Abstract: Based on the ecological footprint method， a mathematical model was built to calculate the mine ecological cost. The model was applied in an open pit mine and an underground mine to estimate their ecological costs during the production period from 2011 to 2020. The results showed that the direct economic value loss and the ecological cost of the energy consumption have a large proportion in the total ecological cost of the mine. The ecological cost of the openpit mine is about twice as much as that of the underground mine， which is mainly due to the higher reclamation cost and the loss of the direct economic value. Mine ecological cost studies and cost accounting can help mine operators in exercising better ecological cost control and fulfilling their social responsibilities， which making the mine enterprise’s own development consistent with the sustainable development of the whole society.

Key words: ecological footprint, ecological cost, openpit mine, underground mine, production design