Exhibit (a)(7)


                                                                         2004-03


[HECLA LOGO]     NEWS RELEASE


                            HECLA ANNOUNCES RATIO FOR
                        PREFERRED B SHARE EXCHANGE OFFER

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                February 18, 2004

         COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining Company (HL:NYSE) today announced
that the exchange ratio for its Preferred B exchange offer is 7.94 shares of
Hecla Common stock for each share of Hecla Series B Cumulative Convertible
Preferred stock properly tendered in accordance with the exchange offer. The
ratio was determined by dividing $66.00 by the volume weighted average price for
Hecla Common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the five trading days
ending today, February 18, 2004. The expiration of the offer is 12:00 Midnight,
New York City time, on Friday, February 20, 2004. The exchange offer document is
available in the Investor Relations section of the Hecla Mining Company website,
accessible at www.hecla-mining.com.

         If all 464,777 remaining outstanding preferred shares were exchanged at
this ratio (without considering fractional shares, which will be paid for in
cash), Hecla would issue approximately 3.7 million common shares, representing
approximately 3% of common shares outstanding, post-exchange.

         Hecla's Chief Executive Officer Phillips S. Baker, Jr., said, "We
encourage preferred shareholders to exchange their shares and participate in any
future increases in the value of the Common stock. Following the completion of
the exchange offer, we will also evaluate exercising our right to redeem any
remaining preferred shares at the redemption price of $50 per preferred share
plus accrued dividends."

         Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, mines and
processes silver and gold in the United States, Venezuela and Mexico. A
113-year-old









       6500 N Mineral Drive, Suite 200 o Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-9408
                       o 208/769-4100 o FAX 208/769-7612



company, Hecla has long been well known in the mining world and financial
markets as a quality silver and gold producer. Hecla's common and preferred
shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL and
HL-PrB.

NOTICE

         This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of
an offer to sell common or preferred stock of Hecla Mining Company. Hecla Mining
Company has filed a Tender Offer Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Tender Offer Statement (as amended, and including the Offering
Circular attached as an exhibit thereto, a related Letter of Transmittal and
other offer documents) contains important information, which should be read
carefully before any decision is made with respect to the offer. Such documents
are available free of charge at www.sec.gov and www.hecla-mining.com

               Contact: Vicki Veltkamp, vice president - investor
                       and public relations, 208/769-4144

                    Hecla's Home Page can be accessed on the
                    Internet at: http://www.hecla-mining.com
















       6500 N Mineral Drive, Suite 200 o Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-9408
                       o 208/769-4100 o FAX 208/769-7612