Janus VI is the home world of the Horta. There was a pergium production station on Janus VI. Three months prior to Stardate 3196.1, they opened up a new level, level 23. Sensors gave an unusually rich pergium reading, but also uranium, cerium, platinum. The whole planet is rich in these substances. If mining conditions weren't so difficult, Janus VI could supply the mineral needs of a thousand planets. The mining colony was there for 50 years before the attacks began, soon after they opened up level 23. There, they found thousands, if not millions of silicon nodules. First the automatic machinery began to almost disintegrate. Metal began dissolving away. There is no current volcanic activity on Janus VI. At first the deaths were down deep, but they moved up toward their levels. The Horta killed 50 miners. The U.S.S. Enterprise was sent to Janus VI to assist the miners. Spock melded with the Horta and discovered that the killings had been due to the miners inadvertently destroying her eggs. An arrangement was made between the Horta and the miners. The Horta would tunnel, and the miners would collect the minerals exposed by their tunnels. The Horta's eggs hatched before the U.S.S. Enterprise left orbit. (TOS: The Devil in the Dark)
