This study aims to investigate the impact of the business environment on the economic resilience of the mining sector in Iranian provinces, emphasizing spatial heterogeneity over two periods: 2001–2012 and 2013–2021. Using the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) method and data from 28 provinces, the findings indicate that the business environment has a positive and significant effect on the resilience of the mining sector; however, this effect is not uniform across provinces, and its spatial pattern differs markedly between the two periods. In the first period (2001–2012), the business environment had a significant impact in only six provinces, primarily due to the economy's heavy dependence on oil, sanctions, and institutional weaknesses. In the second period (2013–2021), with the temporary easing of sanctions, institutional reforms, economic diversification, and infrastructure development, this number increased to 24 provinces. Western and northwestern provinces experienced the greatest impact, while eastern and southeastern provinces experienced the weakest effect. The conclusion is that the business environment significantly affects the resilience of the mining sector, but policies aimed at improving it must be place-based, period-aware, and tailored to the capacities and vulnerabilities of each province.