Note 15 - Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

Consideration:
Cash	$	949
Hecla stock issued (6,252,646 shares at $3.06 per share)		19,133
Total consideration	$	20,082
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Assets:
Cash	$	140
Accounts receivable		137
Inventory - supplies		472
Deferred tax assets		7,193
Property, plants, equipment and mineral interests		17,609
Reclamation insurance		16,800
Other assets		280
Total assets		42,631
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		975
Notes payable		4,061
Non-current reclamation liability		17,513
Total liabilities		22,549
Net assets	$	20,082

Consideration:
Cash payments	$	496,211
Hecla stock issued (56,997,790 shares at $3.83 per share)		218,302
Total consideration	$	714,513
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Assets:
Cash	$	177,587
Accounts receivable		14,307
Inventory - bullion and stockpiled ore		8,090
Inventory - supplies		5,704
Other current assets		7,036
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net		715,391
Non-current restricted cash and investments		4,471
Other non-current assets		795
Total assets		933,381
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		22,227
Accrued payroll and related benefits		7,613
Accrued taxes		509
Non-current deferred tax liability		177,016
Non-current reclamation		11,113
Other non-current liabilities		390
Total liabilities		218,868
Net assets	$	714,513

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2015			2014			2013
Sales of products	$	445,703		$	500,787		$	382,662
Net loss		(89,118	)		(44,099	)		(36,705	)
Loss applicable to common stockholders		(89,670	)		(44,651	)		(37,257	)
Basic and diluted loss per common share		(0.24	)		(0.12	)		(0.11	)

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2013
Sales of products	$	458,755
Net loss		(9,539	)
Loss applicable to common stockholders		(10,091	)
Basic and diluted loss per common share		(0.03	)