Big changes are in store for the long-running unscripted series when it returns Oct. 12.

Discovery Channel has renewed its top-rated show, Gold Rush, for a ninth season.

The unscripted series will return Friday, Oct. 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with preshow The Dirt also coming back at 8 p.m. that same day. The network says this season will feature "new miners, new rivalries and brand-new claims."

This year, Rick Ness has decided to step it up and become a mine boss with a claim of his own after working six years under fellow miner Parker Schnabel. Rick cashes in his life savings and literally puts everything on the line.

In the off-season, Rick spent most of his time nursing his mother until she died. As a result, he's far behind the others as they race into the mining season. Rick has recruited a crew of his Wisconsin buddies, who leave behind their jobs, families and homes, to take a chance on striking it rich. The stakes are high as Rick tries to prove his dad was wrong when he predicted that Rick will "come home broke with no friends."

Elsewhere, while gold miner and rival Todd Hoffman is out, things haven't gotten any easier for 23-year-old Parker Schnabel, who finds himself in a land war with legendary Klondike miner Tony Beets. Parker's initial plan was to return to Tony's ground — the richest he's ever mined — and deliver more than 6,000 ounces of gold worth $7.2 million.

But things go south when he tries to negotiate a royalty rate and must move to another claim. The plan doesn't sit well for Tony — who could lose millions — and he's determined to teach young Parker a lesson. It's a tough start for Parker, especially without having Rick or longtime girlfriend Ashley by his side.

Meanwhile, legendary Klondike miner Tony Beets has a master plan this year — to get the two ancient dredges mining and turning around some major profit. And he's determined that nobody, especially Parker, will get in his way.

Tony's also looking ahead at his kids' future and is doubling down on everything, including dredges, barges and gold. He's also not afraid of a good challenge and has vowed to match Parker's $7.2 million season goal.

On this season of The Dirt, viewers will be given the opportunity to interact with the miners and get access to behind-the-scenes, cutting-room floor material that never makes it into the show.

Past seasons of Gold Rush are available to binge on Discovery GO, the network's live and on-demand TV Everywhere streaming service, and through TV providers, free for subscribers.

Gold Rush is produced for Discovery by Raw Television, with Dimitri Doganis, James Bates and Mike Gamson as executive producers and Justin Kelly as co-executive producer. For Discovery, Matthew Vafiadis is executive producer and Greg Wolf is coordinating producer.

