Abstract: By measuring the heavy metal content in the typical area of the mining area， it is found that Cd is the characteristic element of the heavy metal pollution in the mining area. The pollution degree and the potential ecological risk caused by the heavy mental pollution were evaluated by using the single factor pollution index method， the Nemero pollution index method and the potential hazard index method respectively. The results showed that the average values of single element pollution index and Nemero pollution index of Cd are 4.06 and 5.32， respectively， both indicate a heavy pollution. The Nemero pollution index of the three ecological restoration areas are 2.07~4.57， among which the south natural ecological restoration(SNER) area is heavy pollution and the other areas are moderate pollution. The potential ecological risk index of heavy metals in the mining area is 98.62~224.55， the SNER area reaches the medium hazard level， and the remaining areas are evaluated as mild ecological hazards.

Key words: Fushun western open-pit mine, mining area soil, heavy metal pollution, pollution assessment, potential ecological risk