In the early 1500s, the mercury mines at Almadén in Spain became a crucial source of mercury for the amalgamation process used in refining silver in the Americas. This mining operation significantly impacted the global economy, as mercury was essential for extracting silver from ore. The Almadén mines played a vital role in the Spanish Empire's wealth and the development of colonial economies in the New World.

The Spanish mercury mines at Almadén in 1500 linked colonial economies, critiqued in Baroque and Enlightenment literature. Poets like Francisco de Quevedo explored themes of exploitation and the moral implications of wealth derived from colonial ventures, highlighting the dark side of economic gain.