Note 2 - Business Segments and Sales of Products - Information About Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 178,131	$ 191,242	$ 377,631	$ 377,741
Income (loss) from operations	4,811	7,712	10,364	22,470
Identifiable assets	2,945,459		2,945,459		$ 2,927,172
Greens Creek [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	95,891	92,723	194,502	178,813
Income (loss) from operations	30,414	27,803	61,655	62,389
Identifiable assets	569,367		569,367		582,687
Lucky Friday [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	42,648	35,880	91,758	73,920
Income (loss) from operations	10,526	5,528	25,096	14,299
Identifiable assets	561,012		561,012		571,510
Keno Hill [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,581	0	1,581	0
Income (loss) from operations	(9,920)	0	16,683	0
Identifiable assets	326,796		326,796		276,096
Casa Berardi [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	36,946	62,639	87,944	124,740
Income (loss) from operations	(9,366)	(572)	(23,059)	(3,271)
Identifiable assets	710,027		710,027		681,631
Nevada Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	687	0	959	268
Income (loss) from operations	(5,510)	(9,728)	(10,920)	(21,963)
Identifiable assets	463,520		463,520		466,722
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	378	0	887	0
Income (loss) from operations	(11,333)	$ (15,319)	(25,725)	$ (28,984)
Identifiable assets	$ 314,737		$ 314,737		$ 348,526