Abstract:The geochemical baseline values of 12 heavy metals were determined by using the reference element method and the background- similar method in a small- scale drainage catchment of vanadium- titanium magnetite mining area located in Hongqi Town, Yixun River, Chengde City. The standard values were determined by comparison with heavy metal geochemical baselines in different spatial scale watersheds to evaluate the potential ecological risk and accumulation of heavy metals in soil based on geostatistical analysis, geo- accumulation index, ecological risk index and GIS overlay method. The results indicated that an obvious small- scale drainage catchmentaccumulation effect appears in vanadium- titanium magnetite mine- induced anomalous elements i.e. the geochemical baseline values increase as the spatial scale of the basin decreases. The geochemical baseline value of the upper drainage catchment can be used as the evaluation criteria when assessing the ecological risk of soil heavy metal pollution in a small- scale drainage catchment in an already- developed mining area. The baseline values of V, Ti, Co, Ni, and Cr of surface soil in the Hongqi mine area are higher, Mn and Hg are slightly lower, Cu is slightly higher than that in the surface soil of the Luanhe River basin,while the values of As, Pb, Zn and Cd of surface soil are similar to that in the Luanhe River basin. The average accumulation index of the surface soils followed the order of Cu>Cr>Ti>Cd>Co>V>Ni>Zn>As>Hg>Mn>Pb. The potential ecological risk of heavy metals in surface soil was relatively low with the RI range between 6589 to 23770. The accumulation index and comprehensive potential ecological risk of heavy metals in deep soil are generally weaker than those in shallow soil. The spatial distribution of the cumulative potential ecological risk of soil heavy metals has an obvious coupling relationship with the geomorphological characteristics of the drainage catchment. The spatial migration of heavy metals is mainly driven and controlled by hydraulic action, and the heavy metal pollution in soil is mainly caused by mining activities and affected by natural factors such as rock weathering and soil erosion.