Hecla Reports Silver & Gold Quarter Production Increased

COEUR D’ALENE, ID – Hecla Mining Company reported that the Lucky Friday Mine, Idaho, continued along a path of operational consistency, setting a new quarterly milling record of 114,475 tons, beating the record set in the prior quarter by over 5%. Silver production was 1.3 million ounces, flat with the prior quarter, with higher mill throughput equally offset by a lower milled silver grade. Lead and zinc production was 8,829 tons and 3,911 tons, respectively, rising 4% and 6% respectively over the prior quarter, both benefiting from the higher throughput and zinc production also benefiting from a higher milled grade.
There is no change to the 2025 production guidance for Lucky Friday, maintaining silver production guidance of 4.7-5.1 million ounces of silver, or 8.0-8.5 million silver equivalent ounces when factoring in all metals (silver, lead and zinc). The third quarter is expected to be the lightest production quarter of the year due to the planned impact on hoist availability within the quarter as the ongoing surface cooling project (a key infrastructure project to increase the cooling capacity required for the mine over the reserve mine-life) requires use of this infrastructure to complete the project.
In Alaska, Greens Creek produced 2.4 million ounces of silver and 17,750 ounces of gold. Silver and gold production increased 21% and 29% respectively over the prior quarter due to a 14% and 11% increase in silver and gold grades milled and an 8% increase in tons milled. Zinc and lead production increased 9% and 10% respectively, primarily due to higher mill throughput and modestly higher grades milled.
Silver production guidance for 2025 at Greens Creek is unchanged at 8.1-8.8 million ounces of silver, gold production guidance is increased to 50.0-55.0 thousand ounces from 44.0-48.0 thousand ounces, or 18.0-19.5 million silver equivalent ounces, unchanged from prior silver equivalent ounce guidance when factoring in all metals (silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper) due to changes in our metal price assumptions.
In early July, the mine shifted to partial self-generated power while Alaska Electric Light and Power, the utility company supplying power to Greens Creek, performs a planned 8-week maintenance shutdown, which will increase costs during this period as self-generated power is more costly than purchased power from the utility, with the impact on operating costs expected to be less than 1% of total annual costs.
Greens Creek, underground exploration drilling in the Gallagher Zone extended mineralization 550 feet along plunge to the south. While this silver-bearing interval is narrow, it occurs within a thicker sequence of ore-type lithologies and indicates the prospectivity of this area remains high. In addition, underground exploration drilling in the 200S Zone extended mineralization 150 feet west and south of existing mineralization. The results from both programs illustrate the strong potential for near-mine exploration to continue to make discoveries. Definition drilling continued with two drills underground defining parts of the East Zone for longhole stoping and confirming additional resources. The East Zone drilling continued to see high precious metal intercepts including 112.7 oz/ton silver, 0.53 oz/ton gold, 2.2% zinc and 9.6% lead over 5.1 feet.
Keno Hill, in Yukon Territory, produced 750,712 ounces of silver, a 3% decrease over the prior quarter due to a 2% lower mill throughput. Mill throughput for the second quarter averaged 294 tons per day (tpd), remaining below the permitted capacity of 440 tpd. In the second quarter, the mill continued to rely on the ore stockpile as the mine continues to ramp up to higher tonnage rates (second quarter ore tons mined averaged 268 tpd, up 3% compared to the prior quarter). The stockpile exceeded 6,000 tons grading around 27 ounces per ton at quarter end. Work continues to bring the mine into a state of commercial production.
Power curtailment by Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) at Keno Hill has improved in 2025, with the previously reported eight days of operational stoppage in 2025 (reported with fourth quarter results in February) remaining unchanged through the end of June. As previously reported, YEC experienced a turbine failure at its hydroelectric plant in Whitehorse in late October 2024, which is scheduled to be repaired in August of 2025. The Company estimates the power curtailments during planned August YEC maintenance downtime could lower production by approximately 90,000 ounces of silver in the third quarter, which is reflected in our initial 2025 guidance released in February.
Operational optimization has refined production parameters, establishing 440 tons per day as the target throughput rate versus the previous 550-600 tons per day baseline. This revised target is expected to maintain profitability thresholds under conservative long-range metal price assumptions while preserving expansion optionality beyond 440 tons per day for future value creation.
Current operations run below the 440 tons per day target, with mining capacity as the primary constraint. At its long range plan prices or higher, the Company expects that Keno Hill can achieve target production rates through systematic capital deployment across waste dump facilities, mine development programs, tailings capacity expansion, and water treatment infrastructure upgrades and related permitting execution. Permitting activities continue with enhanced management resources allocated to regulatory execution.
One drill continued to operate underground, further defining and expanding mineralization in the Bermingham veins. High-grade intercepts from this drilling include 41.4 oz/ton silver, 2.8% zinc and 2.4% lead over 9.5 feet, extending mineralization of the Bear Vein in the Arctic Zone beyond its previously known extent.
A wide high-grade intercept, supported by three additional silver-bearing intercepts, have identified new mineralization 500 feet down plunge from existing reserves. These results continue to demonstrate the continuity of the Bermingham mineralizing system and further highlight the significant potential that remains for near-mine exploration.
In Quebec, Casa Berardi produced 28,145 ounces of gold, a 37% increase over the prior quarter, driven by planned higher underground and surface ore grades. Total tons milled remained flat to the prior quarter. The 160 pit generated 10% fewer mined tons (ore and waste) than the prior quarter, while total production costs per ton decreased 2%. The pit’s stripping ratio is expected to decline in the fourth quarter of 2025, further reducing costs.
Casa Berardi is transitioning from a combined underground and surface operation to a surface only operation. Currently, the Company expects to be mining only the 160 pit by end of 2025, at which time the higher margin stopes of the west underground mine should be exhausted.
Currently there is no change to the Casa Berardi production guidance of 76.0-82.0koz of gold production in 2025. It is expected to produce gold from the 160 pit and associated stockpiles until 2027. Upon completion of mining at the 160 pit, and milling the remaining stockpiles, Casa Berardi is expected to have a production gap commencing in 2027 and continuing until 2032 or later, assuming no underground mine life extension. During this time, the focus is expected to be on investing in permitting, infrastructure and equipment, as well as de-watering and stripping two expected new open pits, the Principal and West Mine Crown Pillar pits. As Casa Berardi transitions between mining phases and works through the permitting and construction timeline for the new open pits, the Company continues to evaluate strategic alternatives for the property.
At Midas, in Nevada, exploration drilling is well underway focusing on targets with discovery potential that could potentially support the return of the Midas mine to a production state. To date, 7 of 12 planned drillholes have been completed in the Pogo, Sinter Offset, and Little Opal targets located in the SE pediment area which is a large and highly prospective area southeast of the Midas Mine and near the Sinter Resource area. Early drilling results have been positive with two new vein intercepts showing visible gold. At the Pogo target area a 0.5-foot silicified breccia with visible gold in vein fragments was intersected, within a broader 2.2-foot structure (estimated true widths). At the Sinter Offset target a 1.1-foot quartz vein with visible gold and a 0.5-foot banded quartz vein with naumannite (Ag2Se) was intersected within a broader 21.4-foot alteration zone (estimated true widths). This zone is interpreted to represent the fault offset segment of the Sinter Vein. Assays are pending and follow up drill holes are being evaluated. These recent drilling results, in conjunction with the very intense alteration consistently intercepted in drilling in throughout the SE pediment area support our interpretation that this area has the potential to host a potentially impactful deposit in the Midas District.
Rob Krcmarov, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our second quarter results demonstrate exceptional execution across all facets of the business. We generated record sales of $304 million, record free cash flow of $103.8 million, and record Adjusted EBITDA of $132.5 million, while dramatically improving our net leverage to 0.7x. Our mines delivered outstanding operational performance, with silver production up 10% and gold production up 34% quarter-over-quarter, and Lucky Friday achieving a new milling record. By putting $212 million raised through our ATM program toward Note redemption and fully repaying our CAD $50 million IQ notes from free cash flow, we’ve strengthened our balance sheet, which will free up $17.8 million annually in interest expense going forward, allowing us to refocus those funds towards strengthening our balance sheet while enabling strategic reinvestment into the highest return opportunities across our portfolio. These results reflect our commitment to operational excellence, disciplined capital allocation, and creating long-term shareholder value. With Casa Berardi’s strategic review progressing and our portfolio optimization continuing, we’re well-positioned to achieve our 2025 guidance and beyond.”