Original subtitles

Freddy: FIRE IN THE HOLE.

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

-GOOD JOB, MARK. -MY PLEASURE.

Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

...THE EXPERTS WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH...

WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

Narrator: ...WHO USE TECHNOLOGY...

THERE IT GOES.

...INGENUITY...

Dave: I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT COULD BUILD

A SLUICE BOX OUT OF WOOD.

Narrator: ...AND MECHANICAL INNOVATION...

I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.

Narrator: ...TO SEEK OUT

THE MOST PRIZED ELEMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY.

[BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.

♪

THIS IS THE SCIENCE OF GOLD MINING,

AND THESE ARE THE GURUS OF GOLD.

Man: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Narrator: GOLD IS SCARCE.

EVERY SINGLE OUNCE EVER MINED WOULD COVER A FOOTBALL FIELD

TO A DEPTH OF ONLY 18 INCHES, WHICH IS WHY MINERS

USE SPECIALISTS TO LOCATE THE PAY STREAK...

Man #2: WE'VE NEVER MINED A YARD OF DIRT

THAT DIDN'T HAVE GOLD IN IT.

...REMOVE EVERYTHING IN THE WAY...

...SEPARATE GOLD FROM THE WORTHLESS DIRT...

GOOD LORD.

-FRACK! -THERE IT IS!

Narrator: ...AND SMELT NUGGETS INTO SOLID GOLD BULLION.

♪

WHEN YOU'RE STARTING OUT...

[ TAPE REWINDING ]

...THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR ANY GOLD MINER

IS FINDING WHERE THE GOLD IS.

IN SEASON FOUR, PARKER SCHNABEL

STARTS HIS KLONDIKE MINING CAREER WITH A VISIT

TO LOCAL GOLD GURU TONY BEETS.

HEY, TONY.

GOOD.

WITH OVER 30 YEARS IN GOLD MINING,

TONY RUNS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPERATIONS IN THE KLONDIKE,

AND HIS SUCCESS IS BUILT ON ONE GOLDEN RULE.

NO, I'M HAPPY TO BE UP HERE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT

AND LOOKING AT THE GROUND.

PARKER HAS LEASED A CLAIM FROM TONY,

BUT HIS NEW LANDLORD WON'T LET HIM MINE

UNTIL TEST HOLES PROVE THERE'S GOLD IN THE GROUND.

NO. DO YOU?

GREAT. LET'S DO IT.

♪

♪

[ HORN HONKING ]

♪

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

HUH?

GOOD TO GO!

Narrator: THE PLAN --

MAKE A SERIES OF TEST HOLES DRILLING DOWN

THROUGH PERMAFROST IN SEARCH OF GOLD-RICH GRAVEL.

TO BE WORTH MINING, THE DRILL'S SAMPLES SHOULD CONTAIN

AT LEAST 10 FLAKES OF GOLD.

♪

DON'T TURN -- DON'T SPIN IT.

THIS THING TURNS, AND IT GOES INTO THE GROUND,

AND IF THERE'S GOLD DOWN THERE,

IT'LL COME UP OUT OF THE HOLE OR SOMETHING.

HOW MANY HOLES SHOULD I DRILL?

IS THAT TAILING?

Parker: MY FIRST HOLE WENT INTO TAILINGS.

THAT'S GREAT.

Narrator: SOMEONE HAS ALREADY MINED THIS SPOT.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER DRILL SOMETHING AND FIND OUT

THAT THERE'S NO GOLD RATHER THAN JUST DIG HOLES

AND GUESS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

♪

STARTING TO LOOK PRETTY DIFFERENT.

HOPEFULLY THIS THING IS ON SOME PAY DIRT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT SOUND LIKE TO YOU?

YEAH, BABY!

RIGHT ON.

RIGHT THERE. -LOOK AT THAT.

BUNCH OF LITTLE FLAKES.

YEAH.

Narrator: FOLLOWING TONY'S DRILLING ADVICE,

PARKER WAS SOON MAKING MONEY IN THE KLONDIKE.

NEW TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING TO HELP GOLD MINERS

PICK EXACTLY WHICH SPOTS TO MINE.

Freddy: IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD UNDERNEATH

THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN, WE WANT TO GET IT OUT.

YOU KNOW, I'M SEARCHING FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.

Narrator: IN SEASON FIVE, UP A NARROW YUKON VALLEY,

FREDDY DODGE AND OLDER BROTHER DEREK

ARE CONVINCED THEIR CLAIM CONTAINS

MILLIONS IN CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.

THIS CREEK IS A TREASURE HUNT FOR ME.

IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BRING IN SOME GOLD,

NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE BUT BIG NUGGETS.

♪

17.73 OUNCES.

I DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY TO MESS AROUND.

I CAME HERE TO SUCCEED.

♪

Narrator: TO IDENTIFY THE GOOD GROUND,

FREDDY CALLS IN GOLD-EXPLORATION GURUS...

-HOW YOU DOING, ISAAC? -...ISAAC FAGE...

-DAN, RIGHT? -IT IS DAN, YEAH.

Narrator: ...AND DAN MURRAY.

THEIR GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR AND AERIAL MAPPING

HELP TO PINPOINT

THE EXACT LOCATION OF ANY GOLD DEPOSITS.

SO WE'RE GONNA FLY THE DRONE UP ABOVE HERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE A DETAILED MAP

OF WHAT THIS GROUND SURFACE LOOKS LIKE,

AND THEN THE RADAR IS GOING TO MAKE A DETAILED MAP

OF WHAT THE BEDROCK LOOKS LIKE.

-THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER. -YEP.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

THAT'S PERFECT.

Narrator: THE DRONE FLIES UP THE CREEK

TAKING DETAILED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VALLEY.

NEXT, THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE

ACROSS THE CREEK,

SENDING OUT RADIO WAVES FROM A TRANSMITTER.

[ WAVES PINGING ]

THE WAVES BOUNCE BACK OFF THE BEDROCK TO A RECEIVER.

THE TIME IT TAKES THE SIGNAL TO RETURN GIVES AN EXACT DEPTH

AND CONTOUR OF THE BEDROCK BELOW.

SO YOU'RE GONNA FIGURE IT OUT, ARE YOU?

Isaac: WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST HERE,

SO WE BROUGHT A COUPLE GOOD TOOLS

TO HELP US MAP THE BEDROCK.

WE CAN GATHER ALL THIS DATA IN A DAY NOW.

YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF OLD-TIME MINER,

SO IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ME,

AND I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT.

THE TECHNOLOGY WAY, IT STILL DOESN'T TELL YOU

WHETHER THERE'S ANY GOLD THERE, TELLS YOU WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY TELLS YOU BOTH, SO WE'LL SEE.

Narrator: TO BEGIN THE SURVEY,

DAN WALKS THE VALLEY WITH THE GPR UNIT.

Dan: SO ALL I'M DOING

IS DRAGGING THIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR

BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CLAIM.

THE SNAKE THAT I'M DRAGGING AROUND BEHIND ME

HAS A RADIO TRANSMITTER AND A RECEIVER.

THAT GOES TO THIS LITTLE DATA LOGGER THAT'S IN MY POCKET,

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A REAL PRETTY PICTURE

OF WHAT THE BEDROCK LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH US.

Narrator: FOR AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE CREEK TO MATCH WITH THE GPR,

ISAAC PREPARES THE DRONE.

Isaac: A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY PACKED ONBOARD WITH THIS THING.

IT CAN FLY A MISSION COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUSLY.

IT'S SENSING THE GROUND.

THIS SENSES WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.

YEAH. LET'S GET THIS THING IN THE AIR.

Freddy: THERE IT GOES.

NOW IT'S OFF TO ITS MISSION.

[ IMITATES GUNSHOT ]

[ LAUGHS ]

SEE THE LITTLE THING ON HERE.

IT'S TAKING THE PHOTOS AS IT GOES DOWN THE LINE.

THAT'S HOW WE BUILD THIS COOL ELEVATION MODEL.

-THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. -YEAH.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE RESULT.

20 YEARS AGO, YOU'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT

ABOUT A LITTLE PLANE HELPING YOU FIND GOLD.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY HERE

KEYED WITH THE GPR THAT DAN IS DOING UP THERE,

IT MAY DICTATE THE MINING PLAN, HUH, DEREK?

Narrator: UP AHEAD...

I THINK OUR BEST GOLD IS RIGHT HERE.

FIRE IN THE HOLE.

AND IN EXCLUSIVE UNSEEN FOOTAGE...

Rick: THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN MACHINE RIGHT THERE.

I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.

Narrator: IN CARMACKS, YUKON, FREDDY DODGE

HAS THE SURVEY OF HIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR.

ABOUT DINNERTIME?

HEY. HOW'S IT GOING, FREDDY?

I GOT THE RESULTS BACK FROM DAN AND ISAAC.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

SO THIS IS THE FUNNY LITTLE AIRPLANE PICTURES.

THAT RIGHT? -YEAH.

Narrator: 728 PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ISAAC'S DRONE

FORM AN AERIAL MAP OF THE CREEK.

LOOK HOW THIS VALLEY OPENS UP RIGHT THERE.

WITH THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR DATA

PLACED OVER THE IMAGES,

THE BEDROCK DEPTH, INDICATED BY COLORS, BECOMES CLEAR.

LOOK AT RIGHT HERE.

SEE WHERE IT JUST FANS OUT RIGHT THERE?

THAT SHOULD BE ALLUVIAL FAN.

THE GPR REVEALS WHERE AN ANCIENT CREEK WIDENED AND SLOWED,

DEPOSITING GOLD NUGGETS

CARRIED DOWN FROM THE MOTHER LODE.

THIS GEOLOGICAL FEATURE IS KNOWN AS AN ALLUVIAL FAN.

I THINK OUR BEST GOLD IS RIGHT HERE.

THE DODGE BROTHERS FOLLOW THEIR HIGH-TECH TREASURE MAP

HOPING FOR A PILE OF CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.

LAST BUCKET, DEREK?

COUPLE MORE.

WE'RE DOWN TO OUR LAST FEW BUCKETS OF THIS FAN CUT.

WE'RE GONNA DO A CLEANUP AND SEE WHAT KIND OF GOLD WE GOT.

♪

WE NEED OVER 100 OUNCES.

YEAH.

HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD -- 31.20.

OKAY. HERE'S OUR MID-SIZE GOLD...

...35.84.

WELL, IT AIN'T 100 YET. I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

NOW, LOOK AT THIS.

WELL, NUGGETS ALWAYS WEIGH DIFFERENT

THAN YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA.

40...42.14.

109.18.

Narrator: 109 OUNCES, WORTH $131,000 --

THEIR LAST WEEK OF RUNNING

PRODUCES A FULL 20% OF THEIR SEASON'S GOLD.

Freddy: LIKE, LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE NUGGETS, BOY.

THAT'S THE FINAL RESULT.

Narrator: ISAAC AND DAN'S HIGH-TECH MAPPING

DRAGS THE DODGE BROTHERS INTO THE 21st CENTURY

AND LEADS THEM STRAIGHT TO THE GOLD.

Freddy: 42 OUNCES OF NUGGETS FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT,

THAT'S A VICTORY TO ME.

♪

Narrator: IN THEIR QUEST FOR GOLD,

A MINE BOSS' SINGLE BIGGEST EXPENSE IS THE FUEL BILL.

ROCK TRUCKS, EXCAVATORS AND, WORST OF ALL,

DOZERS BURN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF FUEL A DAY.

SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?

WELL, I MET THIS GUY THAT MINES DOWN HERE ON DOMINION.

HE'S CUSTOM-BUILT AND DESIGNED THESE CONVEYORS THAT HE USES.

FRUSTRATED WITH A $1 MILLION FUEL BILL,

PARKER SEEKS OUT A GOLD GURU

WITH AN INGENIOUS WAY TO MOVE DIRT

AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.

SO THOSE ARE WHAT HE USES.

THAT IS ONE FRANKENSTEIN MACHINE RIGHT THERE.

THESE MONSTER MACHINES

ARE THE BRAINCHILD OF AUSTRALIAN INVENTOR ADRIAN HOLLIS.

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WOW.

ADRIAN'S MOBILE CONVEYOR SITS ON AN OLD EXCAVATOR.

A SINGLE OPERATOR CLEARS WORTHLESS OVERBURDEN

FROM ABOVE THE GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT

AND LOADS IT INTO THE HOPPER.

THE CONVEYOR THEN SHIFTS IT 120 FEET UP AND OUT OF THE CUT.

ONCE FINISHED IN ONE AREA,

THE OPERATOR SIMPLY MOVES THE CONVEYOR AND STARTS AGAIN.

SO WHAT'S THIS THING COST TO RUN?

AND YOU'RE MOVING 4,000 YARDS A DAY?

AT 400 YARDS PER HOUR, ONE MAN WITH ADRIAN'S CONVEYOR

SHIFTS MORE DIRT

THAN A FOUR-MAN, THREE-ROCK TRUCK STRIPPING CREW.

THAT'S A THIRD OF WHAT WE'RE AT.

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP BUILD US ONE?

Parker: COULD YOU BUILD A BIGGER ONE?

Parker: HE'S THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS,

SO IF HE'S WILLING TO HELP, THEN I WANT TO GET ONE BUILT.

♪

Parker: YEAH.

Narrator: ADRIAN BUILDS PARKER'S MEGA MACHINE

BY COMBINING AN EXCAVATOR BODY...

-UP A LITTLE BIT. -OKAY.

Narrator: ...WITH A MONSTER CONVEYOR

MADE FROM THREE 50-FOOT STEEL SECTIONS.

I HATE WATCHING THIS KIND OF [BLEEP]

BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN A LOT CAN GO WRONG.

♪

RIGHT THERE!

IN THE WORDS OF TONY BEETS, "I DON'T WANT THE LABOR PAINS.

I JUST WANT THE BABY."

-DOWN. -WE'RE IN.

Parker: THANK GOD WE DIDN'T DROP IT.

SEEMS PRETTY STURDY, HUH?

Narrator: TO INCREASE RELIABILITY,

ADRIAN USES A CONVEYOR BELT MADE FROM ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP,

AN ENORMOUS RUBBER BAND

HE THREADS AROUND THE THREE CONVEYOR SECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ONLY BELT WE HAVE,

AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT CUSTOM-MADE,

SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT SMOOTHLY

WITHOUT RIPPING ANYTHING

BECAUSE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ANGRY PARKER.

BINGO.

Narrator: PARKER WALKS HIS $300,000 COLOSSUS INTO THE CUT.

Parker: RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST UP BESIDE THE CREEK DIVERSION,

SEE HOW IT LIKES SOME MUD.

♪

THAT'S PRETTY NASTY STUFF.

IF IT CAN MOVE MUD LIKE THIS,

THE CONVEYOR WILL PROVE TO BE PRETTY VERSATILE.

Man #3: THERE IT GOES.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BADASS.

I LOVE IT.

♪

Narrator: AFTER USING IT TO MOVE OVERBURDEN

AT A THIRD OF THE COST OF ROCK TRUCKS,

PARKER'S SUPER CONVEYOR

BUILDS SLUCIFER'S FINAL PATH IN RECORD TIME.

Parker: WE'RE READY FOR A WASH PLANT.

Narrator: AND WITH WINTER CLOSING IN,

PARKER GAINS DAYS OF VALUABLE SLUICING...

-ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT? -OKAY!

...BY SWITCHING THIS VERSATILE MACHINE

FROM MOVING OVERBURDEN...

LOOK AT THAT. BOOM, NO MORE SUPER STACKER.

...TO FEEDING PAY DIRT INTO HIS WASH PLANT.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

Narrator: ADRIAN'S SUPER CONVEYOR SAVES PARKER

$100,000 IN FUEL

ON HIS WAY TO A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON.

-WHAT'S OUR SEASON TOTAL? -YOU READY FOR THIS ONE?

HOW ABOUT 4,311 OUNCES?

[ ALL CHEERING ]

Parker: SO THAT'S JUST OVER 5 MILLION BUCKS WORTH OF GOLD.

♪

Narrator: WHEN A GOLD MINER CAN'T GET TO PAY DIRT,

HE'S IN TROUBLE.

BOULDERS ARE FRICKING HUGE.

I'VE NEVER EVEN BEGUN TO SEE BOULDERS THIS SIZE.

SEASON SEVEN IN COLORADO --

ANDY SPINKS IS STRUGGLING WITH A GIANT PROBLEM.

I GOT BOULDERS THE SIZE OF SMALL CARS IN MY WAY

FROM GETTING THIS PAY DIRT OUT.

♪

Andy: WELL, AT THIS POINT, TODD,

I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THIS.

I CANNOT GET THESE BOULDERS OUT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO, FREDDY? I MEAN...

FIREWORKS, MAKE BIG ROCKS INTO SMALL ROCKS.

YEAH. LET'S FREAKING BLOW 'EM UP.

Narrator: TO SAVE THEIR SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS CALL IN EXPLOSIVES GURU MARK MAYER.

I LOVE MY JOB.

WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD DO YOU GET TO GO AND BLOW THINGS UP

ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY,

MAKE A MESS AND LET THEM CLEAN IT UP?

-MARK, HOW YOU DOING? -ANDY!

NICE TO MEET YOU.

WHAT DO WE GOT GOING ON HERE?

THERE'S GOOD GOLD IN THE GROUND.

I JUST NEED TO GET TO IT, AND THOSE ROCKS ARE IN MY WAY.

WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

WE CAN WAIT FOR GOD TO SEND DOWN A LIGHTNING BOLT,

BREAK THOSE ROCKS, OR I'VE GOT SOME DYNAMITE.

LET'S GO WITH THE DYNAMITE. I'LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

NO WORRIES.

Narrator: MARK BRINGS IN THE COMMANDO DRILL TRUCK.

ITS DIAMOND-CORE DRILL WILL BORE A 2-INCH-WIDE HOLE

INTO THE HEART OF THE BOULDER.

I STARTED WHEN I WAS 13,

BLEW THESE TWO FINGERS OFF, BIG MISTAKE.

I'VE GOTTEN BETTER.

I STILL HAVE MY HEAD.

LOOK AT THAT.

HE'S CUTTING LIKE A HOT KNIFE THROUGH BUTTER RIGHT THERE.

GOES THROUGH PRETTY QUICK.

Jack: UNDERNEATH THOSE BOULDERS,

I GUARANTEE THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD.

DRILL'S JOB IS DONE.

♪

EXTRA-GELATIN DYNAMITE, THAT OUGHT TO DO IT.

Narrator: TO BLAST A 20,000-POUND BOULDER,

MARK USES A STICK AND A HALF OF DYNAMITE.

THE ENERGY EQUIVALENT OF THIS IS ON THE ORDER

OF ABOUT 100 MILLION HORSEPOWER.

Freddy: WHAT'S CUTTING IT DO, MARK?

CUTTING WILL ALLOW THE CARTRIDGE

TO SHRINK AND EXPAND IN THE BOREHOLE

SO WE GET MOST OF THE ENERGY DOWN ON THE GROUND...

-MAKES SENSE. -...IN THE ROCK.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAMP IT A LITTLE BIT, VERY LIGHTLY.

FINISH HER UP WITH SAND, THAT'LL DO.

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

THE DETONATOR BOX IS WIRED AND READY TO FIRE.

[ AIR HORN BLOWING ]

THEY'RE GONNA BLAST. WE GOT TO TAKE COVER.

Mark: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

FIRE IN THE HOLE.

HOLY [BLEEP]

Man #4: DAMN, THAT WAS AWESOME!

BYE-BYE, BOULDERS.

I LOVE BLASTING, YOU KNOW? I MEAN...

MARK, KICK-ASS, MAN.

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

ALL CLEAR!

AWESOME.

-NO MORE BIG BOULDERS. -LOOK AT THAT!

THAT'LL WORK. THAT I CAN MOVE.

-GOOD JOB, MARK. -MY PLEASURE.

BRING IT IN!

ANDY, GET THE EXCAVATOR, AND LET'S GO!

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.

BEING ABLE TO RUN THIS MATERIAL RIGHT HERE

IS WHAT'S GONNA GET US OUR 1,000 OUNCES

BECAUSE IT IS LOADED WITH GOLD.

Narrator: MARK MAYER'S EXPLOSIVE EXPERTISE

CLEARED FAIRPLAY'S MONSTER BOULDERS,

HELPING THE HOFFMAN CREW AVOID ANOTHER SEASON FROM HELL.

Todd: HOW'D WE DO, DAD?

105.2.

[ ALL CHEERING ]

THIS IS JUST FANTASTIC. I LOVE IT.

GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.

♪

ALL RIGHT. LET'S CRANK HER UP.

Narrator: ONCE A GOLD MINER HAS SOME PAY DIRT,

HE NEEDS A KICK-ASS WASH PLANT TO WASH AWAY THE DIRT

AND CATCH EVERY SINGLE GRAIN OF PRECIOUS GOLD.

Parker: LOOK AT THAT.

Narrator: AND NO ONE PUTS TOGETHER A WASH PLANT

LIKE GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE.

40 FEET LONG, 16 FEET WIDE.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO KICK BUTT.

Todd: FIRE IT UP!

HIS CREATIONS, BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,

ARE HIGH-CAPACITY, CUSTOM-BUILT SLUICE PLANTS

DESIGNED TO RUN HUNDREDS OF YARDS OF DIRT...

PERFECT!

...AND CATCH THOUSANDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD.

BUT IN SEASON FOUR,

FREDDY ADAPTED THE SAME TECHNIQUES

TO A SMALL-SCALE PLANT WHEN THE HOFFMAN CREW

WENT PROSPECTING IN CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA.

WE NEED TO RENT A BACKHOE, AND WE NEED TO BUILD A PLANT

THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET MATERIAL THROUGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL BUILD IT OUT OF,

BUT WE'LL FIND SOMETHING.

♪

Narrator: FIRST STOP -- THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.

LET'S FIND LUMBER FIRST. I'VE GOT AN IDEA.

WE CAN USE PLYWOOD. IT'S FAST.

WE CAN CUT IT WITH SAWS, PUT IT TOGETHER.

WELL, LET'S GET ON IT, MAN.

LET'S GET ROLLING.

SO I WANT FIVE SHEETS, SIX SHEETS OF THIS.

WHAT'S NEXT?

LET'S GET SOME 2-BY-8S FOR THE SIDES.

Freddy: TODD'S RELYING ON ME TO GET THIS THING PUT TOGETHER.

I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN,

BUT I'M HAVING TO DO IT WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FIND THE MATERIAL

I NEED TO CATCH THIS FINE GOLD.

HOPEFULLY I CAN.

NORMALLY I'D LIKE TO BUILD THIS ALL OUT OF STEEL.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION HERE.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE DO.

CAN'T BUY ONE, WE'LL BUILD IT.

OKAY, SO WHAT'S NEXT?

LET'S FIND SOME PIPE.

Todd: WE'RE RUNNING OFF SEAWATER.

WE GOT TO GET IT AWAY FROM THE OCEAN,

SO I'M THINKING, WHAT, 100 FEET?

-I'D SAY 100 FEET. -OKAY.

LET'S GET SOME CUT.

Freddy: IT'S NOT GONNA BE FANCY.

DUDE, JUST PUT LIPSTICK ON THIS PIG,

AND LET'S GET THIS TEST DONE.

HEY.

WE NEED A BATH?

WE GOT A FREAKING BATHTUB RIGHT HERE.

AND THE GUN.

Todd: NOBODY HAS EVER BUILT A WASH PLANT IN CHILE

FROM A DO-IT-YOURSELF STORE LIKE WE HAVE.

Todd: I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE A LITTLE ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE.

Dave: THIS HAS TO BE THE CRAZIEST THING

THAT FREDDY DODGE AND I HAVE EVER DONE.

Narrator: IN CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA,

GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE

IS BUILDING A WASH PLANT FROM SCRATCH.

WE'LL TRY TO MAKE A PUNCH PLATE

TO CLASSIFY OUR MATERIAL OUT OF THIS PLYWOOD.

DRILL A PILE OF HOLES PROPERLY PLACED

AND HOPE IT DOES A GOOD JOB.

Narrator: FREDDY HAS DESIGNED THE WASH PLANT

TO WORK LIKE A MINI VERSION OF BIG RED.

A DRILLED PIPE SPRAYS SEAWATER ONTO A PERFORATED PLYWOOD SHEET

KNOWN AS A PUNCH PLATE.

THE BACKHOE THEN LOADS PAY DIRT ONTO THIS PLATE,

AND WATER WASHES THE FINE MATERIAL THROUGH IT

TO THE SLUICE BOX BELOW

WHERE THE GOLD SHOULD COLLECT IN THE STEEL RIFFLES AND MATS.

Freddy: SO NOW WE'LL START ASSEMBLING THE SIDES,

PUTTING STIFFENERS ON IT.

Dave: MEASURE IT TWICE AND CUT IT ONCE.

LOOKING GOOD.

Todd: YEP. PROGRESS IS AWESOME.

REMEMBER OUR PLANT LAST YEAR, BIG RED?

YEP.

LET'S CALL THIS LITTLE FRED.

[ Laughing ] LITTLE FRED.

THE WOOD CRAFTSMAN'S GUIDE TO BUILDING SLUICE BOXES.

AND I'M A STEEL FABRICATOR.

I DON'T KNOW WOOD. WOOD IS FOR BURNING.

NOT ANYMORE.

THIS IS REALLY COMING TOGETHER WELL.

I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT COULD BUILD A SLUICE BOX

OUT OF WOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

IN THE MIDDLE OF CHILE.

♪

GREAT WORK, GUYS.

-DANG. -LITTLE FREDDY SLUICE BOX!

♪

♪

Todd: LET'S GET THE WATER PUMP HOOKED UP.

Freddy: WE'LL PLUMB IT, GET OUR HOSES TO IT,

START FEEDING MATERIAL THROUGH IT.

-HERE IT COMES. -THERE IT GOES.

Dave: WE GOT WATER.

Todd: HOW'S IT LOOK?

Freddy: WHAT DO WE GOT, TODD? GOOD WATER.

THE FLOW GOING DOWN THE SLUICE BOX IS REALLY EVEN.

♪

TELL YOU WHAT, FOR A BUNCH OF LUMBER

THAT WE PICKED UP AT THE STORE,

WE MADE IT INTO SOMETHING PRETTY DARN NICE.

-ISN'T THAT COOL? -YEAH.

GOOD JOB, FREDDY!

-THANKS. -WHOO!

LITTLE WOOD, A LITTLE SCREWS AND A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE.

FREDDY, THIS THING ROCKS, BUDDY.

THANKS.

WE'RE FREAKING RUNNING SOME DIRT!

YOU KNOW...

Narrator: FREDDY IS NOT JUST A WASH-PLANT GURU.

WITH HIS JIG AND OSCILLATING GOLD TABLE,

HE'S A MASTER OF FINE-GOLD RECOVERY.

♪

-SNIFF OUT THE GOLD FOR US. -WE'RE READY.

Narrator: GOLD IS FOUR TIMES HEAVIER THAN BLACK SAND

AND 19 TIMES HEAVIER THAN WATER.

FREDDY'S EQUIPMENT USES THIS DIFFERENCE

TO SEPARATE THE HEAVY GOLD PARTICLES.

Freddy: KEEP A CONSTANT FEED SO OUR MATERIAL IS IN OUR FEEDER.

WE'RE PUTTING IT INTO A SLURRY.

THEN IT'S GOING DOWN TO THE SCREEN DECK.

OUR SCREEN DECK IS CLEANING OUR MATERIAL

AND GETTING OUR FINE MATERIAL OUT.

THEN OUR FINE MATERIAL IS GOING TO CARRY THROUGH

AND INTO OUR JIG.

Narrator: IN THE JIG,

GOLD PASSES THROUGH A LAYER OF PULSATING BALL BEARINGS.

IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS THAT WORKS EXTREMELY WELL.

♪

HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD.

SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE MAJORITY OF OUR HEAVIES AND OUR GOLD.

YOU CAN SEE THE GOLD IN IT.

THAT'S JUST FAN-DAMN-TASTIC, YOU KNOW?

Todd: IS THAT ABOUT IT, FRED?

YEAH. WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROCESS.

SO LET'S GET THE TABLE ROLLING, HUH?

SEE WHAT'S IN YOUR FINE STUFF, TODD.

YEAH. THIS IS THE BIG TIME.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE READY.

Narrator: FREDDY FEEDS THE SUPER-CONCENTRATED MATERIAL

ONTO THE OSCILLATING GOLD TABLE...

Freddy: THESE GROOVES ARE CATCHING OUR MATERIAL,

SO I'LL BE ABLE TO CUT THE GOLD RIGHT OUT OF IT,

AND WE'LL GET RID OF THE REST OF THE MATERIAL.

Narrator: ...WHICH TRAPS THE GOLD IN ITS GROOVES

AND WASHES THE WORTHLESS BLACK SAND TO THE SIDE.

-THAT IT, DAD? -THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE FIRST CHUNK THAT CAME DOWN,

DROPPED DOWN AND WENT BACK UP HERE,

AND IT'S COMING DOWN.

-WAY TO GO. -THERE IT GOES.

IT'S IN THE BUCKET.

OKAY, GUYS. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DID.

♪

HERE WE GO, TODD.

SEE HOW MUCH GOLD YOU'VE GOT.

♪

-FOUR OUNCES. -YEE-HAW!

Narrator: FREDDY'S GOLD MACHINES HAVE PAID OFF BIG TIME.

TO DATE, FREDDY'S WASH PLANTS, BIG RED AND MONSTER RED,

HAVE, BETWEEN THEM, CAUGHT NEARLY 14,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH OVER $16 MILLION.

[ MEN CHEERING ]

UP AHEAD, IN NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE...

IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO YOURSELF?

OH, YEAH.

Rick: IT DIDN'T COME WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?

Parker: JUST LIKE, "DON'T KILL YOURSELF."

Narrator: SOMETIMES, THE STRANGEST CLUES

CAN LEAD YOU TO THE GOLD.

IS THAT AN ANCIENT TREE?

IT'S A FREAKING TUSK, DUDE, MAMMOTH TUSK.

-HOLD ON. -TRYING TO WALK.

KNOCK SOME OF THE MUD OFF OF IT.

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY PLEASED.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE HOW RARE IT IS

TO FIND A PIECE THIS BIG INTACT.

IT'S AMAZING.

I'M HOPING IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, EVERY SINGLE TIME,

WHEN YOU FIND MAMMOTH TUSKS, YOU'RE FINDING GOLD.

HUH.

THEY'RE ALWAYS FOUND TOGETHER, AND THINK ABOUT IT.

THE MAMMOTH WERE LIKE PEOPLE.

THEY LIKE TO LIVE WHERE LIVING IS EASY,

AND THE LIVING IS EASY IN THESE WIDE, OPEN PLAINS.

THESE ARE THE SAME PLAINS

THAT THE GOLD IS BEING DEPOSITED IN

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE WATER IS SLOWING DOWN,

SO THESE GOLD-BEARING CREEKS ARE THE SAME CREEKS

THE MAMMOTH ARE DRINKING OUT OF.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OMEN FOR YOU.

BRUCE, I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.

Narrator: TO TURN IMPURE GOLD DUST INTO COLD HARD CASH

INVOLVES ONE FINAL TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS.

♪

18-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

TAKES HIS BIG NUGGET GOLD TO SPECIALIST

DON KINSEY TO SMELT HIS FIRST-EVER BAR

OF PURE GOLD BULLION.

DON PUTS THE MIXTURE OF GOLD

AND FLUX INTO A HEAT-RESISTANT CRUCIBLE...

THIS IS SODA ASH,

AND THE OTHER MATERIAL I'LL ADD IS BORAX,

WHICH IS A SOAP.

SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE CLEANING THE GOLD.

...THEN INTO THE FURNACE.

I'VE NEVER WATCHED GOLD BEING MELTED OR POURED

OR ANY OF THAT KIND OF STUFF BEFORE.

AT 1,943 DEGREES,

THE GOLD ORE STARTS TO MELT.

WHAT'S THAT FOR?

THIS IS A CARBON ROD.

WHAT I CAN DO WITH THAT ROD IS GIVE IT A FEEL

AND SEE IF IT'S GOING TO LIQUID NICELY,

THEN THEREFORE TELLING US, GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE TIME.

♪

THE SODA ASH AND BORAX, KNOWN AS FLUX,

COMBINE WITH THE IMPURITIES TO FORM A WASTE PRODUCT, SLAG.

♪

STAY CALM. NOBODY PANIC.

♪

OKAY. HERE WE GO.

♪

♪

ALL SEASON WE WORKED TO GET THAT,

AND, UM, IT'S PRETTY COOL.

IS THIS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO YOURSELF?

OH, YEAH.

Narrator: SIX SEASONS LATER,

PARKER HAS ENOUGH GOLD TO BUY HIS OWN GOLD SMELTER.

WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S A FURNACE FOR MELTING GOLD SOMEHOW.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO POUR BARS.

I'M JUST ASSEMBLING MY TOY.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

Parker: I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

CRAB BOIL?

-TRYING TO KILL OURSELVES. -GOLD BOIL.

-OH. -FURNACE.

OH [BLEEP] FURNACE.

-HOW COOL IS THAT? -THAT'S PRETTY SWEET.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS?

-[BLEEP] NO. -BECAUSE WE DON'T.

I'M STARTING TO THINK ABOUT PARKING

A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY, TOO.

THINK YOU SHOULD.

WE JUST TRIED TO LIGHT IT.

[BLEEP]

SHE'S GOING.

THERE'S NO...IT DIDN'T COME WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS?

-NOT REALLY. -A PIECE OF PAPER.

ONE PIECE OF PAPER JUST LIKE, "DON'T KILL YOURSELF."

I'M READY. I'M READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES.

Narrator: TO MAKE EACH BAR,

PARKER MIXES 100 OUNCES OF GOLD WITH THE FLUX.

♪

IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE, LIKE, 25 MINUTES.

HOW HOT DOES IT HAVE TO GET?

DON'T KNOW HOW HOT IT IS, BUT IT'S HOT.

SOMETHING IS HAPPENING NOW. -IS IT?

IT'S, LIKE, UP THE SIDES.

OH [BLEEP] IS THAT HOT.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.

-I DON'T TRUST IT. -NO, I DON'T EITHER.

♪

Parker: ONCE IT SOLIDIFIES,

THEN YOU KNOCK IT OUT OF THE CASING

AND OUT OF THE THING.

♪

SEE? JUST LIKE THAT.

Narrator: EACH GOLD BAR IS WORTH OVER $120,000.

Rick: OH, YEAH. YOU'RE ALL SET NOW.

THIS IS THE STRESSFUL PART.

♪

♪

Chris: TEN 100-OUNCE BARS, 1,000 OUNCES,

FOUR OR FIVE MORE STACKS LIKE THAT...

Narrator: AT HIS END-OF-SEASON GOLD WEIGH,

USING A MIX OF BACKBREAKING WORK,

SMART DECISIONS, AND SOME HIGH-TECH INGENUITY

FROM THE GURUS OF GOLD, PARKER SCHNABEL

PRODUCES OVER 6,000 OUNCES OF THE SHINY YELLOW METAL...

[ ALL CHEERING ]

...A COMPONENT USED IN JEWELRY,

WORLD FINANCE,

COMPUTING, AND CELLPHONES.

IT'S EVEN VITAL TO THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE.

♪

ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

SHE'S GOOD TO ROCK, HUH?

SPARKY, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

WHOA!

Tony: LAST PIECES OUT OF THISTLE CREEK.

IT IS JUST WIDE AND UGLY.

HEIGHT-WISE, WE'LL FIND OUT.

WAIT! [BLEEP] WAIT.

[ CLANGING ]

WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?

HEY, RICK.

NEXT TIME, IT'S GONNA COST YOU. ALL RIGHT?