NQL
USA
13A,“valuable metals” are not “ores” exactly. Ores typically contain minerals with metal elements in them (but not in metallic form/state) at high enough concentrations to be economically mined and refined. There are a few ores that contain native metals (gold being one), but you still wouldn’t call the ore itself a valuable metal.
@Bill Well, they are known for beating the eggs and whipping the cream! [groan]
@Cat Lady Margaret Could also clue that as: Puzzlers prepare to duel? CROSS CROSSWORD SWORDS
@Dawn I feel that way about anagrams but like a rebus. Different strokes…
Fun puzzle but I can’t find the third wire (3D, HIDDEN WIRES) in the crossed answers. CABLE (92A/48D) and CORD (104A/44D) make sense. But, the answers in 45A/9D (STRING/THREAD) do not contain something I would call a wire. What am I missing?
@Lisa CABLE and CORD are two ‘hidden’ words in the crossed circled letters (the puzzle theme) that are a type of wire. I couldn’t find a third one though.
@Ace agreed on those two clues and their answer. I don’t get it.
All 8 comments loaded