Running Night Shift to Reach 1,000 Ounces
“We’re going to have to run night shifts if we want to get 1,000 ounces this year, so we’re kicking that off tonight,” Kevin said. “If night shift goes well, we’ll double the hours, and that should mean double the goal. Fingers crossed. It’s all about getting as many hours on the wash plant as we can to hit our target. Anything to keep that plant running full tilt.”
With Brennan Ruel digging pay nonstop, Kevin has hired a new crew to keep the plant running 24/7. The first to arrive for the night shift is Kaden Foot, who’s only been with the team for two weeks.
Kaden’s First Night Shift
“Hey, Kaden, are you ready for your first night shift?” Kevin asks.
“Looking forward to it,” Kaden replies. “Hopefully, it’s a nice, boring night.”
“We’ve got a radio in the trailer, so if anything happens, just give us a call. We’ll be able to hear you,” Kevin continues. “And if anything’s up, let us know.”
With that, Kaden heads to the night shift. He’s from a mining family and has five years of experience running wash plants. But tonight, he’s on his own.
The Pressure of Keeping the Plant Running
“Kevin’s given me a big responsibility,” Kaden thinks. “I’ve got to keep an eye on the plant, make sure the pump’s working, check that the conveyors are running smoothly, and ensure there’s always water going to the plant. It’s a lot to take on.”
Kaden’s main task is to feed pay dirt into the hopper and clear the tailings every 8 minutes to keep the plant losing at 150 yards an hour. The isolation of the job makes it even more stressful.
“The dark is overwhelming, and I’m by myself. No one’s around to help with decisions or anything. Plus, there’s a lot of wildlife out here, so I have to stay alert to stay safe—if something happens, no one will find me until morning.”
The Breakdown
As Kaden nears the end of his first night shift, disaster strikes—the conveyor breaks down.
“Hey, Brandon, Kevin, do you copy?” Kaden calls. “We’ve got a problem.”
The risk is high; a breakdown could lead to a washout and a loss of the entire night’s haul in the sluice ponds.
“Alright, Kaden, we’re coming to check it out,” Kevin responds.
Upon inspection, it’s clear that the hopper feeder’s 12T belt has split under the weight of the pay dirt.
“Is there anything I did wrong?” Kaden asks.
Kevin reassures him, “Honestly, there’s nothing you could have done. The belt’s had cracks for a while, and it finally gave out. But we’ve got a project ahead of us. Head to bed for now, Kaden. We’ll get things lined up for day shift.”
The Day Shift Fix
The day crew is tasked with digging out 12 tons of dirt blocking the hopper. They’re none too happy about the extra work.
“Great, I’ve got to shovel all day,” one of the crew grumbles.
“Yeah, but Kaden didn’t cause it. That’s just part of mining,” another crew member responds. “Still, it’s frustrating when things were set up for success, and then this happens.”
With the hopper cleared, Kevin and the team set to work on repairing the feeder belt.
“We’ve got to fix this quickly,” Kevin says. “We’ve lost about 11 hours now, so we need to move fast.”
The crew works diligently to cut the belt, line it up, and install new BT clips. The repair is completed just in time for Kaden to take on his night shift again.
Night Shift Resumes
“I feel guilty that the guys had to shovel all that dirt out, but it’s not my fault the belt broke,” Kaden admits. “It’s just part of how things go around here.”
As night falls again, Kaden hopes the plant will run smoothly this time.
“Let’s just hope the equipment holds up tonight. We need to keep the sluice running to hit our target,” Kaden thinks.
Kevin, though, is optimistic about Kaden’s performance. “It was great that Kaden spotted the problem. He kept his eyes open and did the best he could. There was nothing else he could’ve done.”
The Payoff
The night shifts, though rough, are starting to pay off. After a week of running double shifts, Kevin’s crew is eager to see the results. They deliver their first gold haul of 122.4 ounces, worth $36,000.
“That’s a good week,” Kevin says, impressed.
The decision to run night shifts has more than quadrupled their gold total, bringing their haul to 1,554 ounces—coming off of a 30-ounce week just a week earlier.
“Well guys, high five on that,” Kevin says, pleased. “If we can pull at least that every week, we’re on a good stretch.”
Kevin feels relief, though he knows there’s still a long way to go. “Feels really good to finally get a decent amount of gold and start paying off some bills. Now we just need to keep going because we’re still far from our 1,000-ounce target.”
