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zircon

(Science: chemical) A mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or gray colour. It consists of silica and zirconia. A red variety, used as a gem, is called hyacinth. Colourless, pale-yellow or smoky-brown varieties from Ceylon are called jargon. Zircon syenite, a coarse-grained syenite containing zircon crystals and often also elaeolite. It is largely developed in southern Norway.

Origin: F, the same word as jargon. See Jargon a variety of zircon.