonna
be the drive mechanism
for the scrubber.
821
00:38:17,867 --> 00:38:21,767
[narrator] But there's
a problem with the pipe
the Folletts brought them.
822
00:38:21,834 --> 00:38:23,767
[Juan] The pipe,
unfortunately, is not
perfectly round,
823
00:38:23,767 --> 00:38:25,467
so we're just gonna
have to adapt.
824
00:38:25,467 --> 00:38:27,266
I'm gonna make the borehole
just a little bit bigger,
825
00:38:27,333 --> 00:38:30,467
hopefully it'll be able
to slide on and, uh,
fit in place.
826
00:38:30,533 --> 00:38:33,667
[machine whirring]
827
00:38:49,967 --> 00:38:51,300
[Juan] Perfect.
828
00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,367
We're gonna have to do
a little clean up on that,
but it's good.
829
00:39:01,767 --> 00:39:04,967
New mats, I'm excited!
830
00:39:05,033 --> 00:39:08,567
[narrator] Freddy adjusts
the sluice box to catch
the finer gold
831
00:39:08,634 --> 00:39:11,467
he's discovered in the cut
next to the wash plant.
832
00:39:11,467 --> 00:39:13,867
[Freddy]
Leave a little gap there,
just a little one.
833
00:39:13,867 --> 00:39:16,967
Like, one inch.
Makes a change right there,
834
00:39:16,967 --> 00:39:19,367
so a piece of gold
doesn't like it
may like it right there.
835
00:39:19,367 --> 00:39:23,233
-[Freddy] Change is good.
-Okay. Awesome.
836
00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:29,000
We're really excited
that they're not
actually dismantling
837
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,567
my whole sluice box,
it's named after my daughter.
838
00:39:31,567 --> 00:39:34,066
Always makes me think of her.
839
00:39:34,066 --> 00:39:38,367
Both my daughters, actually,
I miss them a lot
when I'm up here.
840
00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:41,467
But I keep reminding
myself that as much
as I miss them,
841
00:39:41,533 --> 00:39:44,433
it's part of the sacrifice
I have to make to, uh,
842
00:39:45,166 --> 00:39:46,834
try to provide
better for them.
843
00:39:50,266 --> 00:39:52,767
[Freddy] Scary, you know, huh?
Cutting my
expensive carpet up.
844
00:39:52,767 --> 00:39:54,967
[Freddy laughs]
845
00:39:55,033 --> 00:39:56,667
[Freddy] The reason
I'm doing that
846
00:39:56,667 --> 00:40:00,467
is I don't want any
miner's moss under this
light riffle I'm putting in.
847
00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:03,667
So, this will catch you
more fine gold.
848
00:40:03,734 --> 00:40:05,567
Not worried about the nuggets.
849
00:40:05,567 --> 00:40:06,834
They catch nuggets
in a toilet.
850
00:40:07,667 --> 00:40:08,967
This is exciting.
851
00:40:08,967 --> 00:40:11,967
Where do I get one
of those toilets that
catch those nuggets?
852
00:40:11,967 --> 00:40:15,834
[both laugh]
853
00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,100
[narrator] Carpets in,
Freddy adds the new
riffle system
854
00:40:21,100 --> 00:40:23,767
designed to catch
the fine gold
855
00:40:23,767 --> 00:40:26,567
and make their cleanup
more time efficient.
856
00:40:26,634 --> 00:40:28,867
So, we can tip them out now.
857
00:40:28,867 --> 00:40:31,066
-You couldn't tip them
out before.
-Oh, right.
858
00:40:31,066 --> 00:40:33,100
-You see I happened
to try and slide it.
-Yup, I did.
859
00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:34,867
[Freddy] Now you can
tip them out,
860
00:40:34,867 --> 00:40:37,100
make your cleanup
so much faster.
861
00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,467
And what's that
gonna do for ya?
862
00:40:38,467 --> 00:40:40,567
-Give me more
running time.
-That's exactly right.
863
00:40:40,634 --> 00:40:44,000
More digging time,
more running time,
more gold in your pocket.
864
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,367
This ramp in here,
865
00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:48,166
this will get it up
on top of the carpet,
866
00:40:48,233 --> 00:40:49,967
then there's another one
down there in the next sluice.
867
00:40:49,967 --> 00:40:51,767
-[Chad] Yeah.
-You should catch most
of your gold right here
868
00:40:51,767 --> 00:40:53,266
in this first four feet.
869
00:40:53,333 --> 00:40:55,467
[narrator] Freddy's got
a hack to increase
870
00:40:55,467 --> 00:40:58,066
the water flow
in Chad's sluice.
871
00:40:58,066 --> 00:41:01,133
We're gonna narrow it up,
and we're gonna narrow it up
in a simple way.
872
00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:05,867
So we're just gonna use wood.
873
00:41:05,867 --> 00:41:08,567
So you're gonna have a double,
we're gonna narrow this up
an inch and a half.
874
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:11,533
Take some screws.
875
00:41:18,367 --> 00:41:20,266
We just increased
your water flow
876
00:41:20,333 --> 00:41:21,367
with a two-by-four.
877
00:41:21,367 --> 00:41:22,734
Wow.
878
00:41:23,767 --> 00:41:25,467
Right? How long did it take
to screw it on there?
879
00:41:25,467 --> 00:41:28,266
[Chad] Seconds, really.
Yeah, no time at all,
three screws.
880
00:41:28,266 --> 00:41:30,066
[Freddy] So you should get
more water with three screws.
881
00:41:30,066 --> 00:41:31,266
If you don't have
enough water again,
882
00:41:31,266 --> 00:41:32,667
put another one
on the other side.
883
00:41:34,767 --> 00:41:36,567
This one is set up
for fine gold.
884
00:41:36,634 --> 00:41:38,166
You'll catch a lot
of it up there, too,
885
00:41:38,166 --> 00:41:39,367
-but this one...
-[Chad] Right.
886
00:41:39,367 --> 00:41:41,467
...this one I set up for you
887
00:41:41,467 --> 00:41:43,367
to catch that
really fine gold, right?
888
00:41:43,367 --> 00:41:46,166
Piece of gold,
we've got two different
riffle variation there.
889
00:41:46,166 --> 00:41:48,367
-[Chad] Mmm-hmm.
-[Freddy] So we've got
one, two, three
890
00:41:48,367 --> 00:41:49,967
four,
891
00:41:50,033 --> 00:41:51,867
five changes right here.
892
00:41:51,934 --> 00:41:53,266
All in the first damn
fill of the box.
893
00:41:53,266 --> 00:41:54,767
Yeah, the piece of that
doesn't like that,
894
00:41:55,667 --> 00:41:57,767
you know, bounces down,
maybe it likes that,
895
00:41:57,767 --> 00:42:00,467
maybe it doesn't,
maybe it comes here
and likes this,
896
00:42:00,467 --> 00:42:03,467
but we're gonna give it
an opportunity to find
897
00:42:03,467 --> 00:42:06,367
the hotel room that
it wants to stay in.
898
00:42:06,433 --> 00:42:08,166
Perfect, let it move in.
899
00:42:08,233 --> 00:42:10,567
Sometimes you don't need
to build a new sluice box,
900
00:42:10,634 --> 00:42:12,133
you just need to tune it up.
901
00:42:14,767 --> 00:42:18,767
[narrator] As daylight fades,
Freddy joins Juan
at the scrubber fix.
902
00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:24,367
Right now we're putting up
bars inside of it,
903
00:42:24,367 --> 00:42:25,867
so it rolls that material
904
00:42:25,934 --> 00:42:28,166
and really knocks
that clay off.
905
00:42:28,166 --> 00:42:29,867
There's no way
to climb in and veld it,
906
00:42:29,867 --> 00:42:32,967
so we've drilled holes
in the outside here,
907
00:42:33,033 --> 00:42:35,133
and we're gonna plug veld it
from the outside.
908
00:42:45,500 --> 00:42:46,967
That looks good, Fred,
thank you.
909
00:42:46,967 --> 00:42:48,967
Can you get the rest
of the plug veld done,
you think?
910
00:42:49,033 --> 00:42:50,867
-Uh, I'm gonna get
'em welded, yeah. Yup.
-Okay, perfect.
911
00:42:50,867 --> 00:42:52,367
-I got the ring cut out, so...
-Okay.
912
00:42:52,367 --> 00:42:53,567
I actually over sized
the board
913
00:42:53,567 --> 00:42:55,266
'cause I was worried that
the pipe was a little oval,
914
00:42:55,333 --> 00:42:56,266
but it's all right.
915
00:42:56,333 --> 00:42:57,567
We'll just stitch it on.
916
00:42:57,634 --> 00:42:59,000
-Yeah, that's a--
-You got the sprocket there?
917
00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:00,266
Yeah, I'm just cleaning it up
right now.
918
00:43:00,266 --> 00:43:02,000
We still got a whole lot
of work to do, though.
919
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:03,266
-Yeah. Yeah.
-[Juan] Okay.
920
00:43:03,266 --> 00:43:04,367
-I'm gonna get to it.
-Yeah.
921
00:43:04,433 --> 00:43:06,133
-[Juan] Thanks, Freddy.
-You're welcome, bud.
922
00:43:07,100 --> 00:43:09,867
We got a heck
of a lot more left to do,
923
00:43:09,867 --> 00:43:13,467
and, uh, we're starting
to lose daylight right now.
924
00:43:13,467 --> 00:43:16,066
We might've, uh,
bit off more than
we can chew here.
925
00:43:26,867 --> 00:43:28,166
[Terry] Taking it
across the road
926
00:43:28,166 --> 00:43:29,867
to the other side
of the climb.
927
00:43:29,867 --> 00:43:31,367
[narrator] Just one day
remaining
928
00:43:31,433 --> 00:43:32,767
on the Marmolejo Mine...
929
00:43:33,867 --> 00:43:36,967
...the team still need
to complete the monster task
930
00:43:37,033 --> 00:43:39,433
of assembling the new
pre-wash system.
931
00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:47,266
[Juan] Well, we've got
the frame coming in
with the hopper,
932
00:43:47,333 --> 00:43:50,066
we're actually gonna
put our scrubber
on top of that frame.
933
00:43:50,133 --> 00:43:51,567
What Terry did was
he went out there,
934
00:43:51,567 --> 00:43:53,767
and he got all the old screen
cut off,
935
00:43:53,834 --> 00:43:55,967
so basically,
it's just a blank canvas,
936
00:43:55,967 --> 00:43:58,767
we're gonna put our, uh,
new scrubber on that fame,
937
00:43:58,767 --> 00:44:00,100
get it adjusted
where it needed,
938
00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:01,867
so that way,
we get it all welded in place
939
00:44:01,934 --> 00:44:03,266
before we take it up there.
940
00:44:05,767 --> 00:44:08,166
You know, this is a really
ambitious project
for Freddy and I,
941
00:44:08,166 --> 00:44:10,634
right now,
all hands are on deck
trying to get this done.
942
00:44:14,100 --> 00:44:16,166
[narrator] Juan welds in
the sprocket,
943
00:44:16,233 --> 00:44:19,433
which will engage
the drive chain
and spin the scrubber.
944
00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:23,066
The chain is gonna go over it,
so it's really important that
945
00:44:23,066 --> 00:44:24,667
we get this perfectly straight
946
00:44:24,734 --> 00:44:26,266
and as even as we can get it,
947
00:44:26,333 --> 00:44:28,233
so it doesn't wear out
prematurely.
948
00:44:31,100 --> 00:44:32,667
[narrator] Freddy's
next mission,
949
00:44:32,667 --> 00:44:35,467
get the rocks washed
as cleanly as possible.
950
00:44:37,767 --> 00:44:39,867
They use to have
this spray bar
951
00:44:39,867 --> 00:44:42,166
on that screen
coming out of here
952
00:44:42,166 --> 00:44:44,467
going down and putting water
on that material,
953
00:44:45,166 --> 00:44:47,867
so what I'm doing here now,
it's gone,
954
00:44:47,867 --> 00:44:49,367
so... [clears throat]
955
00:44:49,367 --> 00:44:51,367
we're gonna put all the water
in the hopper
956
00:44:51,367 --> 00:44:54,367
to go down
into that scrubber
957
00:44:54,367 --> 00:44:56,734
and clean that material up,
knock that clay off.
958
00:44:57,667 --> 00:45:00,100
I'd like to see pretty much
spotless material
959
00:45:00,100 --> 00:45:01,934
by the time it gets through
the system.
960
00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:08,433
Spin that up,
and see how you like it.
961
00:45:10,367 --> 00:45:11,967
-[Freddy] I like.
-Yeah, yeah.
962
00:45:15,300 --> 00:45:18,033
[narrator]
With the final builds
in full scramble...
963
00:45:19,100 --> 00:45:22,467
...Chad hunts out cell service
for his weekly call home.
964
00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:26,066
How's things going at home?
965
00:45:27,066 --> 00:45:31,100
Um, things are going okay,
I can manage.
966
00:45:31,100 --> 00:45:33,567
I think Terry has been
a little skeptical
967
00:45:33,634 --> 00:45:34,867
at times at some
of this stuff.
968
00:45:34,934 --> 00:45:37,567
Well, I really appreciate
all the hard work and time
969
00:45:37,634 --> 00:45:39,767
that you put in over there.
970
00:45:39,834 --> 00:45:41,166
I know it can't be easy.
971
00:45:41,166 --> 00:45:44,367
No, no, it's certainly not.
972
00:45:44,433 --> 00:45:47,166
A lot rides on this
for our family.
973
00:45:47,166 --> 00:45:50,166
Yeah, if nothing,
then [inhales]
974
00:45:50,233 --> 00:45:51,533
I'm right back
to where I started.
975
00:45:52,200 --> 00:45:53,667
[Amber] I just want
my bills paid.
976
00:45:55,767 --> 00:45:58,100
Hey, I better get back
to the mine and get to work,
977
00:45:58,100 --> 00:46:00,867
but, um, I sure miss you.
978
00:46:00,934 --> 00:46:02,367
Missing you a bunch,
too, babe.
979
00:46:02,433 --> 00:46:03,667
-Love you.
-[Chad] Love you, love you.
980
00:46:08,967 --> 00:46:10,934
Man, it's tough,
I sure miss 'em.
981
00:46:14,100 --> 00:46:15,567
Back to the grindstone.
982
00:46:23,767 --> 00:46:25,767
[narrator] It's been
an all-day effort...
983
00:46:25,767 --> 00:46:27,467
-Ready?
-Yeah.
984
00:46:27,533 --> 00:46:29,834
[narrator] ...but the motor
is finally in place.
985
00:46:31,567 --> 00:46:34,567
Freddy and Juan test it
before darkness falls.
986
00:46:35,767 --> 00:46:36,767
Got it.
987
00:46:44,800 --> 00:46:47,233
-She's alive.
-[Freddy] She's alive.
988
00:46:47,867 --> 00:46:49,133
First rock.
989
00:46:56,867 --> 00:46:58,667
-[Juan] It's good?
-Bueno.
990
00:46:58,734 --> 00:47:00,100
-Bueno.
-Good job, guys.
991
00:47:00,100 --> 00:47:01,133
Let's call it a day.
992
00:47:02,867 --> 00:47:05,467
Well, basically,
we're a day behind right now,
993
00:47:05,533 --> 00:47:08,233
literally, maybe more than
a day behind, but, uh...
994
00:47:09,467 --> 00:47:11,066
...it's gonna get dark
real quick on us,
995
00:47:11,133 --> 00:47:12,767
so we're gonna
pull out for the night,
996
00:47:12,834 --> 00:47:15,967
and if we have to put in
another extremely
long day tomorrow,
997
00:47:16,033 --> 00:47:18,266
that's what we need to do,
we'll get it done.
998
00:47:18,266 --> 00:47:21,166
You can feel the tension
in the air a little bit.
999
00:47:21,233 --> 00:47:25,166
Yeah, I think we're, uh,
under, under a little
pressure right now.
1000
00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:34,467
[Freddy] Juan,
hook that front.
1001
00:47:35,867 --> 00:47:38,066
[narrator] It's the final day
of the rescue,
1002
00:47:38,133 --> 00:47:41,266
and Freddy and Juan
still need to finish the fix
1003
00:47:41,266 --> 00:47:42,867
and run the test
1004
00:47:42,934 --> 00:47:45,967
if their mission
to double gold production
1005
00:47:46,033 --> 00:47:49,266
and earn Terry's investment
is to be successful.
1006
00:47:49,333 --> 00:47:50,867
[Terry] All clear!
1007
00:47:50,934 --> 00:47:51,867
[Freddy] Clear.
1008
00:48:00,867 --> 00:48:02,567
Wow.
1009
00:48:02,567 --> 00:48:05,467
This is a big thing,
big moment in a lot
of different ways
1010
00:48:05,467 --> 00:48:08,567
because this could make
a big difference
for my family.
1011
00:48:17,367 --> 00:48:18,634
[Juan] What do you think,
Chad?
1012
00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:20,967
[Chad] Dude.
1013
00:48:20,967 --> 00:48:22,467
-Thank you, man.
-Oh, come here, buddy.
1014
00:48:22,467 --> 00:48:23,634
[both chuckle]
1015
00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:26,634
I'm so excited.
1016
00:48:28,266 --> 00:48:31,767
[Terry]
Hope everybody is ready.
Coming in hot.
1017
00:48:31,767 --> 00:48:34,233
[Chad] That's looking decent.
1018
00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:37,834
-Bring him this way.
-Bring it back.
1019
00:48:39,867 --> 00:48:41,266
Juano.
1020
00:48:41,333 --> 00:48:43,166
What have we got
to get to this grizzly?
1021
00:48:43,233 --> 00:48:44,834
Six feet, Fred.
1022
00:48:48,367 --> 00:48:51,367
-That's as far
as she is gonna go, Fred.
-Okay.
1023
00:48:51,367 --> 00:48:54,567
[narrator] A six foot gap
between the scrubber
and the grizzly...
1024
00:48:54,567 --> 00:48:55,667
[Freddy] Hell, I don't know.
1025
00:48:55,667 --> 00:48:58,000
[narrator] ...means pay
will miss the trommel
1026
00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:00,967
if a solution to connect them
is not found.
1027
00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:05,066
We got a lot of work left
to get that material
1028
00:49:05,066 --> 00:49:07,767
from the scrubber
onto those grizzly bars
1029
00:49:07,767 --> 00:49:09,467
to get it into the trommel,
1030
00:49:09,467 --> 00:49:10,834
so...
1031
00:49:12,467 --> 00:49:15,634
...not a lot of spare time
to screw around,
that's for damn sure.
1032
00:49:31,266 --> 00:49:33,467
What have we got
to get to this grizzly.
1033
00:49:33,467 --> 00:49:35,166
-We're gonna have
to use that chute.
-Yup.
1034
00:49:37,066 --> 00:49:39,567
Right now, we're out of time,
and, uh,
1035
00:49:39,634 --> 00:49:41,767
we gotta tie that
chute together,
1036
00:49:42,567 --> 00:49:43,634
get it lined up.
1037
00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,066
You're not gonna
have enough reach.
1038
00:49:47,133 --> 00:49:49,767
Fred, you want me
to go get my truck
and put it down there?
1039
00:49:49,767 --> 00:49:52,066
-I can park down there and--
-It'll take a long time
to get yours.
1040
00:49:52,066 --> 00:49:53,367
-Mine's ready.
-Huh?
1041
00:49:53,433 --> 00:49:54,967
-Mine's ready.
-What do you think?
Roll all the hoses?
1042
00:49:54,967 --> 00:49:56,467
Yeah, she's ready,
she's ready to roll.
1043
00:49:56,467 --> 00:49:57,734
I'll go grab her real quick.
1044
00:49:58,467 --> 00:49:59,967
Ah, we got Freddy's truck
in, in place,
1045
00:49:59,967 --> 00:50:01,166
he doesn't have
a long enough crane,
1046
00:50:01,166 --> 00:50:02,667
so I'm gonna actually go
grab my truck,
1047
00:50:02,667 --> 00:50:05,767
and I'll be able
to lift it from down below
and get that chute in place.
1048
00:50:05,834 --> 00:50:08,066
I got a little more
boom on mine.
1049
00:50:08,066 --> 00:50:10,767
Absolutely size matters
when it comes to cranes.
[chuckles]
1050
00:50:17,467 --> 00:50:20,634
All we have to do now is,
uh, get that chute in place,
get it welded.
1051
00:50:21,767 --> 00:50:24,066
I've been beat down
many times here,
1052
00:50:24,066 --> 00:50:27,934
and it's almost always been
up there at that shaker...
1053
00:50:28,767 --> 00:50:30,667
...but with the Freddy
and Juan
1054
00:50:30,667 --> 00:50:32,667
new scrubber on there,
1055
00:50:32,734 --> 00:50:34,567
that should eliminate
those problems,
1056
00:50:34,567 --> 00:50:37,867
so I'm really hopeful
and really excited.
1057
00:50:39,567 --> 00:50:41,367
[Juan] We got scrubber in,
we got the chute in,
1058
00:50:41,367 --> 00:50:43,233
really, all we got left
to do is the water.
1059
00:50:44,300 --> 00:50:45,467
We're almost there.
1060
00:50:47,266 --> 00:50:49,166
[Freddy] There's no rest
for the wicked right now.
1061
00:50:51,567 --> 00:50:53,166
You had that system here
where you had
1062
00:50:53,166 --> 00:50:56,767
up, a ninety,
up, a ninety, a ninety,
1063
00:50:56,767 --> 00:50:59,567
and then, a bunch
of other stuff, too,
1064
00:50:59,634 --> 00:51:01,166
so we got rid off all that,
1065
00:51:01,166 --> 00:51:02,767
the water flow
is gonna be better,
1066
00:51:02,767 --> 00:51:05,066
it's gonna increase
the water flow in this plant,
1067
00:51:05,133 --> 00:51:08,667
so, uh, I bet we get another
10, 15% more water.
1068
00:51:08,667 --> 00:51:11,867
Let the glue set
for a minute or two, push,
1069
00:51:11,867 --> 00:51:13,166
and then, uh...
1070
00:51:13,967 --> 00:51:14,967
...we're gonna test.
1071
00:51:15,700 --> 00:51:18,433
We worked our ass off on this,
all of us.
1072
00:51:25,767 --> 00:51:29,166
[narrator] Juan has got
one last trommel fix.
1073
00:51:29,233 --> 00:51:31,767
[Juan] So we noticed that
the spray bar doesn't have
enough spray holes,
1074
00:51:31,767 --> 00:51:33,567
so we're gonna just drill
a couple more holes,
1075
00:51:33,634 --> 00:51:35,634
so that we get proper cleaning
inside the trommel.
1076
00:51:38,467 --> 00:51:39,767
By adding two little jets,
1077
00:51:39,767 --> 00:51:41,567
it's actually gonna
increase the recovery
1078
00:51:41,567 --> 00:51:43,066
because it's gonna get
a better wash on the material
1079
00:51:43,066 --> 00:51:44,634
right here at the end
of the trommel.
1080
00:51:46,100 --> 00:51:47,133
There is it, Fred.
1081
00:51:47,867 --> 00:51:49,066
All done.
1082
00:51:58,266 --> 00:52:00,133
-What do you think, guy?
-It's awesome.
1083
00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:02,567
I'm excited about it.
1084
00:52:02,567 --> 00:52:04,166
What we did, uh, down below is
1085
00:52:04,233 --> 00:52:05,166
to your spray bar
inside your trommel,
1086
00:52:05,166 --> 00:52:06,667
we added a couple
of more holes to it.
1087
00:52:06,734 --> 00:52:08,100
[Chad] Okay.
1088
00:52:08,100 --> 00:52:09,667
So now you've got,
those spray bars are actually
1089
00:52:09,667 --> 00:52:11,567
hitting where the material
is coming over to the screens
1090
00:52:11,567 --> 00:52:14,000
to actually wash that material
down into your sluice box.
1091
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:15,266
-Awesome.
-And at that plumbing,
1092
00:52:15,266 --> 00:52:18,166
you had a ninety
into a ninety...
1093
00:52:18,166 --> 00:52:19,867
-Into two more nineties.
-two more nineties.
1094
00:52:19,867 --> 00:52:20,767
...into a ninety.
1095
00:52:20,767 --> 00:52:22,166
-[Chad] Yeah.
-[Terry] Yeah.
1096
00:52:22,166 --> 00:52:23,867
[Freddy] Right, so you were
chocking what water
you had down.
1097
00:52:23,867 --> 00:52:25,967
[Juan] Yeah, you were
restricting it way down.
1098
00:52:25,967 --> 00:52:27,667
You didn't have
enough water before,
1099
00:52:27,734 --> 00:52:30,333
with the same pump,
you have enough water now.
1100
00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:33,066
You see the sluice box
down there?
1101
00:52:33,066 --> 00:52:34,567
-[Chad] Yeah.
-[Freddy] That we modified
there, right?
1102
00:52:34,634 --> 00:52:36,667
-Yeah, you did.
-We got different riffle
configurations,
1103
00:52:36,734 --> 00:52:39,667
we got multiple changes,
we got different carpets.
1104
00:52:39,734 --> 00:52:42,166
[Juan] But you know, really,
with all that we did here,
1105
00:52:42,166 --> 00:52:44,166
you know, this is gonna be
biggest fix right here.
1106
00:52:44,166 --> 00:52:46,166
And we were genuinely
concerned that we were,
1107
00:52:46,166 --> 00:52:47,667
we weren't gonna get it done
in time, just--
1108
00:52:47,667 --> 00:52:50,166
-[Terry] I was, too.
-[Juan] It is a lot of work.
1109
00:52:50,233 --> 00:52:52,166
See those bars
we welded inside?
1110
00:52:52,166 --> 00:52:53,767
-Plug welded from the outside?
-[Terry] Yeah. Yeah.
1111
00:52:53,767 --> 00:52:56,066
-Plug veld.
-That's the only way
to get in there, you know?
1112
00:52:56,133 --> 00:52:58,567
I'm a little too big
to get in that little
20-inch pipe, so.
1113
00:52:58,567 --> 00:52:59,967
-Are you sure, man?
-Just a little bit.
1114
00:52:59,967 --> 00:53:01,266
[all laughing]
1115
00:53:01,266 --> 00:53:03,000
All came out good,
we're happy with it.
1116
00:53:03,000 --> 00:53:04,967
Let's just hope it works as,
uh, as good as it looks.
1117
00:53:04,967 --> 00:53:06,467
-I'm happy with it.
-We're about to find out.
1118
00:53:06,467 --> 00:53:07,567
-Yeah.
-Yeah, let's do it.
1119
00:53:07,567 --> 00:53:09,767
No other way
to find out but run.
1120
00:53:15,667 --> 00:53:16,934
[Chad] This is it.
1121
00:53:22,567 --> 00:53:23,867
[Terry] First bucket, guys.
1122
00:53:23,867 --> 00:53:25,667
First bucket, here we go.
1123
00:53:26,867 --> 00:53:28,634
Moment of truth, Juano.
1124
00:53:31,867 --> 00:53:34,367
[narrator] In the first run,
no water pressure meant
1125
00:53:34,367 --> 00:53:36,967
rocks weren't being
cleaned properly,
1126
00:53:37,033 --> 00:53:38,767
passing out
the end of the trommel
1127
00:53:38,767 --> 00:53:41,333
still covered
in gold bearing clay.
1128
00:53:44,767 --> 00:53:46,367
[Freddy] Look
at the difference, Juan.
1129
00:53:46,367 --> 00:53:48,367
This is from our previous run,
1130
00:53:48,367 --> 00:53:50,867
the first test,
look at all the clay on there.
1131
00:53:50,934 --> 00:53:52,300
[Juan] Yeah, you can tell.
1132
00:53:52,367 --> 00:53:54,667
-Yeah, look at her.
-I mean, if you compare this,
it's night and day.
1133
00:53:54,734 --> 00:53:56,367
[Freddy] All that
material on there
1134
00:53:56,367 --> 00:53:58,266
and how much cleaner
it is now,
1135
00:53:58,266 --> 00:54:00,867
it's a heck of a lot less
mud on there now.
1136
00:54:00,867 --> 00:54:02,634
Huge difference, Juan.
1137
00:54:07,367 --> 00:54:08,567
[narrative] At the sluice box,
1138
00:54:08,634 --> 00:54:11,667
the effects of the fixes
are plain to see.
1139
00:54:11,667 --> 00:54:13,166
[Freddy] There is a lot more
water in here
1140
00:54:13,233 --> 00:54:15,767
than there was before
by narrowing that out.
1141
00:54:15,767 --> 00:54:17,066
-Yeah.
-Right?
1142
00:54:17,066 --> 00:54:19,867
And redoing that plumbing
up there has made difference,
1143
00:54:19,867 --> 00:54:22,734
I bet we got 10 to 15%
more water now.
1144
00:54:23,567 --> 00:54:24,867
Awesome.
1145
00:54:24,867 --> 00:54:28,066
Yeah, you can definitely
see the water action
increase in it.
1146
00:54:28,133 --> 00:54:29,433
-[Freddy] Yeah.
-[Chad] In the box.
1147
00:54:33,066 --> 00:54:34,367
Man, Terry, from down here,
1148
00:54:34,367 --> 00:54:36,667
it looks like we're just
flying through the material.
1149
00:54:36,667 --> 00:54:39,000
-We're smoking it.
-[Chad] Awesome.
1150
00:54:39,000 --> 00:54:42,166
I think, I think I've run half
as much material already
1151
00:54:42,166 --> 00:54:44,066
as we ran the whole run
the other day.
1152
00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:48,367
[narrator] The amount
of material passing through
1153
00:54:48,433 --> 00:54:51,567
is causing Chad
a welcome headache.
1154
00:54:51,567 --> 00:54:54,767
I'm clogging up down here,
it's very obvious
1155
00:54:54,767 --> 00:54:57,433
we've doubled or even tripled
our production.
1156
00:54:58,467 --> 00:55:00,367
I can't even clear it
with a shovel.
1157
00:55:00,367 --> 00:55:02,967
We're, we're pushing
so much through.
1158
00:55:03,033 --> 00:55:04,567
This is a problem
I can deal with,
1159
00:55:04,567 --> 00:55:05,467
it's-- [chuckles]
1160
00:55:05,467 --> 00:55:07,233
I'm happy to have
this problem.
1161
00:55:08,467 --> 00:55:09,567
Well, Freddy, I gotta say,
1162
00:55:09,567 --> 00:55:11,066
you know, for kinda
of shot in the dark,
1163
00:55:11,133 --> 00:55:12,767
you know, I know we've built
trommels before,
1164
00:55:12,834 --> 00:55:14,367
but we've never built
a scrubber like that.
1165
00:55:14,367 --> 00:55:15,767
You know, I was a little
nervous about it,
1166
00:55:15,834 --> 00:55:17,266
but it's doing a great job.
1167
00:55:17,333 --> 00:55:19,867
They're running
more material now
than they've ever ran.
1168
00:55:19,867 --> 00:55:21,066
They're running
a lot more material,
1169
00:55:21,066 --> 00:55:23,033
and it's a lot cleaner
than it's ever been.
1170
00:55:23,867 --> 00:55:25,867
Where are we at on time, Fred?
1171
00:55:25,867 --> 00:55:28,367
-Oh. We're almost--
Yeah, we're there.
-One more minute, last bucket.
1172
00:55:28,433 --> 00:55:29,667
Four hours and one minute.
1173
00:55:29,667 --> 00:55:32,333
-[Juan] Hey, guys,
last bucket.
-[Freddy] Last bucket.
1174
00:55:47,767 --> 00:55:49,166
Terry.
1175
00:55:49,166 --> 00:55:50,333
-Well...
-I just beat you here
1176
00:55:51,266 --> 00:55:52,667
Have a look at that.
1177
00:55:52,734 --> 00:55:56,667
-[Chad] Holy smokes.
-Holy smokes,
that's what I'm talking about.
1178
00:55:56,734 --> 00:55:59,166
Even I can see gold
clear down here.
1179
00:55:59,233 --> 00:56:00,667
[Chad laughs]
1180
00:56:00,667 --> 00:56:01,767
-Yeah.
-[Terry] Dude.
1181
00:56:01,834 --> 00:56:03,367
[Freddy] But
the exciting thing
1182
00:56:03,367 --> 00:56:06,166
is look how deep all this
gold is in the carpet, right?
1183
00:56:06,166 --> 00:56:07,667
-[Terry] Yeah.
-[Chad] Oh it's gold we see
yeah.
1184
00:56:07,667 --> 00:56:09,667
-[Freddy] Right in the carpet
itself it's loaded.
1185
00:56:10,800 --> 00:56:13,634
-You have never seen gold
like that in the box before?
-[Terry] No. No.
1186
00:56:14,400 --> 00:56:15,767
-[Chad] Freddy, I--
-You'll see it again.
1187
00:56:15,834 --> 00:56:17,567
I can't say thank you enough.
1188
00:56:17,567 --> 00:56:19,533
I really can't,
from the bottom of my heart.
1189
00:56:20,266 --> 00:56:22,000
I've-- [chuckles]
1190
00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,467
I've only had dreams
of seeing gold like that,
1191
00:56:24,467 --> 00:56:26,567
but here I'm actually
looking at it.
1192
00:56:26,567 --> 00:56:28,166
That's what dreams
are made of, right there.
1193
00:56:28,166 --> 00:56:30,767
-[Chad] Yeah.
-Dreams and incomes.
1194
00:56:30,834 --> 00:56:33,166
[Chad] Oh, I'm swelling
with emotion,
1195
00:56:33,166 --> 00:56:36,266
happiness, uh, pride also,
1196
00:56:36,266 --> 00:56:37,433
but relief.
1197
00:56:38,600 --> 00:56:40,367
[Freddy] I couldn't be
happier right now.
1198
00:56:40,367 --> 00:56:42,367
The line of gold at the top
of the sluice,
1199
00:56:42,367 --> 00:56:45,266
phenomenal for the amount
of material that ran.
1200
00:56:45,266 --> 00:56:48,367
We've taken 'em from
what was a hobby before
1201
00:56:48,367 --> 00:56:49,567
they were struggling at
1202
00:56:49,567 --> 00:56:50,967
to now they can make a living,
1203
00:56:51,033 --> 00:56:52,567
and it looks like
a damn good living.
1204
00:56:53,567 --> 00:56:54,934
[Terry] We're gonna
clean it up now,
1205
00:56:55,567 --> 00:56:56,934
weigh it up, see what we got.
1206
00:57:01,800 --> 00:57:03,967
[narrator] Freddy's
mining skills
are well-known...
1207
00:57:04,033 --> 00:57:05,567
-What do you got
going on there?
-[imitates a siren]
1208
00:57:05,634 --> 00:57:08,967
[narrator]
...but Dr. Dodge Little
is a man of many talents.
1209
00:57:08,967 --> 00:57:10,166
-[Jasper barking]
-[imitates a siren]
1210
00:57:10,233 --> 00:57:12,967
[Juan] Trying to communicate
with Jasper, huh, Fred?
1211
00:57:13,033 --> 00:57:14,934
-What's--
What is that, Jasper?
-[imitates a siren]
1212
00:57:19,667 --> 00:57:20,967
Come here, little buddy.
1213
00:57:21,033 --> 00:57:23,266
Oh, you're good.
You're a good little
pup-pup, aren't you?
1214
00:57:23,266 --> 00:57:25,634
[imitates a siren]
1215
00:57:42,100 --> 00:57:43,266
[speaking Spanish]
1216
00:57:43,266 --> 00:57:44,567
-[Juan] What's going on, guys?
-[Terry] How is going?
1217
00:57:44,567 --> 00:57:46,166
-[Juan] Good morning.
-[Chad] It's going good.
1218
00:57:46,233 --> 00:57:48,867
[narrator] After six days
at the Marmolejo Mine
1219
00:57:48,867 --> 00:57:50,367
in North-East Oregon,
1220
00:57:50,433 --> 00:57:53,066
it's time to see
if Freddy and Juan's fixes
1221
00:57:53,066 --> 00:57:57,166
can double the gold haul
to make this mine profitable.
1222
00:57:57,166 --> 00:57:58,567
We got a lot of fine in there
1223
00:57:58,567 --> 00:58:00,467
that I've never seen
in there before.
That's a fact.
1224
00:58:00,467 --> 00:58:01,367
[Freddy] Yeah, look at all--
1225
00:58:01,367 --> 00:58:02,667
[Juan] Yeah,
you can see it in there.
1226
00:58:02,734 --> 00:58:04,266
-[Freddy] Yeah, there's
a bunch of fine in there.
-Yeah.
1227
00:58:04,266 --> 00:58:06,000
Well, you guy ready to, uh,
1228
00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:06,967
see what you got?
1229
00:58:06,967 --> 00:58:08,967
-[Terry] Let's check it out.
-Absolutely.
1230
00:58:10,567 --> 00:58:11,834
It's some pretty gold, guys.
1231
00:58:14,066 --> 00:58:15,800
-Beautiful gold.
-[Juan] Yeah.
1232
00:58:19,500 --> 00:58:21,567
[narrator] The first
four-hour run
1233
00:58:21,567 --> 00:58:24,734
saw 0.86 ounces of gold.
1234
00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:32,000
[Freddy] Well, there is over
a half ounce.
1235
00:58:32,000 --> 00:58:33,567
[narrator]
Chad needs it doubled
1236
00:58:33,634 --> 00:58:36,467
if he is to tempt best friend,
Terry, to invest.
1237
00:58:38,100 --> 00:58:41,266
[Freddy] We're over 0.86
from last time.
1238
00:58:43,400 --> 00:58:44,433
And, uh...
1239
00:58:47,066 --> 00:58:48,567
1.68.
1240
00:58:48,567 --> 00:58:50,266
-Whoo-hoo.
-Oh, wow.
1241
00:58:50,333 --> 00:58:51,266
[Juan] Double--
Hey, I told you.
1242
00:58:51,266 --> 00:58:52,266
-[Terry] Double.
-[Chad] Double, yeah.
1243
00:58:52,266 --> 00:58:53,567
-Double.
-[Chad] I know!
We did it, guys.
1244
00:58:53,567 --> 00:58:55,066
-All right, guys.
-[Terry] Double.
1245
00:58:55,066 --> 00:58:56,166
Yeah.
1246
00:58:56,166 --> 00:58:57,867
[narrator] Freddy and Juan's
fixes have brought
1247
00:58:57,867 --> 00:59:02,333
an earning potential
of over $12,000 per week.
1248
00:59:04,066 --> 00:59:05,100
[Terry] That's what we needed.
1249
00:59:05,100 --> 00:59:06,667
-That's what we needed, guys.
-[Juan laughing]
1250
00:59:06,734 --> 00:59:08,166
-Yeah.
-[Terry] That's awesome.
1251
00:59:08,967 --> 00:59:10,166
You know, originally,
you guys had
1252
00:59:10,166 --> 00:59:12,166
two and a half ounces to just
break even a week, right?
1253
00:59:12,166 --> 00:59:14,266
So now you're gonna be
able to make a little money.
1254
00:59:15,667 --> 00:59:17,166
I can't tell you what that,
1255
00:59:17,166 --> 00:59:21,166
I mean, I've beat my head
against this place
for a decade, you know.
1256
00:59:23,100 --> 00:59:24,266
It's been very difficult here,
1257
00:59:24,266 --> 00:59:25,867
but the gold weight
was awesome,
1258
00:59:25,867 --> 00:59:27,734
and if we keep running
like that,
1259
00:59:27,800 --> 00:59:30,166
six ounces a week,
it's, it's very doable.
1260
00:59:31,100 --> 00:59:33,567
It proved we can turn this
into a viable business.
1261
00:59:33,567 --> 00:59:35,367
It's huge for my family.
1262
00:59:36,567 --> 00:59:37,767
[Juan] And you know
the great thing is
1263
00:59:37,767 --> 00:59:39,567
you didn't have to worry
about any breakdowns,
1264
00:59:39,567 --> 00:59:41,567
the plant runs,
ran flawlessly.
1265
00:59:41,634 --> 00:59:42,567
I can hear.
1266
00:59:42,567 --> 00:59:43,767
-[Freddy] You can hear.
What?
-[Juan laughs]
1267
00:59:43,767 --> 00:59:46,000
-[Terry] I can hear.
-[all laughing]
1268
00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:47,000
[Freddy] And the good thing,
guys,
1269
00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:49,667
is you got gold
in multiple places here.
1270
00:59:49,734 --> 00:59:51,567
You've got that cut
that this came out off,
1271
00:59:51,567 --> 00:59:53,567
-and you've got
all this up here.
-[Juan] Definitely.
1272
00:59:53,567 --> 00:59:55,967
You know, by the looks of it,
you guys have got
a real future here.
1273
00:59:55,967 --> 00:59:57,667
-[Freddy] Yeah.
-[Juan] You know,
it's not gonna be
1274
00:59:57,734 --> 00:59:58,867
one summer
and you're done here,
1275
00:59:58,934 --> 01:00:01,367
-you got multiple years
here, so.
-[Freddy] Yeah.
1276
01:00:05,066 --> 01:00:06,433
[narrator] But
the big question.
1277
01:00:07,600 --> 01:00:09,967
Is this gold weigh
enough to confirm
1278
01:00:10,033 --> 01:00:12,367
Terry's investment
in the mine?
1279
01:00:12,367 --> 01:00:13,867
[Juan] Hopefully,
that put your mind at ease,
1280
01:00:13,867 --> 01:00:14,967
you know, about getting
involved here
1281
01:00:15,033 --> 01:00:16,033
because that's really,
that's a good cleanup.
1282
01:00:19,367 --> 01:00:22,367
After seeing that box,
I called my wife and I said,
1283
01:00:23,367 --> 01:00:25,266
"You know, this, this is it,
this is real,
1284
01:00:25,266 --> 01:00:26,867
this is a viable thing and,
1285
01:00:26,934 --> 01:00:29,266
you know, we're ready
to do this thing"
1286
01:00:29,266 --> 01:00:30,567
-I'm all in.
-[Chad] Yeah, okay.
1287
01:00:30,567 --> 01:00:32,567
I mean, if you'll still have
as a partner on this thing...
1288
01:00:32,634 --> 01:00:34,734
-[Chad] Thank you, Terry.
-[Terry] ...I'm all in,
I'm ready to do this.
1289
01:00:36,900 --> 01:00:40,066
Terry is my,
not only my best friends,
but he is like my brother,
1290
01:00:40,133 --> 01:00:44,367
and this is a big investment,
and, you know, it's a lot
of pressure on me, too...
1291
01:00:44,433 --> 01:00:46,000
-I'm ready.
-Yeah, me, too.
1292
01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:49,567
...but I'm very hopeful
for the, for the future.
1293
01:00:49,634 --> 01:00:51,166
[Terry] I'm in, I'm in.
1294
01:00:52,066 --> 01:00:54,467
What this means for Chad
and the future of the mine
1295
01:00:54,467 --> 01:00:57,734
is, um, he's gonna be able
to provide for his family
1296
01:00:57,734 --> 01:01:01,233
in a, in a way that
he hasn't been able
to since 2008.
1297
01:01:02,767 --> 01:01:05,667
I'm hoping and praying
that this is the step that
1298
01:01:05,667 --> 01:01:08,967
takes him to the next level
where he can really
provide a good,
1299
01:01:08,967 --> 01:01:11,166
you know, a good outcome
for them.
1300
01:01:11,166 --> 01:01:12,667
-Yeah.
-[Freddy] You know what, guys?
1301
01:01:12,667 --> 01:01:14,467
Juan and myself
talked about it,
1302
01:01:14,467 --> 01:01:16,467
-we would mine here.
-[Juan] Yeah.
1303
01:01:16,467 --> 01:01:17,467
-[Terry] That means a lot.
-Wow.
1304
01:01:17,467 --> 01:01:18,667
-That means a lot.
-[Terry] It's awesome.
1305
01:01:18,734 --> 01:01:20,166
-You guys are on to
something here.
-[Juan] Yeah.
1306
01:01:20,166 --> 01:01:22,467
[Freddy] Well, guys, we gotta
get on the road.
1307
01:01:22,533 --> 01:01:23,867
[Chad] Safe travels.
1308
01:01:23,934 --> 01:01:25,266
-Thank you.
-Thank you, sir.
1309
01:01:25,333 --> 01:01:27,634
-Thank you.
-Sorry, man, I gotta,
I gotta hug you, bud.
1310
01:01:28,667 --> 01:01:29,967
[Freddy] Take care, guys.
1311
01:01:29,967 --> 01:01:33,166
[Chad] All right, you be safe
on the road.
1312
01:01:33,166 --> 01:01:35,266
Honestly, we took on more than
we probably should have,
1313
01:01:35,266 --> 01:01:37,000
but it worked out just great.
1314
01:01:37,000 --> 01:01:39,734
They went from, you know,
just being able to make it,
barely make it,
1315
01:01:39,800 --> 01:01:41,367
not they're actually gonna be
able to make it
1316
01:01:41,367 --> 01:01:42,934
and be able to put money
in their pocket.
1317
01:01:45,066 --> 01:01:46,667
[Freddy] You know,
I couldn't be happier.
1318
01:01:46,734 --> 01:01:48,367
These guys have
a really good future here.
1319
01:01:48,367 --> 01:01:50,100
They do.
1320
01:01:50,100 --> 01:01:52,233
And, I said, I'd mine here.
1321
01:01:54,567 --> 01:01:56,367
Amber, Freddy and Juan
1322
01:01:56,367 --> 01:01:58,767
absolutely doubled
our production.
1323
01:01:58,767 --> 01:02:01,567
The gold has been
absolutely fabulous.
1324
01:02:01,634 --> 01:02:03,867
Terry is gonna stay in
with the mine.
1325
01:02:03,867 --> 01:02:05,967
Now, that sounds amazing,
I'm happy.
1326
01:02:06,033 --> 01:02:10,166
[Chad] And I really see this
moving forward
in a big, big way.