Shutting Down Big Red and Testing the New Wash Plant
“We’re going to put Big Red to bed for the winter and try our new wash plant on some fresh ground. Let’s see how disastrous that turns out. It’s been a long time since we’ve done something this risky, so we might as well give it a shot.”
After shutting down Parker’s most reliable plant, Big Red, the team is now focused on bringing in a new, untested wash plant. The pressure is on for the new setup to not only work but to also start catching more gold from Dominion Creek.
“We got the water pump installed, the Lin’s are in, the shaker deck and conveyors are set up. It looks like a solid setup for a brand-new plant. Now, we have to watch out for everything. There’s a lot to keep an eye on. We’re going to add water and see how it responds.”
The Setup and First Test
“Water’s coming your way. Let’s do this!”
They begin testing the plant, adding water to see how it performs. But things aren’t running as smoothly as planned.
“We’ve got nothing going on here. The shaker’s not working. Did you try resetting it? Do we have power?”
After a quick inspection, they find that the shaker deck isn’t getting power. With the help of a screwdriver and some quick adjustments, they manage to restore power. The plant is ready to go again.
The Leak and Quick Fix
“We’ve got a leak in the system—water’s leaking out of the bottom of the free wash. Looks like a faulty hose clamp caused it.”
Parker and his crew quickly diagnose the problem. They discover that the spray bar hose is too short, causing the leak. Rather than trying to fix it immediately, they shut off the spray bar and bypass the issue to keep the plant running.
“Bypassing the spray bar fixed most of the issue. Let’s get some dirt on the conveyors and see how it responds.”
Roxan and the New Wash Plant
After two years of development, Parker’s custom wash plant, named “Roxan,” is finally up and running. With the shaker deck shaking and everything in motion, the team begins testing the plant with dirt. There are still a few quirks to work out, but Parker is excited to see the new plant in action.
“I’m really liking the new setup so far. It’s nice to have the plant fired up. The shaker deck is doing its thing. Now, we just need to give it a name. I was thinking of calling it ‘Rock Sand’ since that’s what we do here—rock and sand, we make rock sand!”
Gold Results: Australia Creek and Big Red’s Final Haul
The team looks back at the gold they’ve collected so far. Parker checks in on the gold from the second section of the Boomerang Cut at Australia Creek.
“Last week, we delivered 103 ounces, worth nearly $430,000. Not bad! Now, how did Big Red finish out?”
Mitch gives the breakdown of Big Red’s final haul:
“Here’s how Big Red finished: 50, 100, 140, 210, 220, 280, 290, 300, 310, and 345 ounces. Big Red finished strong!”
The Performance of the New Wash Plant: Roxan
Now, Parker turns his attention to his new plant, Roxan. After running for two days, Roxan brings in 25% more gold than Big Red, totaling over 150 ounces.
“We’ve got 30, 35, 40, 56, 85 ounces in two days. That’s pretty good, but it’s still not the 150 we were hoping for. Time will tell if this new wash plant is the right call.”
Season Total and New Goals
The team has now broken the 5,000-ounce mark for the season, thanks to Big Red’s massive final haul.
“Our season total is 5,066 ounces! We hit the 5,000-ounce mark early, which feels great. A little sad to see Big Red shut down, but it’s been a workhorse, and we’ve got time left in the season. What’s the new goal?”
Parker thinks about the future. With the hefty costs of new gear and a payment to Dean coming up this fall, the team needs a new target.
“Given the money we’ve spent this season, 7,000 ounces feels like a good stretch goal. That would bring in $14 million, nearly covering the purchase of Dominion Creek in its first year. It’s a big ask, but it’s doable.”
