In order to establish a methodological framework for optimizing the operation mode of mines in high-altitude regions, providing theoretical support for mining develpoment decisions in extreme geogr apical environments. Taking a mine in Tibet as example, a comprehensive evaluation system with eight indicator scovering three dimensions -economy, technology, and management is first established. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is employed to construct priority relationship matrices and determine indicator weights through expert assessments. The closeness value method facilitated multi-criteria decision analysis among three operational modes (owner-operated, outsourcing, and cooperative development), calculating their proximity to ideal solutions. Moreover, by constructing a life-cycle cost analysis model, the economic performance of the three modes is systematically compared, and it is found that the present value of the cost of the outsourcing mode is 0.1% and 0.18% lower than that of the cooperative development and owner-operated modes, respectively. Findings reveal that the outsourcing model effectively balances risk control and management efficiency, showcasing dual advantages of capital light-weighting and management specialization, making it more suitable for the development and operation of this mine.