Kolskeggr Mine is a gold mine east of Markarth, owned by Pavo Attius. When you first arrive, though, the Forsworn have taken it over and are not interested in sharing. Clear them out and you gain access to the richest gold seam in Skyrim: this is the only active gold mine in the province, with more than four times as many gold veins as any other single location.
What you’ll find
- Forsworn, Forsworn Looters and a Forsworn Briarheart in charge.
- Seventeen gold ore veins spread through the tunnels, plus various gems from the veins.
- A branching layout: an early intersection with veins down both passages, a large room on the right with a covered cart, wooden ramps and a hill climb toward the back.
- A hole in the ground near the back that leads back toward the entrance.
- A smelter right outside the mine, so you can melt down your haul on the spot.
Quests
The quest to reclaim the mine starts just outside Markarth, to the southeast at Left Hand Mine, where Pavo Attius asks for help. Once the Forsworn are gone and you have reported back, the Orc Gat gro-Shargakh also thanks you and tells you that you will be welcome in the Orc strongholds – a handy way into places like Dushnikh Yal.
Notable items
- Four gold ingots: two in a box in the back of a covered cart (take them from the side, not the front) and two on the table near the Briarheart.
- Three loose gold ores on the table by the hole leading back to the entrance.
- Seventeen gold ore veins.
Tips
Bring a pickaxe and plenty of carry capacity. Gold ingots are the backbone of profitable jewellery smithing, and this mine alone can keep a smith busy for a long time. Work the veins methodically from the entrance inward so you don’t miss any – several sit right next to each other along the walls.
Something to weigh up: players note that if you never finish the quest, no miners or Forsworn stand between you and the veins once they respawn, which makes repeat mining easier. On the other hand, the Forsworn come back over time as well, so don’t treat it as a safe holiday spot.
Good to know
The mine never counts as cleared, which is why both the ore and the Forsworn keep coming back. Whether that is a feature or a bug depends entirely on how much you like gold.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: The Lover Stone, Blind Cliff Cave, Four Skull Lookout, Karthspire, Salvius Farm.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.