<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001166074-16-000006.txt : 20160608
<SEC-HEADER>0001166074-16-000006.hdr.sgml : 20160608
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160608173012
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001166074-16-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160608
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160608

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HECLA MINING CO/DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000719413
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				770664171
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6500 N MINERAL DRIVE SUITE 200
		STREET 2:		NONE
		CITY:			COEUR D'ALENE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83815-9408
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2087694100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6500 N MINERAL DRIVE SUITE 200
		STREET 2:		NONE
		CITY:			COEUR D'ALENE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83815-9408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAKER PHILLIPS S JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166074

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08491
		FILM NUMBER:		161704359

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6500 NORTH MINERAL DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			COEUR D 'ALENE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83815
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719413</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HECLA MINING CO/DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166074</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER PHILLIPS S JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6500 NORTH MINERAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COEUR D 'ALENE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ID</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>83815</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>113636</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>476447</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>113636</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2019-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>113636</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>470069</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of restricted stock units that vest as follows:  37,878 shares on June 21, 2017; 37,879 shares on June 21, 2018; and 37,879 shares on June 21, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total number of unvested restricted stock units held by Mr. Baker.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Baker was awarded performance rights representing the contingent right to receive between $250,000 and $1 million worth of Hecla Mining Company common stock based on Hecla Mining Company's Total Shareholder Return performance over the 3-year period (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018) relative to our peers.  Examples of the potential grant of shares to Mr. Baker under this plan are as follows:  100th percentile rank among peers = maximum award at 200% of target ($1 million in stock); 60th percentile rank among peers = target award at grant value ($500,000 in stock); and 50th percentile rank among peers = threshold award at 50% of target ($250,000 in stock).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The number shown in Column 5 of Table II assumes a target payout (i.e., $500,000 worth of common stock), with the common stock valued at the closing price on the day of the award ($4.40).  The actual number of shares received (if any) by Mr. Baker will depend on the Total Shareholder Return performance over the 3-year period and will be determined following the termination of that period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents all similar performance rights held by Mr. Baker.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tami D. Whitman, Attorney-in-Fact for Phillips S. Baker, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
