An element of quartz in crystal (4)

I believe the answer is:

zinc

'an element' is the definition.
(zinc is a kind of element)

'of quartz in crystal' is the wordplay.
'of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ZINC' is hidden in the letters of 'quartz in crystal'.

(Other definitions for zinc that I've seen before include "Metal much used in alloys" , "Constituent of brass" , "Penultimate element (alpha. order)" , "Bluish-white lustrous metallic element" , "Component of brass" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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