Gold Rush season 15 episode 7 Recap: Beets family faced conflicts while Parker struggled with low gold yields

Season 15, Episode 7 of Gold Rush, Brother vs. Cousin, aired on December 20, 2024. The episode highlighted tensions within the Beets family as Tony Beets took a rare vacation, leaving operations in the hands of his son, Mike Beets, and nephew, Mike (Cousin Mike). Meanwhile, Parker Schnabel faced mounting challenges at Dominion Creek, attempting to recover from a slow start to the season.

Tony’s decision to delegate operations brought underlying family dynamics to the surface, with disagreements over how to handle critical tasks. Mike Beets and Cousin Mike were at odds while trying to meet Tony’s targets. At Dominion Creek, Parker’s team worked tirelessly to address mechanical failures and restart production, but the results remained underwhelming.

The brother and cousin duo clashed over equipment repairs at Paradise Hill, with disagreements on reassembling the Trommel distribution box delaying progress. At Dominion Creek, Parker Schnabel resumed digging after weeks of delays due to permafrost.

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Managing operations at Paradise Hill in Gold Rush

Tony Beets’ vacation in Sweden left his mining operations in the hands of his son, Mike Beets, and nephew, Cousin Mike. At Paradise Hill, the two were tasked with reassembling the Trommel’s distribution box, a crucial step in restarting the wash plant.

However, differing approaches to the task led to tensions between them. Dissatisfied with how the repairs were being handled, Mike Beets expressed his concerns, further affecting their working relationship in Gold Rush.

Cousin Mike, frustrated with the situation, decided to leave Paradise Hill and focus on operations at Indian River. At Indian River, he managed two wash plants, aiming to meet Tony's production targets. Meanwhile, Mike Beets faced challenges at Paradise Hill, including a malfunctioning water pump, which delayed progress.

Monica Beets observed the disagreement but did not intervene, recognizing that her involvement might not resolve the conflict. By the end of the week, production goals at Paradise Hill had not been met, adding to the pressure on the Beets family to deliver results.

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Challenges at Dominion Creek in this episode of Gold Rush

At Dominion Creek, Parker Schnabel faced a tough week as he worked to recover from the slow start to this season of Gold Rush. Six weeks into the mining season, Parker had only recovered 290 ounces of gold. The team focused on restarting the Long Cut, a promising area expected to deliver better results.

Warm weather allowed digging to resume, and the crew completed a mega ditch essential for processing pay dirt. However, mechanical issues disrupted the operation. A malfunctioning excavator required costly repairs, adding $12,000 to the season’s expenses.

Despite these setbacks, Parker’s team restarted the wash plant, Roxanne. Over two days, the plant processed enough pay dirt to produce 76.35 ounces of gold, valued at approximately $190,000. By the end of the week, Parker’s total for the season stood at 364.50 ounces, far below expectations.

The episode showcased the ongoing effort to overcome technical challenges and achieve the season’s ambitious goals. Parker’s team faced mounting pressure to improve production in the coming weeks while addressing the logistical and mechanical difficulties that lacked progress.

Aside from the Beets family and Dominion Creek events, the episode featured Rick Ness continuing his work at Rally Valley. His team focused on processing pay dirt while dealing with operational challenges. Veteran miner Damien Browne worked solo on a stripping mission, overcoming mechanical issues to complete eight acres of critical ground preparation.

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New episodes of Gold Rush season 15 air every Friday at 8/7c on Discovery Channel.