Abstract: Coal seam mining causes deformation, fracture and migration of overlying rock, further leading to the surface subsidence and ecological damage, which are the main manifestations of mining damage.Quantitatively characterize mining damage is the key to analyzing the stability of surrounding rock, designing mining parameters, and the premising of roadway support parameters.According to the finite element and discrete element simulation methods commonly used at this stage, this paper proposes a quantitative index(damage degree)to characterize mining damage: the proportion of zone plastic volume and the proportion of contact fracture length(number).On this basis, this study carried out the optimization of high-intensity mining parameters of the western mining area, the stability analysis of the coal pillar under the condition of mining and water immersion, and the progressive damage characteristics analysis of the roadway surrounding rock in the water-filled fault structure area by using the damage degree index.The quantitative relationship between the damage degree of the overlying rock and the mining parameters is obtained, which can realize the reasonable optimization of the mining parameters.This paper revealed the progressive damage characteristics of mining water immersion in coal pillars.We deemed that there is a danger of water seepage in the mined-out area as a water storage area under the existing coal pillar conditions.This study quantified the damage distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock in the roadway in the water-filled fault structure area, and proposed the corresponding? solution of dredging the fault through the roof aquifer, grouting reinforcement of the original fault fracture and strengthening the support.By comparing with common indicators such as the height of the water-conducting fracture zone and the width of the plastic development of the coal pillar, this research found that the damage degree indicators are more sensitive to the characterization of mining damage, and could realize continuous mining damage characterization.