You'll be able to get into the mines after you have your Dragon form.
Originally Posted by altair71
...and what can you do with that huge rotating fireball that summons bad guys buy the mine?...
Read the book on that pedestal, kill the bad guys that orb throws at you, get exp, rinse and repeat.

I'd like to close by quoting Bellegar's famous last rhyme:

"Cursed be the mother that bred thee!
The wench must have been a hell-spawned banshee!"