Final answer:
Mineralized veins containing valuable metals were deposited geologically and have been mined to produce coins such as Spanish pieces of eight, which became important for international trade. Treasure fleets distributed these precious metals worldwide. Mining techniques evolved from manual labor to advanced scientific methods over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mineralized veins containing valuable metals, such as silver and gold, were primarily deposited through geologic processes over the course of millions of years. In historical contexts, as exemplified by the Cerro Rico mines and others, these metals were mined extensively and used as international currency, symbolized by the Spanish pieces of eight. The pursuit and trading of these metals had significant economic and historical impacts, from the silver trade routes between Acapulco and Manila to the gold mining techniques that evolved over time.
Treasure fleets played a crucial role in the distribution of these metals, facilitating global trade networks. As these resources became harder to extract, mining methods evolved from simple hand excavations to more sophisticated scientific methods. Mining for such precious metals continues to be a mixture of high-tech methods and smaller, family-run operations, reflective of the changing nature of resource extraction through the ages.