The article, based on the conceptual apparatus of studying industrial heritage, such as «plant-town», «industrial landscape», «technogenic landscape», examines the influence of one of the basic branches of the Ural industry - gold mining - on the formation of the anthropogenic and sociocultural landscape of Yekaterinburg agglomeration and its subjects. Particular attention is paid to the connection between the nature of metal mining and the settlement structure, including cases of «refusal» from regular planning in favor of following the natural structure of the area. The authors proceed from the fact that the scale of the analyzed phenomenon requires a differentiated presentation: individual parts of the article show the impact of gold mining on different areas of Yekaterinburg and its environs, in particular, Berezovsky and Staropyshminsk. Some unique documentary materials, primarily maps, are being introduced into scientific circulation.