29.03.2026 20:04
Ibrahim Irgatcı's call made via social media, living in the Turgutlu district of Manisa, brought gold enthusiasts from all over Turkey together in Izmir. Under the leadership of Irgatcı, the chief architect of the crumb mining event, gold hunters searched for gold in the creek, undeterred by the rainy and cold weather.
İbrahim Irgatcı, who is individually interested in nugget mining in Manisa, continued his work alone for about 2 years. After those around him began to ask questions out of curiosity, Irgatcı started organizing small-scale events 6 years ago.
PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER TURKEY Over time, gold seekers from all over Turkey joined the community that grew under the name 'Nugget Mining' on social media. During the two-day event held on the weekend, participants camped around the Yiğitler Stream in the rural Yiğitler neighborhood of Kemalpaşa district in İzmir.
MANY PARTICIPANTS FOUND GOLD Throughout the event, ideas about mining were exchanged, and practical information was provided especially to newcomers. Despite the rainy weather, work continued without interruption, and gold hunters entered the stream to carry out their search activities. Participants, who removed sand from the riverbed with shovels, sifted through the gold particles using containers called 'pans'. Despite the challenging weather conditions, many participants found gold, and it was observed that those attending the event were smiling.
“OUR AIM IS TO INFORM OUR FRIENDS WHO DO THIS AS A HOBBY AND WANT TO EARN EXTRA INCOME CORRECTLY” The chief architect of the nugget mining event, İbrahim Irgatcı, stated that the main purpose of such organizations is to teach gold searching in a conscious and legal framework. Irgatcı said, "Here, we are collecting small pieces of gold brought by rivers in areas permitted by the state. Our aim is to inform our friends who do this as a hobby and want to earn extra income correctly. Many people reach out to us via social media. We organize such events to strengthen this communication face-to-face and to ensure that people learn by seeing. These meetings actually serve as an education and awareness-raising session," he said.
Expressing that he started nugget mining individually about 8 years ago, Irgatcı said, "Later, people started asking, 'How is gold searched in the stream, what is the method of this work?' In response to these requests, I started organizing small events 6 years ago. Over time, participation increased, and people began to come from all over Turkey. Not only searching for gold but also learning about the legal aspects of this work is among the topics that people are most curious about. That’s why we organize such events once or twice a year to provide both practical experience and information sharing," he said.
“GOLD CAN BE FOUND IN A SHORT TIME” Stating that half of the participants in the event are experienced and the other half are beginners, Irgatcı said, “About 50% of our participants are experienced individuals who know this work. The other 50% consists of beginners. We especially try to raise awareness among newcomers. We explain how they should work and what they need to pay attention to. In a short time, they can also start finding gold. This motivates them even more. Currently, we are here with over 120 participants," he said.
“COMPLETELY ECO-FRIENDLY” Expressing that academics are also involved in the event, Irgatcı said that participants were informed about legal regulations and environmentally sensitive working methods. Emphasizing that nugget mining is an activity that can be done without harming the environment, Irgatcı stated, "This work is a completely eco-friendly method. We wash the sands in the riverbeds with the help of 'pans' to sift out the small gold particles inside. No chemicals are used, and no harm is done to nature. It is a small-scale activity done entirely for hobby purposes. We emphasize that this awareness should be maintained at every opportunity," he said.