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Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 13 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2009 | Sep. 30, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Oct. 31, 2010
Capitalized Drilling Costs |  |  | $ 3,600,000 | $ 3,600,000 | $ 1,600,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum |  |  |  | 22 |  |
Percent Of Mine License Tax |  |  | 98.00% |  |  |
Accrued Reclamation And Closure Costs Total |  |  | 153,811,000 | 318,797,000 | 131,201,000 |
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax |  |  | 200,000 | 37,000 |  |
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax |  |  |  |  | 100,000 |
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges, Pretax, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 800,000 |  |  |  |  |
Derivative, Loss on Derivative |  | 38,000 | (37,988,000) | 20,758,000 |  |
Payments for Hedge, Investing Activities |  |  |  |  |  | 700,000
Share-based Compensation (in Dollars) |  |  | 2,073,000 | 3,446,000 | 2,746,000 |
Unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pension Contributions |  |  | 300,000 | 300,000 |  |
Mine License Taxes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Taxes, Other |  |  | 6,400,000 | 9,600,000 | 5,300,000 |
Silver [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Metals Contained In Concentrates |  |  |  | 1,200,000 |  |
Gold [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Metals Contained In Concentrates |  |  |  | 5,008 |  |
Zinc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Metals Contained In Concentrates |  |  |  | 11,293 |  |
Lead [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Metals Contained In Concentrates |  |  |  | 3,493 |  |
Hecla Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pension Contributions |  |  | $ 1,100,000 |  |  |

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