| To examine the impact of different vegetation types on the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in the Hongliulin coal mine of northern Shaanxi, this study analyzed soil from three vegetation types—grassland, shrubland, and grass\|shrub ecosystems—within the mining area. The content and density of SOC, as well as content changes and percentage differences in SOC fractions such as microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), light organic carbon (LFOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral\|associated organic carbon (MAOC) were analyzed along soil profiles (0~200 cm) under different vegetation. In addition, pathway analysis was used to identify the key factors influencing SOC and its fractions. The results of research showed that in the 0~200 cm soil layer, the SOC contents of the three vegetation types ranged from 2.04~18.35 g·kg-1, with the highest average content in grassland, followed by shrubland and grass\|shrub. The SOC densities of the three vegetation types followed the order of grassland (16.51 kg·m-2) > shrubland (12.28 kg·m-2) > grass\|shrub (7.91 kg·m-2). In the 0~200 cm soil layer, the average contents of MBC, POC, and LFOC were the highest in shrubland, followed by grass\|shrub, and the lowest in grassland. The average contents of DOC were the highest in grass\|shrub, followed by grassland and shrubland. Among different vegetation types, DOC/SOC, MBC/SOC, POC/SOC, and LFOC/SOC value were the highest in grass\|shrub. MAOC/SOC value was the highest in grassland and the smallest in grass\|shrub. Pearson correlation analysis showed that among the soil physicochemical factors, SOC was significantly positively correlated with ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and sand, and significantly negatively correlated with available potassium, pH, and silt. Path analysis revealed that SOC content was mainly affected by soil\|available phosphorus and MAOC, while SOC fractions were mainly affected by the content of soil\|available phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, and pH. In conclusion, in the reclamation and ecological restoration of the Hongliulin coal mine in northern Shaanxi, priority should be given to enhancing grassland vegetation, followed by shrubland vegetation. These findings are expected to provide theoretical support for optimizing vegetation structure and advancing ecological restoration in mining areas. |