On Nirn (or at the very least in Tamriel), soul gems seem to be extremely common as they're found in almost any shop anywhere.
As I remember, the only source of new soul gems is the geode mining nodes in Blackreach.
Is this (and similar areas across Nirn) the sole source of soul gems in the world?
How come there are so many in circulation if they're only found in such remote locations (and seeing how they're destroyed upon use)?
Official quotes and sources much appreciated
Best Answer
Soul Gems where originally created by Molag Bal (Full text). Whether he discovered how to shape the crystal or created it is not clear.
Beside that, it seems that the consensus is that they are mined from the ground around Blackreach and Solstheim, where magical ores (Aethernium, Ebony and Heart stone) are found. Maybe they are also found in other parts of the world and imported in Skyrim. Keep in mind that Nirn is built from the bodies of gods, so unusual crystal formations and extensive caverns can be expected.