Abstract:Contents of heavy metal elements in samples of water, soil, tailings and waste rocks from lead-zinc mining area were analyzed. Pollution degree and distribution of heavy metal in downstream soil of tailings pond and dump were surveyed, and correlation between these heavy metal elements was studied. The results show that soil environmental quality of lead-zinc mining area is poor, where heavy metal pollution is concentrated in downstream plots of both tailings pond and dump. Main pollutants in mining area are Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As, and pollution degree of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As is mainly from light to moderate. Heavy metal pollution in downstream plot of tailings pond exceeds the standard GB15618—2018 within 1 600 m, while pollution is mainly concentrated in downstream area within 400 m. Elements of Cu, Pb and Zn in soil samples show significant positive correlation with As and Cd, and they come from the same source which may be tailings, waste rocks and other solid wastes. Elements of Hg, Cr and Ni are likely to come from another same source, which possibly had nothing to do with mining activities.