XML 105 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Note 4 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2009
Increase Decrease In Accrued Reclamation |  |  |  |  | $ 193,200,000 | $ 4,400,000 |  |  |
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Provision for Expected and Allowed Claims |  |  |  |  | 262,200,000 | 15,000,000 | 73,900,000 | 36,100,000 |
Other Accrued Liabilities |  |  |  |  | 264,400,000 |  |  |  |
Payments for Legal Settlements | 25,000,000 | 168,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Surety Bond Maintenance Fees | 400,000 | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incurred Response Costs |  |  |  | 5,300,000 |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Response Costs |  |  | 4,500,000 | 2,700,000 |  |  |  |  |
Accrued Reclamation And Closure Costs Total |  |  |  |  | 318,797,000 | 113,215,000 |  | 153,811,000 | 131,201,000
Remaining Payment Obligation |  |  |  |  |  | 32,900,000 |  |  |
Surety Bonds |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |
Series 1 And 3 Warrants [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Provision for Expected and Allowed Claims |  |  |  |  |  | 55,500,000 |  |  |
Undiscounted Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Provision for Expected and Allowed Claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53,400,000 |
Maximum Potentail Liability [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Response Costs |  |  |  | $ 6,800,000 |  |  |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2.41 |  |  |
Legal Obligation Accrued Interest Rate |  |  |  |  |  | 0.69% |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2.52 |  |  |
Legal Obligation Accrued Interest Rate |  |  |  |  |  | 0.78% |  |  |
Minimum Risk Free Interest Rate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Risk Free Interest Rate |  |  |  |  |  | 6.00% |  |  |
Maximum Risk Free Interst Rate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Risk Free Interest Rate |  |  |  |  |  | 8.00% |  |  |

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_AccruedReclamationAndClosureCostsTotal
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_EstimatedResponseCosts
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in accrued costs that represent future cash outlays for restoration and reclamation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedReclamation
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_IncurredResponseCosts
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_LegalObligationAccruedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_RemainingPaymentObligation
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_RiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_SuretyBondMaintenanceFees
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition No authoritative reference available. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_SuretyBonds
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Exercise price of the warrants. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column A + Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | invest_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the provision for expected and allowed claims included in liabilities subject to compromise. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6916575&loc=d3e55717-112764 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6585303&loc=d3e56145-112766 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 90-7 -Paragraph 26 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6918054&loc=d3e56015-112765 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilitiesSubjectToCompromiseProvisionForExpectedAndAllowedClaims
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph 5 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph a -Article 7 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration