In this study,the microbial activity and structure of microbial communities in soils polluted by tailings from Pb,Zn,Ag mine area were studied.The results showed both total and soluble metal loadings in these soils increased with proximity to the mine tailing reserve.Indictors of soil microbial features varied significantly because of heavy metal contamination stress.Soil microbial biomass and viable population size(plant counts)were negatively affected by the elevated metal levels,but the size of soil basal respiration rate and microbial metabolic quot ients were positively influenced by the increasing heavy metal pollution levels.Microbial community structure also changed with increasing contamination,as indicated by Biolog data and principal component analysis of Biolog community metabolic profiles.Soil microbial metabolic profiles(AWCD)values,community richness and diversity index in mine-soils decreased remarkably as compared with adjacent non-mine soils(p<0.01).It was suggested that the decline of soil microbial community functional diversities would occur in soils polluted by heavy metals from mine tailing,decreased microbial number used energy carbon and utilization ability of microbial communities for carbon substrates.The microbial activities and community functional diversities can effectively indicate soil environmental quality transition from mine area to non mine conditions.