XML 62 R62.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 3.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 1.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Cash [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 1.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 1.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Large Cap U.S. Equity [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 11.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_LargeCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_LargeCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Large Cap U.S. Equity [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 11.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_LargeCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_LargeCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Small Cap U.S. Equity [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_SmallCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_SmallCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Small Cap U.S. Equity [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_SmallCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_SmallCapUSEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 8.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 10.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 34.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 32.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 34.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 32.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Real Estate [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 20.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Real Estate [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 16.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 20.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Hedge Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 14.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Hedge Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Real Return [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_RealReturnMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 8.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_RealReturnMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Real Return [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 7.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_RealReturnMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 8.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= hl_RealReturnMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember
Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember		 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]    
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category [Line Items]    
Asset categories 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember		 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember