<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-11-007279.txt : 20111221
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-11-007279.hdr.sgml : 20111221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20111221081811
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-11-007279
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20111221
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20111221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20111221

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HECLA MINING CO/DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000719413
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				770664171
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08491
		FILM NUMBER:		111273367

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6500 N MINERAL DRIVE SUITE 200
		STREET 2:		NONE
		CITY:			COEUR D'ALENE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83815-9408
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2087694100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6500 N MINERAL DRIVE SUITE 200
		STREET 2:		NONE
		CITY:			COEUR D'ALENE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83815-9408
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a50113627.htm
<DESCRIPTION>HECLA MINING COMPANY  8-K
<TEXT>
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    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>UNITED
      STATES</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>WASHINGTON,
      DC 20549</b></font><br><br>
    </p>
    <hr style="text-align: center; color: #000000; width: 20%; height: 1.0 pt">


    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>FORM 8-K</b></font><br><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>CURRENT
      REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</b></font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Date of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>December
      21, 2011</b></font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>HECLA
      MINING COMPANY</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font><br><br><br>
    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
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          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Delaware</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 2%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="padding-right: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>1-8491</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 2%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="padding-right: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>77-0664171</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (State or Other Jurisdiction
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (Commission File Number)
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (IRS Employer Identification No.)
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; width: 32%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          of Incorporation)
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 32%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 32%">

        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px">
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>6500 North Mineral Drive, Suite 200</b>
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-9408</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>(208)
      769-4100</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Registrant's
      Telephone Number, Including Area Code)</font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>N/A</b></font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><br style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"></font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Former
      name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Check the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
      simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
      of the following provisions:</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
      CFR 240.14a-12(b))
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c)) </font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <br>

    </p>
    <hr style="text-align: center; height: 1.0 pt; width: 100%; color: #000000">
    <hr style="text-align: center; height: 1.0 pt; width: 100%; color: #000000">


    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
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          <hr style="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap">
      <b>Item 8.01.&#160;&#160;Other</b>
    </p>
    <p style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman">
      On December 21, 2011, Hecla Mining Company (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a news
      release with respect to its operations at the Lucky Friday Mine.&#160;&#160;The
      news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap">
      <b>Item 9.01.&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits</b>
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
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          &#160;
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        <td style="text-align: left; width: 7%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          (c)
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 88%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Exhibits
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 88%">
          &#160;
        </td>
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        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 88%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          99.1 News Release, dated December 21, 2011. *
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>
      ____________________
    </p>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">
      *&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed herewith.
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">SIGNATURE</font></u>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 30.0px">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pursuant to
      the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
      has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">

    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
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          &#160;
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        <td style="width: 44%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 44%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            HECLA MINING COMPANY
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 44%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 3%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; width: 3%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            By:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; width: 3%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; width: 44%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            /s/ David C. Sienko
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 44%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            David C. Sienko
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; width: 44%; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Vice President &amp; General Counsel
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="width: 6%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 44%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>
      <br>
      Dated: &#160;December 21, 2011<br><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      2
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a50113627_ex99-1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
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    <p style="text-align: right">
      <b>Exhibit 99.1</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>Hecla
      Provides Update on Lucky Friday and Announces Hecla&#8217;s 2012 Production
      Estimate</b></font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
    <p>
      COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 21, 2011--Hecla Mining
      Company (&#8220;Hecla&#8221;) (NYSE:HL) reports that in order to ensure safe and
      efficient operations for its personnel, Hecla will develop a new haulage
      way to bypass the rock burst that occurred at the Lucky Friday mine near
      Mullan, Idaho, on December 14. Creating the bypass and reestablishing
      mine production is expected to be complete by the end of February 2012.
    </p>
    <p>
      Hecla&#8217;s silver output remains within its previous estimates with 2011
      production expected at more than 9 million ounces and cash cost
      estimates remaining unchanged at approximately $1.00 per ounce, net of
      by-products. For 2012, Hecla expects to increase silver production to
      more than 9.5 million ounces including the loss of two months of
      production at the Lucky Friday mine while the bypass is completed.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phil Baker, Hecla&#8217;s President and Chief Executive Officer said: &#8220;While
      2011 has been a difficult year for Hecla and the Lucky Friday,&#160;the
      previous 25 years at the Lucky Friday have been characterized by an
      extraordinary safety record. Looking forward, our goal, which we will
      relentlessly pursue, is to reestablish the same safety and operating
      performance decades into the future. I am happy to report that everyone
      who was injured on December 14 has been released from the hospital&#160;and
      is on the road to recovery.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Hecla will not repair the area where the rock burst occurred. Instead,
      Hecla is planning a 750-foot bypass creating a new haulage way, which
      will be a significant distance from where the rock burst occurred and in
      a previously mined area reducing the risk of future rock bursts.
    </p>
    <p>
      Hecla expects that a majority of Lucky Friday employees will stay at the
      mine to work on the bypass or other Lucky Friday projects. Any remaining
      qualified employees will be given the opportunity to work at Hecla&#8217;s
      other properties.
    </p>
    <p>
      Hecla closed the mine when the accident occurred on December 14 to
      ensure employee safety, investigate the accident, and evaluate
      alternative plans. Subsequently, the federal Mine Safety and Health
      Administration (&#8220;MSHA&#8221;) issued an order closing the mine. Hecla is
      working with MSHA to finalize the investigation and lift the closure
      order to start the development of the new haulage way, resume
      construction of the #4 Shaft, and work on other maintenance projects.
    </p>
    <p>
      For up-to-date information and an earlier video message from our
      President and CEO, Phil Baker, please visit Hecla&#8217;s homepage of the
      website at <u>www.hecla-mining.com</u>.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b>Cautionary Statements</b><br>Statements made which are not historical
      facts, such as strategies, plans, anticipated payments, litigation
      outcome (including settlement negotiations), production, sales of
      assets, exploration results and plans, costs, and prices or sales
      performance are &quot;forward-looking statements&quot; within the meaning of the
      Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as &#8220;may&#8221;,
      &#8220;will&#8221;, &#8220;should&#8221;, &#8220;expects&#8221;, &#8220;intends&#8221;, &#8220;projects&#8221;, &#8220;believes&#8221;,
      &#8220;estimates&#8221;, &#8220;targets&#8221;, &#8220;anticipates&#8221; and similar expressions are used
      to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
      involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
      results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, expected
      or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
      to, metals price volatility, volatility of metals production and costs,
      environmental and litigation risks, operating risks, project development
      risks, political risks, labor issues, ability to raise financing and
      exploration risks and results. Refer to the company's Form 10-K and 10-Q
      reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact
      expected future results. The company undertakes no obligation and has no
      intention of updating forward-looking statements other than as may be
      required by law.
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      CONTACT:<br>Hecla Mining Company<br>M&#233;lanie Hennessey<br>Vice
      President &#8211; Investor Relations<br>Direct: 604-694-7729<br>Direct
      Main: 800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)<br><u>hmc-info@hecla-mining.com</u><br><u>www.hecla-mining.com</u><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
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