San Sebastian High-Grade Zones Expansion Continue

COEUR D’ALENE, ID - Hecla Mining Company reported that the San Sebastian continues to expand high-grade, polymetallic zones similar to the Hugh Zone on the Middle and Francine veins. Additional oxide mineralization is defined along the Professor and East Francine veins. During the quarter, up to five core drill rigs operated, including two drills concentrated on infill drilling of the polymetallic zone along the Francine Vein. Three exploration core drills were directed toward expansion of high-grade polymetallic mineralization along the Middle and Francine veins and shallower exploration drilling of oxide mineralization along the Professor and East Francine veins.

On the Francine Vein, drilling continues to intersect high-grade, polymetallic mineralization extending 700 feet to the west and 850 feet east of the current resource for a total of over 5,300 feet of strike length. Recent vein exploration intercepts suggest this polymetallic mineralization is closer to surface to the west (within 500 feet of surface). Recent assay results include 35.3 oz/ton silver, 7.9% copper, 23.5% lead, and 18.5% zinc over 4.4 feet and 10.1 oz/ton silver, 1% copper, 0.7% lead, and 12.8% zinc over 2.6 feet to the west. Drilling will continue to the west and at depth where mineralization is open. Further to the east along the East Francine Vein, areas of oxide mineralization, including intersections of 38.3 oz/ton silver and 0.16 oz/ton gold and over 5.2 feet, are open to the east and up-dip. Drilling is now concentrated on the 1,000 feet of open area that is present between these new intercepts and the previously defined mineralization in the shallower portion of the East Francine Vein resource area.

Exploration drilling of the 97 Zone along the West Middle Vein was directed toward a new zone of high-grade, polymetallic mineralization with similar mineral characteristics as the previously discovered polymetallic mineralization on the Francine Vein. The 97 Zone extends 1,500 feet along strike and 1,100 feet down-dip and is open to the east and at depth. This mineralization is located about 100 to 300 feet below the new Middle Vein underground mine ramp and work on a development drift has begun to facilitate the collection of a bulk sample of the polymetallic mineralization this year. A recent intersection approximately 600 feet below the current underground ramp includes a narrow, but high-grade intercepts of 10.2 oz/ton silver, 3.0% copper, 10.1% lead, and 18% zinc over 4.4 feet and 9.8 oz/ton silver, 3.8% copper, 8.5% lead, and 9.4% zinc over 2.8 feet. This intercept represents the deepest high-grade mineralization at the Middle Vein to date and demonstrates that, like the Francine Vein, polymetallic mineralization also occurs in the deeper (>1,200 feet from surface) portions of the Middle Vein. Drilling of this mineralization along the Middle Vein is expected to continue to depth and to the east.

The Professor Vein is located approximately 300 feet south of the Francine Vein and some ore shoots in this vein are located near a programmed Francine Vein crosscut and could be accessed by extending this ramp. Drilling of this vein includes intersections of 19.1 oz/ton silver and 0.05 oz/ton gold over 5.2 feet and 18.1 oz/ton silver and 0.29 oz/ton gold over 3.5 feet. Drilling continues to expand resources and evaluate polymetallic targets along the Middle and Francine veins and will also evaluate near-surface, oxide mineralization at the East Francine, North and Esperanza veins.