Abstract: To get the rockburst characteristics of layered rock during the loading and unloading process，phyllite in Xianshan iron mine was taken out and made into standard rock samples，uniaxial compression tests were carried out by using rock mechanical experimental rig.The experiment results indicate the failure characteristic and strength of anisotropic of the layered rock.Then，based on the results of laboratory tests in rock mechanics and field investigation，the rockburst tendency of rock samples with different layered angles are determined according to the potential energy of elastic strain (PES) and linear elastic energy criterion (W_ET).The results show that phyllite exhibit maximum uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) at 0°or at 90°，and minimum UCS at 60°.The elastic modulus of phyllite increases gradually when the layered angle increases from 0° to 90°.The rockburst tendency of phyllite was highest at 0°，lowest at 60° which was identified with PES and W_ET.The results of the research in rockburst tendency of phyllite provide a useful reference to tunnel excavation.