Ep 10. Fractured

In season 2, episode 10 of Jade Fever, titled "Fractured," the team is facing two major problems. Firstly, the hydraulic hammer they're using to hit the boulders and extract jade is on the brink of breaking down. Secondly, they've hit an area with an abundance of large and troublesome boulders. With the hammer close to breaking and the boulders unmanageable, Claudia and Robin need to figure out a solution fast.

Robin decides the only way to remove the boulder is to drill narrowly spaced holes along its surface and then hit the holes with a hammer to fracture the boulder into smaller, more manageable pieces. The team enlists the help of their friend Dean and his Hitachi excavator to drill the holes into the boulder. As the drilling commenced, the hydraulic hammer unfortunately began to fail even more. This was a significant issue as it meant the team couldn't rely on the hammer to get the work done, so they were left to painstakingly hit the boulder with a sledgehammer instead.

Claudia and Robin soon realize that there is a big problem with the jade they've extracted from the fractured boulders. The rock is heavily fractured as well, meaning that the jade they've extracted is of lower quality than they're hoping for. To get around this, they decide to send the jade over to their mechanic, James, who has honed his welding skills with the tools needed to repair the hydraulic hammer.

While James works on getting the hydraulic hammer back into working condition, the team focuses on mining some of the easier jade veins they've encountered. But the jade is still proving to be of poor quality due to the extreme weather conditions which have damaged the jade deep inside the earth. Their troubles don't stop when an impending snowstorm and Rokstad power outage threaten to stop jade production altogether. If the power goes out and the high-efficiency lights go off, then it would cause a delay in mining, meaning that the team may not be able to complete the work they need before the winter season is over.

The team can't let snow and cold stop them from their goal, so Robin decides to continue on with the hydraulic hammer, despite its failing condition. Claudia comes up with a plan to improve the jade quality by using a power washer to clean the sidelines of the jade veins. The water can remove some of the unwanted dirt surrounding the jade, which could enhance the quality of the stones.

As the hydraulic hammer nears the breaking point, the team must push through to reach their end goal for the season. Claudia and Robin desperately need to get through the jade as there's a deposit ahead that could be worth millions. But with the weather, boulder-filled terrain, and a malfunctioning hammer threatening to stop them, will they be able to make it through okay?

Jade Fever season 2, episode 10, "Fractured," is full of action and suspense as the team goes through a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. This episode highlights the perseverance and determination of the team to get the job done, even in the most hostile conditions.