XML 40 R57.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 1 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Jan. 06, 2014 | Dec. 11, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2009 | Jan. 06, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Casa Berardi [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Greens Creek [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Lucky Friday [Member] | Jan. 06, 2014 Prior Senior Notes [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Non-Capital Costs [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Joint Venture [Member] Rio Grande Silver Inc And Emerald Mining And Leasing LLC [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Costs Incurred By The EPA [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 70.00% |  |  |
Maximum Environmental Remediation Obligation |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 177,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 10,000,000
Payment Of Response Costs |  |  | 1,100,000 |  | 1,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Accrued Liabilities, Noncurrent |  |  |  |  |  | 300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Response Costs |  |  |  | 4,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Future Response Cost |  |  |  | 100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incurred Response Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000,000 |  |
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value |  | 5,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 6.875% |  |  | 6.875% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.875% |  |  |  |  |
Contractual Obligations |  |  |  |  |  | 9,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,200,000 |  |  |  |
Open Purchase Orders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,300,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncapital Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,500,000 | 300,000 | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments For Capital Lease Payments |  |  |  |  |  | 23,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental Expense and Liabilities | 55,500,000 |  |  |  |  | 1,788,000 | 1,106,000 | 7,004,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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

X
- Definition Estimated future response costs to be incurred by EPA. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hl_EstimatedFutureResponseCost
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_EstimatedResponseCosts
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_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_MaximumEnvironmentalRemediationObligation
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_NoncapitalCosts
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | hl_Note7CommitmentsContingenciesandObligationsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | hl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The adjustment to exclude the noncash portion of, and include cash payments for environmental costs when calculating operating cash flows under the indirect method. The adjustment can include the increase (decrease) during an accounting period in total estimated obligations recorded for probable future loss attributable to environmental contamination issues. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EnvironmentalExpenseAndLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The noncurrent portion (due beyond one year or one operating cycle) of other accrued expenses (expenses incurred at the end of the reporting period but not yet paid) not otherwise defined in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 24 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration