Within the scope of coal seam in Datong coalfield Carboniferous 5_-1 belongs to special thick seam, the coal seam top coal caving and fully mechanized caving mining adaptability from the physical characteristics of coal, characteristics of surrounding rock, coal clip waste characteristics and so on were analyzed, the appropriate critical depth of the 5_-1 coal seam was calculated, the support according to conditions of 5_-1 coal seam was settled. By the comprehensive analysis, it is reasonable to adopt fully mechanized caving mining to mine the 5_-1 coal seam.