Note 1- The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 1: The Company Hecla Mining Company, and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Hecla”, “we”, “us” or “the Company”), is primarily a precious metals mining company with five operations located in the United States, Canada and Mexico and several exploration projects in North America. Hecla Mining Company is a Delaware corporation. Our current holding company structure dates from the incorporation of Hecla Mining Company in 2006 and the renaming of our subsidiary (previously Hecla Mining Company) as Hecla Limited. Hecla Limited was incorporated on October 14, 1891 as an Idaho Corporation in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley. We believe we are the oldest operating precious metals mining company in the United States and the largest silver producer in the United States. Our corporate offices are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia. The cash flow and profitability of the Company’s operations are significantly affected by the market price of silver, gold, lead and zinc. The prices of silver, gold, lead and zinc are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. References to “CAD” and “MXN” refer to the Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso, respectively.

Note 1- The Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 1: The Company

Hecla Mining Company, and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Hecla”, “we”, “us” or “the Company”), is primarily a precious metals mining company with five operations located in the United States, Canada and Mexico and several exploration projects in North America. Hecla Mining Company is a Delaware corporation. Our current holding company structure dates from the incorporation of Hecla Mining Company in 2006 and the renaming of our subsidiary (previously Hecla Mining Company) as Hecla Limited. Hecla Limited was incorporated on October 14, 1891 as an Idaho Corporation in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley. We believe we are the oldest operating precious metals mining company in the United States and the largest silver producer in the United States. Our corporate offices are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia. The cash flow and profitability of the Company’s operations are significantly affected by the market price of silver, gold, lead and zinc. The prices of silver, gold, lead and zinc are affected by numerous factors beyond our control.

References to “CAD” and “MXN” refer to the Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso, respectively.