Electronic drills smashed in violet and green crystals (9)
I believe the answer is:
olivenite
'green crystals' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'electronic drills smashed in violet' is the wordplay.
'electronic' becomes 'e' (as in e-mail or e-books).
'drills' is an insertion indicator (to drill can mean to make a hole in something).
'smashed' indicates an anagram.
'in'+'violet'='inviolet'
'inviolet' is an anagram of 'olivnite'.
'e' placed inside 'olivnite' is 'OLIVENITE'.
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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