Pike's Peak is a Fringe World with underground mineral seams. It possesses many valleys of various depths.
Arcturus Mengsk and Dia de Santo, prospecting partners, dug amongst the valleys hoping to strike it rich. However, their gravimetric readings kept fluctuating, and geologic mapping and rock assays showed nothing valuable there. The two risked losing all their money. De Santo wanted to cut her losses, but Mengsk insisted on continued exploration.
More drilling revealed a layer of banded magnetite and shale had been distorting their readings, and once that was taken into account, they found an incredibly valuable trove of minerals. Mengsk later used the money to support his son, Valerian.
References[]
McNeill, Graham (December 30, 2008). StarCraft: I, Mengsk. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 1416-55083-6