Sore about the metal-bearing minerals (4)
I believe the answer is:
ores
'metal-bearing minerals' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'sore about' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates anagramming the letters.
'sore' anagrammed gives 'ORES'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for ores that I've seen before include "Bauxite, haematite etc" , "Metal-bearing minerals" , "Mined minerals" , "Rocks or minerals containing metals" , "Mineral deposits" .)