Systematic analyses were conducted on total contents and pollution characteristics of Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Mn and Sb in surface (0~0.5m), middle (1.0~1.5m), and deep (2.5~3.0m) soils of the Xikuangshan area. Ecological risks of heavy metals (HMs) were evaluated by using potential ecological risk index (PERI), mean effect range median quotient (MERMQ) and network environ analysis (NEA), and their potential sources were apportioned and identified through an absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model. The results showed that the HM contents in the surface layer were highest, and the average contents of all elements except Pb in soils exceeded the background values of Hunan Province. As the soil depth increased, the changes of HM contents were not significant, indicating contamination has diffused to deeper layers. The antimony mining area exhibited a high probability of toxic effect and severe ecological risk for Sb and Hg, moderate toxic probability and risk for As, and a high risk yet low toxic probability for Cd. In topsoil, the initial risk transmitted from vegetation to microorganisms was 2.23-fold that to herbivores and 22.33-fold that to carnivores. Notably, Sb posed the highest comprehensive ecological risk, and soil microorganisms were the most vulnerable ecological receptor. Source apportionment revealed that Zn, Pb and Cd in soils primarily originated from atmospheric deposition of industrial/mining smelting and transportation, and also impacted by the waste rocks/tailings leaching. As, Mn and Sb predominantly derived from waste rocks/tailings leaching, supplemented by natural resource of high geological background. Hg mainly stemmed from agricultural activities, particularly sewage irrigation, with secondary contributions from waste rocks/tailings leaching.