Some folks have an easier time than others applying that iconic Peter Lynch mantra: "Invest in what you know." After all, simply owning an iPhone -- or having a thing for wings -- may offer something of an advantage when concocting a valid investment thesis for Apple or Buffalo Wild Wings.

For investors drawn to the mining industry by this ongoing rise in metal prices, however, practical insight into the processes that underlie a typical miner's operating environment can be extremely hard to come by. For this reason, I find the following educational video presented by Endeavour Silver (NYSE: EXK) an invaluable resource for investors seeking to apply Lynch's wisdom to the world of precious metals mining.

Part 1 of this two-part series offers a concise explanation of how silver-rich ore veins are formed, a peek at how geologists target and explore for those veins, and a fascinating window into the assay procedures used to determine the concentrations of gold and silver contained within a resulting drill core sample.

Stay tuned for the second part of this series from Endeavour, which will feature the all-important aspect of how silver is actually mined from economic deposits. If you're not sold on silver itself as a worthwhile investment opportunity, consider this compelling case made by hedge fund manager Eric Sprott.

For those not yet familiar with Endeavour Silver, this powerful growth story has delivered one of the industry's most breathtaking stock performances of late. Incredibly, with a gain of more than 425% over the past two years, Endeavour shares have outperformed even the rocket-like trajectory of Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW). Along with my top-10 picks Great Panther Silver (AMEX: GPL) and Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU), I consider Endeavour among the highest-quality vehicles available for exposure to rising silver prices.

If the never-boring silver mining industry piques your Foolish curiosity, be sure to add these stocks to your free, personalized watchlist and follow all the precious news to come.