Prospectors was a weekly reality television series that premiered on March 26, 2013 on The Weather Channel. The show follows miners in the Colorado Rocky Mountains as they look for precious metals and gems.
Amanda Adkins is a miner with over 20 years experience. She is originally from Capon Bridge, West Virginia, where she learned how to mine by watching her Father, Gregory Adkins. She was also briefly a model but never stopped mining gemstones. On April 24, 2013 she began working with mining partner Travis Anderson. Travis was Steve Brancato’s mining partner on Season 1 of Prospectors. On April 27, 2014 Amanda began hosting segments on a Jewelry Television special about American gem stones. In April 2015 Amanda removed 'Anderson' from her last name on her Facebook page because they were no longer a "common law" couple. According to Amanda it will be announced on the new season she has split with mining partner and former partner Travis Anderson. In 2016, Amanda Adkins launched a website of exclusively USA mined gems, mineral specimens and jewelry that not only she dug herself, but also years of combined mining efforts from across the United States of America of gemstone mining families to bring genuine, natural gems, minerals and jewelry to the market. This a new niche in the market as of 2016 as a collaborative effort to bring American mined gemstones to the market from a network of USA mining teams. Amanda Adkins launched this website in an effort to help the gemstone mining families in America. www.coloradorocksmining.us Dwayne Hall mines aquamarine on Colorado's Mount White. He is originally from Kentucky, where he learned woodcarving. Dwayne came in second place in a world championship for woodcarving. After traveling around the country with his wife he decided to move to Colorado, where he began mining.Rich Fretterd has a combined total of 19 years experience in mining, milling and surveying in Colorado. He is originally from Hudson, NY. Fretterd mines with his girlfriend and mining partner Jean Cowman. At his Godsend Claim, he found a U.S. record-breaking sized smoky quartz crystal 4.5 feet in length.The Busse Family- Brian & Yolanda Busse mine aquamarine on Mount Antero with their sons, Brian Jr, David, Chris, Nathan, and Elijah. Brian has solely supported his family through prospecting since 1987. The Busse family has saved people from hypothermia, rollovers and other accidents.The Dorris Family- Joe Dorris mines amazonite and smoky quartz. He is married to Susan Dorris and has three children, Scott, Tim, and Krystle, who help with the business. Scott isn't filmed on Prospectors. Joe, Tim, and Krystle are filmed mining on their claims. Tim is responsible for cleaning, and repairing specimens. Krystle attends gem shows and promotes the gems and jewelry. In addition to mining, Joe Dorris is also an author. He has written and published three books and written a few articles on minerals and mining.The Cardwell Family- Craig and Tracy Cardwell mine on Mount Antero. They have 16 claims from the South Knob to the Mount White Basin. Craig is the fourth generation in his family to mine on Mount Antero. Craig’s grandfather, Grady, used a Caterpillar D9 to make a road to the top of Mount Antero.In August 2013, a hearing was held before the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board to address the issue of reclamation permits. Steve Brancato and Amanda Adkins appeared at the hearing. Brancato is fighting state permitting requirements. Adkins stated she didn't realize she needed the permit and agreed to file for one for her Last Laugh claim. Fretterd and Busse were also ordered to get reclamation permits, but reached an agreement with the state before the hearing.
