EXHIBIT 5.1


                                December 3, 2002

Hecla Mining Company
6500 Mineral Drive
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-8788

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have represented Hecla Mining Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on
Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement") filed under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Act"), for the purpose of registering under the Act (i) up to
4,943,783 shares of common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company owned by certain stockholders of the Company (the
"Shares") currently issued and outstanding and (ii) up to 2,000,000 shares of
Common Stock issuable to a certain stockholder upon exercise of a warrant to
purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares"). In connection with this opinion, I
have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to my
satisfaction, of such documents, corporate and other records, certificates, and
other papers, including the Registration Statement and pertinent resolutions of
the board of directors of the Company, as I deemed necessary to examine for the
purpose of this opinion.

         Based upon such examination, it is my opinion that (i) the Shares have
been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and are non-assessable and
(ii) the Warrant Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and, upon
issuance, payment and delivery thereof to the stockholder in accordance with the
terms of the warrant between the Company and Great Basin Gold Ltd. will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         My opinion expressed above is limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, the applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution,
and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws, and I do not express
any opinion concerning any other laws. This opinion is given as of the date
hereof, and I assume no obligation to advise you of changes that may hereafter
be brought to my attention.

         I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am within
the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                Very truly yours,



                                                /s/ Michael B. White