igneous
K2 Jasper (K2 Granite)
Azurite-in-Granite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to light grey base with distinct bright blue spots; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (granular); Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White to light grey base with distinct bright blue spots
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to light grey base with distinct bright blue spots; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (granular); Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow cooling of magma (granite) which was later infiltrated by copper-rich fluids that crystallized into azurite or malachite spots within the pore spaces of the quartz and feldspar.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry as cabochons, beads, and tumbled stones; also highly valued by mineral collectors for its unique aesthetic and rare origin.
Geological facts
Despite the trade name 'K2 Jasper,' it is geologically a granite, not a jasper. It is found exclusively at the base of K2, the world's second-highest mountain in the Karakoram Range of Pakistan.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for the 'orbicular' blue spots of azurite set against a coarse-grained white and grey granite matrix. It is found only in the high-altitude debris fields near the K2 mountain peak.
