igneous

K2 Jasper

Azurite in Granite

Hardness: 6-7 (Granite matrix) and 3.5-4 (Azurite); Color: White/Grey base with bright blue circular spots; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic (Azurite) in crystalline Granite; Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Hardness: 6-7 (Granite matrix) and 3
Color: White/Grey base with bright blue circular spots
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified May 29, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a high-altitude granite mountain (K2) where secondary copper minerals (azurite) precipitated from solution into the cracks and pores of the solidified igneous rock.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a lapidary material for jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular specimen for crystal collectors.

Geological facts

Despite its trade name 'K2 Jasper', it is not actually a jasper. It's a rare combination of igneous granite and carbonate azurite found only at the base of the world's second-highest mountain, K2, in Pakistan.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for distinct 'ink-blotch' blue spots on a salt-and-pepper granite background. It is found exclusively in the Skardu area of northern Pakistan near the K2 mountain peak.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous