Gold Rush: Mine Rescue — Juan and Freddy step in as Raul and Helen face mining collapse

Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy & Juan aired a new episode on July 11, 2025, featuring struggling miners Raul and Helen. The couple had been working full-time on their 700-acre mining claim in Canada, but their operation had yet to turn a profit. With only $3,450 worth of gold mined the previous year, Raul and Helen called on Freddy Dodge and Juan Ibarra for help turning things around.

In this episode of Gold Rush: Mine Rescue, Raul revealed that the previous owner of the land had claimed to find nearly two ounces of gold daily. Encouraged by this, Raul invested in the land and equipment, hoping to start a family business. However, their results had been disappointing.

Juan and Freddy quickly identified that the wash plant, nicknamed the “octopus,” was a major problem. While inspecting the machinery,

“One thing’s for sure, they’re in a tight spot,” Juan told Freddy.

The experts found that the plant’s screening system was not working correctly, and gold-bearing debris was likely being lost. Helen and Raul also shared how the constant losses had caused emotional stress. Despite the challenges, Juan and Freddy were determined to help the couple get on a better path toward making their mine profitable in Gold Rush: Mine Rescue.

Juan and Freddy identify multiple flaws in Helen and Raul’s wash plant in Gold Rush: Mine Rescue

 

 

 

 

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While reviewing Raul and Helen’s setup, Gold Rush stars Juan and Freddy discovered that nearly every aspect of the operation needed improvement. The wash plant, built with parts Raul had assembled himself, was loud, inefficient, and improperly designed.

Juan called it “the most ineffective” he had ever seen, explaining that the material going through the punch plate was “too big” and not properly classified. Freddy and Juan observed Raul feeding material into a 10x6-foot hopper that led to a vibrating punch plate.

Afterward, the larger material fell into the sluices. However, they noticed a “loose screen,” which created major problems. Juan pointed out, “The side tensioners aren’t there. They’re welded in,” highlighting that proper tension couldn’t be achieved and the screening wasn’t effective.

Juan explained that without accurate classification of material, proper concentration couldn’t happen. As a result, gold-bearing particles were likely being discarded. He emphasized that a complete rework of the plant was necessary. Despite this, both Freddy and Juan remained focused on helping the couple, acknowledging that the operation had potential if rebuilt with the right components.

Raul opens up about setbacks as emotional toll mounts on the couple in Gold Rush: Mine Rescue

In a confessional, Raul said that mining was something he truly cared about and that he wanted to turn it into a family business. He had moved from El Salvador to Canada for a new beginning and believed the land had potential. Talking about the previous owner, Raul said, “He mentioned to me that the gold was really good here. Really, really good.”

But things had not worked out as he had hoped. Raul and Helen had spent a full year working hard but had little success. Raul shared that they had only found about 1.5 ounces of gold, which was worth around $3,450. “My situation at this moment is terrible,” he said. He also explained that the stress and losses had led to many emotional breakdowns for both him and Helen.

Helen added that the ongoing problems had taken a toll on their mental health and left them feeling unsure about what to do next. She hoped that Freddy and Juan could help fix the issues and improve their chances. But just as the experts started to make a plan, another problem came up—a broken water pump.

This episode of Gold Rush ended with Freddy and Juan getting ready to fix both the equipment and the mining system to help Raul and Helen try again.

Stay tuned for more updates.