Soul Gem (Skyrim)

Soul Gems are primarily used for enchanting weapons at an Arcane Enchanter or charging previously enchanted weapons. After using a soul gem (with the exclusion of Azura's Star) it breaks and cannot be used further.

"Mining" soul gems
In the Blackreach, the Dwemer underground fortress, there are Geode ore deposists. These drop soul gems of random values ranging from petty to black soul gems, with the majority being petty to common.

Purchasing soul gems
Filled and empty soul gems can be purchased from merchants directly. Filled gems are three to four times the price than an empty one.

Soul trapping
Trapping souls in soul gems requires the Conjuration spell Soul Trap or a soul trap enchantment. Killing an enemy with the spell cast upon them or using the enchantment draws their soul into one gem of the appropriate size. If no gem of the appropriate size exists in the inventory, the soul is lost. It is also possible to fill soul gems by using the Mace of Molag Bal.

Finding soul gems
An even better option is to find (or steal) the soul gems from
 * Dwemer cities
 * Warlock Den
 * Vampire Lair(Note:In vampire lairs you might commonly find Black Soul Gems .)
 * Nordic ruins
 * There are also a number of soul gems that can be found at The College of Winterhold, most of which cannot be taken without Stealing. Becoming Arch-Mage revokes this crime, unless the Soul Gems are owned by an actor.
 * During a quest for Drevis Neloren, several free, empty Soul Gems can be obtained.

Soul gem types
Soul gems are separated into types based off of the capacity they can carry. The soul gem types are petty, lesser, common, greater, grand and black.

Black soul gems
Black Soul Gems can only be used for gathering humanoid souls such as: Note: Vampires and Falmer do not count as NPCs.
 * NPCs
 * Bandits
 * Forsworn