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Redevelopment of abandoned coal mine industrial sites (ACMISs) has been one of the critical research topics in recent years. The ecological system of ACMISs, which involves environmental, economic, and social characteristics, is an environment-economy-society (EES) composite system. Many factors with conflicting effects are involved in the sustainable development of this system. The matter-element analysis method presented in this paper can transform counteracting problems among influencing factors into compatible problems. This analytical approach leads to a reduction of the uncertainty of these influencing factors and provides a suitable research method to solve the complexity when selecting the most suitable reuse mode of the ACMIS. In this study, eight state-owned ACMISs in the suburbs of Beijing were investigated, and a suitability evaluation index system based on the EES conceptual framework was built. Targeting four reuse modes, including the residential area, the park, the scientific research and office campus, and the business district, we established a matter-element decision-making model to evaluate the priority of reuse mode selections scientifically. The results of our calculations show that the optimal reuse mode for the Qianjuntai, Muchengjian, and Huapogen ACMISs is the park; for the Da'anshan and Changgouyu ACMISs is the business district; for the Datai ACMIS is the scientific research and office campus; and for the Wangping ACMIS is the residential area. Since the suitability level of reusing the Anjiatan ACMIS in any of the four reuse modes is relatively low, it is recommended to reserve it for governmental strategically reserved open space. These real cases demonstrate that the research method is feasible and can be applied to reuse mode decisions for similar abandoned coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]