K2 jasper, also called K2 granite or ketonite, is one of the best geology stories in the tray. Despite the name, it is not actually a jasper. It is a fine-grained white granite dotted with perfectly round orbs of bright blue azurite, and it is collected at the foot of K2, the world's second-highest mountain, in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. The remote, high-altitude source means supply is limited and every piece is hauled out the hard way. Under a loupe you can see the azurite staining radiate through the granite like drops of ink.
The granite base is a solid 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, though the azurite spots are softer, so avoid scrubbing them hard or exposing the stone to acids. It is cut as cabochons and beads that frame those blue polka dots, and it looks brilliant in pendants and rings alike. Clean it with a quick wash in warm, soapy water and dry it promptly. Dyed imitations exist, so check that the blue sits in soft-edged, natural-looking orbs rather than uniform painted circles.
Lapis and sodalite has that beautiful azurite blue if that's what you're looking for.
