Sirjan, as one of the historical cities in southeastern Iran, has undergone significant transformations in its spatial organization in recent decades, largely influenced by the expansion of mining activities and their associated socio-economic changes. These transformations, driven by processes such as in-migration, shifts in settlement patterns and land use, concentration of economic activities, and the growing influence of mining institutions, have led to the reconfiguration of neighborhood spatial structures, weakening of social cohesion, and the emergence of spatial instabilities. In this context, the disruption of the integrated spatial organization of neighborhoods and its transformation into fragmented and uneven structures can be identified as a critical issue in the contemporary development of Sirjan. Accordingly, this study, grounded in the concept of spatial organization, aims to analyze the processes and mechanisms underlying neighborhood transformations within the context of mining-led development. The main objective is to examine the mechanisms through which mining activities have reshaped the spatial organization of Sirjan’s neighborhoods and to explain their socio-spatial consequences. Emphasizing the identification of historical neighborhood structures, the study also seeks to propose a framework for their revitalization and reinforcement as socio-economic generators within a neighborhood-based approach.

This applied research adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology and is based on an integrated analysis of field observations, urban plans and documents, satellite imagery, and official statistical data. Through this approach, the physical, demographic, and functional transformations of Sirjan’s neighborhoods are examined, and the mechanisms through which mining development has influenced their spatial organization are identified. The findings indicate that while mining activities have acted as a major driver of urban development, they have simultaneously contributed to disruptions in neighborhood spatial organization. Changes in the street network, the removal or weakening of neighborhood centers, the incorporation of surrounding villages into the urban fabric as neighborhoods, and the expansion of satellite settlements have collectively reduced spatial legibility and weakened neighborhood identity. The study concludes that mining-led development, when not aligned with social and spatial cohesion at the neighborhood level, can intensify spatial inequalities, disrupt social interactions, and reduce the overall quality of urban life. It therefore emphasizes that policy-making and planning in mining cities should adopt a neighborhood-oriented approach, recognizing local capacities and characteristics, in order to balance economic, social, and spatial objectives and to ensure urban development aligned with spatial sustainability and the preservation of neighborhood identity.