Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4685 Sunday March 13Th 2016

[mercedita]

Hi! Stuck on the last one! 1A A number of minerals are unstable (4,2,4). Can anyone help?

[fiction-factory]

What letters do you have please?

[dannyk13]

"Life on Mars" -anagram 'of minerals). In this case number = song.

[mercedita]

_ i _ e, - n, - e - s

[dannyk13]

Answered above ^^^

[scorpiojo]

Atract

[scorpiojo]

Attract even, 5d

[mercedita]

Thanks, everyone. That means I've got 5D wrong. I had EXTRACT, BUT THAT E MUST BE A NOW.
5D Draw reserves over an extended area of land (7) Don't understand the 'reserves' bit.

[Lie-in King]

Attract (draw) - 'T(erritorial) A(rmy)' (reserves, over) + 'tract'

[Togo]

TA over Territorial Army.

[dannyk13]

TA(Army reserves) reversed + tract(area of land) = Attract

[mercedita]

Thanks, Scorpiojo & Dannyk13 & fiction factory. Why those reserves?

[dannyk13]

Territorial Army are reserves.

[mercedita]

Thanks, Dannyk13! I can get a life now!

[Lie-in King]

Heigh-ho...

[dannyk13]

Sorry lik.

[Lie-in King]

No problem, Danny ;-)

[scorpiojo]

..anyone seen my cloak ;o)

[dannyk13]

I think l-i-k has nicked it.