10-Q 1 hecla_10q-033112.htm FORM 10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
Commission file number 1-8491
HECLA MINING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

| Delaware |  | 77-0664171 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of |  | (I.R.S. Employer |
| incorporation or organization) |  | Identification No.) |
| 6500 Mineral Drive, Suite 200 |  |  |
| Coeur d'Alene, Idaho |  | 83815-9408 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip Code) |
208-769-4100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes XX . No .
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes XX . No .
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):
Large Accelerated Filer XX. Accelerated Filer . Non-Accelerated Filer . Smaller reporting company .
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes . No XX.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class |  | Shares Outstanding May 4, 2012
Common stock, par value $0.25 per share |  | 285,298,389

2

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
INDEX*

|  | Page
PART I - Financial Information |
| Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2012 and December 31, 201 1 | 4
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income -Three Months Ended – March 31, 2012 and 201 1 | 5
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 201 1 | 6
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | 7
| Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 19
| Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 35
| Item 4. Controls and Procedures | 36
PART II - Other Information |
| Item 1 – Legal Proceedings | 36
| Item 1A – Risk Factors | 36
| Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures | 36
| Item 6 – Exhibits | 36
| Signatures | 37
| Exhibits | 38
*Items 2, 3 and 5 of Part II are omitted as they are not applicable. |

3

Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except shares)

|  | March 31, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011
ASSETS
Current assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 278,504 |  |  | $ | 266,463 |
Accounts receivable: |  |  |  |
Trade |  | 5,849 |  |  | 10,996 |
Other, net |  | 6,445 |  |  | 9,313 |
Inventories: |  |  |  |
Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore |  | 11,885 |  |  | 13,692 |
Materials and supplies |  | 12,362 |  |  | 12,503 |
Current deferred income taxes |  | 23,534 |  |  | 27,810 |
Other current assets |  | 14,851 |  |  | 21,967 |
Total current assets |  | 353,430 |  |  | 362,744 |
Non-current investments |  | 3,584 |  |  | 3,923 |
Non-current restricted cash and investments |  | 866 |  |  | 866 |
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net |  | 938,879 |  |  | 923,212 |
Non-current deferred income taxes |  | 89,478 |  |  | 88,028 |
Other non-current assets and deferred charges |  | 11,496 |  |  | 17,317 |
Total assets |  | $ | 1,397,733 |  |  | $ | 1,396,090 |
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities: |  |  |  |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |  | $ | 30,125 |  |  | $ | 37,831 |
Accrued payroll and related benefits |  | 9,008 |  |  | 12,878 |
Accrued taxes |  | 13,244 |  |  | 10,354 |
Current portion of capital leases |  | 4,797 |  |  | 4,005 |
Current portion of accrued reclamation and closure costs |  | 40,230 |  |  | 42,248 |
Total current liabilities |  | 97,404 |  |  | 107,316 |
Capital leases |  | 8,826 |  |  | 6,265 |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs |  | 111,706 |  |  | 111,563 |
Other noncurrent liabilities |  | 30,476 |  |  | 30,833 |
Total liabilities |  | 248,412 |  |  | 255,977 |
Commitments and contingencies |  |  |  |
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized: |  |  |  |
Series B preferred stock, $0.25 par value, 157,816 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation preference — $7,891 |  | 39 |  |  | 39 |
Common stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2012 — 285,298,389 shares and 2011 — 285,289,924 shares |  | 71,422 |  |  | 71,420 |
Capital surplus |  | 1,215,785 |  |  | 1,215,229 |
Accumulated deficit |  | (111,688 | ) |  | (120,557 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | (23,717 | ) |  | (23,498 | )
Less treasury stock, at cost; 392,645 shares |  | (2,520 | ) |  | (2,520 | )
Total shareholders’ equity |  | 1,149,321 |  |  | 1,140,113 |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |  | $ | 1,397,733 |  |  | $ | 1,396,090 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
4

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except for per-share amounts)

|  | Three Months Ended |
|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | March 31, 2011 |
Sales of products |  | $ | 91,153 |  |  | $ | 136,364 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs |  | 33,290 |  |  | 44,529 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  | 9,661 |  |  | 12,262 |
|  | 42,951 |  |  | 56,791 |
Gross profit |  | 48,202 |  |  | 79,573 |
Other operating expenses: |  |  |  |
General and administrative |  | 4,501 |  |  | 4,699 |
Exploration |  | 5,611 |  |  | 3,301 |
Pre-development |  | 3,366 |  |  | — |
Other operating expense |  | 944 |  |  | 1,817 |
Provision for closed operations and environmental matters |  | 2,178 |  |  | 1,021 |
Lucky Friday suspension-related costs |  | 6,166 |  |  | — |
|  | 22,766 |  |  | 10,838 |
Income from operations |  | 25,436 |  |  | 68,735 |
Other income (expense): |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of investments |  | — |  |  | 611 |
Loss on derivative contracts |  | (5,231 | ) |  | (2,034 | )
Interest and other income |  | 149 |  |  | 18 |
Interest expense |  | (467 | ) |  | (477 | )
|  | (5,549 | ) |  | (1,882 | )
Income before income taxes |  | 19,887 |  |  | 66,853 |
Income tax provision |  | (7,315 | ) |  | (23,496 | )
Net income |  | 12,572 |  |  | 43,357 |
Preferred stock dividends |  | (138 | ) |  | (138 | )
Income applicable to common shareholders |  | $ | 12,434 |  |  | $ | 43,219 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 12,572 |  |  | $ | 43,357 |
Reclassification of net gain on sale of marketable securities included in net income |  | — |  |  | (611 | )
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments |  | (219 | ) |  | 967 |
Comprehensive income |  | $ | 12,353 |  |  | $ | 43,713 |
Basic income per common share after preferred dividends |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | 0.16 |
Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | 0.15 |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic |  | 285,292 |  |  | 278,448 |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted |  | 296,928 |  |  | 296,244 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
5

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

|  | Three Months Ended
|  | March 31, 2012 |  | March 31, 2011
Operating activities: |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 12,572 |  |  | $ | 43,357 |
Non-cash elements included in net income: |  |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  | 11,269 |  |  | 12,327 |
Gain on sale of investments |  | — |  |  | (611 | )
Gain on disposition of properties, plants, equipment, and mineral interests |  | (28 | ) |  | — |
Provision for reclamation and closure costs |  | 1,427 |  |  | 279 |
Stock compensation |  | 558 |  |  | 377 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 2,826 |  |  | 23,135 |
Amortization of loan origination fees |  | 100 |  |  | 166 |
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts |  | 12,140 |  |  | (5,186 | )
Other non-cash charges, net |  | 270 |  |  | 324 |
Change in assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  | 8,014 |  |  | (13,395 | )
Inventories |  | 1,948 |  |  | 1,310 |
Other current and non-current assets |  | 549 |  |  | 1,683 |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |  | (5,580 | ) |  | 1,043 |
Accrued payroll and related benefits |  | (3,870 | ) |  | (1,188 | )
Accrued taxes |  | 2,890 |  |  | (1,333 | )
Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities |  | (3,659 | ) |  | (1,378 | )
Cash provided by operating activities |  | 41,426 |  |  | 60,910 |
Investing activities: |  |  |  |
Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests |  | (24,652 | ) |  | (21,831 | )
Proceeds from sale of investments |  | — |  |  | 1,366 |
Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment |  | 35 |  |  | 112 |
Purchases of investments |  | — |  |  | (3,200 | )
Changes in restricted cash and investment balances |  | — |  |  | 5 |
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (24,617 | ) |  | (23,548 | )
Financing activities: |  |  |  |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants |  | — |  |  | 4,739 |
Acquisition of treasury shares |  | — |  |  | (18 | )
Dividends paid to common shareholders |  | (3,566 | ) |  | — |
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders |  | (138 | ) |  | (3,408 | )
Repayments of capital leases |  | (1,064 | ) |  | (619 | )
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities |  | (4,768 | ) |  | 694 |
Change in cash and cash equivalents: |  |  |  |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |  | 12,041 |  |  | 38,056 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |  | 266,463 |  |  | 283,606 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |  | $ | 278,504 |  |  | $ | 321,662 |
Significant non-cash investing and financing activities: |  |  |  |
Addition of capital lease obligations |  | $ | 4,417 |  |  | $ | 1,065 |
Accounts payable change relating to capital additions |  | $ | (2,126 | ) |  | $ | (3,488 | )

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Note 1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (“we” or “our” or “us”). These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes as set forth in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as it may be amended from time to time.
The results of operations for the periods presented may not be indicative of those which may be expected for a full year. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate for the information not to be misleading.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and the disclosures of contingent liabilities. Accordingly, ultimate results could differ materially from those estimates.
Note 2. Investments and Restricted Cash
Investments
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair value of our non-current investments was $3.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities, which are carried at fair value as they are classified as “available-for-sale.” The cost basis of our non-current investments was approximately $3.5 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
At March 31, 2012, total unrealized gains of $0.3 million for our non-current investments held having a net gain position and total unrealized losses of $0.2 million for non-current investments held having a net loss position were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Restricted Cash and Investments
Various laws, permits, and covenants require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities. These restricted investments are used primarily for reclamation funding or for funding surety bonds, and were $0.9 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Restricted investments primarily represent investments in money market funds and certificates of deposit.
7

Note 3. Income Taxes
Major components of our income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011
Current: |  |  |  |  |
Federal |  | $ | 3,672 |  |  | $ | —
State |  |  | 551 |  |  |  | —
Foreign |  |  | 115 |  |  |  | 115
Total current income tax provision |  |  | 4,338 |  |  |  | 115
Deferred: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and state deferred income tax provision |  |  | 2,977 |  |  |  | 23,381
Total income tax provision |  | $ | 7,315 |  |  | $ | 23,496

Our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets depends on future taxable income generated from operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, there were no circumstances that caused us to change our assessment of the ability to generate future taxable income to realize the currently recognized deferred tax assets. After utilization of $3.0 million during the first three months of 2012, the net deferred tax asset at March 31, 2012 was $113 million. It is possible that the valuation allowance on our deferred tax asset will change in the future as a result of the analysis of our long-range forecasts, with a resulting tax provision or benefit.
The current income tax provisions for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 vary from the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory income tax rate to pre-tax income primarily due to the effects of percentage depletion for all periods presented and the change in valuation allowance related to foreign operations during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Note 4. Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations
Rio Grande Silver Guaranty
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Grande Silver Inc. (“Rio”), is party to a joint venture with Emerald Mining & Leasing, LLC (“EML”) and certain other parties with respect to a land package in the Creede Mining District of Colorado that is adjacent to other land held by Rio. Rio holds a 70% interest in the joint venture. In connection with the joint venture, we are required to guarantee certain environmental remediation-related obligations of EML to a third party up to a maximum liability to us of $2.5 million. As of March 31, 2012, we have not been required to make any payments pursuant to the guaranty. We may be required to make payments in the future, limited to the $2.5 million maximum liability, should EML fail to meet its obligations to the third party. However, to the extent that any payments are made by us under the guaranty, EML, in addition to other parties named in the amended agreement, have jointly and severally agreed to reimburse and indemnify us for any such payments. We have not recorded a liability relating to the guaranty as of March 31, 2012.
Lucky Friday Water Permit Exceedances
In late 2008 and during 2009, Hecla Limited experienced a number of alleged water permit exceedances for water discharges at its Lucky Friday unit. The 2008 alleged violations resulted in Hecla Limited entering into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) and a Compliance Order with the EPA in April 2009, which included an extended compliance timeline. In connection with the CAFO, Hecla Limited agreed to pay an administrative penalty to the EPA of $177,500 to settle any liability for such alleged exceedances. The 2009 alleged violations were the subject of a December 2010 letter from the EPA informing Hecla Limited that EPA is prepared to seek civil penalties for these alleged violations, as well as for alleged unpermitted discharges of waste water in 2010 at the Lucky Friday unit. In the same letter, the EPA invited Hecla Limited to discuss these matters with them prior to filing a complaint. In April 2011, Hecla Limited received an additional request for information from the EPA on the alleged unpermitted discharges in 2010. Hecla Limited disputes the EPA's assertions, but has begun negotiations with the EPA in an attempt to resolve the matter, which includes additional water quality monitoring to better understand the quality and source of the alleged unpermitted discharge. We do not believe that the outcome of this claim will have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position.
8

Hecla Limited strives to maintain its water discharges at the Lucky Friday unit in full compliance with the permit, but cannot provide assurances that it will be able to fully comply with the permit limits in the future.
States of South Dakota and Colorado Superfund Sites Related to CoCa Mines, Inc.
In 1991, Hecla Limited acquired all of the outstanding common stock of CoCa Mines, Inc. (“CoCa”).
Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site
In August 2008, the EPA made a formal request to CoCa for information regarding the Gilt Edge Mine Site located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, and asserted that CoCa may be liable for environmental cleanup at the site. The Gilt Edge Mine Site was explored and/or mined beginning in the 1890s. In the early 1980s, CoCa was involved in a joint venture that conducted a limited program of exploration work at the site. This joint venture terminated in 1984, and by 1985 CoCa had divested itself of any interest in the property.
In July 2010 the United States informed CoCa that it intends to pursue CoCa and several other potentially responsible parties on a joint and several basis for liability for past and future response costs at Gilt Edge under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA"). Currently, the United States alleges that CoCa is liable based on participation in the joint venture, and that CoCa has succeeded to the liabilities of its predecessor at the site, Congdon & Carey, which may have held certain property interests at the site.
As of January 2010, the EPA had allegedly incurred approximately $91 million in response costs to implement remedial measures at the Gilt Edge site, and estimated future response costs of $72 million. Hecla Limited did not acquire CoCa until 1991, well after CoCa discontinued its involvement with the Gilt Edge site. In addition, CoCa is and always has been a separate corporate entity from Hecla Limited.
In August 2010, CoCa initiated negotiations with the United States in order to reach a settlement of its liabilities at the site that takes into account CoCa's limited financial resources. In late September 2010, in connection with these negotiations, CoCa received a request from the Department of Justice for additional information regarding its finances. CoCa provided written responses and additional information in January 2011. In April 2011, CoCa, and its parent Hecla Limited, received additional information requests related to Gilt Edge, and both entities responded to the EPA in July 2011. We believe that Hecla Limited is not liable for any cleanup at the site, and if CoCa might be liable, it has limited assets with which to satisfy any such liability. Settlement negotiations with the EPA are ongoing, but there can be no assurance such negotiations will be successful.
Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock Pile Superfund Site
In August 2009, the EPA made a formal request to CoCa for information regarding the Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock Pile Superfund Site in Creede, Colorado. A timely response was provided and the EPA later arranged to copy additional documents. CoCa was involved in exploration and mining activities in Creede during the 1970s and the 1980s. No formal claim for response costs under CERCLA has been made against CoCa for this site. Hecla Limited did not acquire CoCa until 1991, well after CoCa discontinued its historical activities in the vicinity of the site. In addition, CoCa is and always has been a separate corporate entity from Hecla Limited. Therefore, we believe that Hecla Limited is not liable for any cleanup, and if CoCa might be liable, it has limited assets with which to satisfy any such liability.
Barker-Hughesville Site, Cascade and Judith Basin Counties, Montana
In April 2011, a complaint was filed against Hecla Mining Company and several other mining companies in Federal District Court in Montana by ASARCO, LLC, seeking contribution and cost recovery relating to the alleged payment by ASARCO of approximately $9 million to the State of Montana and the United States in connection with ASARCO's CERCLA liabilities at the Block P Mine and Mill Site, which is part of the Barker-Hughesville Mining District, which is a Superfund site in Montana. The complaint was amended in September 2011 to name Hecla Limited rather than Hecla Mining Company as one of the defendants to the lawsuit. We have begun investigating the basis for ASARCO's claims and believe Hecla Limited had very limited involvement at the site in the early 1980s. We do not believe that the outcome of this claim will have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position, and have made an immaterial accrual for potential liability on this matter.
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Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico
In May 2011, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico, and asserted that Hecla Mining Company may be responsible under CERCLA for environmental remediation and past costs the EPA has incurred at the site. Mining at the Johnny M was conducted for a limited period of time by Ranchers Exploration and Development Corporation, a predecessor of our subsidiary, Hecla Limited. In June 2011, Hecla Limited responded to the EPA's request and discussions are ongoing. In February 2012, a subsidiary of Hecla Limited acquired a parcel of land that is adjacent to the Johnny M site and which was occupied by one or more individuals and livestock. EPA has alleged that this property may contain hazardous substances released from the Johnny M site. The land was purchased for $1.875 million, reducing the accrual by that amount in the first quarter of 2012. Hecla also received a release from liability from the landowners. Our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2012, include an accrual balance by Hecla Limited of $0.9 million for estimated past costs and investigation and planning costs, including a $0.7 million accrual recorded in the first quarter of 2012. We cannot with any degree of certainty estimate the amount of any additional liability Hecla Limited may face at the site due to several reasons, including (but not limited to): neither the EPA nor Hecla Limited have completed investigations of the site, the amount and type of remediation required have not yet been determined, and the existence of other potentially responsible parties has not yet been determined.
Carpenter Snow Creek Site, Cascade County, Montana
In July 2010, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund Site located in Cascade County, Montana. The Carpenter Snow Creek Site is located in a historic mining district, and in the early 1980s Hecla Limited leased 6 mining claims and performed limited exploration activities at the site. Hecla Limited terminated the mining lease in 1988.
In June 2011, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it believes Hecla Limited, among several other viable companies, may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated in the June 2011 letter that it has incurred approximately $4.5 million in response costs and estimated that total remediation costs may exceed $100 million. Because Hecla Limited had very limited activity at the site, we do not believe that the outcome of the claim will have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position. We have not recorded a liability relating to the site as of March 31, 2012.
Other Commitments and Obligations
Our contractual commitments as of March 31, 2012 included approximately $6.2 million for commitments relating to capital items at Lucky Friday and Greens Creek. In addition, our commitments relating to open purchase orders at March 31, 2012 included approximately $10.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for various capital items at the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, and approximately $2.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for various non-capital costs. We also have total commitments of approximately $14.4 million relating to scheduled payments on capital leases, including interest, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units (see Note 9 for more information).
We are obligated to pay $95.4 million to the plaintiffs over the next approximately two years pursuant to the previously disclosed Consent Decree entered on September 8, 2011 (“Consent Decree”), which settled Hecla Limited's Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental liability.
We had letters of credit for approximately $0.6 million outstanding as of March 31, 2012 for reclamation and workers' compensation insurance bonding. The remaining payments under the terms of the Consent Decree require third party surety for which Hecla Limited pays an annual maintenance fee. The first annual maintenance fee of $0.6 million was paid in October 2011.
Other Contingencies
On February 1, 2012, a purported Hecla stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Hecla and certain of our officers, one of whom is also a director. The complaint, purportedly brought on behalf of all purchasers of Hecla common stock from October 26, 2010 through and including January 11, 2012, asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and seeks, among other things, damages and costs and expenses. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Hecla, under the authority and control of the individual defendants, made certain false and misleading statements and allegedly omitted certain material information related to operational issues at the Lucky Friday mine. The complaint alleges that these actions artificially inflated the market price of Hecla common stock during the class period, thus purportedly harming investors. A second suit was filed on February 14, 2012, alleging virtually identical claims. We cannot predict the outcome of such proceedings or an estimate of damages, if any. We believe that these claims are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously.
10

Related to the above described class action lawsuits, Hecla has been named as a nominal defendant in six shareholder derivative lawsuits which name as defendants certain Hecla executives and members of Hecla's Board of Directors. The cases are: Jeff Adams, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., John H. Bowles, Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor, Ted Crumley, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., James A. Sabala, David J. Christensen and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on March 9, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho; Fred Cygan, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Theodore Crumley, Phillips S. Baker, Jr., John H. Bowles, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor, James A. Sabala and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on February 23, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho; Glenda Hesley, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Ted Crumley, John H. Bowles, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on February 29, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho; Gerald Moss, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., John H. Bowles, Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor, Ted Crumley, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., James A. Sabala, David J. Christensen and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on February 29, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho; Jeff Murguia, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Theodore Crumley, Phillips S. Baker, Jr., John H. Bowles, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor, James A. Sabala and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on March 9, 2012 in the First Judicial District Court of Idaho in Kootenai County, Idaho; and Steven and Linda South, Derivatively on behalf of Hecla Mining Company vs. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., John H. Bowles, Ted Crumley, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Terry V. Rogers, Charles B. Stanley, Anthony P. Taylor and Hecla Mining Company (Nominal Defendants), filed on March 1, 2012 in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In general terms, these lawsuits allege breaches of fiduciary duties by the individual defendants and seek damages, purportedly on behalf of Hecla.
On April 16, 2012, we and the other defendants in the South v. Hecla, et al. case filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
In March 2012, Hecla Limited received notice of a complaint filed against it by the United Steel Workers, Local 5114, with the Federal Mine Safety Health Review Commission for compensation for bargaining unit workers at the Lucky Friday mine idled as a result of the shutdown of the mine. The complaint alleges the bargaining unit workers are entitled to compensation under Section 111 of Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 from November 16, 2011 - the date an order was issued by the Mine Safety Health Administration (“MSHA”) to Hecla Limited - until such time as the order is terminated. We believe the claim is without merit, and that all wages due under Section 111, which was an immaterial amount, have already been paid. We may face a liability as a result of the union's claim in the range of $0 to $10 million; however, we have not recorded a liability relating to the claim as of March 31, 2012.
We are subject to other legal proceedings and claims not disclosed above which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and have not been finally adjudicated. These can include, but are not limited to, legal proceedings and/or claims pertaining to environmental or safety matters. For example, in April 2011, a fatal accident occurred at the Lucky Friday Mine which was investigated by MSHA. In November 2011, an accident occurred as part of the construction of #4 Shaft which resulted in the fatality of one contractor employee. In an unrelated incident, in December 2011, a rock burst occurred in a primary access way at the Lucky Friday and injured seven employees, with no fatalities as a result of that incident. At the end of 2011, MSHA began a special impact investigation at the Lucky Friday mine which resulted in an order to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft, the primary access way from the surface at the Lucky Friday mine. As a result of MSHA's investigations related to these events, Hecla Limited may be issued enforcement actions as well as penalties (including monetary) from MSHA or other governmental agencies. Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate disposition of these other matters, we believe the outcome of these other proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position.
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Note 5. Earnings Per Common Share
We are authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share, of which 285,298,389 shares were issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012.
The following table reconciles weighted average common shares used in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (thousands, except per-share amounts):

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2012 |  | 2011
Numerator |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 12,572 |  |  | $ | 43,357 |
Preferred stock dividends |  | (138 | ) |  | (138 | )
Net income applicable to common shares for basic and diluted earnings per share |  | $ | 12,434 |  |  | $ | 43,219 |
Denominator |  |  |  |
Basic weighted average common shares |  | 285,292 |  |  | 278,448 |
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock |  | 11,636 |  |  | 17,796 |
Diluted weighted average common shares |  | 296,928 |  |  | 296,244 |
Basic earnings per common share |  |  |  |
Net income applicable to common shares |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | 0.16 |
Diluted earnings per common share |  |  |  |
Net income applicable to common shares |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | 0.15 |

Diluted income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 excludes the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion and exercise would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.
Options to purchase 823,668 shares of our common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, options to purchase 313,388 shares of our common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. In each case, the exercise price of the options not included in the computations of diluted earnings per share exceeded the average price of our stock during those periods and therefore would not affect the calculation of earnings per share.
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Note 6. Business Segments
We are currently organized and managed by two reporting segments: the Greens Creek unit and the Lucky Friday unit.
General corporate activities not associated with operating units and their various exploration activities, as well as discontinued operations and idle properties, are presented as “other.” Interest expense, interest income and income taxes are considered general corporate items, and are not allocated to our segments.
The following tables present information about reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2012 |  | 2011
Net sales to unaffiliated customers: |  |  |  |
Greens Creek |  | $ | 90,900 |  |  | $ | 101,802 |
Lucky Friday |  | 253 |  |  | 34,562 |
|  | $ | 91,153 |  |  | $ | 136,364 |
Income (loss) from operations: |  |  |  |
Greens Creek |  | $ | 47,382 |  |  | $ | 58,509 |
Lucky Friday |  | (5,943 | ) |  | 19,912 |
Other |  | (16,003 | ) |  | (9,686 | )
|  | $ | 25,436 |  |  | $ | 68,735 |

The reductions in sales and income (loss) from operations at the Lucky Friday segment for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011 is due primarily to the suspension of production at the Lucky Friday mine during the 2012 period. At the end of 2011, MSHA began a special impact inspection at the Lucky Friday mine which resulted in an order to remove loose cementitious material from the Silver Shaft. In response, we submitted a plan to MSHA and received approval to remove the material, and this work commenced in the first quarter of 2012. In addition, the plan includes removal of unused utilities, construction of a water ring to prevent ice from forming in the winter, the installation of a metal brattice, repair of shaft steel, and installation of a new power cable, all of which should improve the shaft's functionality and possibly improve the shaft's hoisting capacity. We currently anticipate that the Silver Shaft work will be completed in late 2012, with production at the Lucky Friday temporarily suspended until early 2013. The smelter contracts related to treatment of Lucky Friday concentrates have been suspended during the care-and-maintenance period based on force majeure. Once the Silver Shaft work is completed down to the 4900 foot level, we expect to commence work on a haulage way bypassing an area at the 5900 level impacted by a rock burst in December 2011. In addition to work on the Silver Shaft, other significant surface and underground capital programs are being planned. Final plans are not yet complete, but we expect to spend up to $50 million on all of these projects, including approximately $10 million to remove the loose cementitious material, $20 million for shaft improvements and $20 million on other capital projects. We expect to incur non-capitalized expenses of $17.5 million, based on the assumption that the mine will be on standby for the remainder of 2012 as this work is completed. As of March 31, 2012, we have incurred $6.2 million in non-capitalized expenses, including $1.5 million in depreciation, depletion, and amortization, which is reported in Lucky Friday suspension-related costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).
The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

|  | March 31, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011
Identifiable assets: |  |  |  |
Greens Creek |  | $ | 735,983 |  |  | $ | 729,289 |
Lucky Friday |  | 217,267 |  |  | 213,285 |
Other |  | 444,483 |  |  | 453,516 |
|  | $ | 1,397,733 |  |  | $ | 1,396,090 |

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Note 7. Employee Benefit Plans
We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees. Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
|  | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2012 |  | 2011
Service cost |  | $ | 993 |  |  | $ | 969 |  |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | 14 |
Interest cost |  | 1,017 |  |  | 1,028 |  |  | 19 |  |  | 19 |
Expected return on plan assets |  | (1,145 | ) |  | (1,370 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Amortization of prior service cost |  | 100 |  |  | 101 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 11 |
Amortization of net (gain) loss |  | 707 |  |  | 220 |  |  | (7 | ) |  | (11 | )
Net periodic benefit cost |  | $ | 1,672 |  |  | $ | 948 |  |  | $ | 40 |  |  | $ | 33 |

The increased service costs in 2012 versus 2011 were driven primarily by higher staffing and compensation levels.
We expect to contribute $2.0 million to the pension plans during 2012. As of March 31, 2012, the company has made no contributions.
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Note 8. Shareholders’ Equity
Common Stock Dividends
In September 2011, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that links the amount of anticipated dividends on our common stock to our average quarterly realized silver price in the preceding quarter. For illustrative purposes only, the table below summarizes potential per share dividend amounts at different quarterly average realized price levels according to the policy:

Quarterly average realized silver price per ounce |  | Quarterly dividend per share |  | Annualized dividend per share
$30 |  | $0.01 |  | $0.04
$35 |  | $0.02 |  | $0.08
$40 |  | $0.03 |  | $0.12
$45 |  | $0.04 |  | $0.16
$50 |  | $0.05 |  | $0.20
$55 |  | $0.06 |  | $0.24
$60 |  | $0.07 |  | $0.28

On February 17, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a silver price-linked common stock dividend, pursuant to the policy described above, of $0.01 per share based on the average realized silver price of $31.61 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2011. In addition, in February 2012, our Board of Directors adopted an additional common stock dividend policy that includes a minimum anticipated annual dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, payable quarterly when declared, and declared a dividend of $0.0025 per share pursuant to that policy. Therefore, the aggregate common stock dividend declared by our Board of Directors was $0.0125 per share, for a total of approximately $3.6 million paid in March 2012. On May 8, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a silver price-linked common dividend of $0.02 per share, based on the realized silver price for the first quarter of 2012 of $36.59, along with a $0.0025 common dividend related to our $0.01 minimum anticipated annual dividend policy. The total cash dividend of approximately $6.4 million will be paid in the second quarter of 2012. The declaration and payment of common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.
Conversion of 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock to Common Stock
On January 1, 2011, all 2,012,500 outstanding shares of our 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock were automatically converted to shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 9.3773 shares of Common Stock for each share of 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. We issued approximately 18.9 million shares of common stock in connection with the mandatory conversion. The final $3.3 million quarterly dividend on the 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was paid in cash in January 2011.
Warrants
The following table summarizes certain information about our stock purchase warrants at March 31, 2012:

Warrants Outstanding |  | Warrants |  |  | Exercise Price |  | Expiration Date
Series 1 warrants |  |  | 5,200,519 |  |  | $ | 2.43 |  | June 2014
Series 1 warrants |  |  | 460,976 |  |  |  | 2.54 |  | June 2014
Series 3 warrants |  |  | 16,671,128 |  |  |  | 2.48 |  | August 2014
Total warrants outstanding |  |  | 22,332,623 |  |  |  |  |  |

No warrants were exercised during the first three months of 2012. Under the financial terms of the Consent Decree settling the Coeur d’Alene Basin litigation, the proceeds from the exercise of our outstanding warrants will be paid to the Plaintiffs within 30 days after the end of the quarter when exercised. Proceeds from Series 1 and Series 3 warrant exercises totaling approximately $0.7 million and $10.5 million were paid to the Plaintiffs in 2012 and 2011, respectively, under the terms of the Consent Decree.
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Note 9. Credit Facilities and Capital Leases
Credit Facilities
We have a $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which is collateralized by the shares of common stock held in our material subsidiaries and by our joint venture interests in the Greens Creek mine, all of our rights and interests in the joint venture agreement, and all of our rights and interests in the assets of the joint venture. This credit facility originated from a $60 million senior secured revolving credit agreement entered into in October 2009. The agreement was amended in December 2010 to extend the term of the agreement, reduce the commitment fee rate and interest rate spreads, allow the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and investments to governmental authorities as payment of obligations owed to such authorities, and to allow the release of certain liens and security interests granted to the lenders to secure the credit facility. The agreement was again amended on October 10, 2011 to increase the secured revolving credit facility to $100 million. Amounts borrowed under the credit agreement are available for general corporate purposes. The interest rate on outstanding loans under the agreement is between 2.75% and 3.5% above the LIBOR or an alternative base rate plus an applicable margin of between 1.75% and 2.5%. We are required to pay a standby fee of between 0.825% and 1.05% per annum on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit agreement. The credit facility is effective until September 30, 2014. We incurred $0.1 million in interest expense in the first three months of 2012 for the amortization of loan origination fees and $0.2 million in interest expense for commitment fees relating to the credit agreement.
The credit agreement includes various covenants and other limitations related to our various financial ratios and indebtedness and investments, as well as other information and reporting requirements, including the following limitations:

| • | Leverage ratio (calculated as total debt divided by EBITDA) of not more than 3.0:1.

| • | Interest coverage ratio (calculated as EBITDA divided by interest expense) of not less than 3.0:1.

| • | Current ratio (calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities) of not less than 1.10:1.

| • | Tangible net worth of greater than $500 million.

We were in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement as of March 31, 2012. We have not drawn funds on the current revolving credit facility as of the filing date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Capital Leases
We have entered into various lease agreements since 2009 for equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, which we have determined to be capital leases. We have a total liability of $13.6 million at March 31, 2012, relating to the lease obligations, with $4.8 million of the liability classified as current and the remaining $8.8 million classified as non-current. At December 31, 2011, the total liability balance associated with capital leases was $10.3 million, with $4.0 million of the liability classified as current and $6.3 million classified as non-current. The total obligation for future minimum lease payments was $14.4 million at March 31, 2012, with $0.9 million attributed to interest.
At March 31, 2012, the annual maturities of capital lease commitments, including interest, are (in thousands):

Twelve-month period ending March 31, |  |
2013 | $ | 4,765 |
2014 |  | 3,900 |
2015 |  | 3,519 |
2016 |  | 2,239 |
2017 |  | 15 |
Total |  | 14,438 |
Less: imputed interest |  | (906 | )
Net capital lease obligation | $ | 13,532 |

Note 10. Developments in Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-05, which, among other things, amended Subtopic 220 with respect to the presentation of other comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. Under the update, a Securities and Exchange Commission filer may present other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The filer is also required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statements where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The amendments in this update apply to both annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with the exception of the amendment regarding presentation of reclassification adjustments, which has been deferred to a later date. Adoption of this guidance has not had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements (audited and unaudited condensed).
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In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, which amends Subtopic 820 to clarify the application of existing common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. ASU 2011-04 provides clarification for the following:
1. the application of the highest and best use of valuation premise concepts;
2. measuring the fair value of an instrument classified in shareholders’ equity; and
3. disclosures about fair value measurements.
The amendments in this update become effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Adoption of this guidance has not had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements (audited and unaudited condensed).
Note 11. Derivative Instruments
At times, we use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals which we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to fluctuations in the market. These instruments do, however, expose us to other risks, including the amount by which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity, and nonperformance by the counterparties to these agreements.
We use financially-settled forward contracts to sell lead and zinc at fixed prices for settlement at approximately the same time that our unsettled concentrate sales contracts will settle. The settlement of each concentrate contract is based on the average spot price of the metal during the month of settlement, which may differ from the prices used to record the sale when the sale takes place. The objective of the contracts is to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of sale and final settlement. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period. At March 31, 2012, we recorded a current asset of $0.5 million, which is included in other current assets, for the fair value of the contracts. The current asset balance is net of approximately $0.1 million for contracts that were in a fair value liability position at March 31, 2012. We recognized a $1.0 million net loss on the contracts during the first three months of 2012, which is included in sales of products. The net loss recognized on the contracts offsets price adjustments on our provisional concentrate sales related to changes to lead and zinc prices between the time of sale and final settlement.
In addition, we use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure of changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments. These contracts also do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period. At March 31, 2012, we recorded a current asset of $11.1 million, which is included in other current assets, and a non-current asset of $9.0 million, which is included in other non-current assets, for the fair value of the contracts. The current asset balance is net of approximately $0.5 million for contracts that were in a fair value liability position at March 31, 2012. We recognized a $5.2 million net loss on the contracts, net of $7.0 million in gains realized on settled contracts, during the first three months of 2012. The net loss on these contracts is included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing. The losses recognized during the first three months of 2012 are the result of increasing lead and zinc prices during the end of March 2012. However, this program is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below).
As further discussed in Note 6, production at the Lucky Friday mine is temporarily suspended due to the requirement to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft. As a result, during the first quarter of 2012, we liquidated forward contracts related to previously forecasted Lucky Friday base metal sales for total net proceeds of $3.1 million.
The following tables summarize the quantities of base metals committed under forward sales contracts at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

March 31, 2012 |  | Metric tonnes under contract |  |  | Average price per pound |
|  | Zinc |  |  | Lead |  |  | Zinc |  |  | Lead |
Contracts on provisional sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 6,250 |  |  |  | 1,300 |  |  | $ | 0.94 |  |  | $ | 0.96 |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 11,850 |  |  |  | 5,100 |  |  | $ | 1.12 |  |  | $ | 1.13 |
2013 settlements |  |  | 8,675 |  |  |  | 13,250 |  |  | $ | 1.13 |  |  | $ | 1.15 |

December 31, 2011 |  | Metric tonnes under contract |  |  | Average price per pound |
|  | Zinc |  |  | Lead |  |  | Zinc |  |  | Lead |
Contracts on provisional sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 9,600 |  |  |  | 2,600 |  |  | $ | 0.86 |  |  | $ | 0.89 |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 20,500 |  |  |  | 15,900 |  |  | $ | 1.12 |  |  | $ | 1.12 |
2013 settlements |  |  | 8,275 |  |  |  | 11,150 |  |  | $ | 1.14 |  |  | $ | 1.17 |

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Our concentrate sales are based on a provisional sales price containing an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the forward price at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.
Note 12. Fair Value Measurement
The table below sets forth our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category (in thousands).

Description |  | Balance at March 31, 2012 |  |  | Balance at December 31, 2011 |  | Input Hierarchy Level
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Money market funds and other bank deposits |  | $ | 278,504 |  |  | $ | 266,463 |  | Level 1
Available for sale securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities – mining industry |  |  | 3,584 |  |  |  | 3,923 |  | Level 1
Trade accounts receivable: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Receivables from provisional concentrate sales |  |  | 5,849 |  |  |  | 10,996 |  | Level 2
Restricted cash balances: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits |  |  | 866 |  |  |  | 866 |  | Level 1
Derivative contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Base metal forward contracts |  |  | 20,610 |  |  |  | 32,750 |  | Level 2
Total assets |  | $ | 309,413 |  |  | $ | 314,998 |  |

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
Current and non-current restricted cash balances consist primarily of certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
Our current and non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities which are valued using quoted market prices for each security.
Trade accounts receivable include amounts due to us for shipments of concentrates and doré sold to smelters and refiners. Revenues and the corresponding accounts receivable for sales of metals products are recorded when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of loading on truck or ship). Sales of concentrates are recorded using estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement applied to our estimate of payable metal quantities contained in each shipment. Sales are recorded net of estimated treatment and refining charges, which are also impacted by changes in metals prices and quantities of contained metals. We estimate the prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled due to the time elapsed between shipment and final settlement with the smelter. Receivables for previously recorded concentrate sales are adjusted to reflect estimated forward metals prices at the end of each period until final settlement by the smelter. We obtain the forward metals prices used each period from a pricing service. Changes in metal prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment. The embedded derivative contained in our concentrate sales is adjusted to fair market value through earnings each period prior to final settlement.
We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure of changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments that have not reached final settlement. We also use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure of changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments (see Note 11 for more information). These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, and are marked-to-market through earnings each period. The fair value of each contract represents the present value of the difference between the forward metal price for the contract settlement period as of the measurement date and the contract settlement metal price.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q, including in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk, are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our forward-looking statements include our current expectations and projections about future results, performance, results of litigation, prospects and opportunities, including reserves and other mineralization. We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “feel,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Part I, Item 1A – Business – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and under Part II – Other Information, Item 1A. Risk Factors in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Hecla Mining Company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by federal securities laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Overview
Hecla Mining Company and its subsidiaries have provided precious and base metals to the U.S. economy and worldwide since 1891. We discover, acquire, develop, produce, and market silver, gold, lead and zinc. In doing so, we intend to manage our business activities in a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner.
We produce lead, zinc and bulk concentrates, which we sell to custom smelters, and unrefined gold and silver bullion bars (doré), which may be sold or further refined before sale to precious metals traders. We are organized and managed into two segments that encompass our operating units: the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units. The map below shows the locations of our operating units and our exploration projects, as well as our corporate offices located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Our current business strategy is to focus our financial and human resources in the following areas:

• | operating our properties safely, in an environmentally responsible manner, and cost-effectively;

• | recommencing operations and construction at our Lucky Friday unit in light of the temporary interruption to most operations at the mine in December 2011. See the Lucky Friday Segment section below for more information;

• | expanding our reserves and production capacity at our operating properties;

• | maintaining and investing in exploration and pre-development projects in the vicinities of four mining districts we believe to be under-explored and under-invested: North Idaho's Silver Valley in the historic Coeur d'Alene Mining District; our Greens Creek unit on Alaska's Admiralty Island located near Juneau; the silver-producing district near Durango, Mexico; and the Creede district of Southwestern Colorado; and

• | continuing to seek opportunities to acquire and invest in mining properties and companies.

A number of key factors may impact the execution of our strategy, including: regulatory issues, rehabilitation of the Lucky Friday mine, and metal prices. Metals prices can be very volatile. As discussed in the Critical Accounting Estimates section below, metals prices are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control. Average market prices of silver and gold in the first three months of 2012 were higher than their levels from the comparable period last year, while average prices for lead and zinc were lower in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, as illustrated by the table in Results of Operations below. We believe current global economic and industrial trends could result in continued demand growth for the metals we produce. However, prices have been volatile over the last five years and there can be no assurance that current prices will continue.
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As discussed in the Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources section below, we believe our cash, cash equivalents, investments, projected cash from operations, and availability of financing, if needed, will be adequate to meet our obligations during the next twelve months, including obligations relating to growth opportunities. One such opportunity is the construction of an internal shaft at the Lucky Friday mine (“#4 Shaft”), which, we believe, could significantly increase production and extend the life of the mine. The #4 Shaft project will involve significant additional capital costs during the periods leading up to its expected completion date by early 2016. As discussed in the Lucky Friday Segment section below, the requirement to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft has temporarily suspended work on the #4 Shaft project. Although we believe that our current capital resources will allow us to complete the project, there are a number of factors that could affect its completion.
Although we strive to manage our activities in an environmentally responsible manner, another challenge that we face is the risk associated with environmental matters and ongoing reclamation activities. As described in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Note 4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in this Form 10-Q, it is possible that our estimate of these liabilities (and our ability to estimate liabilities in general) may change in the future, affecting our strategic plans. In 2011, we finalized the terms of settlement with the Plaintiffs in the Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation, which reduced the uncertainty regarding our liability and liquidity needs relating to our most significant environmental matter. However, we are involved in other environmental legal matters, and there can be no assurance that the estimate of our environmental liabilities, liquidity needs, or strategic plans will not be significantly impacted as a result of these matters or new matters that may arise.
We strive to achieve excellent mine safety and health performance. We seek to implement this goal by: training employees in safe work practices; openly communicating with employees; establishing, following and improving safety standards; investigating accidents, incidents and losses to avoid recurrence; and involving employees in the establishment of safety standards. We attempt to implement reasonable best practices with respect to mine safety and emergency preparedness. In spite of these efforts, two fatal accidents, one involving a company employee, and one involving a contractor's employee, and another incident involving injury to seven employees occurred at our Lucky Friday mine during 2011. As previously disclosed, at the end of 2011, following a rock burst which occurred in the 5900 level of the mine, MSHA began a special impact inspection at the Lucky Friday mine. This MSHA inspection resulted in an order to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft, the primary access way from surface at the Lucky Friday mine, despite the fact that the Silver Shaft was not involved in the rock burst accident or any of the other incidents which occurred in 2011. Underground access is limited until the Silver Shaft work is completed, and we anticipate that production will be suspended at the Lucky Friday mine until early 2013 as a result. However, the timing of completion of the Silver Shaft work and resumption of production at the Lucky Friday mine may ultimately vary from our current estimates. See the Lucky Friday Segment section below for more information. We continue to evaluate our safety practices and work with MSHA to address issues outlined in the investigations of the 2011 incidents.
Results of Operations
For the first quarter of 2012, we recorded income applicable to common shareholders of $12.4 million ($0.04 per basic common share), compared to $43.2 million ($0.16 per basic common share) during the first quarter of 2011. The following factors led to the diminished results for the first three months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011:

• | Decreased gross profit at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units in the first quarter of 2012 by $11.4 million (19%) and $19.9 million (98%), respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2011. See The Greens Creek Segment and The Lucky Friday Segment sections below.

• | $6.2 million in suspension-related costs at our Lucky Friday unit, including $1.5 million in depreciation, depletion, and amortization. See The Lucky Friday Segment section for more information on the temporary suspension of production.

• | Exploration and pre-development expense increased to $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 from $3.3 million in the same period in 2011, as we continue extensive exploration work at our Greens Creek unit, on our land package near Durango, Mexico, at our San Juan Silver project in the Creede district of Colorado, and in North Idaho's Coeur d’Alene Mining District near our Lucky Friday unit. "Pre-development expense" is defined as costs incurred in the exploration stage that may ultimately benefit production, such as underground ramp development, which are expensed due to the lack of proven and probable reserves. We have advanced pre-development projects during the first quarter of 2012 at the Equity and Bulldog mines in the Creede district and at the Star mine in the Coeur d'Alene district which has given us access to historic workings and underground drill platforms at those sites.

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• | $5.2 million net loss on base metal derivative contracts in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $2.0 million losses in the corresponding 2011 period. The losses are related to financially-settled forward contracts on forecasted zinc and lead production as a part of a risk management program. The losses in the first quarter of 2012 are net of $7.0 million in gains realized on settled contracts, including $3.1 million in gains on liquidated forward contracts related to previously forecasted Lucky Friday base metal sales. See Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Commodity-Price Risk Management for more information on our derivatives contracts.

• | Decreased average zinc and lead prices for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, as illustrated in the table below.

The factors discussed above were partially offset by increased silver and gold prices and a lower income tax provision, each as described below.
Average prices for silver and gold were higher in the first quarter of 2012 than in the first quarter of 2011, as illustrated by the following table:

|  |  | Three months ended March 31, |
|  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Silver – | London PM Fix ($/ounce) |  | $ | 32.62 |  |  | $ | 31.66 |
| Realized price per ounce |  | $ | 36.59 |  |  | $ | 36.49 |
Gold – | London PM Fix ($/ounce) |  | $ | 1,691 |  |  | $ | 1,384 |
| Realized price per ounce |  | $ | 1,751 |  |  | $ | 1,405 |
Lead – | LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound) |  | $ | 0.95 |  |  | $ | 1.18 |
| Realized price per pound |  | $ | 1.00 |  |  | $ | 1.19 |
Zinc – | LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound) |  | $ | 0.92 |  |  | $ | 1.09 |
| Realized price per pound |  | $ | 0.95 |  |  | $ | 1.09 |

Concentrate sales are generally recorded as revenues at the time of shipment at forward prices for the estimated month of settlement, which differ from average market prices. Due to the time elapsed between shipment of concentrates and final settlement with the smelters, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales are adjusted to estimated settlement metal prices each period through final settlement. For the first quarter of 2012, we recorded net positive adjustments to provisional settlements of $6.1 million compared to net positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $7.2 million for the first quarter of 2011. The price adjustments related to zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments were partly offset by gains and losses on forward contracts for those metals (see Note 11 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information). The gains and losses on these contracts are included in revenues and impact the realized prices for lead and zinc. We recognized overall net losses on the contracts of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2012. Realized prices are calculated by dividing gross revenues for each metal by the payable quantities of each metal included in concentrate and doré shipped during the period. The differences between our realized metal prices and average market prices are due primarily to the aforementioned gains and losses on forward contracts (for lead and zinc) and price adjustments resulting from the difference between metal prices upon transfer of title of concentrates to the buyer and metal prices at the time of final settlement, which are included in our revenues.
Our income tax provision of $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2012, was lower than the $23.5 million income tax provision recognized in the first quarter of 2011. The lower current-year provision is the result of decreased pre-tax income in the first quarter of 2012. See Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.
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The Greens Creek Segment
The following is a comparison of the operating results and key production statistics of our Greens Creek segment (dollars are in thousands, except for per ton and per ounce amounts):

|  | Three months ended March 31, |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Sales |  | $ | 90,900 |  |  | $ | 101,802 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs |  |  | (33,290 | ) |  |  | (31,727 | )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  |  | (9,661 | ) |  |  | (10,680 | )
Gross profit |  | $ | 47,949 |  |  | $ | 59,395 |
Tons of ore milled |  |  | 165,516 |  |  |  | 189,767 |
Production: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver (ounces) |  |  | 1,328,704 |  |  |  | 1,697,584 |
Gold (ounces) |  |  | 12,652 |  |  |  | 14,430 |
Zinc (tons) |  |  | 15,943 |  |  |  | 15,526 |
Lead (tons) |  |  | 4,854 |  |  |  | 4,711 |
Payable metal quantities sold: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver (ounces) |  |  | 1,427,187 |  |  |  | 1,662,337 |
Gold (ounces) |  |  | 11,860 |  |  |  | 11,590 |
Zinc (tons) |  |  | 11,687 |  |  |  | 11,951 |
Lead (tons) |  |  | 4,169 |  |  |  | 4,019 |
Ore grades: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver ounces per ton |  |  | 11.08 |  |  |  | 12.50 |
Gold ounces per ton |  |  | 0.12 |  |  |  | 0.12 |
Zinc percent |  |  | 11.00 |  |  |  | 9.38 |
Lead percent |  |  | 3.84 |  |  |  | 3.28 |
Mining cost per ton |  | $ | 64.04 |  |  | $ | 46.64 |
Milling cost per ton |  | $ | 32.58 |  |  | $ | 27.64 |
Total cash cost per silver ounce (1) |  | $ | 2.24 |  |  | $ | (0.73 | )

(1) | A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Costs of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP).

The $11.4 million decrease in gross profit during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same 2011 period was primarily the result of lower ore production, silver ore grades, and average prices for zinc and lead, partially offset by higher average prices for silver and gold and higher zinc and lead ore grades. The decrease in ore throughput was the result of additional ground support work that diverted equipment and personnel away from production, and lower staffing levels than planned. The additional ground support work also resulted in less ore development than planned. To address this, a contractor has been temporarily diverted from the 200 South development project to accelerate ore development. The contractor is expected to return to the 200 South development project in May once planned ore development is achieved. In addition, gross profit at Greens Creek was impacted by positive price adjustments to revenues of $5.8 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to positive price adjustments of $6.7 million for the first quarter of 2011. Price adjustments to revenues result from changes in metals prices between transfer of title of concentrates to buyers and final settlements during the period. In addition to the decreased positive price adjustments for the first quarter of 2012, a net loss of $1.0 million on forward contracts related to concentrates shipped during 2012 compares to a gain of $0.8 million in the same period in 2011 (see Note 11 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).
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Mining and milling costs per ton increased by 37% and 18%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to lower production, as mill throughput decreased by 13%. The mining costs per ton variance was also attributable to higher maintenance costs during the 2012 period.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization was 10% less in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same 2011 period, due primarily to lower metals production as described above, as the majority of depreciation is calculated on a units-of-production basis.
Cash cost per ounce of silver increased by $2.97 for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily as a result of higher production costs by $4.71 per ounce, treatment and freight costs by $2.68 per ounce, and mine license tax and other costs by $0.97 per ounce. The increase in production costs per ounce is mainly attributable to lower silver ounces produced due to the decrease in mill throughput and lower silver ore grades. The factors above were partially offset by higher by-product credits of $5.39 per ounce due to higher average gold prices and higher zinc and lead ore grades.
The difference between what we report as “production” and “payable metal quantities sold” is due essentially to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the concentrates we produce versus the portion of those metals actually payable by our smelter customers according to the terms of the smelter contracts. Differences can also arise from inventory changes incidental to shipping schedules. The decrease in payable quantities sold for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 is due to the timing of concentrate shipments and reduced production during the 2012 period.
While value from zinc, lead and gold by-products is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of the Greens Creek unit is appropriate because:

• | silver has historically accounted for a higher proportion of revenue than any other metal and is expected to do so in the future;

• | we have historically presented Greens Creek as a producer primarily of silver, based on the original analysis that justified putting the project into production, and believe that consistency in disclosure is important to our investors regardless of the relationships of metals prices and production from year to year;

• | metallurgical treatment maximizes silver recovery;

• | the Greens Creek deposit is a massive sulfide deposit containing an unusually high proportion of silver; and

• | in most of its working areas, Greens Creek utilizes selective mining methods in which silver is the metal targeted for highest recovery.

We periodically review our proven and probable reserves to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate. Within our cost per ounce of silver calculations, because we consider zinc, lead and gold to be by-products of our silver production, the values of these metals offset operating costs within our cost per ounce calculations.
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The Lucky Friday Segment
The following is a comparison of the operating results and key production statistics of our Lucky Friday segment (dollars are in thousands, except for per ton and per ounce amounts):

|  | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Sales |  | $ | 253 |  |  | $ | 34,562 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs |  |  | — |  |  |  | (12,802 | )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  |  | — |  |  |  | (1,582 | )
Gross profit |  | $ | 253 |  |  | $ | 20,178 |
Tons of ore milled |  |  | — |  |  |  | 88,760 |
Production: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver (ounces) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 756,824 |
Lead (tons) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,944 |
Zinc (tons) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,155 |
Payable metal quantities sold: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver (ounces) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 701,092 |
Lead (tons) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,583 |
Zinc (tons) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,564 |
Ore grades: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Silver ounces per ton |  |  | — |  |  |  | 9.27 |
Lead percent |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6.08 |
Zinc percent |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2.85 |
Mining cost per ton |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 58.51 |
Milling cost per ton |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 15.40 |
Total cash cost per silver ounce (1) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4.99 |

(1) | A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Costs of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP).

The $19.9 million decrease in gross profit for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 resulted from the suspension of production at the Lucky Friday mine during 2012. At the end of 2011, MSHA began a special impact inspection at the Lucky Friday mine which resulted in an order to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft. The Silver Shaft is an approximately one-mile deep, 18-foot diameter, concrete-lined shaft from surface. It is the primary access to the Lucky Friday mine's underground workings. In response to the MSHA order, we submitted a plan to MSHA and received approval to remove the loose cementitious material, which work commenced in the first quarter of 2012. The plan also includes removal of unused utilities, construction of a water ring to prevent ice from forming in the winter, the installation of a metal brattice, repair of shaft steel, and installation of a new power cable, all of which should improve the shaft's functionality and possibly improve the shaft's hoisting capacity. The Silver Shaft rehabilitation work is progressing according to plan. All surface work required for the project has been completed, and approximately 1,500 feet of shaft restoration work has been completed as of early May. We currently anticipate that the work on the 6,100 foot Silver Shaft will be completed in late 2012, with production at the Lucky Friday recommencing in early 2013. During this period, the smelter contracts related to treatment of Lucky Friday concentrates have been suspended based on force majeure. Once the Silver Shaft cleanup has been completed down to the 4900 level, we anticipate that we will be able to commence construction of a haulage way bypass around an area impacted by a rock burst in December 2011. We believe that we will be able to resume work on the #4 Shaft project (discussed below) in early 2013 once the Silver Shaft work is completed. However, the timing of completion of the Silver Shaft work and resumption of production and work on the #4 Shaft project at the Lucky Friday mine may ultimately vary from our current estimates. Care and maintenance costs incurred at the Lucky Friday during the suspension of production totaled $6.2 million, including $1.5 million in depreciation, depletion, and amortization, for the first quarter of 2012. These costs are included in a separate line item under Other operating expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).
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The $0.3 million in sales recognized in the first quarter of 2012 represents provisional price adjustments on prior-period concentrate shipments that were subject to changes in metals prices during the first quarter of 2012 until their final settlement.
Similar to the Greens Creek segment, the difference between what we report as “production” and “payable metal quantities sold” is due essentially to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the concentrates we produce versus the portion of those metals actually payable by our smelter customers according to the terms of the smelter contracts.
While value from lead and zinc is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of the Lucky Friday unit is appropriate because:

• | silver has historically accounted for a higher proportion of revenue than any other metal and is expected to do so in the future;

• | the Lucky Friday unit is situated in a mining district long associated with silver production; and

• | the Lucky Friday unit generally utilizes selective mining methods to target silver production.

We periodically review our proven and probable reserves to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate. Because we consider zinc and lead to be by-products of our silver production, the values of these metals offset operating costs within our cost per ounce calculations.
The #4 Shaft project, an internal shaft at the Lucky Friday mine, will, upon its completion, provide deeper access in order to expand the mine's operational life. We commenced engineering and construction activities on #4 Shaft in late 2009, and our Board of Directors gave its final approval of the project in August 2011. Construction of the #4 Shaft as currently designed is expected to cost a total of approximately $200 million, including approximately $90 million already spent as of March 31, 2012, with completion expected in early 2016. As discussed above, the #4 Shaft construction has been temporarily suspended until cleanup work in the Silver Shaft is completed. Once construction of #4 Shaft resumes, we believe that our current capital resources will allow us to complete the project. However, there are a number of factors that could affect completion of the project, including: (i) a significant decline in metals prices, (ii) a reduction in available cash or credit, whether arising from decreased cash flow or other uses of available cash, or (iii) a significant increase in operating or capital costs.
Many of the employees at our Lucky Friday unit are represented by a union. The collective bargaining agreement with the union expires on April 30, 2016. As a result of the requirement to remove loose material from the Silver Shaft, which will limit underground access and temporarily suspend production at the Lucky Friday, Hecla Limited laid off 121 employees in January 2012, with approximately 25 of those employees accepting temporary positions at other Hecla operations. We anticipate that employment at the Lucky Friday will return to its level prior to the suspension of production as the Silver Shaft work is completed.
Corporate Matters
Other significant variances affecting our net income for the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 were as follows:

• | Pre-development expense increased $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 as a result of advancing our pre-development projects at the historic Equity and Bulldog mines in Creede, Colorado and the Star mine in Idaho's Silver Valley.

• | Other operating expense decreased by $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same 2011 period primarily as a result of lower incentive compensation costs.

• | Provisions for closed operations and environmental matters increased by $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same 2011 period due primarily to a $0.8 million increase in the accrual for estimated reclamation costs at the Johnny M site in New Mexico (See Note 4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

• | Mark-to-market losses on base metals forward sales contracts totaled $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to losses of $2.0 million in the same period of 2011.

• | Income tax provisions totaled $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $23.5 million for the first quarter of 2011. The lower current-year provision is the result of decreased pre-tax income in the first quarter of 2012. See Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

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Employee Benefit Plans
Our defined benefit pension plans, while affording a significant benefit to our employees, also represent a significant liability. The liability recorded for the funded status of our plans was $23.7 million and $22.8 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. We expect to contribute $2.0 million to the Hecla plan during 2012. The company has made no contributions as of March 31, 2012 . While the economic variables which will determine future cash requirements are uncertain, we expect contributions to increase in future years. See Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Income Taxes
Our net deferred tax asset at March 31, 2012, totaled $113.0 million, or 8% of total assets, a decrease of $2.8 million from the $115.8 million net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2011. The largest component of the deferred tax asset is deferred reclamation, of which the majority will be realized in the next two years, assuming adequate taxable income. The next largest component derives from the tax effect of past net operating losses carried forward to be applied against current income to determine cash income tax liability. Each reporting period, we assess our deferred tax assets with long-range forecasts to provide reasonable assurance that they will be realized through future earnings. At March 31, 2012, with the exception of $0.3 million relating to net operating loss carry forwards for states where we currently have no activity and $2.4 million for foreign tax credits, we retained no valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets. A $21.0 million valuation allowance remains on losses in foreign jurisdictions. We currently expect the effective tax rate for 2012 to be approximately 40%, with the increase from 2011 attributable to the loss of percentage depletion related to the Lucky Friday mine as a result of the temporary suspension of production there. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the tax provision represents a 37% effective tax rate as a result of a discrete benefit from amended state returns filed in the first quarter of 2012.
Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP)
The tables below present reconciliations between the non-GAAP measure of total cash costs to the GAAP measure of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization for our operations at the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except costs per ounce).
Total cash costs include all direct and indirect operating cash costs related directly to the physical activities of producing metals, including mining, processing and other plant costs, third-party refining and marketing expense, on-site general and administrative costs, royalties, and mining production taxes, net of by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit (silver). Total cash costs provide management and investors an indication of net cash flow, after consideration of the realized price received for production sold. Management also uses this measurement for the comparative monitoring of performance of our mining operations period-to-period from a cash flow perspective. “Total cash cost per ounce” is a measure developed by mining companies in an effort to provide a comparable standard, however, there can be no assurance that our reporting of this non-GAAP measure is similar to that reported by other mining companies.
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Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, is the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP to total cash costs. The sum of the cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization for our operating units in the tables below is presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (in thousands).

|  | Total, All Properties
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Total cash costs (1) |  | $ | 2,976 |  |  | $ | 2,530 |
Divided by ounces produced |  |  | 1,329 |  |  |  | 2,455 |
Total cash cost per ounce produced |  | $ | 2.24 |  |  | $ | 1.03 |
Reconciliation to GAAP: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash costs |  | $ | 2,976 |  |  | $ | 2,530 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  |  | 9,661 |  |  |  | 12,262 |
Treatment costs |  |  | (17,695 | ) |  |  | (24,236 | )
By-product credits |  |  | 46,353 |  |  |  | 64,511 |
Change in product inventory |  |  | 1,805 |  |  |  | 1,533 |
Reclamation and other costs |  |  | (149 | ) |  |  | 191 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) |  | $ | 42,951 |  |  | $ | 56,791 |

|  | Greens Creek Unit
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Total cash costs (1) |  | $ | 2,976 |  |  | $ | (1,245 | )
Divided by ounces produced |  |  | 1,329 |  |  |  | 1,698 |
Total cash cost per ounce produced |  | $ | 2.24 |  |  | $ | (0.73 | )
Reconciliation to GAAP: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash costs |  | $ | 2,976 |  |  | $ | (1,245 | )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  |  | 9,661 |  |  |  | 10,680 |
Treatment costs |  |  | (17,695 | ) |  |  | (19,116 | )
By-product credits |  |  | 46,353 |  |  |  | 50,063 |
Change in product inventory |  |  | 1,805 |  |  |  | 1,858 |
Reclamation and other costs |  |  | (149 | ) |  |  | 167 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) |  | $ | 42,951 |  |  | $ | 42,407 |

|  | Lucky Friday Unit (2) |
|  | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Total cash costs (1) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 3,775 |
Divided by silver ounces produced |  |  | — |  |  |  | 757 |
Total cash cost per ounce produced |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4.99 |
Reconciliation to GAAP: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash costs |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 3,775 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,582 |
Treatment costs |  |  | — |  |  |  | (5,120 | )
By-product credits |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,448 |
Change in product inventory |  |  | — |  |  |  | (325 | )
Reclamation and other costs |  |  | — |  |  |  | 24 |
Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 14,384 |

(1) | Includes all direct and indirect operating cash costs related directly to the physical activities of producing metals, including mining, processing and other plant costs, third-party refining and marketing expense, on-site general and administrative costs, royalties and mining production taxes, net of by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.

(2) | Production has been temporarily suspended at the Lucky Friday unit as work is performed to rehabilitate the Silver Shaft, the primary access from surface to the underground workings at the Lucky Friday mine. See the Lucky Friday Segment section above for further discussion of the Silver Shaft work and temporary suspension of operations. Care and maintenance costs incurred at the Lucky Friday during the suspension of production are included in a separate line item under Other operating expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited), and have been excluded from the calculation of total cash costs for the three month period ended March 31, 2012.

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Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquid assets include (in millions):

|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | December 31, 2011 |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 278.5 |  |  | $ | 266.5 |
Marketable equity securities - non-current |  |  | 3.6 |  |  |  | 3.9 |
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments |  | $ | 282.1 |  |  | $ | 270.4 |

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $12.0 million in the first three months of 2012, as discussed below, while the value of non-current marketable equity securities decreased by $0.3 million (see Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).
In 2011, we settled Hecla Limited's Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation and related claims pursuant to a Consent Decree entered by the Court on September 8, 2011. Hecla Limited remains obligated under the Consent Decree to make the following payments:

• | $25 million of cash by October 8, 2012;

• | $15 million of cash by October 8, 2013; and

• | Approximately $55.4 million by August 2014, as quarterly payments of the proceeds from the exercise of any outstanding Series 1 and Series 3 warrants (which have an exercise price of between $2.43 and $2.54 per share) during the quarter, with the remaining balance, if any, due in August 2014, regardless of whether any of the remaining warrants are exercised.

The payments require third party surety for which Hecla Limited pays an annual maintenance fee which will decrease as payments are made according to the foregoing schedule. The first annual maintenance fee of $0.6 million was paid in October 2011. The $25 million and $15 million payments accrue interest from the entry of the Consent Decree until payment at the Superfund rate (0.69% for 2011, 0.74% for 2012).
As a result of our current cash balance, the performance of our operations, current metals prices, and full availability of our $100 million revolving credit agreement, we believe our cash, cash equivalents, investments, projected cash from operations, and availability of financing if needed will be adequate to meet our obligations during the next 12 months, including the required settlement payments previously discussed, anticipated capital costs related to rehabilitation of the Silver Shaft and care-and-maintenance costs incurred at Lucky Friday as that work is completed, capital outlays for the #4 Shaft project, potential repurchases of our common stock, and payment of potential common stock dividends, if declared by our board of directors. We currently estimate that a total of approximately $140 million will be incurred on capital expenditures for equipment, infrastructure, and development at our Lucky Friday and Greens Creek units in 2012, including capital costs for anticipated work on the Lucky Friday Silver Shaft, as discussed further below. We also estimate that exploration and pre-development expenditures will total approximately $40 million in 2012, however, these expenditures may increase based upon the success of programs that are currently ongoing.
The #4 Shaft project, which is discussed further in the Lucky Friday Segment section above, is expected to involve capital expenditures of approximately $200 million, including approximately $90 million that has been spent on the project as of March 31, 2012. Our ability to finance this project will depend on our operational performance, metals prices, our ability to estimate capital costs, sources of liquidity available to us, and other factors. #4 Shaft construction has been temporarily suspended until work to be performed on the Silver Shaft is completed. Once construction resumes, we believe that our available cash, revolving credit agreement, cash from operations, and access to equity and financial markets will allow us to proceed with the #4 Shaft despite the required payments under the Consent Decree which settled the Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation and other obligations. We may also mitigate market risk from time to time with selective base metal derivative contract programs. However, a sustained downturn in metals prices or significant increases in operational or capital costs, other uses of cash, or other factors beyond our control could compel us to defer development below 7800 feet.
As discussed further in the Lucky Friday Segment section above, work to rehabilitate the Silver Shaft commenced during the first quarter of 2012. In addition to work on the Silver Shaft, other significant surface and underground capital programs are being planned for 2012. Final plans are not complete, but we expect to spend up to $50 million on all of these projects, including approximately $10 million to remove loose cementitious material from the shaft, $20 million for shaft improvements and $20 million on other capital projects. We expect to incur non-capitalized expenses of approximately $17.5 million for the care and maintenance of the mine, based on the assumption that the mine will be on standby for the remainder of 2012 as this work is completed. We believe that our available cash and other financial resources will allow us to complete the Silver Shaft work and sustain temporary care-and-maintenance of the Lucky Friday mine until production resumes, which we currently anticipate will be in early 2013.
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In September 2011, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that links the anticipated amount of any declared dividend on our common stock to our average realized silver price in the preceding quarter. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the potential per share dividend amounts at different quarterly average realized price levels according to the policy. Pursuant to this policy, on February 17, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.01 per share based on the average realized silver price of $31.61 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2011. In addition, in February 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that includes a minimum anticipated annual dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, payable quarterly when declared, and declared a dividend of $0.0025 per share pursuant to that policy. As a result, the aggregate common stock dividend declared by our Board of Directors was $0.0125 per share, for a total of approximately $3.6 million paid in March of 2012. On May 8, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a silver price-linked common dividend of $0.02 per share, based on the realized silver price for the first quarter of 2012 of $36.59, along with a $0.0025 common dividend related to our $0.01 minimum anticipated annual dividend policy. The total cash dividend of approximately $6.4 million will be paid in the second quarter of 2012. The declaration and payment of common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.
On May 8, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program. Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors. The closing price of our common stock at May 4, 2012, was $3.96 per share. The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. As of the date of this report, no shares have been purchased under the repurchase program.

|  | Three Months Ended
|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | March 31, 2011
Cash provided by operating activities (in millions) |  | $ | 41.4 |  |  | $ | 60.9 |

Cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2012 decreased by $19.5 million compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to lower income, as adjusted for non-cash items. The lower income is primarily attributable to the suspension of production at the Lucky Friday mine during the 2012 period while rehabilitation work on the Silver Shaft is being performed, as discussed above. Working capital and other operating asset and liability changes resulted in a net cash flow increase of $0.3 million in the first three months of 2012 compared to a net decrease in cash flows of $13.3 million in the 2011 period. The $13.6 million variance in working capital changes is attributed to lower accounts receivable due primarily to the timing of concentrate shipments at Greens Creek and the suspension of production at Lucky Friday, and decreases in accruals for production taxes at Greens Creek. These factors were partially offset by reductions in accounts payable and accrued payroll balances due mainly to the decreased activity at the Lucky Friday mine resulting from the temporary suspension of production there.

|  | Three Months Ended
|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | March 31, 2011 |
Cash used in investing activities (in millions) |  | $ | (24.6 | ) |  | $ | (23.5 | )

During the first quarter of 2012 we invested $24.7 million in capital expenditures, not including $4.4 million in non-cash capital lease additions, an increase of $2.8 million compared to the same period in 2011, due to an increase in capital spending at the Greens Creek unit. During the first quarter of 2011, we purchased marketable securities having a cost basis of $3.2 million, and sold investments having a cost of $0.8 million for proceeds of $1.4 million (see Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

|  | Three Months Ended
|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | March 31, 2011 |
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities (in millions) |  | $ | (4.8 | ) |  | $ | 0.7 |

Warrants to purchase approximately 1.8 million shares of our common stock were exercised in the first quarter of 2011, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $4.4 million, with additional proceeds of $0.3 million from the exercise of options during the first three months of 2011. No warrants or options were exercised during the first three months of 2012. The remaining outstanding warrants at March 31, 2012 to purchase approximately 22.3 million shares of our common stock have exercise prices ranging from $2.43 to $2.54 per share and expire in 2014. Any future proceeds from the exercise of outstanding warrants will be paid to the Plaintiffs under the terms of the Consent Decree which settled the Basin litigation. See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information on our outstanding warrants.
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During the first three months of 2012, we paid cash dividends on our common stock totaling $3.6 million, pursuant to the silver-price linked and minimum anticipated annual dividend policies discussed above, and cash dividends of $0.1 million on our Series B Preferred Stock. We paid cash dividends totaling $3.3 million on our 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and $0.1 million on our Series B Preferred Stock in the first three months of 2011. On January 1, 2011, all of the outstanding shares of our 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock were converted to shares of our common stock, and we paid the final quarterly dividend on that series of preferred stock in January 2011. We are no longer required to pay quarterly dividends of approximately $3.3 million on such preferred stock as a result of the conversion. We made repayments on our capital leases of $1.1 million and $0.6 million in the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities and Commitments
The table below presents our fixed, non-cancelable contractual obligations and commitments primarily related to our litigation settlement, outstanding purchase orders, certain capital expenditures, our credit facility and lease arrangements as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

|  | Payments Due By Period |
|  | Less than 1 year |  |  | 1-3 years |  |  | 4-5 years |  | More than 5 years |  | Total |
Purchase obligation (1) |  | $ | 13,731 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 13,731 |
Commitment fees (2) |  |  | 825 |  |  |  | 1,238 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,063 |
Contractual obligations (3) |  |  | 6,226 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,226 |
Capital lease commitments (4) |  |  | 4,765 |  |  |  | 7,419 |  |  |  | 2,254 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,438 |
Operating lease commitments (5) |  |  | 2,539 |  |  |  | 3,732 |  |  |  | 880 |  |  |  | 758 |  |  |  | 7,909 |
Coeur d'Alene Basin litigation settlement (6) |  |  | 25,000 |  |  |  | 70,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 95,400 |
Surety maintenance fees (6) |  |  | 461 |  |  |  | 452 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 913 |
Supplemental executive retirement plan (7) |  |  | 331 |  |  |  | 671 |  |  |  | 705 |  |  |  | 2,322 |  |  |  | 4,029 |
Total contractual cash obligations |  | $ | 53,878 |  |  | $ | 83,912 |  |  | $ | 3,839 |  |  | $ | 3,080 |  |  | $ | 144,709 |

(1) | Consists of open purchase orders of approximately $12.7 million at the Greens Creek unit and $1.1 million at the Lucky Friday unit. Included in these amounts are approximately $10.0 million and $0.9 million related to various capital projects at the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, respectively.

(2) | In October 2009, we entered into a $60 million revolving credit agreement, which was amended in March 2010, July 2010, and December 2010. It was amended again in October 2011 to increase the revolving credit agreement to $100 million. We are required to pay a standby fee, dependent on our leverage ratio, of between 0.825% and 1.05% per annum on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit agreement. There was no amount drawn under the revolving credit agreement as of March 31, 2012, and the amounts above assume no amounts will be drawn during the agreement’s term. For more information on our credit facility, see Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

(3) | As of March 31, 2012, we were committed to approximately $1.7 million and $4.5 million for various capital projects at the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, respectively.

(4) | Includes scheduled capital lease payments of $11.5 million and $2.8 million (including interest), respectively, for equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units. These leases have fixed payment terms and contain bargain purchase options at the end of the lease periods (see Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

(5) | We enter into operating leases in the normal course of business. Substantially all lease agreements have fixed payment terms based on the passage of time. Some lease agreements provide us with the option to renew the lease or purchase the leased property. Our future operating lease obligations would change if we exercised these renewal options and if we entered into additional operating lease arrangements.

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(6) | On September 8, 2011, a Consent Decree settling the Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation and related claims was entered by the U.S. District Court in Idaho. As of March 31, 2012, our remaining obligation under the terms of the settlement include (i) $25 million in cash by October 8, 2012, (ii) $15 million in cash by October 8, 2013, and (iii) approximately $55.4 million by August 2014, as quarterly payments of the proceeds from the exercise of any outstanding Series 1 and Series 3 warrants during the quarter, with the remaining balance, if any, due in August 2014. These payments are secured by a third party surety for which Hecla Limited pays an annual maintenance fee of 0.556% of the remaining obligation balance.

(7) | We expect to contribute approximately $1.1 million to our other defined benefit pension plans in 2012. See Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information

We record liabilities for costs associated with mine closure, reclamation of land and other environmental matters. At March 31, 2012, our liabilities for these matters totaled $151.9 million, including $95.1 for the net present value of Hecla Limited's liability relating to the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in North Idaho. On September 8, 2011 a Consent Decree settling the Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation and related claims was entered by the U.S. District Court in Idaho. See the Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources section above for more information on the financial terms of the settlement. Future expenditures related to closure, reclamation and environmental expenditures at our other sites are difficult to estimate, although we anticipate we will incur expenditures relating to these obligations over the next 30 years. For additional information relating to our environmental obligations, see Note 4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At March 31, 2012, we had no existing off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC regulations, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. As described in Note 1, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Our estimates are based on our experience and our interpretation of economic, political, regulatory, and other factors that affect our business prospects. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.
We believe that our most critical accounting estimates are related to future metals prices; obligations for environmental, reclamation, and closure matters; mineral reserves; and accounting for business combinations, as they require us to make assumptions that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimates were made and changes in them are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee has reviewed the disclosures presented below. In addition, there are other items within our financial statements that require estimation, but are not deemed to be critical. However, changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a material impact on our financial statements.
Future Metals Prices
Metals prices are key components in estimates that determine the valuation of some of our significant assets and liabilities, including properties, plants and equipment, deferred tax assets, and certain accounts receivable. Metals prices are also an important component in the estimation of reserves. As shown under Item 1A. — Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, metals prices have historically been volatile. While average prices for all four metals we produce performed favorably for the five consecutive years prior to 2008, there was a reduction in the average prices for zinc and lead in 2008 compared to 2007, and average prices for silver, zinc and lead were lower in 2009 compared to 2008. Average prices for all four metals rebounded in 2010 and were higher than their levels in both 2009 and 2008, and average prices for all four metals were higher in 2011 compared to 2010. Silver and gold prices increased in the first quarter of 2012 compared the same period in 2011, with zinc and lead prices declining in the 2012 period.
Silver demand arises from investment demand, particularly in Exchange-Traded Funds, industrial demand, and consumer demand. Investment demand for silver and gold has been relatively strong over the past three years and is influenced by various factors, including: the value of the U.S. Dollar and other currencies, expanding U.S. budget deficits, widening availability of exchange-traded commodity funds, interest rate levels, the health of credit markets, and inflationary expectations. Uncertainty towards a global economic recovery could result in continued investment demand for precious metals. Industrial demand for silver is closely linked to world Gross Domestic Product growth and industrial fabrication levels, as it is difficult to substitute for silver in industrial fabrication. Consumer demand is driven significantly by demand for jewelry and similar retail products. We believe that global economic conditions are improving, though slowly and unevenly, and that industrial and economic trends, including urbanization and growth of the middle class in countries such as China and India, will result in continued consumer and industrial demand growth for silver. However, there can be no assurance whether these trends will continue or to how they will impact prices of the metals we produce. In the past, we have recorded impairments to our asset carrying value because of low prices, and we can offer no assurance that prices will either remain at their current levels or increase.
Processes supporting valuation of our assets and liabilities that are most significantly affected by prices include analyses of asset carrying values, depreciation, reserves, and deferred income taxes. On at least an annual basis – and more frequently if circumstances warrant – we examine our depreciation rates, reserve estimates, and the valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. We examine the carrying values of our assets as changes in facts and circumstances warrant. In our analyses of carrying values and deferred taxes, we apply several pricing views to our forecasting model, including current prices, analyst price estimates, forward-curve prices, and historical prices (see Mineral Reserves, below, regarding prices used for reserve estimates). Using applicable accounting guidance and our view of metals markets, we use the average of the various methods to determine whether the values of our assets are fairly stated, and to determine the level of valuation allowances, if any, on our deferred tax assets. In addition, estimates of future metals prices are used in the valuation of certain assets in the determination of the purchase price allocations for our acquisitions (see Business Combinations below).
Sales of all metals products sold directly to smelters are recorded as revenues when title and risk of loss transfer to the smelter (generally at the time of shipment) at estimated forward metals prices for the estimated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed between the time of shipment to the smelter and final settlement with the smelter, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales and trade accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the smelter. Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues and accounts receivable previously recorded upon shipment. As a result, our trade accounts receivable balances are subject to changes in metals prices until final settlement occurs. For more information, see part N. Revenue Recognition of Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
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We utilize financially-settled forward contracts to manage our exposure to changes in prices for zinc and lead. See Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Commodity-Price Risk Management below for more information on our contract programs. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are therefore marked-to-market through earnings each period. Changes in zinc and lead prices between the dates that the contracts are entered into and their settlements will result in changes to the fair value asset or liability associated with the contracts, with a corresponding gain or loss recognized in earnings.
Obligations for Environmental, Reclamation and Closure Matters
The most significant liability on our balance sheet is for accrued reclamation and closure costs. In the past we have conducted considerable remediation work at sites in the United States for which remediation requirements were not yet fully determined, nor had they been agreed to by us and various regulatory agencies with oversight over the properties. We have estimated our liabilities under appropriate accounting guidance, and on at least an annual basis – more frequently if warranted – management reviews our liabilities with our Audit Committee. However, the range of liability proposed by the plaintiffs in environmental proceedings in the past have considerably exceeded the liabilities we had recognized (and may do so in the future). While the recent settlement of the Basin litigation has resolved and fixed our largest and most significant environmental risk, other risks remain unresolved. If substantial damages were awarded, claims were settled, or remediation costs incurred in excess of our accruals, our financial results or condition could be materially adversely affected.
Mineral Reserves
Critical estimates are inherent in the process of determining our reserves. Our reserves are affected largely by our assessment of future metals prices, as well as by engineering and geological estimates of ore grade, accessibility and production cost. Metals prices are estimated at long-term averages, as described in Item 2. — Property Descriptions in our annual report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2011. Our assessment of reserves occurs at least annually, and periodically utilizes external audits.
Reserves are a key component in the valuation of our properties, plants and equipment. Reserve estimates are used in determining appropriate rates of units-of-production depreciation, with net book value of many assets depreciated over remaining estimated reserves. Reserves are also a key component in forecasts, with which we compare future cash flows to current asset values to ensure that carrying values are reported appropriately. Reserves also play a key role in the valuation of certain assets in the determination of the purchase price allocations for acquisitions (see Business Combinations below). Reserves are a culmination of many estimates and are not guarantees that we will recover the indicated quantities of metals or that we will do so at a profitable level.
Business Combinations
We are required to allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at acquisition date. The valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to long-lived assets, including estimates of future metals prices and mineral reserves, as discussed above. In some cases, we use third-party appraisers to determine the fair values and lives of property and other identifiable assets.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The following discussion about our risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties, as well as summarizes the financial instruments held by us at March 31, 2012, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates and commodity prices and are not held for trading purposes. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable (see Item 1A. – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
Commodity-Price Risk Management
At times, we may use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals which we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to price fluctuations. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production contained under contract positions.
In April 2010, we began utilizing financially-settled forward contracts to sell lead and zinc at fixed prices for settlement at approximately the same time that our unsettled concentrate sales contracts will settle. The settlement of each concentrate lot is based on the average spot price of the metal during the month of settlement, which may differ from the prices used to record the sale when the sale takes place. The objective of the contracts is to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of sale and final settlement. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period. We recognized a $1.0 million net loss on the contracts during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is included in sales of products. The net losses recognized on the contracts offset price adjustments on our provisional concentrate sales related to changes to lead and zinc prices between the time of sale and final settlement.
In addition, in May 2010, we also began utilizing financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure of changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments. These contracts also do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period. We recognized a $5.2 million net loss on the contracts, net of $7.0 million in gains realized on settled contracts during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The net losses on these contracts are included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing. The losses recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 are the result of increasing lead and zinc prices during the end of March 2012. However, this program is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below).
The following table summarizes the quantities of base metals committed under forward sales contracts at March 31, 2012:

|  | Metric tonnes under contract |  | Average price per pound
|  | Zinc |  | Lead |  | Zinc |  | Lead
Contracts on provisional sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 6,250 |  |  |  | 1,300 |  |  | $ | 0.94 |  |  | $ | 0.96 |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 settlements |  |  | 11,850 |  |  |  | 5,100 |  |  | $ | 1.12 |  |  | $ | 1.13 |
2013 settlements |  |  | 8,675 |  |  |  | 13,250 |  |  | $ | 1.13 |  |  | $ | 1.15 |

Provisional Sales
Sales of all metals products sold directly to smelters, including by-product metals, are recorded as revenues when title and risk of loss transfers to the smelter (generally at the time of shipment) at forward prices for the estimated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed between shipment to the smelter and the final settlement with the smelter we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the smelter. Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement will result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment. Metals prices can and often do fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control (see Item 1A – Risk Factors – A substantial or extended decline in metals prices would have a material adverse effect on us in our annual reported filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for more information). At March 31, 2012, metals contained in concentrates and exposed to future price changes totaled approximately 0.6 million ounces of silver, 3,586 ounces of gold, 7,256 tons of zinc, and 2,125 tons of lead. If the price for each metal were to change by one percent, the change in the total value of the concentrates sold would be approximately $0.4 million. However, as noted in Commodity-Price Risk Management above, in April 2010 we initiated a program designed to mitigate the risk of negative price adjustments with limited mark-to-market financially-settled forward contracts for our zinc and lead sales.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us is accumulated and communicated to our management (including our CEO and CFO), were effective as of March 31, 2012, in ensuring them in a timely manner that material information required to be disclosed in this report has been properly recorded, processed, summarized and reported. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Internal control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even a system which is determined to be effective cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues have been detected or prevented. Our systems of internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Part II - Other Information
Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
For information concerning legal proceedings, refer to Note 4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A – Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 set forth information relating to important risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. Those risk factors continue to be relevant to an understanding of our business, financial condition and operating results.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in exhibit 95 to this Quarterly Report.
Item 6. Exhibits
See the exhibit index to this Form 10-Q for the list of exhibits.
Items 2, 3 and 5 of Part II are not applicable and are omitted from this report.
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Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries
SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.

|  | HECLA MINING COMPANY
|  | (Registrant)
Date: | May 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ Phillips S. Baker, Jr.
|  |  | Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President,
|  |  | Chief Executive Officer and Director
Date: | May 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ James A. Sabala
|  |  | James A. Sabala, Senior Vice President and
|  |  | Chief Financial Officer

37

Hecla Mining Company and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
Form 10-Q – March 31, 2012
Index to Exhibits

| 3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as amended to date. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 3.2 | Bylaws of the Registrant as amended to date. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2007 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 4.1(a) | Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (File No 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 4.1(b) | Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 4.2(a) | Form of Series 1 Common Stock Purchase Warrant. Filed as exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2008 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 4.2(b) | Form of Series 3 Common Stock Purchase Warrant. Filed as exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2009 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

| 31.1 | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

| 31.2 | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

| 32.1 | Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

| 32.2 | Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

| 95 | Mine safety information listed in Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Act. *

| 101.INS | XBRL Instance. **

| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.**

| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation.**

| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition.**

| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels.**

| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation.**

___________________
* Filed herewith.
** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
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