As the gold price soars and fuel costs remain low, mining legend Tony Beets has taken a gamble that may change the course of his season. With gold supplies running low, Beets turned his attention to a long-forgotten treasure trove: the tailings left behind by the old-timers. His instincts paid off big time.
A Plan is Hatched
With Mike’s operation slowing down and only 100 ounces retrieved from the Piggy Bank cut, Tony needed a new strategy. “I always wanted to check out the old-timer tailings, and if there ever was a time, it’s today,” Beets declared. Half a mile away from Mike’s trommel, he spotted a promising pile of gravel, potentially rich with gold left behind by early Klondike miners.
Calling in Kevin and his team, Tony revealed the historical significance of the site. “This hill had the first mechanical mining in the Klondike. They probably started around the original Gold Rush,” he explained. With visible sluice box remains in the hillside, Tony decided it was time to excavate a sample. “It doesn’t take much gold to make a living at today’s prices,” he added.
Striking Gold in Forgotten Ground
Tony’s team wasted no time digging into the tailings. “I’m really curious to see what kind of values are in this gravel,” he said, scooping up material for a test pan. Within moments, the results were in – gold glinted everywhere. “That’s a very, very good indicator,” Tony remarked. His years of wondering had finally paid off.
With proof of gold in the tailings, Tony decided to process the material through the Kiwi plant. “Whatever we get out of that will make a difference to the season,” he said confidently.
Disaster Strikes, But Recovery Prevails
Monica fed 100 yards of pay dirt an hour into the Kiwi plant, while rookie loader operator Desiree cleared fine tailings. However, the operation came to a sudden halt when the plant’s sluice run collapsed. “Shut off the plant! Shut off the plant!” came the urgent cry over the radio.
The cause? A hooked cable had pulled a support beam out of place. Every hour of downtime cost Tony up to $2,000 in lost gold. “Fun, fun, fun,” Tony quipped sarcastically as his team scrambled to repair the damage. After eight hours of welding and repositioning, the plant was back up and running.
Weighing In on Success
With just four hours of sluicing, the moment of truth arrived. Tony typically looks for one ounce of gold per 100 yards to break even. This time, he hoped for half that amount to make a profit. The final tally? A solid 4.22 ounces, worth approximately $7,400.
“That’s an ounce per 100 yards – very sustainable,” Tony confirmed. The results exceeded expectations, proving that old-timer tailings were worth the effort. “This material is doing better than what we’re getting from the hill,” he added. Without hesitation, Tony ordered his crew to keep working the site.
Looking Ahead
With the success of the old-timer tailings, Tony Beets may have just discovered a hidden jackpot that could push his gold total higher than expected. As the season progresses, all eyes are on the Beets crew to see if this forgotten ground will continue to pay out in gold.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Gold Rush adventure!
