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Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Detail) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2013 lb | Dec. 31, 2012 lb
Zinc [Member] | 2013 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on provisional sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 14,716,000 | 14,991,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | $ 0.93 | $ 0.95
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 30,258,000 | 35,935,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 0.98 | 0.96
Zinc [Member] | 2014 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 60,516,000 | 30,203,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 0.99 | 0.98
Zinc [Member] | 2015 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 20,944,000 | 3,307,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 1.00 | 1.01
Lead [Member] | 2013 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on provisional sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 7,165,000 | 6,945,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 1.08 | 1.00
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 26,951,000 | 32,794,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 1.09 | 1.11
Lead [Member] | 2014 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 47,619,000 | 33,069,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | 1.05 | 1.03
Lead [Member] | 2015 Settlements [Member] |  |
Contracts on forecasted sales |  |
Pounds Under Contract | 37,864,000 | 23,534,000
Average Price Per Pound (in Dollars) | $ 1.07 | $ 1.06

X
- Definition Average settlement price in forward contracts on forecasted sales + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_ContractsOnForcastedSales
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Average settlement price in forward contracts on provisional sales + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_ContractsOnProvisionalSales
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | hl_ContractsOnProvisionalSalesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Pounds included in open forward contracts on foretasted sales + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_PoundsUnderContractForecastedSales
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | num:weightItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Pounds included in open forward contracts on provisional sales + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_PoundsUnderContractProvisionalSales
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | num:weightItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant