Final answer:
Santa Fe purchased the rights to extract turquoise, which gave them legal permission to mine and sell this semi-precious stone, a transaction reflecting historical and modern practices in resource extraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Santa Fe purchased the rights to extract turquoise. This means they acquired the legal permission to mine and remove turquoise from a specific area. Turquoise, a valuable semi-precious stone, has been sought after for its unique blue-green hue and cultural significance. The rights to extract a natural resource involves the ability to explore, mine, and sell the resource found within the ground, a concept intrinsic to historical and contemporary mining practices. Santa Fe's purchase reflects the historical situation where various entities, be it conquistadors, mestizo landowners, or modern corporations, have engaged in extracting resources like gold, silver, and turquoise, often altering the economics and labor conditions in the areas where the resources are found.