Crossword Genius

Quartz that’s still pit-coal, oddly (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

silica

'quartz' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'still pit-coal oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'still'+'pit'+'coal'='stillpitcoal'
The alternating letters of 'stillpitcoal' are 'SILICA'.

'that's' is the link.

(Other definitions for silica that I've seen before include "Common base of rock" , "Hard colourless compound from rocks" , "Quartz used in the manufacture of glass" , "Main constituent of sand" , "Constituent of sandstone and quartz" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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