Lake County diamonds are semi-precious stones found in Lake County, California. They are also known as moon tears or Konocti diamonds. Lake County diamonds were formed due to the high temperatures of Mount Konocti’s eruptions of long ago. Our dormant volcano, which is over 4,000 feet in height displayed pyroclastic flows, which were approximately 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat made it possible for the quartz specimens, with their light-transmitting properties, to create the lustrous crystals we see today.Usually clear, Lake County diamond specimens are sometimes lavender or reddish in color. These beauties, not true diamonds, are considered semi-precious stones, having a rating of 7.8 to 8 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness. Real diamonds rate a 10. These gems played a part in Lake County history in Pomo mythology, & were used in some Indigenous burial ceremonies. Later on, the diamonds were mined for industrial purposes. The Lake County Museum says, “Lake County diamonds were called “Moon Tears” because they are supposed to be the tears the Moon shed when she fell in love with a young Pomo Chieftain, & her brother, the Sun made her go back into the sky. Lake County Diamonds were placed on burial mounds by some tribes to protect the spirits of the newly departed from evil spirits or demons, who love the darkness & when they saw the ‘moon tears’ would think the moon was shining and go away.”