Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 CAD	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Accrued Payroll and Related Benefits [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Accrued Taxes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Non-current Deferred Tax Liability [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Non-current Reclamation [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Non-current Liabilities [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Bullion and Stockpiled Ore [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Supplies [Member] USD ($)
Consideration:
Cash payments	$ 496,400,000	514,500,000	$ 496,211,000
Hecla stock issued (56,997,790 shares at $3.83 per share)	218,300,000	226,300,000	218,302,000
Total consideration		740,800,000	714,513,000
Assets:
Cash	177,587,000		177,587,000
Accounts receivable	14,307,000		14,307,000
Inventory										8,090,000	5,704,000
Other current assets	7,036,000		7,036,000
Property, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net	715,391,000		715,391,000	715,400,000
Non-current restricted cash and investments	4,471,000		4,471,000
Other non-current assets	795,000		795,000
Total assets	933,381,000		933,381,000
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	22,227,000		22,227,000
Accrued liabilities					7,613,000	509,000
Non-current liabilities							177,016,000	11,113,000	390,000
Total liabilities	218,868,000		218,868,000
Net assets	$ 714,513,000		$ 714,513,000