Greens Creek Drilling Focused On Resource Conversion & Extension Of Mineralization

COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Cassie Boggs, Interim President and CEO of Hecla Mining Company, said, ”The Company produced 3.6 million ounces of silver in the third quarter, bringing year-to-date production to 12.3 million ounces. In Idaho, Lucky Friday had a strong quarter as the mill achieved the second-highest throughput in its 80-year history after a record last quarter. While Greens Creek’s silver production in Alaska was lower than anticipated due to five days of unplanned mill maintenance in the third quarter, our team was able to complete the maintenance quickly and complete a portion of our fourth quarter scheduled maintenance simultaneously. Strong performance from our silver operations has generated free cash flow of $170 million year-to-date, which along with opportunistic use of our ATM program, has allowed us to substantially repay outstanding borrowings on our revolving credit facility, reducing total debt by $50.6 million.

At Keno Hill, in the Yukon Territory, we have already mined more than 2.5 million ounces and produced 2.1 million ounces of silver this year, putting us on track to meet our production guidance for this year. We are prioritizing building the foundation for this operation's future to operate in Yukon successfully, which includes improving safety and environmental practices and, importantly, valuing the perspectives of the Yukon Government and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, both of whom have important roles in permitting our improvements to infrastructure as well as our future operations. At Keno Hill, over 9,800 feet of definition drilling was completed. Drilling continues to intersect high-grade silver mineralization over significant widths and highlights the potential for high-grade silver mineralization in the district. At Greens Creek, over 27,000 feet of drilling was completed, focused on resource conversion and extension of mineralization. Sales in the third quarter of $245.1 million were consistent with the prior quarter as lower sales volumes of silver, gold and lead, and lower realized prices for silver, zinc, lead were offset by higher sales volumes for zinc and higher realized prices for gold. The lower sales volumes stemmed from a combination of lower production and volumes sold at Lucky Friday and Casa Berardi (due to lower grades and lower mill throughput) and lower sales volumes at Keno Hill due to lower mill throughput attributable to delays in design and construction of the dry stack tailings facility ("DSTF"), including permitting delays following the heap leach failure at Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold mine. Sales of silver and zinc concentrate inventory built up at Greens Creek in the prior quarter partially offset lower sales volumes from other operations. Gross profit increased by 15% to $59.3 million, primarily attributable to the lower cost of sales at Keno Hill and Casa Berardi partially offset by higher cost of sales at Greens Creek due to higher volumes of metals sold.”

The Greens Creek Mine produced 1.9 million ounces of silver, a decrease over the prior quarter, primarily due to lower grades and reduced mill throughput attributable to five days of unplanned maintenance on the Semi-Autogenous Grinding ("SAG") mill variable frequency drive (unplanned maintenance extended to two days in October). By-product metal production was lower for gold and lead due to lower mill throughput and lower grades, while zinc production was flat as higher grades offset the lower milled throughput. The mine added copper to its by-product metals as the silver concentrate now includes copper as a payable metal (copper has been produced at the mine for multiple years but previously was not a payable metal in concentrates).

At Greens Creek, three underground drills completed over 27,000 feet of drilling focused on resource conversion and exploration to extend mineralization of known resources. Drilling was focused in the 9a, 200 South, 5250, West, Gallagher, and Upper Plate areas. In addition, two helicopter supported surface exploration drills completed over 8,000 feet of drilling expanding Upper Plate Zone mineralization 250 feet to the west of current resources and drill testing the Mammoth, Gallagher West, East Ore Offset, and Lower Zinc Creek targets.

Sales in the quarter were $116.6 million, a 22% increase due to higher quantities of payable metals sold (all metals) as silver and zinc concentrate inventory built up from the prior quarter was sold in the third quarter. Higher quantities of metals sold offset the lower realized prices for all metals except gold. Total cost of sales was $73.6 million, an increase of 30%, reflecting higher payable metals sold. Cash costs and AISC per silver ounce, each after by-product credits, were $0.93 and $7.04, respectively, and increased over the prior quarter as lower production costs were offset by lower silver production and lower by-product credits (lower production volumes and lower realized prices for all metals except gold).3,4

At the Lucky Friday produced 1.2 million ounces of silver, 9% lower than the prior quarter, due to 6% lower milled grades and 3% lower throughput. Mill throughput averaged 1,133 tpd, the second highest in the mine's history after a record in the prior quarter. Sales in the third quarter were $51.1 million, 14% lower due to lower volumes of metals sold and lower realized prices. Total cost of sales increased to $39.3 million, primarily due to higher production costs attributable to higher underground mobile equipment maintenance costs and higher contractor costs. Key mill projects, including installation of new cyclones, were completed during the quarter, contributing to lower mill throughput. Cash costs and AISC per silver ounce, each after by-product credits, were $9.98 and $19.40 respectively and were higher due to higher production costs and lower by-product credits (lower production and realized prices), and lower silver production.3,4

Production at the Keno Hill produced 597,293 ounces of silver at an average grade of 25.7 ounces per ton. Mined throughput averaged 343 tpd, milled tonnage averaged 261 tpd during the quarter, and 314 tpd during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Lower mill throughput during the quarter was attributable to the delays in receiving an authorization for construction and a permit modification for the DSTF as the Yukon Government ("YG") and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun ("FNNND") initially focused on the Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine heap leach pad failure that occurred in June and not on permitting matters (Keno Hill does not utilize heap leach processing). Mill operations resumed on October 26, after receiving the authorization and modification and completing related design and construction work on the DSTF. The mine has produced 2.1 million ounces of silver for the nine months ended September 2024 and had an ore stockpile inventory of approximately 0.46 million silver ounces as of October 26, when the mill resumed processing.

Underground drilling during the third quarter continued to intersect high-grade silver mineralization over significant widths and highlights the potential for high-grade silver mineralization in the district. Underground definition drilling continued to be focused on extending mineralization and resource conversion in the high-grade Bermingham Bear Zone veins (Bear, Footwall, and Main Vein zones) and in the Flame & Moth veins. During the quarter, two underground drills completed over 9,800 feet of definition drilling.

Drilling in the Bermingham Mine Footwall vein has intersected significant silver mineralization over significant width in a portion of the Footwall vein where mineralization was modeled to be low-grade. Results from this drilling will increase the modeled grade in the western portion of the vein over 200 feet of strike length and 100 feet of dip length, and mineralization is open down dip for expansion. Drilling in the Flame and Moth Mine Vein 1 has also intersected significant silver mineralization over significant widths in a portion of Vein 1 where mineralization had previously not been modeled. These results will increase the modeled grade in the central portion of the vein over 230 feet of strike length and 100 feet of dip length. This mineralization remains open to the west for expansion.

Three surface drills were also active on the property testing multiple targets including the Bermingham Deep, Bermingham Townsite, Elsa17-Dixie, Silver Spoon, and Inca target areas that have potential for additional large high-grade silver deposits. Over 23,700 feet of surface exploration drilling in 10 drillholes were completed during the quarter. Wide spaced surface drilling in the Bermingham Deep target has demonstrated the presence of high-grade mineralization in the vicinity of an emergent highly prospective vein intersection target with additional drilling planned to confirm this vein intersection is controlling metal distribution and to expand drilling along plunge. In the Bermingham Townsite target, surface drilling has defined a zone of narrow high-grade mineralization located within 100 meters of the currently planned development and is open at depth along plunge for expansion.

Sales during the quarter were $19.8 million and declined over the prior quarter due to lower production and volumes sold. Total expenditures on production costs (excluding depreciation) were $25.0 million and include $10.0 million classified as ramp-up costs on the consolidated statement of operations. Capital investments during the quarter were $14.4 million. Due to the delays in permits, construction of the cemented tails batch plant, a critical infrastructure project, is now expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. The project is expected to facilitate the change in mining method at the Bermingham deposit to underhand mining, which should improve safety and productivity. Conversion to underhand mining is expected in the first half of 2026.

Casa Berardi produced 20,534 ounces of gold in the quarter, 11% less than the prior quarter due to lower underground grades. The mill operated at an average of 4,017 tpd during the quarter. Sales were $50.3 million, a decrease of 14% over the prior quarter due to lower gold production and sales volumes were partially offset by higher realized gold price. Total cost of sales were $46.3 million, a decrease of 31% attributable to lower sales volumes and lower production costs. Cash costs and AISC per gold ounce, each after by-product credits, increased to $1,754 and $2,059, respectively, as lower gold production was partially offset by lower production costs, with AISC also impacted by higher planned capital investment on construction of tailings.3,4

Casa Berardi is transitioning from a combined underground and surface operation to a surface only operation, which will require significant permitting and development activities. As a part of this transition, along with mining the 160 open pit, only the higher margin stopes of the west underground mine will be mined until they are exhausted, which is expected to occur in mid-2025. Casa Berardi is expected to produce gold from the 160 pit until 2027, and is expected to have a production gap commencing in 2027 and continuing until 2032 or later. During this time, the focus is expected to be on investing in infrastructure and equipment, permitting and de-watering and stripping two expected new open pits, Principal and West Mine Crown Pillar. Upon conclusion of the hiatus and related permitting and construction, the Company expects the mine to generate significant free cash flow at current gold prices. Given the expected hiatus in future production, the uncertainty surrounding permitting and timing of construction of the new open pits.