“Námaskarð, Mine Pass, lies between Námafjall and Dalfjall
and east of Námafjall is a myriad of hot mud springs
in widely different colours, this place is called Hverarönd, Hot Spring Strip.
Námaskarð lies 410 meters (1300 feet) above sea level, near Mývatn.
One of the substances condensing out of the
steaming hot mud is Sulphur, and that was mined
in Námaskarð until the middle of the 19th century.
The farmers who owned the mines became rich men
selling the sulphur to Danish and German traders.
The King of course wanted the sulphur for his own use,
and in 1563 the Crown bought the mines,
which were used intermittently after that.
The last effort to mine sulphur there started in
1939 but lasted only a few years.”