After years of service and millions of dollars in gold recovered, Parker Schnabel has officially shut down his most reliable wash plant, Big Red, for the season. But with Dominion Creek’s rich ground still yielding gold, he isn’t slowing down. Instead, he’s gambling on a brand-new, custom-built wash plant—one that could either boost production or end in disaster.
With only weeks left in the mining season, the pressure is on. The new plant, named Rock Sand, must prove itself quickly. If it performs, Parker could break records. If it fails, he risks losing millions.
A New Wash Plant, A New Challenge
Getting Rock Sand up and running wasn’t easy. The crew faced immediate issues, including:
- Electrical Problems: The shaker deck failed to start, requiring an internal breaker reset.
- Water Leaks: A faulty hose clamp caused a critical spray bar to leak.
- Design Adjustments: The spray bar hose was too short, forcing the crew to shut it off and adapt.
Despite these setbacks, the team persevered, and within hours, the plant was operational.
“It’s a nice setup,” Parker admitted. “There’s always going to be a few quirks to work out, but I like it so far.”
Big Red’s Final Gold Haul
As Big Red was shut down, it delivered one last, massive gold cleanup. Parker’s right-hand man, Mitch, oversaw its final weigh-in:
- 310.45 ounces of gold, worth approximately $600,000
“It’s a little sad to see Big Red shut down,” Parker reflected. “But man, it put in some time and found some gold.”
Rock Sand’s First Test: Boom or Bust?
The new wash plant ran for two days, and Parker hoped it would outperform Big Red. To justify the switch, Rock Sand needed to deliver at least 150 ounces in its first cleanup.
However, when the gold trays were weighed, the results were disappointing:
- 56 ounces, worth roughly $110,000
“That’s pretty bad,” Parker admitted. “I do wonder now if that plant is the right call to make.”
With time running out, Parker will need to decide whether to fine-tune Rock Sand or fire up another plant to meet his ambitious targets.
Breaking 5,000 Ounces: What’s Next?
Despite Rock Sand’s slow start, Parker and his crew have already surpassed 5,000 ounces of gold this season—valued at over $9.5 million.
But Parker knows that’s not enough.
“We spent more money than 5,000 ounces is going to cover,” he explained. “We bought a lot of gear, and we have this payment to Dean this fall.”
To stay profitable, Parker is now eyeing an ambitious new goal: 7,000 ounces.
If he reaches it, the payout would be nearly $14 million, enough to cover his first-year payments for Dominion Creek.
The Final Push
With the clock ticking on the mining season, Parker faces a critical decision: Stick with Rock Sand and work out the kinks, or pivot back to a more reliable plant?
Either way, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Parker’s gamble pay off? Or will his season end in disappointment?
