In arid and semi-arid mining regions, high-intensity coal extraction fractures overburden strata and triggers surface subsidence, degrading vadose-zone soil structure and accelerating moisture loss. However, the coupled evolution of structural degradation and water migration in the unsaturated zone under mining disturbance remains insufficiently resolved. Using the Yili No. 1 Mine as a case study, we integrated multi-depth field sampling, continuous phreatic-level monitoring, and controlled laboratory simulations to quantify stage-dependent changes in soil physical properties, aggregate stability, and soil moisture dynamics. Mining markedly intensified shallow-layer soil coarsening and aggregate breakdown: sand content increased from 57.37 % to 70.68 %, while medium aggregates showed a maximum destruction rate of 76.26 %. Soil moisture decreased sharply during active mining, with a maximum reduction of 66.36 %. After mining stabilization, moisture partially recovered (up to 59.52 %), driven by compaction-induced closure of fractures and surface cracks and by lateral groundwater recharge. Structure-moisture coupling exhibited strong depth dependence. In the 0-2 m layer, moisture was primarily governed by fine-particle loss and aggregate stability, whereas near the phreatic surface it was controlled mainly by bulk density and water-table dynamics. The rapid water-level decline stage exerted the strongest influence on soil moisture, while the slow-decline stage mainly affected the upper 0-40 cm above the water table; recovery responses were non-uniform across depths. Overall, the key to water resource management in mining areas lies in strengthening aggregate restoration and surface crack closure, which enhances moisture retention and mitigates post-mining water loss.