Note 2 - Business Segments and Sales of Products - Information About Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 199,500	$ 186,499
Income (loss) from operations	5,553	14,758
Identifiable assets	2,925,624		$ 2,927,172
Greens Creek [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	98,611	86,090
Income (loss) from operations	31,241	34,586
Identifiable assets	582,855		582,687
Lucky Friday [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	49,110	38,040
Income (loss) from operations	14,568	8,771
Identifiable assets	553,447		571,510
Keno Hill [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(6,763)	0
Identifiable assets	303,340		276,096
Casa Berardi [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	50,998	62,101
Income (loss) from operations	(13,693)	(2,699)
Identifiable assets	693,763		681,631
Nevada Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	272	268
Income (loss) from operations	(5,410)	(12,231)
Identifiable assets	465,037		466,722
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	509	0
Income (loss) from operations	(14,390)	$ (13,669)
Identifiable assets	$ 327,182		$ 348,526