Hecla Mining’s Silver Production Increased

COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Hecla Mining Company reported preliminary production results for the first quarter 2015.

Greens Creek, with higher grades and recoveries, led another strong operating quarter for Hecla silver production is among the highest in our history, said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. In March we celebrated 50 years on the NYSE, and I see our current mix of three operating mines to be the strongest in our history. We believe that our portfolio of mines, particularly Greens Creek in Alaska which is recognized as a world-class silver mine, provides operating stability to weather current market conditions.

Greens Creek’s first quarter production of 2.0 million ounces of silver and 15,239 ounces of gold exceeded the first quarter 2014 production of silver and gold by 14% and 2%, respectively. The increase was principally due to mine sequencing, higher silver grades and higher silver and gold recoveries. Changes made to the flotation circuit in the fourth quarter of 2014 continue to result in higher silver recovery, the value of which has outweighed a slight loss in zinc recovery. The mill operated at an average of 2,172 tons per day (tpd) in the first quarter.

Lucky Friday's first quarter silver production of 836,719 ounces was 20% higher than the first quarter 2014 production on higher silver grades and recoveries. The mill operated at an average of 825 tpd in the first quarter.

Casa Berardi's first quarter gold production of 25,412 ounces was 19% lower than the first quarter 2014 production because of lower grades and recovery. The mine experienced lower grades as a result of mine sequencing. Recoveries are lower due to new metallurgical characteristics of the ore from the 118 Zone requiring adjustments to the plant, which are expected to improve recoveries in the second quarter. The mill operated at an average of 2,090 tpd in the first quarter.