This paper calculates the carbon emission and its intensity of energy consumption in mining industry of China from 1994—2015, uses Tapio decoupling model to analyze the decoupling situation between carbon emission
of energy consumption
and production in mining industry, and applies LMDI to decompose the factors driving carbon emission, aiming at gaining a full understanding of carbon emission of mining industry and at offering references to make appropriate policies in promoting sustainable development of mining economy. The results indicate that the carbon emission and intensity first rised and then fell with a yearly rising rate of 2.92% and -5.77%. Their decoupling status shows weak decoupling. Coal mining, washing, coking coal and electricity play the key role in carbon emission. Increment of economic output is the key factor driving the carbon emission to rise, while a fall in energy intensity plays a major part in decreasing carbon emission.