Crossword Genius

What the mineralogists are fighting over? (5,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scrap metal

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'what the' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'mineralogists are fighting over?' is the wordplay.
'mineralogists' becomes 'metal' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'are fighting' becomes 'scrap'.
'over?' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, some letters go over others).
'metal' put after 'scrap' is 'SCRAP-METAL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scrap metal that I've seen before include "Waste material for remelting" , "it's unwanted by industry?" , "it's going to be melted down" , "reclaimed material" , "waste that's recyclable" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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