Ep 4. Secret Weapons

In Gold Rush: Alaska season 3 episode 4, entitled "Secret Weapons," the Hoffman crew is struggling to find gold on their new claim at the Big Nugget Mine. Desperate for a breakthrough, Todd Hoffman decides that they need to turn to "secret weapons" to find gold. He brings in a series of experts and equipment to help them in their search.

The first expert to arrive is Freddy Dodge, a veteran gold miner with years of experience. Freddy brings with him a massive wash plant called "Monster Red." The wash plant is a 50-tonne machine that can process up to 200 yards of material per hour. The Hoffman crew is impressed with the machine, and they hope that it will help them quickly process the piles of dirt and rock on their claim.

The second expert to arrive is gold mining engineer Dave Turin. Todd hopes that Dave can help them find better ground to mine on their claim. Dave takes a look at the area and points out that they need to move their operation closer to the bedrock. He explains that gold is often found in cracks and crevices in the bedrock, so they need to get as close to it as possible.

The third expert to arrive is geologist Tony Beets. Todd hopes that Tony can help them find new ground to mine. Tony takes a look at the area and identifies a promising spot nearby that he believes has a good chance of containing gold. Tony tells Todd that he will need to bring in a drill rig to take samples of the ground to determine if there is gold present.

While the experts are busy working their magic, the rest of the crew works to keep the wash plant running smoothly. They have a lot of material to process, and they need to keep the plant running 24/7 to have any chance of finding gold. The days are long and hot, and tensions run high as everyone works to keep the operation going.

As they process more and more material, the crew starts to see some promising results. They begin to find small quantities of gold in their sluice boxes. The crew is encouraged by the discovery, and they work even harder to keep the operation running smoothly.

However, things don't go smoothly for long. The wash plant breaks down, and the crew is forced to shut down the operation. They need to wait for new parts to arrive before they can get back to work. The delay is frustrating, but the crew remains determined to find gold.

When the wash plant is finally repaired, the crew starts processing material again. However, they quickly discover that the repairs didn't fix all of the problems. The crew is forced to shut down the operation again and make even more repairs. The delays are causing tensions to rise, and Todd is feeling the pressure to find gold.

Despite the setbacks, the crew remains determined to find gold. They work long hours and push themselves to the limit, hoping that their "secret weapons" will pay off. Will they be able to find enough gold to make the operation profitable, or will they have to abandon the claim and move on to something else? Find out in Gold Rush: Alaska season 3 episode 4, "Secret Weapons."