The　source　diversity　and　health　risk　of　trace　elements　(TEs)　in　soil　make　it　necessary　to　reveal　the　relationship　between　pollution,　source,　and　risk.　However,　neglect　of　spatial　heterogeneity　restricts　the　reliability　of　existing　identification　methods.　In　this　study,　spatial　heterogeneity　is　proposed　as　a　necessary　and　feasible　factor　for　accurately　dissecting　the　pollution-source-risk　link　of　soil　TEs.　A　comprehensive　framework　is　developed　by　integrating　positive　matrix　factorization,　Geodetector,　and　risk　evaluation　tools,　and　successfully　applied　in　a　mining-intensive　city　in　northern　China.　Overall,　the　TEs　are　derived　from　natural　background　(28.5　%),　atmospheric　deposition　(25.6　%),　coal　mining　(21.8　%),　and　metal　industry　(24.1　%).　The　formation　mechanism　of　heterogeneity　for　high-variance　TEs　(Se,　Hg,　Cd)　is　first　systematically　deciphered　by　revealing　the　heterogeneous　source-sink　relationship.　Specifically,　Se　is　dominated　(76.5　%)　by　heterogeneous　coal　mining　(q=0.187),　Hg　is　determined　(92.6　%)　by　the　heterogeneity　of　metal　mining　(q=0.183)　and　smelting　(q=0.363),　and　Cd　is　caused　(50.9　%)　by　heterogeneous　atmospheric　deposition　(q＞0.254)　co-influenced　by　the　terrains　and　soil　properties.　Highly　heterogeneous　sources　are　also　noteworthy　for　their　potential　to　pose　extreme　risks　(THI=1.122)　in　local　areas.　This　study　highlights　the　necessity　of　integrating　spatial　heterogeneity　in　pollution　and　risk　assessment　of　soil　TEs.