In arid mining areas in China, several environmental issues, such as significant soil water and fertilizer seepage, high evaporation, and haphazard stacking of mining strips, make reforestation challenging. In this study, a novel pattern for enhancing water-retention in reconstructed soil using scientific ratios of mining strips is proposed. Experiments involved the utilization of two mining strips: crushed weathered mudstone (CWM) and crushed weathered sandstone (CWS). Four particle diameters (<0.25, 0.25-0.5, 0.5-2, and 2-5 mm) were employed to create three types of reconstructed soil (gravelly sandy soil, coarse-grained sandy soil, and medium-grained sandy soil). Afterwards, soil water-retention and related properties, as along with their relationships, were analyzed using multiple regression analysis, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis. The results reveal that proportions and particle sizes significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the physical and water-retention properties of reconstructed soils. Multiple regression analysis demonstrates a strong association between soil water-retention and particle size. Correlation analysis indicates that CWM has a more pronounced impact on the properties of reconstructed soil compared to CWS, especially within particle size ranges of 2-5 mm and 0.5-2 mm. Furthermore, the influencing factors on the reconstructed soil differed across the three stages of evaporation. It is recommended to maintain CWM content within 50%-70% to effectively inhibit evaporation and prevent water leakage. Among all, coarse-grained sandy soil stands out as a suitable option due to its excellent water-retention capacity. The findings can be valuable in the design and application of soil reconstruction and in alleviating water and soil loss in arid areas.