Metal sought by a miner — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 18, 2025)
Word Tips spells out a textbook definition and even drops an anagram, pushing you directly to ORE. Our walkthrough stays conversational, helping you cement the short answer so you never stall out on a three letter across. All apostrophes display as ' and quotation marks as " to keep the HTML tidy.
7 Across
Metal sought by a miner
The clue is a straight definition. Miners literally dig for ore, the raw material holding the metal. Word Tips backs that up with an extra hint referencing the anagram OER, so you know the vowel order is locked. Seeing the answer spelled out as ORE also prevents you from overthinking options like vein or load that simply do not fit.
Crossing Safety Net
- 1-Down COMB helps lock in each letter so the tiny entry never becomes a guess.
- 2-Down PROTIPS helps lock in each letter so the tiny entry never becomes a guess.
- 3-Down REISSUE helps lock in each letter so the tiny entry never becomes a guess.
Solver Cheat Sheet
Meaning Hint
Word Tips defines ore as the mined source of metal, so the clue is practically giving you the answer.
Anagram Prompt
OER lets you remember the letter set quickly. Reverse the E and R and you still reach ORE.
Alternate Cue
Future puzzles may say "Raw material in a smelter" or "Mineral rich rock." They all translate to ORE.
Solve Smart
Drop ORE as soon as you see any reference to mining, then move on. Three letter gimmes keep your streak in rhythm.