05.06.2026 15:20
Duygu and Ömer Yılmaz, a couple living in Ordu, turned "crumb mining," which they started out of curiosity 4 years ago, into both a family hobby and a significant source of income. Using completely primitive methods without excavating or drilling tools, they extract gold and iron dust from streams, pioneering the field in the region; it is reported that some people find 4 to 6 grams of gold per day using this method, which causes no harm to nature.
Duygu and Ömer Yılmaz, a couple living in the Altınordu district of Ordu, turned the placer mining they started out of curiosity four years ago into both a hobby and a source of income. Searching for gold in the streams of Ordu, which are the subject of folk songs, the couple now pioneers many others in this field.
Married for 20 years, Duygu Yılmaz (36) and Ömer Yılmaz (41) sell detectors, underground imaging devices, and placer mining equipment while continuing their gold searches in Ordu's stream beds. Stating that placer mining, done without harming nature, has gained interest in recent years, the couple said it has turned into a different hobby where families can spend time together.
"GOLD CAN BE SEARCHED WITHOUT HARMING NATURE"
Stating that placer mining is a method that does not harm nature, Duygu Yılmaz noted that digging and drilling tools are not used in this method. Yılmaz said, "Placer mining involves bringing the placer minerals within the sand to the surface by shifting the sand without causing damage to nature. No digging or drilling tools are used; it is done entirely with primitive methods. As a result of these efforts, iron dust and gold dust are obtained. We have been dealing with this for years and supply equipment to people."
"BOTH A HOBBY AND A SOURCE OF INCOME"
Noting that placer mining is not just a hobby but also offers an opportunity to generate income, Duygu Yılmaz said users in different provinces have been able to find significant amounts of gold. Reporting that three young people in Giresun, to whom they sold equipment, extract between 4 and 6 grams of gold daily, Yılmaz said, "A customer in Tokat, to whom we sold a motorized device, said he obtained 36 grams of gold. This is actually both a hobby and a source of income. Especially families choose it to spend time together. Women prefer their husbands to spend time in nature rather than going to coffeehouses. Thus, placer mining can be done as a family."
"THEY WERE HESITANT AT FIRST, BUT NOW..."
Stating that they pioneered placer mining in Ordu, Ömer Yılmaz said that in the early years, people were hesitant to search for gold in stream beds, but over time this perception changed. Yılmaz said, "Initially, people were timid. We were encouraging in this regard. People got motivated and acquired a new hobby. Along with this, they also started to earn income. Currently, teams are being formed in different provinces and people carry out search activities together."
"THEY REACH GOLD BY FOLLOWING NATURE'S TRACES"
Noting that placer mining can be done in many riverbeds across Turkey, Yılmaz said natural formations provide important clues in gold exploration. Stating that naturally occurring cavities in stream beds and areas where water changes direction are examined, Yılmaz said, "People searching for minerals can take samples from areas where streams form bends or from natural wells. It is possible to reach natural gold by following the traces in nature. Besides gold, natural stones as well as precious and semi-precious stones can also be found."