This　research　studied　pollution　characteristics　of　heavy　metals　in　the　typical　gold　mine　tailing　in　the　water　supply　region,　Beijing.　Multivariate　analysis　approach　was　adopted　to　evaluate　sources　of　the　heavy　metals,　and　the　risk　assessment　was　carried　out　based　on　Pollution　Load　Index　(PLI).　The　results　shows　that　the　mean　concentrations　of　heavy　metals　in　soil　samples　follow　the　order:　Mn　>　Pb　>　As　>　Hg　>　Cr　>　Cd,　and　the　mean　content　of　all　of　the　heavy　metals　exceeded　the　background　levels　in　Beijing;　what’s　more,　the　pollution　of　Pb,　Cd,　As　and　Hg　is　relatively　more　serious,　with　the　mean　concentrations　of　384.90　mg　⋅　kg−1,　3.98　mg　⋅　kg−1,　154.72　mg　⋅　kg−1,　48.05　μg　⋅　kg−1　respectively;　the　mean　concentrations　of　Mn　and　Cr　were　slightly　higher　than　the　background　levels　in　Beijing.　Multivariate　analysis　showed　that　Pb,　As,　Hg　and　Cd　mainly　come　from　anthropogenic　sources,　via　mineral　exploitation　and　transportation　activities;　Mn　and　Cr　are　derived　from　the　weathering　of　rock,　erosion　and　soil　parent　materials.　©　2015　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　London.