Note 5 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 99,602	$ 115,806	$ 32,094	$ 27,155
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	$ 87,012	65,729
Operating Loss Carryforwards Expiration Period	20 years
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Alternative Minimum Tax	$ 20,405	11,607
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Employee Compensation	22,000	20,000
Foreign Earnings Repatriated	0	0	$ 0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	0	$ 0
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	96,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards	244,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	4,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Hecla Canada Limited [Member] | Canada Revenue Agency [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	2,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Minera Hecla S.A. [Member] | Mexican Tax Authority [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	1,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Hecla Quebec. Inc [Member] | Canada Revenue Agency [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	0
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 84,000