Note 2 - Business Segments and Sales of Products - Information About Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	$ 181,906	$ 146,339	$ 559,537	$ 524,080
Income (loss) from operations	(12,641)	(25,459)	(2,277)	(2,989)
Identifiable assets	2,961,156		2,961,156		$ 2,927,172
Greens Creek [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	96,459	60,875	290,961	239,688
Income (loss) from operations	31,169	1,378	92,824	63,768
Identifiable assets	568,881		568,881		582,687
Lucky Friday [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	21,409	28,460	113,167	102,380
Income (loss) from operations	(4,935)	4,269	20,161	18,568
Identifiable assets	564,746		564,746		571,510
Keno Hill [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	16,001	0	17,582	0
Income (loss) from operations	(7,462)	(2,324)	(24,145)	(2,324)
Identifiable assets	354,149		354,149		276,096
Casa Berardi [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	46,912	56,939	134,856	181,679
Income (loss) from operations	(12,433)	(5,226)	(35,492)	(8,497)
Identifiable assets	694,030		694,030		681,631
Nevada Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	0	0	960	268
Income (loss) from operations	(6,061)	(8,917)	(16,981)	(30,879)
Identifiable assets	461,706		461,706		466,722
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total sales	1,125	65	2,011	65
Income (loss) from operations	(12,919)	$ (14,639)	(38,644)	$ (43,625)
Identifiable assets	$ 317,644		$ 317,644		$ 348,526