In the lowlands of Dattaw and on the adjacent ridge at Dattaw-pyant (Plains of Dattaw) as well as in the small creek Dattaw-chaung (Dattaw Creek) flowing downhill many gems are recovered from eluvial and alluvial deposits.
In 1998 there were 3 joint ventures working in small-scale, open-pit schemes at Dattaw-pyant. In 1999 gem mining operations expanded producing mostly small size
rubies and few
sapphires from the alluvium. The gems were recovered after washing the
byôn at the nearby small creeks flowing down the ridge. Gem mining ceased in 2001.
Further north of the ridge 2 joint ventures are mining the alluvium in open-pit mining schemes producing
ruby, some
sapphire (near colorless, purple, blue),
lapis lazuli,
sodalite and
hackmanite, green/blue
apatite,
danburite, pink
scapolite, cat's eye scapolite,
diopside, cat's eye diopside,
moonstone with golden sheen and
zircon associated with
spinel.
Ref: Ted Themelis (2008) Gems and Mines of Mogok, p.204
Gemstone List