Mining activities on high and steep slopes of open-pit mines have led to severe ecological damage,including soil degradation,heavy metal pollution,and water and soil erosion,making ecological restoration highly challenging.This paper reviews the critical challenges in restoring high and steep slopes and systematically analyzes the mechanisms by which microorganisms improve soil,control heavy metal pollution,and interact synergistically with plants.Microorganisms enhance soil structure,and water retention,and reduce heavy metal mobility and toxicity by decomposing organic matter,forming aggregates,and immobilizing and transforming heavy metals.Their symbiotic relationship with plants significantly increases vegetation recovery success rates and accelerates ecosystem reconstruction.Case studies highlight the superior restoration outcomes of microbial technologies without topsoil,particularly in areas heavily polluted by heavy metals.Future development directions should focus on strain screening optimization,restoration strategy adjustment,and standardized methodologies establishment to promote the broad application of microbial technologies in mine ecological restoration.