A New Plan to Revive the Season
With gold prices soaring and fuel costs low, veteran miner Tony Beets has decided to take a calculated risk by revisiting the Old-Timer tailings. Facing diminishing returns from his current cuts, Tony sees an opportunity in a pile of gravel and rocks left behind by early miners. Half a mile from Mike’s TRL, Tony spots what he believes to be untouched material rich with gold. To investigate, he calls on his son Kevin and the team to assess the site.
“This hill was the first to have mechanical mining in the Klondike,” Tony explains. “If there was ever a time to test this spot, it’s now.”
Unearthing History and Gold
Kevin and the crew inspect the site, uncovering remnants of a historic sluice run dating back to the early gold rush era. They identify an old wooden sluice box, possibly over 80 years old, which miners once used to process material before abandoning operations in the 1950s. Convinced that valuable gold may have been left behind, Tony and his team decide to run test samples through a small trommel.
As the gravel is processed, Tony’s hunch proves correct—gold specks are visible throughout the material. Excited by the potential, Tony instructs Monica Beets to fire up the Kiwi plant and run larger volumes of pay dirt. With rookie operator Desiree managing the loader, operations kick into full swing.
Disaster Strikes, but the Team Perseveres
Just as the team builds momentum, disaster strikes. Desiree accidentally hits a cable with the loader bucket, causing a major disruption in the sluice run. The damage forces the crew to halt operations, costing Tony up to $2,000 in lost gold per hour.
After eight hours of welding and repairs, the team finally restores the plant. As soon as operations resume, the crew encounters another surprise—a snake in the work area. Despite the setbacks, spirits remain high as they press on to see if the old-timer tailings will yield profit.
The Final Weigh-In
After only four hours of running the plant, it’s time to weigh the gold and determine if the gamble was worth it. Typically, Tony expects an ounce per 100 yards to turn a profit. With the old-timer tailings, he is willing to settle for half that.
To everyone’s amazement, the final tally reaches 4.22 ounces—worth approximately $7,400. This equates to an ounce per 100 yards, proving that the tailings are not only profitable but outperforming some of their primary cuts.
“Awesome! That was amazing,” Tony exclaims. “The material in these tailings is doing better than what we’re getting on the hill.”
Encouraged by the results, Tony and his team gear up to continue mining the old-timer tailings, determined to make the most of this unexpected windfall. With the gold season still underway, this discovery could be the key to turning the season around for the Beets crew.
