Abstract:The bryophytes found in an abandoned Carlin gold mine of Xingyi City, Guizhou Province were in-vestigated in this study. According to field survey and identification of the bryophyte specimens, seven taxa in six genera of four families were found. Pottiaceae and Bryaceae were the dominant families and no Hepati-cae and Anthocerotae was identified. The life-forms of the bryophyte were mainly short turfs(85.71%) and the others were wefts(14.29%). The dominant bryophytes are Barbula rigidula (Hedw.) Mild., Bryum blindii B. S. G. , Trichostomu brachydontium Bruch. and Brachythecium perminusculum C. Muell. Of these species, the biomass range from 3.00 to 52.40 g/m2, with formed soil varying from 217.50 to 3 695. 80 g/m2, water holding capacity from 35.10 to 684.30 g/m2, and saturated water absorption ratio from 1 170.00% to 3 637.00%. These results indicate that the bryophyte crust found in the mine had great ability to absorb and reserve water and played an important role in soil formation, rock desertification control and ecological environment renovation in karst areas.