Abstract: Field investigations and laboratory analyses have been conducted for the study of the physical and chemical properties of copper mine tailings with different piling times and the status of vegetation rehabilitation in Tonling Copper Mine. The results of the study showed that with the laps of time,there were changes of physical and chemical properties in the upper layer tailings.The changes including the increase of stabilization, the amelioration of substrate structure, the increase of water holding and fertility keeping capacities, the descent of pH values and the increase of concentrations of organic matter, total N, available P, available K, available Cu and water soluble salts. Sometimes the decrease of pH values could result in acidification of the surface tailings. It could be concluded that the status of vegetation rehabilitation on copper mine tailing heap is closely related to the lapse of time and the changes of physical and chemical properties of the surface tailings. 

Key words: Tongling, copper mine, tailings, soil physical and chemical properties, vegetation rehabilitation