Crossword Genius

Mineral found in first two of six limestone caves (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

silica

'mineral' is the definition.
(I know that silica is a type of mineral)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for silica that I've seen before include "Main constituent of sand" , "Compound in quartz" , "Oxide occurring as quartz and used in making glass" , "Common base of rock" , "Quartz used in the manufacture of glass" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.