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Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block] |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Change in benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation at beginning of year |  | $ | 87,895 |  |  | $ | 76,925 |  |  | $ | 65 |  |  | $ | 68 |
Service cost |  |  | 3,974 |  |  |  | 3,877 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Interest cost |  |  | 4,069 |  |  |  | 4,114 |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 3 |
Participants' contributions |  |  | 29 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Amendments |  |  | — |  |  |  | 396 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Actuarial loss |  |  | 7,450 |  |  |  | 6,476 |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | 4 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (4,050 | ) |  |  | (3,893 | ) |  |  | (12 | ) |  |  | (10 | )
Benefit obligation at end of year |  |  | 99,367 |  |  |  | 87,895 |  |  |  | 63 |  |  |  | 65 |
Change in fair value of plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |  |  | 65,082 |  |  |  | 70,462 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Actual return (loss) on plan assets |  |  | 6,007 |  |  |  | (1,818 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Employer contributions |  |  | 1,447 |  |  |  | 331 |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 10 |
Participants' contributions |  |  | 29 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Benefits paid |  |  | (4,050 | ) |  |  | (3,893 | ) |  |  | (12 | ) |  |  | (10 | )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |  |  | 68,515 |  |  |  | 65,082 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Funded status at end of year |  | $ | (30,852 | ) |  | $ | (22,813 | ) |  | $ | (63 | ) |  | $ | (65 | )
Pension Benefits Recognized Balance Sheet Location Table Text Block |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Current liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued benefit liability |  | $ | (322 | ) |  | $ | (330 | ) |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | (3 | )
Other non- current liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued benefit liability |  |  | (30,530 | ) |  |  | (22,484 | ) |  |  | (60 | ) |  |  | (62 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss |  |  | 33,545 |  |  |  | 30,747 |  |  |  | (305 | ) |  |  | (340 | )
Net amount recognized |  | $ | 2,693 |  |  | $ | 7,933 |  |  | $ | (368 | ) |  | $ | (405 | )
Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block] |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Discount rate: net periodic pension cost |  |  | 4.75 | % |  |  | 5.50 | % |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Discount rate: projected benefit obligation |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.75 | % |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.75 | %
Expected rate of return on plan assets |  |  | 7.20 | % |  |  | 8.00 | % |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | 4.00 | % |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block] |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Service cost |  | $ | 3,974 |  |  | $ | 3,877 |  |  | $ | 2,203 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Interest cost |  |  | 4,068 |  |  |  | 4,114 |  |  |  | 3,724 |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 4 |
Expected return on plan assets |  |  | (4,581 | ) |  |  | (5,481 | ) |  |  | (5,041 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Amortization of prior service cost |  |  | 401 |  |  |  | 403 |  |  |  | 602 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Amortization of net gain (loss) from earlier periods |  |  | 2,826 |  |  |  | 880 |  |  |  | 867 |  |  |  | (28 | ) |  |  | (31 | ) |  |  | (33 | )
Net periodic pension cost |  | $ | 6,688 |  |  | $ | 3,793 |  |  | $ | 2,355 |  |  | $ | (25 | ) |  | $ | (27 | ) |  | $ | (29 | )
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block] |
|  | Hecla |  |  | Lucky Friday |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Cash |  |  | 1 | % |  |  | 1 | % |  |  | 1 | % |  |  | 1 | %
Large cap U.S. equities |  |  | 11 | % |  |  | 13 | % |  |  | 9 | % |  |  | 12 | %
Small cap U.S. equities |  |  | 4 | % |  |  | 4 | % |  |  | 5 | % |  |  | 4 | %
Non-U.S. equities |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 9 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 9 | %
Fixed income |  |  | 33 | % |  |  | 37 | % |  |  | 34 | % |  |  | 38 | %
Real estate |  |  | 18 | % |  |  | 13 | % |  |  | 17 | % |  |  | 13 | %
Absolute return hedge funds |  |  | 13 | % |  |  | 13 | % |  |  | 14 | % |  |  | 13 | %
Real return |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | %
Total |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | %
Investment Policy Allocation [Table Text Block] |
|  | Target |  |  | Minimum |  |  | Maximum |
Large cap U.S. equities |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 7 | % |  |  | 13 | %
Small cap U.S. equities |  |  | 5 | % |  |  | 4 | % |  |  | 6 | %
Non-U.S. equities |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 8 | % |  |  | 12 | %
Fixed income |  |  | 35 | % |  |  | 29 | % |  |  | 43 | %
Real estate |  |  | 15 | % |  |  | 12 | % |  |  | 18 | %
Absolute return hedge funds |  |  | 15 | % |  |  | 12 | % |  |  | 18 | %
Real return |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 8 | % |  |  | 12 | %
Fair Value Of Plan Assets By Category [Table Text Block] |
|  | Hecla |  |  | Lucky Friday |
|  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |  |  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |
Interest-bearing cash |  | $ | 683 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 683 |  |  | $ | 198 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 198 |
Common stock |  |  | 2,309 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,309 |  |  |  | 588 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 588 |
Real estate |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 9,611 |  |  |  | 9,611 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,513 |  |  |  | 2,513 |
Collective investment funds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 10,095 |  |  |  | 7,251 |  |  |  | 17,346 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,469 |  |  |  | 1,978 |  |  |  | 4,447 |
Mutual funds |  |  | 24,183 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 24,183 |  |  |  | 6,637 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,637 |
Total fair value |  | $ | 27,175 |  |  | $ | 10,095 |  |  | $ | 16,862 |  |  | $ | 54,132 |  |  | $ | 7,423 |  |  | $ | 2,469 |  |  | $ | 4,491 |  |  | $ | 14,383 |
|  | Hecla |  |  | Lucky Friday |
|  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |  |  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  | Total |
Interest-bearing cash |  | $ | 609 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 609 |  |  | $ | 166 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 166 |
Common stock |  |  | 2,071 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2,071 |  |  |  | 527 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 527 |
Real estate |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,497 |  |  |  | 6,497 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,709 |  |  |  | 1,709 |
Common collective funds |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12,641 |  |  |  | 6,803 |  |  |  | 19,444 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3,310 |  |  |  | 1,857 |  |  |  | 5,167 |
Mutual funds |  |  | 22,667 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 22,667 |  |  |  | 6,225 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6,225 |
Total fair value |  | $ | 25,347 |  |  | $ | 12,641 |  |  | $ | 13,300 |  |  | $ | 51,288 |  |  | $ | 6,918 |  |  | $ | 3,310 |  |  | $ | 3,566 |  |  | $ | 13,794 |
Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block] |
|  | Hecla |  |  | Lucky Friday |
Beginning balance at December 31, 2011 |  | $ | 13,300 |  |  | $ | 3,566 |
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date |  |  | 838 |  |  |  | 187 |
Purchases |  |  | 2,724 |  |  |  | 738 |
Ending balance at December 31, 2012 |  | $ | 16,862 |  |  | $ | 4,491 |
|  | Hecla |  |  | Lucky Friday |
Beginning balance at December 31, 2010 |  | $ | 12,508 |  |  | $ | 3,356 |
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date |  |  | 391 |  |  |  | 104 |
Purchases |  |  | 401 |  |  |  | 106 |
Ending balance at December 31, 2011 |  | $ | 13,300 |  |  | $ | 3,566 |
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block] |
Year Ending December 31, |  | Pension Plans |  |  | Other Post- Employment Benefit Plans |
2013 |  | $ | 4,769 |  |  | $ | 3 |
2014 |  |  | 4,951 |  |  |  | 8 |
2015 |  |  | 5,083 |  |  |  | 6 |
2016 |  |  | 5,320 |  |  |  | 8 |
2017 |  |  | 5,601 |  |  |  | 7 |
Years 2018-2022 |  |  | 34,011 |  |  |  | 26 |
Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block] |
| December 31, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011 |
| ABO Exceeds Plan Assets |  | Plan Assets Exceed ABO |  | ABO Exceeds Plan Assets |  | Plan Assets Exceed ABO |
Projected benefit obligation |  | $ | 99,367 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 87,895 |  |  | $ | — |
Accumulated benefit obligation |  |  | 92,590 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 81,018 |  |  |  | — |
Fair value of plan assets |  |  | 68,515 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 65,082 |  |  |  | — |
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
Unamortized net (gain)/loss |  | $ | 31,649 |  |  | $ | 305 |
Unamortized prior service cost |  |  | 1,896 |  |  |  | — |
Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year [Table Text Block] |
|  | Pension Benefits |  |  | Other Benefits |
Amortization of net (gain)/loss |  | $ | 3,103 |  |  | $ | 25 |
Amortization of prior service cost |  |  | 390 |  |  |  | — |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of one or more of the entity's defined benefit pension plans or one or more other defined benefit postretirement plans, separately for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans including the entity's schedule of fair value of plan assets for defined benefit or other postretirement plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 158 -Paragraph 4, 7, 16, 20, 21 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e2417-114920 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21916443&loc=d3e4179-114921 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph d -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e2410-114920 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e2439-114920 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5, 6, 7 -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
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