Abstract: Soil respiration is a critical process of the carbon cycle in mining areas. A scientific and accurate assessment of its characteristics is essential for understanding regional carbon emission mechanisms and for informing strategies that balance resource development with ecological protection. This study reviews existing studies on soil CO₂ emissions in mining areas via CiteSpace to analyze research hotspots and evolutionary trends on this topic. We summarized the characteristics and driving mechanisms of soil CO₂ emissions in mining areas, and discussed existing gaps and future opportunities. Results show that: ① Research in this field has evolved through an initial stage (1999-2010) and a rapid growth stage (2011-present), primarily relying on in-situ monitoring. Studies are concentrated in coal and metal mining areas, focusing on ecosystems such as reclaimed forests, grasslands, and farmland. ② The carbon cycle in mining areas, influenced by coal extraction and reclamation, is highly complex, as is reflected in the dynamic changes between carbon emissions and storage in the ecosystem of mining area at different stages. ③ Existing studies have mostly relied on regression analysis to identify influencing factors, but they generally focus on the effect of soil organic carbon on emissions while overlooking the contribution of inorganic carbon; moreover, they fail to distinguish CO₂ derived from organic versus inorganic sources. Future research should therefore concentrate on exploring deep-soil carbon dynamics and their driving mechanisms, and on developing localized soil carbon emission models tailored to arid and semi-arid mining areas.