Abstract:The enrichment of heavy metals in soil is the result of the interaction of natural processes and human activities. The source analysis and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in soil are necessary means to carry out the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in soil. In order to find out the sources and ecological risk characteristics of heavy metals in the soil of abandoned limestone mining areas in Xintai city, 65 groups of surface soil samples from 15 typical abandoned mines in Xintai city have been systematically collected and analyzed, and their pH values and contents of 8 heavy metals have been statistically analyzed. The Nemero comprehensive pollution index ( NPI ), geoaccumulation index ( Igeo ) and potential ecological risk index (Er) are used to evaluate the pollution status of soil heavy metals in the study area. Correlation analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis are used to explore the sources of soil heavy metals. The absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression ( APCS-MLR ) receptor model is used to quantitatively calculate the contribution rate of each pollution source. It is showed that the average contents of Cd, Hg, Cu, Zn and Ni can exceed the local soil background values. According to the Nemero comprehensive pollution index, Cd, Hg, Cu and Zn are moderately polluted, while As, Pb, Cr and Ni are lightly polluted. According to cumulative index analysis, the pollution of Hg and Cd in soil is relatively serious, which is the main contribution factor of pollution. According to comprehensive ecological risk index, the moderate ecological risk points can account for 72%. As showed by the results of correlation analysis and principal component analysis, As, Cr and Ni are mainly derived from the natural source of parent rock weathering, Cu and Zn are mainly derived from agricultural sources of agricultural fertilizer and pesticide use, Cd, Hg and Pb are mainly derived from traffic-industrial mixed sources, such as automobile exhaust, coal mining and coal combustion. According to APCS-MLR model, it is revealed that the contribution rates of natural sources, agricultural sources, traffic-industrial mixed sources and unknown sources to soil heavy metals in the study area are 28.77%, 26.54%, 28.33% and 16.46% respectively.