| 100% | ORES | 4 | Metals in the rough |
| 100% | ORES | 4 | Metal in the rough |
| 100% | ORE | 3 | Metal in the rough |
| 72% | ORE | 3 | Iron in the rough |
| 69% | SANDLOT | 7 | Diamond in the rough? |
| 69% | ORE | 3 | Metal in the raw |
| 66% | IRIDIUM | 7 | Metal in the points of gold pens |
| 65% | IRON | 4 | Metal in the name of an Avengers superhero |
| 65% | UNCUTGEM | 8 | Diamond in the rough, e.g. |
| 64% | IRON | 4 | Metal in the name of one of the Avengers |
| 64% | MISHIT | 6 | Like a golf ball in the rough |
| 63% | IRON | 4 | Metal in the name of a member of the Avengers |
| 62% | IRON | 4 | Golf club that's often used in the rough |
| 62% | LIE | 3 | You might get a bad one in the rough |
| 61% | ORE | 3 | Metal-in-the-rough |
| 60% | ALCOA | 5 | Big name in the metals industry |
| 59% | ALCOA | 5 | Pittsburgh-based giant in the metals industry |
| 57% | SANDS | 5 | Takes care of the rough spots, in a way |
| 57% | DETECTOR | 8 | The first metal __ was invented in 1874 |
| 57% | LITHIUM | 7 | The lightest-known metal, used in batteries |
| 57% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Diamond in the rough, and what can be found in each set of circles |
| 56% | CLAPPERS | 8 | Metal tongues in bells that strike the sides |
| 55% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Diamond in the rough ... or a literal feature of each answer to a starred clue |
| 55% | TIN | 3 | Metal of the woodsman in "The Wizard of Oz" |
| 55% | CALCIUM | 7 | Metal element in milk that makes the bones strong |
| 55% | FILAMENT | 8 | The metal strand in a light bulb that glows |
| 55% | GWAR | 4 | Metal band that made the film "Phallus in Wonderland" |
| 54% | PAVING | 6 | Covering the ground in rough square slabs |
| 53% | ALCOA | 5 | Metals giant in the Dow Jones industrial average |
| 53% | DRAINS | 6 | Metal bars in the road, above rainwater channels |