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Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets | 7.20% | 7.20% |
Long-term Investments (in Dollars) | $ 7,019,000 | $ 9,614,000 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumed Long Term Rate Basis Spread | 1.00% |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets (in Dollars) | 69,051,000 | 68,515,000 | 65,082,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match | 55.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay | 5.00% |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer (in Dollars) | 1,403,000 | 1,447,000 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Months of Services Required For Eligibility | 6 months |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount (in Dollars) | 293,000 | 407,000 | 246,000
Common Stock [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Investments (in Dollars) | 1,600,000 | 2,900,000 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations | 2.00% | 4.00% |
Real Estate [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations | 20.00% | 18.00% |
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets (in Dollars) | 13,700,000 | 12,100,000 |
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets (in Dollars) | 10,100,000 | 9,200,000 |
Pension Compensation [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 6.00% |  |
Pension Compensation in Excess of Social Security Wages [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 5.70% |  |
Capital Accumulation 401 (K) Plan [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match | 100.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay | 6.00% |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer (in Dollars) | 3,000,000 | 2,500,000 | 2,200,000
Capital Accumulation 401 (K) Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 1.00% |  |
Capital Accumulation 401 (K) Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 50.00% |  |
Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year (in Dollars) | 7,500,000 |  |
Unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year (in Dollars) | 300,000 |  |
Years 1 through 5 [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage | 3.00% |  |
Years 6 through 10 [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage | 4.50% |  |
After 10 Years [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage | 6.00% |  |
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets (in Dollars) | $ 23,800,000 | $ 21,400,000 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 2.00% |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 50.00% |  |

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- Definition An assumption as to the rate of return on plan assets reflecting the average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested or to be invested to provide for the benefits included in the benefit obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Glossary Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512013 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Section 35 -Paragraph 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29635418&loc=d3e12355-114930 + Details
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- Definition Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of fair value of investments (categorized by debt securities, equity securities, real estate and other plan assets) to the fair value of plan assets held. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e2446-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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