Ep 11. The Big Fin

The Big Fin is the eleventh episode from the third season of Jade Fever, a reality TV series that follows the trials and tribulations of a family-owned mining company, located in the rugged Cassiar Mountains region of British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, the Bunce family is eager to strike it big, as they eagerly mine their way through Nature's Treasure Trove, the most promising claim of the season. However, they will need to rely on sheer grit and a bit of luck, as their mining techniques are threatened by various obstacles, including heavy equipment malfunctions and sudden downpours of rain.

As the episode starts, we see the Bunce family preparing for a tough week ahead. They are hoping their gamble on the Nature's Treasure Trove claim will pay off, but things have not exactly been going their way. Josh, the patriarch of the family, and his eldest son, Justin, have been struggling with a broken excavator, which is hindering their progress. Meanwhile, Claudia and Robin Bunce, Josh's wife and daughter, respectively, have been testing a new technique that they hope will improve their mining efforts. However, they are not sure if the method will be successful.

The team's lack of luck is at the forefront of the Bunce's minds, but they do not let up on their mining endeavors. Justin and Josh fight to repair the excavator, and finally succeed with some improvisation. The Bunce's use the newly repaired excavator to move a large collection of dirt, which they hope is loaded with jade. The dirt is processed through the wash plant, but a significant rainstorm comes out of nowhere, and they must rush to finish the work, or all of the jade may wash away.

The rain is an unwelcome obstacle for the Bunce's. It slows down their mining, makes working conditions harder for all the team members, and puts the safety of the mining operation in jeopardy. Justin and Josh try to work as fast as they can to gather up as much jade as possible before the situation gets worse. Claudia and Robin react promptly when the rain hits, working efficiently to cover the equipment and store the produced jade. As time ticks away, the crew hurriedly finishes their work. Will the rain ruin everything or will they be able to protect their jade and equipment?

As The Big Fin progresses, we watch as the Bunce family push themselves to the limit. They seize every opportunity, despite the challenges before them, to mine as much jade as possible. As they head into the final day of the week, their hard work and perseverance finally pay off. They manage to extract an unusually large piece of jade. Although the team is unaware of its value, they know it's a big deal and a significant boost for the mining season. The handover of this jade outdoors with a helicopter was the talk of the season.

Ultimately, The Big Fin is a reflection of the highs and lows of small-scale mining. This episode showcases the Bunce family's determination, resilience, and their never-quit attitude. We see firsthand the pitfalls, hard work, and crazy weather these miners must navigate to get through a mining season successfully. Despite the challenges of nature and technology, the Bunce family shows that they are capable of overcoming them. With a hard-earned sense of hope, they go on to demonstrate that small-scale mining can hold many rewards.