When one is mining in the Sunken Crypts, have your ambient sound volume fairly high. You will be able to hear whether there are draugr and blobs on the other side of the scrap iron pile blocking the passageway. Using the pick-axe, just mine along one wall and created a slim gap in the scrap iron deposit. Doing this will prevent the mobs on the other side from getting through and attacking, while giving the player enough of a gap to pick off any enemies in the next room with a bow. If done carefully one can progress through Sunken Crypts without taking any significant damage from the enemies inside