Dushnikh Mine is the mine of Dushnikh Yal, the Orc stronghold due southeast of Markarth. It is one of the best places in Skyrim for orichalcum ore, which makes it a favourite for anyone working towards Orcish armor. The catch: the only way in is through the stronghold itself, so you need to be on good terms with the Orcs.
What you’ll find
- Seven orichalcum ore veins, plus six loose pieces of ore.
- Down from the entrance, a cart on the left holds five orichalcum ore; a table further in (on your left after turning right) has one more.
- Opposite the table, the right-hand (northwest) tunnel has one vein along the way and three clustered at the end on the left.
- The other (northeast) tunnel leads to a large room: one vein under the scaffolding and two more in the wall up the ramp to the left.
- Miners: Mahk, Ghak, Oglub and Dulug.
Tips
The loose ore is only free to take once you are blood-kin – otherwise grabbing it counts as theft in a fortress full of armed Orcs, which is a bold life choice. Anything you dig out can be sold to the stronghold’s smith. Smelt the ore into orichalcum ingots if you plan to craft rather than sell.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.