Hecla Mining (HL) 10-Q 5 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'HECLA MINING CO/DE/	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	342,638,381
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000719413	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$237,836	$190,984
Accounts receivable:	'	'
Trade	34,481	17,555
Other, net	17,263	7,466
Inventories:	'	'
Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore	23,425	15,073
Materials and supplies	20,214	13,564
Current deferred income taxes	36,141	29,398
Other current assets	20,526	8,858
Total current assets	389,886	282,898
Non-current investments	8,364	9,614
Non-current restricted cash and investments	5,378	871
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net	1,776,554	996,659
Non-current deferred income taxes	75,950	86,365
Other non-current assets and deferred charges	12,880	1,883
Total assets	2,269,012	1,378,290
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	56,592	43,162
Accrued payroll and related benefits	18,128	10,760
Accrued taxes	3,729	12,321
Current portion of capital leases	7,398	5,564
Current portion of accrued reclamation and closure costs	74,481	19,845
Other current liabilities	17,576	3,335
Total current liabilities	177,904	94,987
Capital leases	12,603	11,935
Accrued reclamation and closure costs	49,862	93,370
Long-term debt	490,417	11,935
Non-current deferred tax liability	171,260	'
Other noncurrent liabilities	39,180	40,047
Total liabilities	941,226	240,339
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized:	'	'
Series B preferred stock, $0.25 par value, 157,816 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation preference — $7,891	39	39
Common stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2013 — 342,638,214 shares and 2012 — 285,209,848 shares	85,890	71,499
Capital surplus	1,425,581	1,218,283
Accumulated deficit	-151,079	-123,288
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-27,565	-23,918
Less treasury stock, at cost; 2013 — 921,721 and 2012 — 788,288 shares issued and held in treasury	-5,080	-4,664
Total shareholders’ equity	1,327,786	1,137,951
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$2,269,012	$1,378,290

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Preferred stock, aggregate shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Series B preferred stock, par value (in Dollars per share) (in Dollars per share)	$0.25	$0.25
Series B preferred stock, shares issued	157,816	157,816
Series B preferred stock, shares outstanding	157,816	157,816
Series B preferred stock, liquidation preference (in Dollars) (in Dollars)	$7,891	$7,891
Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share) (in Dollars per share)	$0.25	$0.25
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	342,638,214	285,209,848
Common stock, shares outstanding	342,638,214	285,209,848
Treasury stock, common shares	921,721	788,288

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Sales of products	$106,629	$81,871	$268,409	$240,043
Cost of sales and other direct production costs	66,937	32,961	163,770	99,423
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	19,006	11,601	53,224	31,141
	85,943	44,562	216,994	130,564
Gross profit	20,686	37,309	51,415	109,479
Other operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	7,720	5,695	22,141	15,723
Exploration	5,797	11,722	18,511	24,479
Pre-development	3,444	5,409	12,747	12,246
Other operating expense	342	736	1,571	3,285
Provision (credit) for closed operations and reclamation	933	-1,093	4,572	3,320
Lucky Friday suspension-related (income) expense	-59	6,114	-1,401	18,745
Aurizon acquisition costs	768	'	26,368	'
	18,945	28,583	84,509	77,798
Income (loss) from operations	1,741	8,726	-33,094	31,681
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts	-4,564	-9,053	23,516	-8,113
Gains on sale of investments	'	'	197	'
Interest and other income (loss)	-829	47	-257	228
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-7,348	-591	-14,506	-1,563
	-12,741	-9,597	8,950	-9,448
Income (loss) before income taxes	-11,000	-871	-24,144	22,233
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,542	-14	1,922	-8,022
Net income (loss)	-8,458	-885	-22,222	14,211
Preferred stock dividends	-138	-138	-414	-414
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	-8,596	-1,023	-22,636	13,797
Net income (loss)	-8,458	-885	-22,222	14,211
Reclassification of net gain on sale of marketable securities included in net income	'	'	-197	'
Defined benefit pension plan costs	3,366	'	3,366	'
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments	-877	3,085	-5,455	2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	($5,969)	$2,200	($24,508)	$16,491
Basic income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends (in Dollars per share)	($0.03)	'	($0.07)	$0.05
Diluted income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends (in Dollars per share)	($0.03)	'	($0.07)	$0.05
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in Shares)	342,638	285,492	310,601	285,400
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in Shares)	342,638	285,492	310,601	296,739
Cash dividends declared per common share (in Dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00	$0.01	$0.04

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	($22,222)	$14,211
Non-cash elements included in net income (loss):	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	55,279	36,042
Gain on sale of investments	-197	'
Unrealized gain on investments	-327	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of properties, plants, equipment, and mineral interests	-125	359
Provision for reclamation and closure costs	1,701	3,937
Stock compensation	3,253	2,296
Deferred income taxes	-1,304	-2,023
Amortization of loan origination fees	905	324
(Gain) loss on derivative contracts	-15,589	24,748
Reversal of purchase price allocation to product inventory	550	'
Other non-cash items, net	-819	901
Change in assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-14,711	-9,508
Inventories	-1,923	1,025
Other current and non-current assets	-793	-417
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	8,574	4,561
Accrued payroll and related benefits	-281	-2,754
Accrued taxes	-10,458	-611
Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities	3,565	-6,603
Cash provided by operating activities	5,080	66,488
Investing activities:	'	'
Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests	-112,806	-81,318
Acquisition of Aurizon, net of cash acquired	-321,117	'
Proceeds from sale of investments	1,772	'
Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment	126	744
Purchases of investments	-5,738	-3,261
Changes in restricted cash and investment balances	-36	'
Net cash used in investing activities	-437,799	-83,835
Financing activities:	'	'
Acquisition of treasury shares	-286	-497
Dividends paid to common shareholders	-5,134	-10,700
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	-414	-414
Debt issuance and loan origination fees	-1,244	-750
Borrowings on debt	490,000	'
Repayments of capital leases	-5,171	-4,561
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	477,751	-16,922
Effect of exchange rates on cash	1,820	'
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	46,852	-34,269
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	190,984	266,463
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	237,836	232,194
Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Addition of capital lease obligations	7,674	9,108
Accounts payable change relating to capital additions	-8,101	-2,905
Stock issued for the acquisition of Aurizon	$218,302	'

Note_1_Basis_of_Preparation_of

Note 1 - Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	Note 1.    Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
	In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (“we” or “our” or “us”).  These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes as set forth in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as it may be amended from time to time.
	The results of operations for the periods presented may not be indicative of those which may be expected for a full year.  The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate for the information not to be misleading.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and the disclosures of contingent liabilities.  Accordingly, ultimate results could differ materially from those estimates.
	On June 1, 2013, we completed the acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. ("Aurizon"), as further discussed in Note 13. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect our results of operations for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013, including those of Aurizon since the June 1, 2013 acquisition date. We have determined that the functional currency for our Canadian operations acquired from Aurizon is the U.S. dollar.

Note_2_Investments_and_Restric

Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Investments And Restricted Cash [Abstract]	'
Cash Investments And Restricted Cash	'
	Note 2.    Investments and Restricted Cash
	Investments
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the fair value of our non-current investments was $8.4 million and $9.6 million, respectively.  Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities, which are carried at fair value as they are classified as “available-for-sale.” The cost basis of our non-current investments was approximately $13.0 million and $8.1 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. In the first nine months of 2013, we acquired securities having a cost basis of $5.7 million, and obtained additional securities through the acquisition of Aurizon having a value of $0.3 million at the time of acquisition, which represents our cost basis (see Note 13). Since the acquisition, we have obtained additional shares of Typhoon Exploration Inc. ("Typhoon") having a cost basis of $0.5 million pursuant to an agreement between Aurizon and Typhoon. In addition, in the first nine months of 2013, we sold investments having a cost basis of $1.6 million for proceeds of $1.8 million.
	At September 30, 2013, total unrealized loss positions of $4.6 million, net of unrealized gains of $55 thousand, for our non-current investments were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
	Our non-current investments balance as of September 30, 2013 includes our ownership of approximately 29.4% of the outstanding common shares of Typhoon having a cost basis of $0.8 million and fair value of $1.1 million. We elected to apply the fair value option accounting method to the investment upon it meeting the criteria for equity method accounting during the second quarter of 2013. We evaluate the accounting treatment of our individual investments based on whether we believe our ownership percentage and other factors indicate that we have the ability to exercise significant influence in the financial and/or operational decisions of the investee. As of September 30, 2013, we have determined that no other investments held by us qualify for equity method accounting.
	Restricted Cash and Investments
	Various laws, permits, and covenants require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities.  These restricted investments are used primarily for reclamation funding or for funding surety bonds, and were $5.4 million and $0.9 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The increase during the first nine months of 2013 is due to restricted reclamation deposits obtained in the acquisition of Aurizon (see Note 13 for more information). Restricted investments primarily represent investments in money market funds and certificates of deposit.

Note_3_Income_Taxes

Note 3 - Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 3.   Income Taxes
	Major components of our income tax provision (benefit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(5,488	)	$	5,102		$	(1,496	)	$	8,630
	State		(153	)		425			20			978
	Foreign		114			114			344			344
	Total current income tax provision (benefit)		(5,527	)		5,641			(1,132	)		9,952
	Deferred:
	Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		2,985			(5,627	)		(790	)		(1,930	)
	Total income tax provision (benefit)	$	(2,542	)	$	14		$	(1,922	)	$	8,022
	With the acquisition of Aurizon, we added a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary. For Canadian tax purposes, the transaction was treated as an acquisition of Aurizon stock, resulting in carryover tax bases of acquired corporate assets. As a result, a net deferred tax liability was recorded for the tax impact of the excess fair market value of assets for GAAP reporting over the Canadian tax bases of those assets. We recorded an initial deferred tax liability of $177.2 million.
	As of September 30, 2013 we have a net deferred tax asset in the U.S. of $112.1 million and a net deferred tax liability in Canada of $172.8 million for a consolidated worldwide net deferred tax liability of $60.7 million. Our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets depends on future taxable income generated from operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no circumstances that caused us to change our assessment of the ability to generate future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets.   It is possible that the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets will change in the future as a result of the analysis of our long-range forecasts, with a resulting tax provision or benefit.
	The current income tax provisions and benefits for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 vary from the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory income tax rate to pre-tax income primarily due to the effects of U.S. percentage depletion deductions, non-deductible expenses, and non-recognizable losses related to foreign operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Note_4_Commitments_Contingenci

Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 4.    Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations
	General
	We follow the FASB Accounting Standards Codification guidance in determining our accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies, and evaluate such accruals and contingencies for each reporting period. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability could be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.
	Rio Grande Silver Guaranty
	Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Grande Silver Inc. (“Rio”), is party to a joint venture with Emerald Mining & Leasing, LLC (“EML”) and certain other parties with respect to a land package in the Creede Mining District of Colorado that is adjacent to other land held by Rio. Rio holds a 70% interest in the joint venture. In connection with the joint venture, we are required to guarantee certain environmental remediation-related obligations of EML to a third party up to a maximum liability to us of $2.5 million. As of September 30, 2013, we have not been required to make any payments pursuant to the guaranty. We may be required to make payments in the future, limited to the $2.5 million maximum liability, should EML fail to meet its obligations to the third party. However, to the extent that any payments are made by us under the guaranty, EML, in addition to other parties, have jointly and severally agreed to reimburse and indemnify us for any such payments. We have not recorded a liability relating to the guaranty as of September 30, 2013.
	Lucky Friday Water Permit Exceedances
	Over the last several years, the Lucky Friday unit has experienced several regulatory issues relating to its water discharge permits and water management more generally.
		•	In late 2008 and during 2009, Hecla Limited experienced a number of alleged water permit exceedances for water discharges at the Lucky Friday unit. These alleged violations resulted in Hecla Limited entering into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) and a Compliance Order with the EPA in April 2009, which included an extended compliance time line. In connection with the CAFO, Hecla Limited agreed to pay the maximum administrative penalty to the EPA of $177,500 to settle any liability for such alleged exceedances.
		•	In 2009, additional alleged permit exceedances for water discharges at the Lucky Friday unit occurred. In 2010, alleged unpermitted discharges of pollutants occurred at the Lucky Friday unit. These alleged permit exceedances and certain alleged unpermitted discharges were the subject of a December 2010 Notice of Violation (“2010 NOV”) from the EPA informing Hecla Limited that the EPA was prepared to seek civil penalties for these alleged violations. In the 2010 NOV, the EPA invited Hecla Limited to discuss these matters with them prior to filing a complaint. Hecla Limited disputes many of EPA's assertions, but initiated negotiations with the EPA in an attempt to resolve the matter. There has not been any resolution of the 2010 NOV.
		•	In 2012, the Lucky Friday unit had two weekly water samples, one of which in October exceeded the permit concentration limit for lead (but not the associated load limit), and one of which in November exceeded permit limits for zinc. Also in October and November, heavy rains resulted in alleged impacted storm water being discharged to a nearby river. After these incidents, in February 2013, the EPA issued a notice of violation and request for information to Hecla Limited alleging that the October and November 2012 storm water incidents were each a violation of Hecla Limited's storm water permit.
	The EPA referred the two alleged 2012 permit exceedances, along with the alleged violations in the 2010 NOV and some additional alleged unpermitted discharges from 2010 that were not included in the 2010 NOV, to the U.S. Department of Justice to possibly file a civil complaint by the United States against Hecla Limited. In addition, it is possible that the United States may include the 2012 storm water incidents in any complaint. There is the potential for larger civil penalties in the context of a United States complaint than in an administrative action by the EPA such as the 2009 CAFO.
	Hecla Limited strives to maintain its water discharges and water management in general at the Lucky Friday unit in full compliance with its permits and applicable laws, however we cannot provide assurances that it will be able to fully comply with the permit limits and other regulatory requirements regarding water management in the future.
	We believe that it is reasonably possible that Hecla Limited faces some liability for the above water issues; however, we cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount of any such liability and therefore have not recorded any liability for this matter.
	Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico
	In May 2011, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico, and asserted that Hecla Mining Company may be responsible under CERCLA for environmental remediation and past costs the EPA has incurred at the site. Mining at the Johnny M was conducted for a limited period of time by a predecessor of our subsidiary, Hecla Limited. In August 2012, Hecla Limited and the EPA entered into a Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent for Removal Action (“Consent Decree”), pursuant to which Hecla Limited agreed to pay (i) $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs at the site and (ii) any future response costs at the site, in exchange for a covenant not to sue by the EPA. The Consent Decree also describes additional work at the site to be conducted by Hecla Limited. Hecla Limited paid the $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs in the fourth quarter of 2012, and our consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2013 include an accrual balance by Hecla Limited of $0.3 million for investigation and planning costs. Hecla Limited cannot reasonably estimate the amount of any additional liability it may face at the site until, at a minimum, the amount and type of remediation required have been determined.
	Carpenter Snow Creek Site, Cascade County, Montana
	In July 2010, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund Site located in Cascade County, Montana. The Carpenter Snow Creek Site is located in a historic mining district, and in the early 1980s Hecla Limited leased 6 mining claims and performed limited exploration activities at the site. Hecla Limited terminated the mining lease in 1988.
	In June 2011, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it believes Hecla Limited, among several other viable companies, may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated in the June 2011 letter that it has incurred approximately $4.5 million in response costs and estimated that total remediation costs may exceed $100 million. Because Hecla Limited had very limited activity at the site, we do not believe that the outcome of the claim will have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the ultimate liability, if any, relating to this matter.
	States of South Dakota and Colorado Superfund Sites Related to CoCa Mines, Inc.
	In 1991, Hecla Limited acquired all of the outstanding common stock of CoCa Mines, Inc. (“CoCa”). CoCa is alleged to have engaged in exploration at the Gilt Edge Mine in South Dakota as well as in the area adjacent to the Nelson Tunnel property in Creede, Colorado.
	Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site
	In August 2008, the EPA made a formal request to CoCa for information regarding the Gilt Edge Mine Site located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, and asserted that CoCa may be liable for environmental cleanup at the site. The Gilt Edge Mine Site was explored and/or mined beginning in the 1890s. In the early 1980s, CoCa was involved in a joint venture that conducted a limited program of exploration work at the site. This joint venture terminated in 1984, and by 1985 CoCa had divested itself of any interest in the property.
	In July 2010 the United States informed CoCa that it intends to pursue CoCa and several other potentially responsible parties on a joint and several basis for liability for past and future response costs at Gilt Edge under CERCLA. Currently, the United States alleges that CoCa is liable based on participation in the joint venture, and that CoCa has succeeded to the liabilities of its predecessor at the site, Congdon & Carey, which may have held certain property interests at the site.
	As of April 2013, the United States has alleged estimated total costs associated with the site of $200 million, including both past and future response costs. Hecla Limited did not acquire CoCa until 1991, well after CoCa discontinued its involvement with the Gilt Edge site. In addition, CoCa is and always has been a separate corporate entity from Hecla Limited. Therefore, we believe that Hecla Limited is not liable for any cleanup at the Gilt Edge site. We believe that it is reasonably possible that CoCa faces some liability for the site; however, we cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the ultimate amount of any such liability. Furthermore, in the event CoCa incurs a liability at this site, it has limited assets with which to satisfy any such liability. Because of CoCa's limited assets, we believe that it is possible that the United States will seek to recover some of the alleged $200 million in costs associated with the site from Hecla Limited, as the parent corporation of CoCa. We believe Hecla Limited would have strong defenses to such a claim and would vigorously defend against any such claims. Settlement negotiations with the United States commenced in 2010 and are ongoing, but there can be no assurance such negotiations will be successful, or that Hecla Limited will not incur a material liability with respect to this site.
	Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock Pile Superfund Site
	In August 2009, the EPA made a formal request to CoCa for information regarding the Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock Pile Superfund Site in Creede, Colorado. A timely response was provided and the EPA later arranged to copy additional documents. CoCa was involved in exploration and mining activities in Creede during the 1970s and the 1980s. In September 2013, the EPA made a formal claim against CoCa for past response costs under CERCLA as an owner/operator of the site, and against Hecla Limited as a corporate successor to CoCa. The EPA is seeking a total of approximately $5 million for past response costs, plus an undetermined amount of interest from CoCa, Hecla Limited, and other potentially responsible parties. The EPA stated that it is continuing its remedial investigation/feasibility study at the site, and once that is complete, it will begin remedial design and remedial action for the site. Presumably, the EPA will also seek reimbursement of at least some of those costs from viable potentially responsible parties. Hecla Limited did not acquire CoCa until 1991, well after CoCa discontinued its historical activities in the vicinity of the site. In addition, CoCa is and always has been a separate corporate entity from Hecla Limited. Therefore, we believe that Hecla Limited is not liable for any cleanup, has strong defenses, and we will vigorously defend against the claim. If CoCa is ultimately found to be liable, it has limited assets with which to satisfy any such liability. We cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the ultimate liability, if any, relating to this matter, and therefore we have not recorded a liability relating to the site as of September 30, 2013.
	Senior Notes
	On April 12, 2013, we completed the issuance of $500 million in senior notes ("Notes"), as further discussed in Note 9. The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes were used to partially fund the acquisition of Aurizon and for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the Aurizon acquisition (see Note 13 for more information). The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the date of original issuance or from the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013.
	Other Commitments
	Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2013 included approximately $11.5 million for commitments relating to capital items, along with $5.6 million for various non-capital costs. In addition, our open purchase orders at September 30, 2013 included approximately $13.6 million, $5.4 million, and $1.2 million, respectively, for various capital items at the Casa Berardi, Greens Creek, and Lucky Friday units, and approximately $3.8 million, $0.2 million, and $0.7 million, respectively, for various non-capital costs at such units. We also have total commitments of approximately $20.8 million relating to scheduled payments on capital leases, including interest, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units (see Note 9 for more information). In addition, in 2011, we settled Hecla Limited's Coeur d'Alene Basin environmental litigation and related claims pursuant to a Consent Decree entered by the Court on September 8, 2011.  Hecla Limited remains obligated under the Consent Decree to make payments totaling $55.4 million by August 2014, which would be funded by proceeds from our outstanding warrants, if exercised (see Note 8 for more information). Under the terms of the Consent Decree, the proceeds from the exercise of our outstanding warrants will be paid to the United States and the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe within 30 days after the end of the quarter when exercised. If the warrants are not exercised, the company is responsible for its final payment under the Consent Decree.
	We had letters of credit for approximately $1.3 million outstanding as of September 30, 2013 for workers' compensation insurance bonding.
	Other Contingencies
	On February 1, 2012, a purported Hecla stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Hecla and certain of our officers, one of whom is also a director. The complaint, purportedly brought on behalf of all purchasers of Hecla common stock from October 26, 2010 through and including January 11, 2012, asserted claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and sought, among other things, damages and costs and expenses. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Hecla, under the authority and control of the individual defendants, made certain false and misleading statements and allegedly omitted certain material information related to operational issues at the Lucky Friday mine. The complaint alleged that these actions artificially inflated the market price of Hecla common stock during the class period, thus purportedly harming investors who purchased shares during that time. A second suit was filed on February 14, 2012, alleging virtually identical claims. These complaints were consolidated into a single case, a lead plaintiff and lead counsel were appointed by the Court (Bricklayers of Western Pennsylvania Pension Plan, et al. v. Hecla Mining Company et al., Case No. 12-0042 (D. Idaho)), and a consolidated amended complaint was filed on October 16, 2012. In January 2013, we filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On September 26, 2013, the Court granted our motion to dismiss, but granted the plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint on or before October 18, 2013. An amended complaint was not filed by the deadline. Therefore, we anticipate the Court will issue in the near future a final judgment dismissing the lawsuit.
	Related to the above described class action lawsuit, Hecla is named as a nominal defendant in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit which names as defendants certain Hecla executives and members of Hecla's Board of Directors. The case is In Re Hecla Mining Company Derivative Shareholder Litigation, Case No. 2:12-cv-00097 (D. Idaho).  In general terms, this lawsuit alleges breaches of fiduciary duties by the individual defendants and seeks damages, purportedly on behalf of Hecla. In January 2013, a consolidated amended complaint was filed and in February 2013, we filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On September 25, 2012 and April 30, 2013, two other state court derivative actions were dismissed in Delaware and in Idaho, respectively. In addition, the Board of Directors has received two letters on behalf of purported shareholders demanding that Hecla commence litigation against certain executives and directors on substantially similar grounds. Hecla's board has concluded the actions requested by both demands would be contrary to the Company's best interest given the pendency of other, related litigation against the Company.
	In March 2012, Hecla Limited received notice of a complaint filed against it by the United Steel Workers, Local 5114, with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for compensation for bargaining unit workers at the Lucky Friday mine idled as a result of the temporary suspension of production at the mine. The complaint alleges the bargaining unit workers are entitled to compensation under Section 111 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 from November 16, 2011 - the date an order was issued by the Mine Safety Health Administration (“MSHA”) to Hecla Limited - until such time as the order is terminated. We submitted a motion for summary decision to the administrative law judge within the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, which was denied in December 2012. Currently we are awaiting further proceedings. We believe the claim is without merit, and that all wages due under Section 111, which was an immaterial amount, have already been paid. Therefore, we have not recorded a liability relating to the claim as of September 30, 2013. The value of the union's claim is estimated to be in the range of $0 to $10 million.
	We are subject to other legal proceedings and claims which arise from time to time. These can include, but are not limited to, legal proceedings and/or claims pertaining to environmental or safety matters. For example, in April 2011, a fatal accident occurred at the Lucky Friday mine which was investigated by MSHA. In November 2011, an accident occurred as part of the construction of #4 Shaft which resulted in the fatality of one contractor employee. In an unrelated incident, in December 2011, a rock burst occurred in a primary access way at the Lucky Friday mine and injured seven employees, none fatally. At the end of 2011, MSHA began a special impact investigation at the Lucky Friday mine which resulted in an order to remove built-up cementitious material from the Silver Shaft, the primary access way from the surface at the Lucky Friday mine. As a result of MSHA's investigations related to these events, Hecla Limited has been issued monetary penalties (none of which are material, individually or in the aggregate), and may face additional enforcement actions, including additional monetary penalties from MSHA or other governmental agencies. Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate disposition of these other matters, we believe they will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.
	On April 12, 2013, the family of Larry Marek, an employee of Hecla Limited who was fatally injured in the April 2011 accident, filed a lawsuit against us and certain of our officers and employees seeking damages for, among other claims, wrongful death and infliction of emotional distress. No dollar amount of damages is claimed in the complaint, which was filed in state court in Idaho (Kootenai County District Court). We cannot reasonably predict the outcome of this matter, however, we believe the case is without merit and intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit.

Note_5_Earnings_Per_Common_Sha

Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	Note 5.    Earnings Per Common Share
	We are authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share. At September 30, 2013, there were 343,559,935 shares of our common stock issued and 921,721 shares issued and held in treasury, for a net of 342,638,214 shares outstanding.
	The following table reconciles weighted average common shares used in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (thousands, except per-share amounts):
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Numerator
	Net income (loss)	$	(8,458	)	$	(885	)	$	(22,222	)	$	14,211
	Preferred stock dividends		(138	)		(138	)		(414	)		(414	)
	Net income (loss) applicable to common shares for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(8,596	)	$	(1,023	)	$	(22,636	)	$	13,797
	Denominator
	Basic weighted average common shares		342,638			285,492			310,601			285,400
	Dilutive stock options and restricted stock		—			—			—			11,339
	Diluted weighted average common shares		342,638			285,492			310,601			296,739
	Basic earnings per common share
	Net income applicable to common shares	$	(0.03	)	$	—		$	(0.07	)	$	0.05
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Net income applicable to common shares	$	(0.03	)	$	—		$	(0.07	)	$	0.05
	Diluted income (loss) per share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 excludes the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion and exercise would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.
	For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and the three-month period ended September 30, 2012, all outstanding options, restricted share units, and warrants were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share, as our reported net losses for those periods would cause their conversion and exercise to have no effect on the calculation of earnings (loss) per share. Options to purchase 570,005 shares of our common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, as the exercise price of the options not included in the computations of diluted earnings per share exceeded the average price of our stock during those periods and therefore would not affect the calculation of earnings per share.

Note_6_Business_Segments

Note 6 - Business Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 6.    Business Segments
	We are currently organized and managed in three reporting segments: the Greens Creek unit, the Lucky Friday unit and the Casa Berardi unit. As further discussed in Note 13, we completed the acquisition of Aurizon on June 1, 2013, giving us 100% ownership of the Casa Berardi mine in Quebec, Canada. As a result, we have added a new reporting segment for the Casa Berardi unit.
	General corporate activities not associated with operating units and their various exploration activities, as well as discontinued operations and idle properties, are presented as “other.”  Interest expense, interest income and income taxes are considered general corporate items, and are not allocated to our segments.
	The following tables present information about reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
	Greens Creek	$	64,845		$	81,871		$	207,576		$	239,794
	Lucky Friday		14,395			—			23,324			249
	Casa Berardi	$	27,389		$	—		$	37,509		$	—
		$	106,629		$	81,871		$	268,409		$	240,043
	Income (loss) from operations:
	Greens Creek	$	15,310		$	34,834		$	51,164		$	105,529
	Lucky Friday		402			(6,147	)		(6,210	)		(18,588	)
	Casa Berardi		572			—			(12,784	)		—
	Other		(14,543	)		(19,961	)		(65,264	)		(55,260	)
		$	1,741		$	8,726		$	(33,094	)	$	31,681
	The Lucky Friday segment had no and nominal sales during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, due to the mine being closed for most of the year. At the end of 2011, MSHA began a special impact inspection at the Lucky Friday mine which resulted in an order to remove loose cementitious material from the Silver Shaft. In response, we submitted a plan to MSHA and received approval to remove the material, and this work commenced in the first quarter of 2012. In addition, the plan included removal of unused utilities, construction of a water ring to prevent ice from forming in the winter, the installation of a metal brattice, repair of shaft steel, and installation of a new power cable, all of which should improve the shaft's functionality and possibly improve the shaft's hoisting capacity. When the Silver Shaft work was completed down to the 4900 foot level, work commenced on a haulage way bypassing an area at the 5900 foot level impacted by a rock burst in December 2011. Work on the Silver Shaft and haulage way was completed in early 2013, and we recommenced limited production at the Lucky Friday mine in February 2013. During late September 2013, the mine reached its historical full throughput rate of 900 tons per day, an average rate the mine is expected to maintain for the remainder of the year. For the third quarter and first nine months of 2013, we have realized income of $0.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, as a result of business interruption insurance proceeds, net of certain suspension-related costs, which is reported in Lucky Friday suspension-related income (expense) on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).
	The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Identifiable assets:
	Greens Creek	$	752,153		$	741,666
	Lucky Friday		221,091			226,196
	Casa Berardi		864,839			—
	Other		430,929			410,428
		$	2,269,012		$	1,378,290

Note_7_Employee_Benefit_Plans

Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 7.   Employee Benefit Plans
	We sponsor two defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees.  Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended
			September 30,
			2013			2012
	Service cost		$	569		$	993
	Interest cost			422			1,017
	Expected return on plan assets			(375	)		(1,145	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			(171	)		101
	Amortization of net (gain) loss			660			706
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	1,105		$	1,672
			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2013			2012
	Service cost		$	2,684		$	2,980
	Interest cost			2,361			3,051
	Expected return on plan assets			(2,784	)		(3,435	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			24			301
	Amortization of net (gain) loss			2,212			2,119
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	4,497		$	5,016
	The decreased service costs in 2013 versus 2012 were driven primarily by the impact of the amendment to one of the plans discussed below, partially offset by higher staffing and compensation levels.
	Effective July 1, 2013, we amended the Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan (the "Hecla plan") to change the pension benefit formula and other plan provisions. The amendment resulted in the following changes to the Hecla plan:
		•	The definition of pensionable compensation was changed to exclude fringe benefits, reimbursements or other expense allowances, moving expenses, health and welfare benefits, stock awards, income realized from stock options or restricted stock, income from certain property arrangements, long term incentive awards, premium pay rates for overtime, contributions to or distributions from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, shift or location differentials, and one-half of any performance-based or annual incentive bonus. Under the terms of the amended Hecla plan, pensionable compensation includes an employee's base salary and other payments of compensation for services performed during the course of employment, elective deferrals not includable in the gross income of the employee under the Internal Revenue Service Code Sections 125, 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h), 403(b) and 457, one-half of any performance-based or annual incentive bonus, one-half of any cash safety incentive award, paid time off other than for disability leave, and compensation for overtime at the employee's regular hourly rate of pay for each hour worked.
		•	For new employees hired after June 30, 2013, pension benefits will be calculated based on the highest average of any five consecutive years (60 months) of pensionable compensation during the final ten years of service instead of three consecutive years during the final ten years of service for employees hired before July 1, 2013.
		•	Prior to July 1, 2013, we credited each participant's account annually with an amount equal to 6.0% of pensionable compensation, plus an additional 5.7% of the participant's pensionable compensation in excess of the Social Security taxable wage base ("the cash balance pay credit"). Beginning July 1, 2013, the cash balance pay credit will consist of the 6.0% of pensionable compensation without the 5.7% additional credit.
		•	Access to cash balance accounts following a termination of employment prior to early or normal retirement age has been limited. Prior to the amendment, a cash balance participant could elect to receive a distribution of the vested portion of his or her account at any age following a termination of employment. This change applies only to amounts credited to a cash balance account after June 30, 2013.
		•	For new employees hired after June 30, 2013, the cash balance pay credit will be earned based on years of plan participation: 3% for 1 through 5 years; 4.5% for 6 through 10 years; 6% after 10 years.
	As of September 30, 2013, our current-year contributions to the pension plans totaled $0.7 million, and we expect to contribute an additional $0.3 million over the rest of 2013.

Note_8_Shareholders_Equity

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 8.    Shareholders’ Equity
	Share-based Compensation Plans
	We periodically grant restricted stock unit awards and/or shares of common stock to our employees and directors. We measure compensation cost for restricted stock units and stock grants at the closing price of our stock at the time of grant. Restricted stock unit grants vest after a specified period with compensation cost amortized over that period. Previously, we also granted stock options, but currently do not. Although we have no current plans to issue stock options, we may do so in the future.
	On June 21, 2013, the Board of Directors granted 954,438 restricted stock units to employees, with one third of those vesting in June 2014, one third vesting in June 2015, and one third vesting in June 2016. The Board of Directors granted an additional 633,960 restricted stock units on June 21, 2013 that vest in June 2014. The $2.8 million in expense related to the unit awards vesting in 2014 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the next twelve months, while the $2.9 million in total expense related to awards vesting in 2015 and 2016 will be recognized over the next twenty-four and thirty-six month periods, respectively.
	On May 30, 2013 and June 21, 2013, 28,050 and 94,200 shares of common stock, respectively, were issued to nonemployee directors.
	Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock unit grants to employees and shares issued to nonemployee directors recorded in the first nine months of 2013 totaled $3.3 million, compared to $2.3 million in the same period last year.
	In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units, employees may, at their election, choose to satisfy their tax withholding obligations through net share settlement, pursuant to which the Company withholds the number of shares necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations. As a result, in the first nine months of 2013, we withheld 83,433 shares for $0.2 million, or approximately $2.86 per share.
	Common Stock Dividends
	In September 2011 and February 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that has two components: 1) a dividend that links the amount of dividends on our common stock to our average quarterly realized silver price in the preceding quarter, and 2) a minimum annual dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, payable quarterly when and if declared. For illustrative purposes only, the table below summarizes potential per share dividend amounts at different quarterly average realized price levels according to the first component of the policy:
	Quarterly average realized silver	Quarterly dividend per		Annualized dividend
	price per ounce	share		per share
	$30	$0.01		$0.04
	$35	$0.02		$0.08
	$40	$0.03		$0.12
	$45	$0.04		$0.16
	$50	$0.05		$0.20
	$55	$0.06		$0.24
	$60	$0.07		$0.28
	On November 4, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend, pursuant to the minimum annual dividend component of the policy described above, of $0.0025 per share, for a total dividend of $0.9 million payable in December 2013. Because the average realized silver price for the third quarter of 2013 was $22.22 per ounce, below the minimum threshold of $30 according to the policy, no silver-price-linked component was declared or paid. The declaration and payment of common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.
	Warrants
	The following table summarizes certain information about our stock purchase warrants at September 30, 2013:
	Warrants Outstanding	Warrants			Exercise Price		Expiration Date
	Series 1 warrants		5,200,519		$	2.4	Jun-14
	Series 1 warrants		460,976			2.51	Jun-14
	Series 3 warrants		16,671,128			2.45	Aug-14
	Total warrants outstanding		22,332,623
	No warrants were exercised during the first nine months of 2013.  Under the terms of the Consent Decree settling the Coeur d’Alene Basin litigation, the proceeds from the exercise of our outstanding warrants will be paid to the United States and Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe within 30 days after the end of the quarter when exercised.  If the warrants are not exercised, we are responsible for the final payment under the Consent Decree.
	Common Stock Repurchase Program
	On May 8, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of September 30, 2013, 400,300 shares have been purchased at an average price of $5.56 per share, leaving 19.6 million shares that may yet be purchased under the program. The closing price of our common stock at November 1, 2013, was $3.14 per share.

Note_9_Credit_Facilities_and_C

Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 9.    Senior Notes, Credit Facility, and Capital Leases
	Senior Notes
	On April 12, 2013, we completed an offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due May 1, 2021 (the “Notes”) in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes are governed by the Indenture, dated as of April 12, 2013 (the “Indenture”), among us and certain of our subsidiaries and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
	The Notes are recorded net of a 2% initial purchaser discount totaling $10 million at the time of issuance and having an amortized balance of $9.6 million as of September 30, 2013. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the date of original issuance or from the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, interest expense related to the notes and amortization of the initial purchaser discount and fees related to the issuance of the notes, net of $3.9 million in capitalized interest, totaled $12.6 million.
	The Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our subsidiaries (the "Guarantors").   The Notes and the guarantees will be our general senior unsecured obligations and will be subordinated to all of our and the Guarantors' existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing that secured debt.  In addition, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Notes, to the extent of the assets of those subsidiaries.
	The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes ($490 million) were used to partially fund the acquisition of Aurizon and for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the Aurizon acquisition. See Note 13 for more information.
	The Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or after May 1, 2016, on the redemption dates and at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.  Prior to May 1, 2016, we may redeem some or all of the Notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus a “make whole” premium.  We may redeem up to 35% of the Notes before May 1, 2016 with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings.
	Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of Notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder's Notes pursuant to a change of control offer (as defined in the Indenture), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
	In connection with the sale of the Notes, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2013, pursuant to which we and the Guarantors have agreed to (i) file an exchange offer registration statement within 270 days after the issue date of the Notes to exchange the Notes for a new issue of debt securities registered under the Securities Act, with terms substantially identical to those of the Notes (except with respect to certain transfer restrictions and certain obligations to pay special interest as described in the Notes); (ii) use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 330 days after the issue date of the Notes; (iii) use our commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the exchange offer within 365 days after the issue date of the Notes; and (iv) in certain circumstances, file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the Notes. If we and the Guarantors fail to satisfy our registration obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, then the annual interest rate on the Notes will increase by 0.25% per annum and by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period during which the registration default continues, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0% per annum. On October 28, 2013, we filed an exchange offer registration statement with the SEC to exchange the Notes for a new issue of debt securities registered under the Securities Act.
	Credit Facilities
	We have a $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which is collateralized by the shares of common stock held in our material domestic subsidiaries and by our joint venture interests in the Greens Creek mine, all of our rights and interests in the joint venture agreement, and all of our rights and interests in the assets of the joint venture.  This credit facility originated with a $60 million senior secured revolving credit agreement entered into in October 2009 that has been amended several times. On April 1, 2013 we amended the agreement to reduce the commitment amount from $150 million to $100 million while also adjusting certain covenants and limitations. Amounts borrowed under the credit agreement are available for general corporate purposes.  The interest rate on outstanding loans under the agreement is between 3.00% and 4.50% above the London Interbank Offered Rate or an alternative base rate plus an applicable margin of between 2.00% and 3.50%.  We are required to pay a standby fee of between 0.825% and 1.05% per annum on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit agreement.  The credit facility is effective until August 1, 2015. In the first nine months of 2013, we incurred $0.4 million in interest expense for the amortization of loan origination fees and $0.8 million in interest expense for commitment fees relating to the credit agreement.
	The credit agreement includes various covenants and other limitations related to our various financial ratios and indebtedness and investments, as well as other information and reporting requirements, including the following limitations:
		•	senior leverage ratio (calculated as debt secured by liens divided by EBITDA) of not more than 2.50:1;
		•	leverage ratio (calculated as total debt less unencumbered cash divided by EBITDA) of not more than 4.00:1 at all times prior to December 31, 2014, and not more than 3.50:1 at all times from and after December 31, 2014;
		•	interest coverage ratio (calculated as EBITDA divided by interest expense) of not less than 3.0:1; and
		•	tangible net worth of greater than 80% of the Tangible Net Worth at completion of the acquisition of Aurizon, plus 50% of positive quarterly Net Income thereafter. (see Note 13 for more information on the acquisition of Aurizon).
	We were in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement as of September 30, 2013.  We have not drawn funds on the current revolving credit facility as of the filing date of this Form 10-Q.
	Capital Leases
	We have entered into various lease agreements primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, which we have determined to be capital leases.  At September 30, 2013, the total liability associated with the capital leases, including certain purchase option amounts, was $20.0 million, with $7.4 million of the liability classified as current and $12.6 million classified as non-current. At December 31, 2012, the total liability balance associated with capital leases was $17.5 million, with $5.6 million of the liability classified as current and $11.9 million classified as non-current. The total obligation for future minimum lease payments was $20.8 million at September 30, 2013, with $0.9 million attributed to interest.
	At September 30, 2013, the annual maturities of capital lease commitments, including interest, are (in thousands):
		Twelve-month period
		ending September 30,
		2014		$	6,789
		2015			7,181
		2016			5,160
		2017			1,679
		Total			20,809
		Less: imputed interest			(878	)
		Net capital lease obligation		$	19,931

Note_10_Developments_in_Accoun

Note 10 - Developments in Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Table Text Block [Abstract]	'
Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]	'
	Note 10.    Developments in Accounting Pronouncements
	In December of 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which enhances disclosure requirements regarding an entity's financial instruments and derivative instruments that are offset or subject to a master netting arrangement. This information about offsetting and related netting arrangements will enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on the entity's financial position, including the effect of rights of setoff. The amendments are required for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance has not had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Note_11_Derivative_Instruments

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 11.    Derivative Instruments
	At times, we use financially-settled forward contracts, and we may also use commodity swap contracts, to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals that we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to price fluctuations. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production covered by contract positions.
	We use financially-settled forward contracts to sell silver, gold, lead and zinc at fixed prices for settlement at approximately the same time that our unsettled concentrate sales contracts will settle.  The settlement of each concentrate contract is based on the average spot price of the metal during the month of settlement, which may differ from the prices used to record the sale when the sale takes place.  The objective of the contracts is to manage the exposure to changes in metal prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our doré and concentrate shipments between the time of sale and final settlement.  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  At September 30, 2013 we recorded a current asset of approximately $1.4 million, which is included in other current assets, for the fair value of the contracts.  The current asset balance is net of approximately $0.1 million for contracts that were in a fair value liability position at September 30, 2013. We recognized a $0.3 million net gain on the contracts during the first nine months of 2013, which is included in sales of products.  The net gain recognized on the contracts offsets price adjustments on our provisional concentrate sales related to changes to silver, gold, lead and zinc prices between the time of sale and final settlement.
	In addition, we use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead (but not silver and gold) contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments.  These contracts also do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  At September 30, 2013 we recorded a current asset of $8.0 million, which is included in other current assets, and a non-current asset of $9.3 million, which is included in other non-current assets, for the fair value of the contracts.  The current asset and non-current asset balances are net of approximately $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for contracts that were in a fair value liability position at September 30, 2013. We recognized a $23.5 million net gain on the contracts during the first nine months of 2013, which included $9.7 million in gains realized on settled contracts. The net gain on these contracts is included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing.  This program is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below).
	The following tables summarize the quantities of metals committed under forward sales contracts at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
	30-Sep-13	Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)								Average price per ounce/pound
		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead
		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)
	Contracts on provisional sales
	2013 settlements		1,384		5		16,975		8,047	$	22.4	$	1,354	$	0.87	$	0.97
	Contracts on forecasted sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		3,527		4,079		—		—	$	0.95	$	1.07
	2014 settlements		—		—		60,516		47,619		—		—	$	0.99	$	1.05
	2015 settlements		—		—		42,769		39,628		—		—	$	0.96	$	1.07
	2016 settlements		—		—		661		9,755		—		—	$	0.97	$	1.04
	31-Dec-12	Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)								Average price per ounce/pound
		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead
		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)
	Contracts on provisional sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		14,991		6,945		—		—	$	0.95	$	1
	Contracts on forecasted sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		35,935		32,794		—		—	$	0.96	$	1.11
	2014 settlements		—		—		30,203		33,069		—		—	$	0.98	$	1.03
	2015 settlements		—		—		3,307		23,534		—		—	$	1.01	$	1.06
	Our concentrate sales are based on a provisional sales price containing an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the forward price at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.

Note_12_Fair_Value_Measurement

Note 12 - Fair Value Measurement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	Note 12.    Fair Value Measurement
	The table below sets forth our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category (in thousands).
	Description	Balance at		Balance at		Input
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12		Hierarchy Level
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Money market funds and other bank deposits	$	237,836	$	190,984	Level 1
	Available for sale securities:
	Equity securities – mining industry		8,364		9,614	Level 1
	Trade accounts receivable:
	Receivables from provisional concentrate sales		34,481		17,555	Level 2
	Restricted cash balances:
	Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits		5,378		871	Level 1
	Derivative contracts:
	Base metal forward contracts		18,712		5,606	Level 2
	Total assets	$	304,771	$	224,630
	Liabilities:
	Derivative contracts:
	Base metal forward contracts	$	—	$	2,483	Level 2
	Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
	Current and non-current restricted cash balances consist primarily of certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities and are valued at cost, adjusted for interest income earned, which approximates fair value.
	Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities which are valued using quoted market prices for each security.
	Trade accounts receivable include amounts due to us for shipments of concentrates and doré sold to smelters and refiners.  Revenues and the corresponding accounts receivable for sales of metals products are recorded when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of loading on truck or ship).  Sales of concentrates are recorded using estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement applied to our estimate of payable metal quantities contained in each shipment.  Sales are recorded net of estimated treatment and refining charges, which are also impacted by changes in metals prices and quantities of contained metals.  We estimate the forward prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled due to the time elapsed between shipment and final settlement with the smelter.  Receivables for previously recorded concentrate sales are adjusted to reflect estimated forward metals prices at the end of each period until final settlement by the smelter.  We obtain the forward metals prices used each period from a pricing service.  Changes in metal prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment.  The embedded derivative contained in our concentrate sales is adjusted to fair market value through earnings each period prior to final settlement.
	We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments that have not reached final settlement.  We also use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments (see Note 11 for more information).  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  The fair value of each contract represents the present value of the difference between the forward metal price for the contract settlement period as of the measurement date and the contract settlement metal price.
	Our senior notes issued in April 2013, which were recorded at their carrying value of $490.4 million, net of unamortized initial purchaser discount at September 30, 2013, had a fair value of $476.3 million at September 30, 2013. Third-party quotes, which we consider to be Level 2 inputs, are utilized to estimate fair values of the senior notes. See Note 9 for more information.

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd.	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 13. Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd.
	On June 1, 2013, Hecla and Aurizon consummated the Acquisition Agreement pursuant to which Hecla acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Aurizon for consideration valued at US$4.32 (CAD$4.47) per share (the "Acquisition"). Under the terms of the Acquisition, each holder of Aurizon common shares (a “Shareholder”) had the option of electing to receive either CAD$4.75 in cash (the “Cash Alternative”) or 0.9953 of a Hecla share (the “Share Alternative”) per Aurizon share, subject in each case to proration. Each Shareholder received CAD$3.11 (US$3.00) in cash and 0.3442 of a Hecla share for each Aurizon share, with limited exceptions in which certain shareholders received 100% of their consideration in Hecla shares. Aurizon had 164,838,377 issued and outstanding common shares immediately prior to consummation of the Acquisition. An additional 747,132 Aurizon common shares were issued immediately prior to consummation of the Acquisition related to the conversion of in-the-money Aurizon stock options, resulting in a total of 165,585,509 issued and outstanding Aurizon common shares at the time of consummation of the Acquisition. Consideration transferred to consummate the Acquisition was comprised of cash paid by Hecla of CAD$514.5 million (US$496.4 million) and issuance of 56,997,790 shares of Hecla common stock valued at CAD$226.3 (US$218.3 million) for total consideration of CAD$740.8 million (US$714.5 million)based on the US$ to CAD$ exchange rate of 0.9645 at the time of consummation. The value of Hecla stock issued as consideration was based upon the closing price at the time of consummation of CAD$3.97 (US$3.83) per share.
	The cash portion of the Acquisition was primarily funded by the issuance of senior notes in April 2013 for net proceeds of $490 million. See Note 9 for more information.
	On August 23, 2013, Aurizon transferred its jurisdiction of incorporation by continuing from British Columbia to the Canadian federal jurisdiction. Aurizon is now governed by the Canadian Business Corporations Act. Concurrently with the continuation, Aurizon changed its name to Hecla Quebec Inc.
	The following summarizes the preliminary allocation of purchase price to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in thousands):
	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
	The $715.4 million fair value for "Property, plants, equipment, and mineral interests, net" is comprised of $11.1 million for the asset retirement obligation asset, $127.8 million for plant and equipment, and $576.5 million for development, value beyond proven and probable reserves, and other mineral interests.
	The unaudited pro forma financial information below represents the combined results of our operations as if the Acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. The amounts below for the three-month period ended September 30, 2013 represent the actual results for that period. The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the periods presented, nor is it indicative of future operating results.
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Sales of products	$	106,629		$	131,903		$	344,575		$	406,963
	Net income (loss)	(8,458		)	(3,348		)	(6,631		)	18,661
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	(8,596		)	(3,486		)	(7,045		)	18,247
	Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.02		)	0.05
	The pro forma financial information includes adjustments to reflect the depreciation and amortization of assets acquired, an estimate of interest expense related to the senior notes that would have been incurred, and the issuance of Hecla stock as consideration in the acquisition.

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Abstract]	'
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Text Block]	'
	Note 14.    Guarantor Subsidiaries
	Presented below are the Company’s condensed consolidating financial statements as required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, resulting from the guarantees by certain of the Company's subsidiaries (the "Guarantors") of the $500 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's senior notes due on May 1, 2021 (the "Notes", see Note 9 for more information). The Guarantors consist of the following of the Company's 100%-owned subsidiaries: Hecla Limited; Silver Hunter Mining Company; Rio Grande Silver, Inc.; RHL Holdings, Inc.; Hecla MC Subsidiary, LLC; Hecla Silver Valley, Inc.; Burke Trading, Inc.; Hecla Alaska LLC; Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company; Hecla Admiralty Company; and Hecla Juneau Mining Company. The Company completed the offering of the Notes on April 21, 2013.
	The condensed consolidating financial statements below have been prepared from the Company’s financial information on the same basis of accounting as the consolidated financial statements. Investments in the subsidiaries are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, the entries necessary to consolidate the Company and the Guarantors are reflected in the intercompany eliminations column. In the course of preparing consolidated financial statements, we eliminate the effects of various transactions conducted between our subsidiaries. While valid at an individual subsidiary level, such activities are eliminated in consolidation because, when taken as a whole, they do not represent business activity with third-party customers, vendors, and other parties. Examples of such eliminations include the following.
		•	Investments in subsidiaries. The acquisition of a company results in an investment on the records of the parent company and a contribution of capital on the records of the subsidiary. Such investments and capital contributions are eliminated in consolidation.
		•	Capital contributions. Other of our subsidiaries do not generate cash flow, and their cash requirements are routinely met with inter-company advances from their parent companies. On an annual basis, the boards of directors of such parent companies declare contributions of capital to their subsidiary companies, which increase the parent's investment and the subsidiaries' additional paid-in capital. In consolidation, investments in subsidiaries and related additional paid-in capital are eliminated.
		•	Deferred taxes. Our ability to realize deferred tax assets and liabilities is considered on a consolidated basis for subsidiaries within the United States, with all subsidiaries' estimated future taxable income contributing to the ability to realize all such assets and liabilities. However, when our subsidiaries are viewed independently, we use the separate return method to assess the realizability of each subsidiary's deferred tax assets and whether a valuation allowance is required against such deferred tax assets. In some instances, a parent company or subsidiary may possess deferred tax assets whose realization depends on the future taxable incomes of other subsidiaries on a consolidated-return basis, but would not be considered realizable if such parent or subsidiary filed on a separate stand-alone basis. In such a situation, a valuation allowance is assessed on that subsidiary's deferred tax assets, with the resulting adjustment reported in the eliminations column of the guarantor and parent's financial statements, as is the case in the financial statements set forth below. The separate return method can result in significant eliminations of deferred tax assets and liabilities and related income tax provisions and benefits. Non-current deferred tax asset balances are included in other non-current assets on the condensed consolidating balance sheets and make up a large portion of that item, particularly for the guarantor balances.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
			As of September 30, 2013
			Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
			(in thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	116,255		$	29,864		$	91,717		$	—		$	237,836
	Other current assets			11,317			103,839			34,650			2,244			152,050
	Properties, plants, and equipment - net			498			1,041,328			734,728			—			1,776,554
	Intercompany receivable (payable)			540,038			(120,727	)		(570,606	)		151,295			—
	Investments in subsidiaries			1,196,577			—			—			(1,196,577	)		—
	Other non-current assets			11,894			163,073			12,658			(85,053	)		102,572
	Total assets		$	1,876,579		$	1,217,377		$	303,147		$	(1,128,091	)	$	2,269,012
	Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Current liabilities		$	27,973		$	144,897		$	18,028		$	(12,994	)	$	177,904
	Long-term debt			490,417			12,559			44			—			503,020
	Non-current portion of accrued reclamation			—			38,061			11,801			—			49,862
	Non-current deferred tax liability			—			14,124			77,016			80,120			171,260
	Other non-current liabilities			30,403			8,033			744			—			39,180
	Shareholders' equity			1,327,786			999,703			195,514			(1,195,217	)		1,327,786
	Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	1,876,579		$	1,217,377		$	303,147		$	(1,128,091	)	$	2,269,012
			As of December 31, 2012
			Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
			(in thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	132,266		$	57,075		$	1,643		$	—		$	190,984
	Other current assets			7,399			65,658			766			18,091			91,914
	Properties, plants, and equipment - net			—			991,476			5,183			—			996,659
	Intercompany receivable (payable)			113,234			(64,893	)		(74,450	)		26,109			—
	Investments in subsidiaries			918,526			—			—			(918,526	)		—
	Other non-current assets			3,059			164,913			7,600			(76,839	)		98,733
	Total assets		$	1,174,484		$	1,214,229		$	(59,258	)	$	(951,165	)	$	1,378,290
	Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Current liabilities		$	3,726		$	121,221		$	1,016		$	(30,976	)	$	94,987
	Long-term debt			—			11,875			60			—			11,935
	Non-current portion of accrued reclamation			—			92,825			545			—			93,370
	Other non-current liabilities			32,807			8,651			252			(1,663	)		40,047
	Shareholders' equity			1,137,951			979,657			(61,131	)		(918,526	)		1,137,951
	Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	1,174,484		$	1,214,229		$	(59,258	)	$	(951,165	)	$	1,378,290
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
			Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
			(in thousands)
	Revenues		$	(2,447	)	$	81,687		$	27,389		$	—		$	106,629
	Cost of sales			—			(45,342	)		(21,595	)		—			(66,937	)
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization			—			(15,736	)		(3,270	)		—			(19,006	)
	General and administrative			(3,550	)		(3,636	)		(534	)		—			(7,720	)
	Exploration and pre-development			(42	)		(6,551	)		(2,648	)		—			(9,241	)
	Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts			(4,564	)		—			—			—			(4,564	)
	Aurizon acquisition costs			(268	)		—			(500	)		—			(768	)
	Equity in loss of subsidiaries			82,896			—			—			(82,896	)		—
	Other (expense) income			(80,483	)		(811	)		(15,800	)		87,701			(9,393	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes			(8,458	)		9,611			(16,958	)		4,805			(11,000	)
	(Provision) benefit from income taxes			—			(3,795	)		92,351			(86,014	)		2,542
	Net income (loss)			(8,458	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,458	)
	Preferred stock dividends			(138	)		—			—			—			(138	)
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders			(8,596	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,596	)
	Net income (loss)			(8,458	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,458	)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)			2,489			(5,078	)		(1,079	)		6,157			2,489
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	(5,969	)	$	738		$	74,314		$	(75,052	)	$	(5,969	)
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
Revenues		$	338		$	230,562		$	37,509		$	—		$	268,409
Cost of sales			—			(133,944	)		(29,826	)		—			(163,770	)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization			—			(46,630	)		(6,594	)		—			(53,224	)
General and administrative			(11,015	)		(10,183	)		(943	)		—			(22,141	)
Exploration and pre-development			(459	)		(23,299	)		(7,500	)		—			(31,258	)
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts			23,516			—			—			—			23,516
Aurizon acquisition costs			(14,416	)					(11,952	)					(26,368	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries			68,198			—			—			(68,198	)
Other (expense) income			(88,384	)		1,132			(19,757	)		87,701			(19,308	)
Income (loss) before income taxes			(22,222	)		17,638			(39,063	)		19,503			(24,144	)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes			—			(9,049	)		98,672			(87,701	)		1,922
Net income (loss)			(22,222	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,222	)
Preferred stock dividends			(414	)		—			—			—			(414	)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders			(22,636	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,636	)
Net income (loss)			(22,222	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,222	)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)			(2,286	)		(1,248	)		(4,909	)		6,157			(2,286	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	(24,508	)	$	7,341		$	54,700		$	(62,041	)	$	(24,508	)
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
Revenues		$	(1,758	)	$	83,629		$	—		$	—		$	81,871
Cost of sales			—			(32,961	)		—			—			(32,961	)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization			—			(11,601	)		—			—			(11,601	)
General and administrative			(2,968	)		(2,658	)		(69	)		—			(5,695	)
Exploration and pre-development			(727	)		(14,081	)		(2,323	)		—			(17,131	)
Gain on derivative contracts			(9,053	)		—			—			—			(9,053	)
Closed operations			—			2,692			1,721			—			4,413
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries			4,619			—			—			(4,619	)		—
Other expense			9,002			(7,187	)		(2,735	)		(9,794	)		(10,714	)
Income (loss) before income taxes			(885	)		17,833			(3,406	)		(14,413	)		(871	)
(Provision) benefit from income taxes			—			(9,808	)		—			9,794			(14	)
Net income (loss)			(885	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(885	)
Preferred stock dividends			(138	)		—			—			—			(138	)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders			(1,023	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(1,023	)
Net income (loss)			(885	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(885	)
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)			3,085			226			2,859			(3,085	)		3,085
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	2,200		$	8,251		$	(547	)	$	(7,704	)	$	2,200
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
Revenues		$	(1,880	)	$	241,923		$	—		$	—		$	240,043
Cost of sales			—			(99,423	)		—			—			(99,423	)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization			—			(31,141	)		—			—			(31,141	)
General and administrative			(8,632	)		(6,906	)		(185	)		—			(15,723	)
Exploration and pre-development			(1,128	)		(29,123	)		(6,474	)		—			(36,725	)
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts			(8,113	)		—			—			—			(8,113	)
Closed operations			—			—			—			—			—
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries			18,466			—			—			(18,466	)
Other (expense) income			15,498			(20,456	)		(4,161	)		(17,566	)		(26,685	)
Income (loss) before income taxes			14,211			54,874			(10,820	)		(36,032	)		22,233
(Provision) benefit from income taxes			—			(25,588	)		—			17,566			(8,022	)
Net income (loss)			14,211			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		14,211
Preferred stock dividends			(414	)		—			—			—			(414	)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders			13,797			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		13,797
Net income (loss)			14,211			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)			2,280			(909	)		2,729			(1,820	)		2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	16,491		$	28,377		$	(8,091	)	$	(20,286	)	$	16,491
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities		$	(7,020	)	$	57,833		$	(45,733	)				$	5,080
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment			(1,169	)		(88,807	)		(22,830	)					(112,806	)
Acquisition of Aurizon Mines			(498,705	)					177,588						(321,117	)
Other investing activities, net			—			103			(3,979	)		—			(3,876	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders			(5,548	)		—			—						(5,548	)
Borrowings on debt			490,000			—			—						490,000
Proceeds from (payments on) debt			—			(5,171	)		—						(5,171	)
Other financing activity, net			6,431			7,936			(15,897	)		—			(1,530	)
Effect of exchange rates on cash			—			—			1,820			—			1,820
Changes in cash and cash equivalents			(16,011	)		(28,106	)		90,969			—			46,852
Beginning cash and cash equivalents			132,266			57,970			748						190,984
Ending cash and cash equivalents		$	116,255		$	29,864		$	91,717		$	—		$	237,836
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities		$	36,246		$	38,749		$	(6,436	)	$	(2,071	)	$	66,488
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment			(519	)		(80,313	)		(486	)					(81,318	)
Acquisition of Aurizon Mines			—						—						—
Other investing activities, net			(45,528	)		3,403			(5,920	)		45,528			(2,517	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders			(11,114	)		—			—						(11,114	)
Borrowings on debt			—			—			—						—
Proceeds from (payments on) debt			—			(4,554	)		(7	)					(4,561	)
Other financing activity, net			46,135			(17,312	)		13,387			(43,457	)		(1,247	)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents			25,220			(60,027	)		538						(34,269	)
Beginning cash and cash equivalents			97,850			168,433			180						266,463
Ending cash and cash equivalents		$	123,070		$	108,406		$	718					$	232,194

Note_3_Income_Taxes_Tables

Note 3 - Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(5,488	)	$	5,102		$	(1,496	)	$	8,630
	State		(153	)		425			20			978
	Foreign		114			114			344			344
	Total current income tax provision (benefit)		(5,527	)		5,641			(1,132	)		9,952
	Deferred:
	Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		2,985			(5,627	)		(790	)		(1,930	)
	Total income tax provision (benefit)	$	(2,542	)	$	14		$	(1,922	)	$	8,022

Note_5_Earnings_Per_Common_Sha1

Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Numerator
	Net income (loss)	$	(8,458	)	$	(885	)	$	(22,222	)	$	14,211
	Preferred stock dividends		(138	)		(138	)		(414	)		(414	)
	Net income (loss) applicable to common shares for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(8,596	)	$	(1,023	)	$	(22,636	)	$	13,797
	Denominator
	Basic weighted average common shares		342,638			285,492			310,601			285,400
	Dilutive stock options and restricted stock		—			—			—			11,339
	Diluted weighted average common shares		342,638			285,492			310,601			296,739
	Basic earnings per common share
	Net income applicable to common shares	$	(0.03	)	$	—		$	(0.07	)	$	0.05
	Diluted earnings per common share
	Net income applicable to common shares	$	(0.03	)	$	—		$	(0.07	)	$	0.05

Note_6_Business_Segments_Table

Note 6 - Business Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
	Greens Creek	$	64,845		$	81,871		$	207,576		$	239,794
	Lucky Friday		14,395			—			23,324			249
	Casa Berardi	$	27,389		$	—		$	37,509		$	—
		$	106,629		$	81,871		$	268,409		$	240,043
	Income (loss) from operations:
	Greens Creek	$	15,310		$	34,834		$	51,164		$	105,529
	Lucky Friday		402			(6,147	)		(6,210	)		(18,588	)
	Casa Berardi		572			—			(12,784	)		—
	Other		(14,543	)		(19,961	)		(65,264	)		(55,260	)
		$	1,741		$	8,726		$	(33,094	)	$	31,681
Identifiable Assets By Reportable Segment Table [Text Block]	'
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Identifiable assets:
	Greens Creek	$	752,153		$	741,666
	Lucky Friday		221,091			226,196
	Casa Berardi		864,839			—
	Other		430,929			410,428
		$	2,269,012		$	1,378,290

Note_7_Employee_Benefit_Plans_

Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Service cost	$	569		$	993
	Interest cost		422			1,017
	Expected return on plan assets		(375	)		(1,145	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		(171	)		101
	Amortization of net (gain) loss		660			706
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,105		$	1,672
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2013			2012
	Service cost	$	2,684		$	2,980
	Interest cost		2,361			3,051
	Expected return on plan assets		(2,784	)		(3,435	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		24			301
	Amortization of net (gain) loss		2,212			2,119
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,497		$	5,016

Note_8_Shareholders_Equity_Tab

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Dividend Payment Restrictions [Text Block]	'
	Quarterly average realized silver	Quarterly dividend per		Annualized dividend
	price per ounce	share		per share
	$30	$0.01		$0.04
	$35	$0.02		$0.08
	$40	$0.03		$0.12
	$45	$0.04		$0.16
	$50	$0.05		$0.20
	$55	$0.06		$0.24
	$60	$0.07		$0.28
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity Note, Warrants or Rights [Table Text Block]	'
	Warrants Outstanding	Warrants			Exercise Price		Expiration Date
	Series 1 warrants		5,200,519		$	2.4	Jun-14
	Series 1 warrants		460,976			2.51	Jun-14
	Series 3 warrants		16,671,128			2.45	Aug-14
	Total warrants outstanding		22,332,623

Note_9_Credit_Facilities_and_C1

Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Leases [Table Text Block]	'
		Twelve-month period
		ending September 30,
		2014	$	6,789
		2015		7,181
		2016		5,160
		2017		1,679
		Total		20,809
		Less: imputed interest		(878	)
		Net capital lease obligation	$	19,931

Note_11_Derivative_Instruments1

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions [Table Text Block]	'
	30-Sep-13	Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)								Average price per ounce/pound
		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead
		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)
	Contracts on provisional sales
	2013 settlements		1,384		5		16,975		8,047	$	22.4	$	1,354	$	0.87	$	0.97
	Contracts on forecasted sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		3,527		4,079		—		—	$	0.95	$	1.07
	2014 settlements		—		—		60,516		47,619		—		—	$	0.99	$	1.05
	2015 settlements		—		—		42,769		39,628		—		—	$	0.96	$	1.07
	2016 settlements		—		—		661		9,755		—		—	$	0.97	$	1.04
	31-Dec-12	Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)								Average price per ounce/pound
		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead		Silver		Gold		Zinc		Lead
		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)		(ounces)		(ounces)		(pounds)		(pounds)
	Contracts on provisional sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		14,991		6,945		—		—	$	0.95	$	1
	Contracts on forecasted sales
	2013 settlements		—		—		35,935		32,794		—		—	$	0.96	$	1.11
	2014 settlements		—		—		30,203		33,069		—		—	$	0.98	$	1.03
	2015 settlements		—		—		3,307		23,534		—		—	$	1.01	$	1.06

Note_12_Fair_Value_Measurement1

Note 12 - Fair Value Measurement (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]	'
	Description	Balance at		Balance at		Input
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12		Hierarchy Level
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Money market funds and other bank deposits	$	237,836	$	190,984	Level 1
	Available for sale securities:
	Equity securities – mining industry		8,364		9,614	Level 1
	Trade accounts receivable:
	Receivables from provisional concentrate sales		34,481		17,555	Level 2
	Restricted cash balances:
	Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits		5,378		871	Level 1
	Derivative contracts:
	Base metal forward contracts		18,712		5,606	Level 2
	Total assets	$	304,771	$	224,630
	Liabilities:
	Derivative contracts:
	Base metal forward contracts	$	—	$	2,483	Level 2

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon1

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	'
	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]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Sales of products	$	106,629		$	131,903		$	344,575		$	406,963
	Net income (loss)	(8,458		)	(3,348		)	(6,631		)	18,661
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	(8,596		)	(3,486		)	(7,045		)	18,247
	Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.02		)	0.05

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries1

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Abstract]	'
Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	'
		As of September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	116,255		$	29,864		$	91,717		$	—		$	237,836
	Other current assets		11,317			103,839			34,650			2,244			152,050
	Properties, plants, and equipment - net		498			1,041,328			734,728			—			1,776,554
	Intercompany receivable (payable)		540,038			(120,727	)		(570,606	)		151,295			—
	Investments in subsidiaries		1,196,577			—			—			(1,196,577	)		—
	Other non-current assets		11,894			163,073			12,658			(85,053	)		102,572
	Total assets	$	1,876,579		$	1,217,377		$	303,147		$	(1,128,091	)	$	2,269,012
	Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Current liabilities	$	27,973		$	144,897		$	18,028		$	(12,994	)	$	177,904
	Long-term debt		490,417			12,559			44			—			503,020
	Non-current portion of accrued reclamation		—			38,061			11,801			—			49,862
	Non-current deferred tax liability		—			14,124			77,016			80,120			171,260
	Other non-current liabilities		30,403			8,033			744			—			39,180
	Shareholders' equity		1,327,786			999,703			195,514			(1,195,217	)		1,327,786
	Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,876,579		$	1,217,377		$	303,147		$	(1,128,091	)	$	2,269,012
		As of December 31, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	132,266		$	57,075		$	1,643		$	—		$	190,984
	Other current assets		7,399			65,658			766			18,091			91,914
	Properties, plants, and equipment - net		—			991,476			5,183			—			996,659
	Intercompany receivable (payable)		113,234			(64,893	)		(74,450	)		26,109			—
	Investments in subsidiaries		918,526			—			—			(918,526	)		—
	Other non-current assets		3,059			164,913			7,600			(76,839	)		98,733
	Total assets	$	1,174,484		$	1,214,229		$	(59,258	)	$	(951,165	)	$	1,378,290
	Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Current liabilities	$	3,726		$	121,221		$	1,016		$	(30,976	)	$	94,987
	Long-term debt		—			11,875			60			—			11,935
	Non-current portion of accrued reclamation		—			92,825			545			—			93,370
	Other non-current liabilities		32,807			8,651			252			(1,663	)		40,047
	Shareholders' equity		1,137,951			979,657			(61,131	)		(918,526	)		1,137,951
	Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,174,484		$	1,214,229		$	(59,258	)	$	(951,165	)	$	1,378,290
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Revenues	$	(2,447	)	$	81,687		$	27,389		$	—		$	106,629
	Cost of sales		—			(45,342	)		(21,595	)		—			(66,937	)
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization		—			(15,736	)		(3,270	)		—			(19,006	)
	General and administrative		(3,550	)		(3,636	)		(534	)		—			(7,720	)
	Exploration and pre-development		(42	)		(6,551	)		(2,648	)		—			(9,241	)
	Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts		(4,564	)		—			—			—			(4,564	)
	Aurizon acquisition costs		(268	)		—			(500	)		—			(768	)
	Equity in loss of subsidiaries		82,896			—			—			(82,896	)		—
	Other (expense) income		(80,483	)		(811	)		(15,800	)		87,701			(9,393	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes		(8,458	)		9,611			(16,958	)		4,805			(11,000	)
	(Provision) benefit from income taxes		—			(3,795	)		92,351			(86,014	)		2,542
	Net income (loss)		(8,458	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,458	)
	Preferred stock dividends		(138	)		—			—			—			(138	)
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders		(8,596	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,596	)
	Net income (loss)		(8,458	)		5,816			75,393			(81,209	)		(8,458	)
	Changes in comprehensive income (loss)		2,489			(5,078	)		(1,079	)		6,157			2,489
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(5,969	)	$	738		$	74,314		$	(75,052	)	$	(5,969	)
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Revenues	$	338		$	230,562		$	37,509		$	—		$	268,409
	Cost of sales		—			(133,944	)		(29,826	)		—			(163,770	)
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization		—			(46,630	)		(6,594	)		—			(53,224	)
	General and administrative		(11,015	)		(10,183	)		(943	)		—			(22,141	)
	Exploration and pre-development		(459	)		(23,299	)		(7,500	)		—			(31,258	)
	Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts		23,516			—			—			—			23,516
	Aurizon acquisition costs		(14,416	)					(11,952	)					(26,368	)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		68,198			—			—			(68,198	)
	Other (expense) income		(88,384	)		1,132			(19,757	)		87,701			(19,308	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes		(22,222	)		17,638			(39,063	)		19,503			(24,144	)
	(Provision) benefit from income taxes		—			(9,049	)		98,672			(87,701	)		1,922
	Net income (loss)		(22,222	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,222	)
	Preferred stock dividends		(414	)		—			—			—			(414	)
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders		(22,636	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,636	)
	Net income (loss)		(22,222	)		8,589			59,609			(68,198	)		(22,222	)
	Changes in comprehensive income (loss)		(2,286	)		(1,248	)		(4,909	)		6,157			(2,286	)
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(24,508	)	$	7,341		$	54,700		$	(62,041	)	$	(24,508	)
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Revenues	$	(1,758	)	$	83,629		$	—		$	—		$	81,871
	Cost of sales		—			(32,961	)		—			—			(32,961	)
	Depreciation, depletion, amortization		—			(11,601	)		—			—			(11,601	)
	General and administrative		(2,968	)		(2,658	)		(69	)		—			(5,695	)
	Exploration and pre-development		(727	)		(14,081	)		(2,323	)		—			(17,131	)
	Gain on derivative contracts		(9,053	)		—			—			—			(9,053	)
	Closed operations		—			2,692			1,721			—			4,413
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		4,619			—			—			(4,619	)		—
	Other expense		9,002			(7,187	)		(2,735	)		(9,794	)		(10,714	)
	Income (loss) before income taxes		(885	)		17,833			(3,406	)		(14,413	)		(871	)
	(Provision) benefit from income taxes		—			(9,808	)		—			9,794			(14	)
	Net income (loss)		(885	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(885	)
	Preferred stock dividends		(138	)		—			—			—			(138	)
	Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders		(1,023	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(1,023	)
	Net income (loss)		(885	)		8,025			(3,406	)		(4,619	)		(885	)
	Changes in comprehensive income (loss)		3,085			226			2,859			(3,085	)		3,085
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	2,200		$	8,251		$	(547	)	$	(7,704	)	$	2,200
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
Revenues	$	(1,880	)	$	241,923		$	—		$	—		$	240,043
Cost of sales		—			(99,423	)		—			—			(99,423	)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization		—			(31,141	)		—			—			(31,141	)
General and administrative		(8,632	)		(6,906	)		(185	)		—			(15,723	)
Exploration and pre-development		(1,128	)		(29,123	)		(6,474	)		—			(36,725	)
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts		(8,113	)		—			—			—			(8,113	)
Closed operations		—			—			—			—			—
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		18,466			—			—			(18,466	)
Other (expense) income		15,498			(20,456	)		(4,161	)		(17,566	)		(26,685	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		14,211			54,874			(10,820	)		(36,032	)		22,233
(Provision) benefit from income taxes		—			(25,588	)		—			17,566			(8,022	)
Net income (loss)		14,211			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		14,211
Preferred stock dividends		(414	)		—			—			—			(414	)
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders		13,797			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		13,797
Net income (loss)		14,211			29,286			(10,820	)		(18,466	)		14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)		2,280			(909	)		2,729			(1,820	)		2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	16,491		$	28,377		$	(8,091	)	$	(20,286	)	$	16,491
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	'
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Cash flows from operating activities	$	(7,020	)	$	57,833		$	(45,733	)				$	5,080
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Additions to properties, plants, and equipment		(1,169	)		(88,807	)		(22,830	)					(112,806	)
	Acquisition of Aurizon Mines		(498,705	)					177,588						(321,117	)
	Other investing activities, net		—			103			(3,979	)		—			(3,876	)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Dividends paid to shareholders		(5,548	)		—			—						(5,548	)
	Borrowings on debt		490,000			—			—						490,000
	Proceeds from (payments on) debt		—			(5,171	)		—						(5,171	)
	Other financing activity, net		6,431			7,936			(15,897	)		—			(1,530	)
	Effect of exchange rates on cash		—			—			1,820			—			1,820
	Changes in cash and cash equivalents		(16,011	)		(28,106	)		90,969			—			46,852
	Beginning cash and cash equivalents		132,266			57,970			748						190,984
	Ending cash and cash equivalents	$	116,255		$	29,864		$	91,717		$	—		$	237,836
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Parent			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		(in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities	$	36,246		$	38,749		$	(6,436	)	$	(2,071	)	$	66,488
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Additions to properties, plants, and equipment		(519	)		(80,313	)		(486	)					(81,318	)
	Acquisition of Aurizon Mines		—						—						—
	Other investing activities, net		(45,528	)		3,403			(5,920	)		45,528			(2,517	)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Dividends paid to shareholders		(11,114	)		—			—						(11,114	)
	Borrowings on debt		—			—			—						—
	Proceeds from (payments on) debt		—			(4,554	)		(7	)					(4,561	)
	Other financing activity, net		46,135			(17,312	)		13,387			(43,457	)		(1,247	)
	Changes in cash and cash equivalents		25,220			(60,027	)		538						(34,269	)
	Beginning cash and cash equivalents		97,850			168,433			180						266,463
	Ending cash and cash equivalents	$	123,070		$	108,406		$	718					$	232,194

Note_2_Investments_and_Restric1

Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term Investments	$8,364,000	'	$9,614,000
Tax Basis of Investments, Cost for Income Tax Purposes	13,000,000	'	8,100,000
Payments to Acquire Investments	5,738,000	3,261,000	'
Cost Method Investments	1,600,000	'	'
Proceeds from Sale of Long-term Investments	1,800,000	'	'
Restricted Investments	5,400,000	'	900,000
Typhoon Exploration Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Investments	500,000	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	29.40%	'	'
Equity Method Investments	800,000	'	'
Investment Owned, at Fair Value	1,100,000	'	'
Non-Current Investments Held Having Net Gain Position [Member]	'	'	'
Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	4,600,000	'	'
Non-Current Investments Held Having Net Loss Position [Member]	'	'	'
Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	55,000	'	'
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member]	'	'	'
Note 2 - Investments and Restricted Cash (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Investments	$300,000	'	'

Note_3_Income_Taxes_Details

Note 3 - Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Note 3 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	$177.20
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	60.7
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	'
Note 3 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	112.1
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]	'
Note 3 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	$172.80

Note_3_Income_Taxes_Details_Ma

Note 3 - Income Taxes (Details) - Major Components of Income Tax Provision (Benefit) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Current:	'	'	'	'
Federal	($5,488)	$5,102	($1,496)	$8,630
State	-153	425	20	978
Foreign	114	114	344	344
Total current income tax provision (benefit)	-5,527	5,641	-1,132	9,952
Deferred:	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	2,985	-5,627	-790	-1,930
Total income tax provision (benefit)	($2,542)	$14	($1,922)	$8,022

Note_4_Commitments_Contingenci1

Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2009
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum Environmental Remediation Obligation	'	'	'	'	'	'	$2,500,000	'	'
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	177,500
Payment Of Response Costs	'	'	'	1,100,000	'	1,100,000	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities, Noncurrent	'	'	'	'	'	300,000	'	'	'
Estimated Response Costs	'	'	'	'	4,500,000	'	'	'	'
Estimated Future Response Cost	'	'	'	'	100,000,000	'	'	'	'
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value	'	5,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt	'	'	500,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	'	6.88%	6.88%	'	'	'	6.88%	'	'
Contractual Obligations	'	11,500,000	'	'	'	'	11,500,000	'	'
Commitments For Capital Lease Payments	'	20,800,000	'	'	'	'	20,800,000	'	'
Environmental Expense and Liabilities	55,400,000	'	'	'	'	'	1,701,000	3,937,000	'
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	'	1,300,000	'	'	'	'	1,300,000	'	'
Casa Berardi [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Open Purchase Orders	'	13,600,000	'	'	'	'	13,600,000	'	'
Noncapital Costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,800,000	'	'
Greens Creek [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Open Purchase Orders	'	5,400,000	'	'	'	'	5,400,000	'	'
Noncapital Costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	200,000	'	'
Lucky Friday [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Open Purchase Orders	'	1,200,000	'	'	'	'	1,200,000	'	'
Noncapital Costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	700,000	'	'
Non-Capital Costs [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Contractual Obligations	'	5,600,000	'	'	'	'	5,600,000	'	'
Costs Incurred By The EPA [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Incurred Response Costs	'	'	200,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	'	'	'	'	'	$10,000,000	'	'	'

Note_5_Earnings_Per_Common_Sha2

Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	'	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share)	'	$0.25	$0.25
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	'	342,638,214	285,209,848
Treasury Stock, Shares	'	921,721	788,288
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	'	342,638,214	285,209,848
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	570,005	'	'
Gross of Treasury Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	'	343,559,935	'

Note_5_Earnings_Per_Common_Sha3

Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Weighted Average Common Shares (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Weighted Average Common Shares [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($8,458)	($885)	($22,222)	$14,211
Preferred stock dividends	-138	-138	-414	-414
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares for basic and diluted earnings per share	($8,596)	($1,023)	($22,636)	$13,797
Denominator	'	'	'	'
Basic weighted average common shares (in Shares)	342,638	285,492	310,601	285,400
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock (in Shares)	'	'	'	11,339
Diluted weighted average common shares (in Shares)	342,638	285,492	310,601	296,739
Basic earnings per common share	'	'	'	'
Net income applicable to common shares (in Dollars per share)	($0.03)	'	($0.07)	$0.05
Diluted earnings per common share	'	'	'	'
Net income applicable to common shares (in Dollars per share)	($0.03)	'	($0.07)	$0.05

Note_6_Business_Segments_Detai

Note 6 - Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	31-May-13
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of Reportable Segments	'	3	'
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	'	'	100.00%
Insurance Recoveries (in Dollars)	$0.10	$1.40	'

Note_6_Business_Segments_Detai1

Note 6 - Business Segments (Details) - Information About Reportable Segments (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	$106,629	$81,871	$268,409	$240,043
Income (loss) from operations:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations	1,741	8,726	-33,094	31,681
Greens Creek [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	64,845	81,871	207,576	239,794
Income (loss) from operations:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations	15,310	34,834	51,164	105,529
Lucky Friday [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	14,395	'	23,324	249
Income (loss) from operations:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations	402	-6,147	-6,210	-18,588
Casa Berardi [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:	'	'	'	'
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	27,389	'	37,509	'
Income (loss) from operations:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations	572	'	-12,784	'
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from operations	($14,543)	($19,961)	($65,264)	($55,260)

Note_6_Business_Segments_Detai2

Note 6 - Business Segments (Details) - Identifiable Assets by Reportable Segment (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Identifiable assets:	'	'
Identifiable assets	$2,269,012	$1,378,290
Greens Creek [Member]	'	'
Identifiable assets:	'	'
Identifiable assets	752,153	741,666
Lucky Friday [Member]	'	'
Identifiable assets:	'	'
Identifiable assets	221,091	226,196
Casa Berardi [Member]	'	'
Identifiable assets:	'	'
Identifiable assets	864,839	'
Other Segments [Member]	'	'
Identifiable assets:	'	'
Identifiable assets	$430,929	$410,428

Note_7_Employee_Benefit_Plans_1

Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year (in Dollars)	$0.70
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Current Fiscal Year (in Dollars)	$0.30
Pension Compensation [Member]	'
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	6.00%
Pension Compensation in Excess of Social Security Wages [Member]	'
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	5.70%
Years 1 through 5 [Member]	'
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage	3.00%
Years 6 through 10 [Member]	'
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage	4.50%
After 10 Years [Member]	'
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Line Items]	'
Cash Balance Pay Credit Percentage	6.00%

Note_7_Employee_Benefit_Plans_2

Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Net Periodic Pension Cost (Income) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net Periodic Pension Cost (Income) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	$569	$993	$2,684	$2,980
Interest cost	422	1,017	2,361	3,051
Expected return on plan assets	-375	-1,145	-2,784	-3,435
Amortization of prior service cost	-171	101	24	301
Amortization of net (gain) loss	660	706	2,212	2,119
Net periodic benefit cost	$1,105	$1,672	$4,497	$5,016

Note_8_Shareholders_Equity_Det

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

15 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Nov. 04, 2013

Jun. 21, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

31-May-13

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Nov. 01, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

8-May-12

Jun. 21, 2013

Nov. 04, 2013

Vesting in 2014 [Member]

Vesting in 2015 and 2016 [Member]

Common Stock [Member]

Vesting in 2014 [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)

'

954,438

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

633,960

'

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,800,000

$2,900,000

'

'

'

Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)

'

'

94,200

28,050

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,300,000

2,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares (in Shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

83,433

'

400,300

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock Repurchased During Period, Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in Dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2.86

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in Dollars per share)

$0.00

'

'

'

$0.00

$0.00

$0.01

$0.04

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends, Common Stock

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Average Realized Silver Price

22.22

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30

Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20,000,000

'

'

Accelerated Share Repurchases, Final Price Paid Per Share (in Dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5.56

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$19,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Sale of Stock, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$3.14

'

'

'

'

'

Note_8_Shareholders_Equity_Det1

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
$30 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.01
Annual dividend per share	$0.04
$35 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.02
Annual dividend per share	$0.08
$40 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.03
Annual dividend per share	$0.12
$45 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.04
Annual dividend per share	$0.16
$50 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.05
Annual dividend per share	$0.20
$55 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.06
Annual dividend per share	$0.24
$60 [Member]	'
Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Common Stock Dividend Policy [Line Items]	'
Quarterly dividend per share	$0.07
Annual dividend per share	$0.28

Note_8_Shareholders_Equity_Det2

Note 8 - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Stock Purchase Warrants (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]	'
Warrants	$22,332,623
$2.40 [Member] | Series 1 [Member]	'
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]	'
Warrants	5,200,519
Exercise Price (in Dollars per Item)	2.4
Expiration Date	30-Jun-14
$2.51 [Member] | Series 1 [Member]	'
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]	'
Warrants	460,976
Exercise Price (in Dollars per Item)	2.51
Expiration Date	30-Jun-14
$2.45 [Member] | Series 3 [Member]	'
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]	'
Warrants	$16,671,128
Exercise Price (in Dollars per Item)	2.45
Expiration Date	31-Aug-14

Note_9_Credit_Facilities_and_C2

Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 12, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2009
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	'	'	$500,000,000	'	'
Underwriting Discount on Senior Notes	'	'	2.00%	'	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	9,600,000	'	10,000,000	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.88%	6.88%	'	'	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	3,900,000	'	'	'	'
Interest Expense, Debt	12,600,000	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	490,000,000	'	'	'	'
Percentage of Notes Redeemable	35.00%	'	'	'	'
Increase In Annual Rate While In Default	0.25%	'	'	'	'
Increase In Annual Interest Rate	1.00%	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	100,000,000	150,000,000	'	'	60,000,000
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	'2.50	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases Including Purchase Option	20,000,000	'	'	'	'
Capital Lease Obligations, Current	7,398,000	'	'	5,564,000	'
Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent	12,603,000	'	'	11,935,000	'
Capital Lease Obligations	19,931,000	'	'	17,500,000	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	20,809,000	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Interest Included in Payments	878,000	'	'	'	'
Leverage Ratio [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	'4.00	'	'	'	'
Interest Coverage Ratio [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	'3.0	'	'	'	'
Tangible Net Worth [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	'80%	'	'	'	'
Positive Quarterly Net Income [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	'50%	'	'	'	'
Commitment Fees On Credit Agreement [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Interest Expense, Debt	400,000	'	'	'	'
Amortization of Loan Origination Fees [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Interest Expense, Debt	$800,000	'	'	'	'
Minimum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	3.00%	'	'	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Alternative Base Rate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.00%	'	'	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Standby Fee Percentage	0.83%	'	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | LIBOR [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	4.50%	'	'	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Alternative Base Rate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	3.50%	'	'	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Standby Fee Percentage	1.05%	'	'	'	'

Note_9_Credit_Facilities_and_C3

Note 9 - Credit Facilities and Capital Leases (Details) - Annual Maturities of Capital Lease Commitments, Including Interest (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Annual Maturities of Capital Lease Commitments, Including Interest [Abstract]	'	'
2014	$6,789	'
2015	7,181	'
2016	5,160	'
2017	1,679	'
Total	20,809	'
Less: imputed interest	-878	'
Net capital lease obligation	$19,931	$17,500

Note_11_Derivative_Instruments2

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
		Unsettled Concentrate Sales Contracts [Member]	Forecasted Future Concentrate Contracts [Member]
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative Asset, Current	'	$1,400,000	$8,000,000
Derivative Liability, Current	'	100,000	200,000
Derivative, Gain on Derivative	-9,053,000	300,000	23,500,000
Derivative Asset, Noncurrent	'	'	9,300,000
Derivative Liability, Noncurrent	'	'	$200,000

Note_11_Derivative_Instruments3

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	lb	lb
2013 Settlements [Member] | Silver [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Ounces Under Contract (in Pounds and Ounces)	1,384	'
Average Price Per Ounce	$22.40	'
Average Price Per Pound	22.4	'
2013 Settlements [Member] | Gold [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Ounces Under Contract (in Pounds and Ounces)	5	'
Average Price Per Ounce	1,354	'
Average Price Per Pound	1,354	'
2013 Settlements [Member] | Zinc [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	16,975	14,991
Average Price Per Ounce	0.87	0.95
Average Price Per Pound	0.87	0.95
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	3,527	35,935
Average Price Per Pound	0.95	0.96
2013 Settlements [Member] | Lead [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	8,047	6,945
Average Price Per Ounce	0.97	1
Average Price Per Pound	0.97	1
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	4,079	32,794
Average Price Per Pound	1.07	1.11
2014 Settlements [Member] | Zinc [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	60,516	30,203
Average Price Per Pound	0.99	0.98
2014 Settlements [Member] | Lead [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	47,619	33,069
Average Price Per Pound	1.05	1.03
2015 Settlements [Member] | Zinc [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	42,769	3,307
Average Price Per Pound	0.96	1.01
2015 Settlements [Member] | Lead [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	39,628	23,534
Average Price Per Pound	1.07	1.06
2016 Settlements [Member] | Zinc [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	661	'
Average Price Per Pound	0.97	'
2016 Settlements [Member] | Lead [Member]	'	'
Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Summary Of Forward Sales Contracts [Line Items]	'	'
Pounds Under Contract (in Pounds)	9,755	'
Average Price Per Pound	$1.04	'

Note_12_Fair_Value_Measurement2

Note 12 - Fair Value Measurement (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$490.40
Notes Payable	$476.30

Note_12_Fair_Value_Measurement3

Note 12 - Fair Value Measurement (Details) - Assets And Liabilities Accounted For At Fair Value (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Trade accounts receivable:	'	'
Receivables from provisional concentrate sales	$17,263	$7,466
Restricted cash balances:	'	'
Total assets	304,771	224,630
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents:	'	'
Money market funds and other bank deposits	237,836	190,984
Available for sale securities:	'	'
Equity securities – mining industry	8,364	9,614
Restricted cash balances:	'	'
Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits	5,378	871
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Trade accounts receivable:	'	'
Receivables from provisional concentrate sales	34,481	17,555
Restricted cash balances:	'	'
Base metal forward contracts	18,712	5,606
Base metal forward contracts	'	$2,483

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon2

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	CAD	USD ($)		Asset Retirement Obligation [Member]	Plant and Equipment [Member]	Development and Other Mineral Interests [Member]	In The Money Stock Options [Member]	Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member]	Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member]
						USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)		USD ($)	CAD
Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Per Share Consideration (in Dollars per share and Dollars per share)	'	$3.83	'	$3.83	'	'	'	'	'	$4.32	4.47
Business Acquisition, Share Price (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	4.75
Business Acquisition Per Share Issued (in Shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.9953	0.9953
Potentail Business Acquisition Per Share Price (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3.11
Business Acquisition Cost Sensitivity To Change In Share Price (in Dollars per share)	'	$3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Potentail Business Acquitision Shares Issued (in Shares)	'	0.3442	0.3442	0.3442	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Shares Outstanding of Entity Acquired (in Shares)	'	164,838,377	164,838,377	164,838,377	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in Shares)	'	56,997,790	56,997,790	'	'	'	'	'	747,132	'	'
Business Acquisition Shares Issued And Outstanding of Acquired Entity (in Shares)	'	'	'	'	165,585,509	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross (in Dollars)	'	$496,400,000	514,500,000	$496,211,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	'	496,400,000	514,500,000	496,211,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable (in Dollars)	'	218,300,000	226,300,000	218,302,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	'	218,300,000	226,300,000	218,302,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred (in Dollars)	'	714,500,000	740,800,000	714,513,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	'	714,500,000	740,800,000	714,513,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exchange Rate	'	0.96%	0.96%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share Price (in Dollars per share and Dollars per share)	'	$3.83	3.97	$3.83	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Notes Payable	490,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment	$715,400,000	$715,391,000	'	$715,391,000	'	$11,100,000	$127,800,000	$576,500,000	'	'	'

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon3

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation	6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	USD ($)	CAD	USD ($)	USD ($)	Accrued Payroll and Related Benefits [Member]	Accrued Taxes [Member]	Non-current Deferred Tax Liability [Member]	Non-current Reclamation [Member]	Other Non-current Liabilities [Member]	Bullion and Stockpiled Ore [Member]	Supplies [Member]
					USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)
Consideration:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash payments	$496,400	514,500	$496,211	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Hecla stock issued (56,997,790 shares at $3.83 per share)	218,300	226,300	218,302	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total consideration	714,500	740,800	714,513	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash	177,587	'	177,587	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	14,307	'	14,307	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Inventory	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,090	5,704
Other current assets	7,036	'	7,036	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net	715,391	'	715,391	715,400	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Non-current restricted cash and investments	4,471	'	4,471	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other non-current assets	795	'	795	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	933,381	'	933,381	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	22,227	'	22,227	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	'	'	'	'	7,613	509	'	'	'	'	'
Non-current liabilities	'	'	'	'	'	'	177,016	11,113	390	'	'
Total liabilities	218,868	'	218,868	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net assets	$714,513	'	$714,513	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon4

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Parentheticals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Parentheticals) [Line Items]	'
Hecla stock issued, shares	56,997,790
Hecla stock issued, per share (in Dollars per share)	$3.83

Note_13_Acquisition_of_Aurizon5

Note 13 - Acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Details) - Unaudited Proforma Financial Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Unaudited Proforma Financial Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Sales of products	$106,629	$131,903	$344,575	$406,963
Net income (loss)	-8,458	-3,348	-6,631	18,661
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	($8,596)	($3,486)	($7,045)	$18,247
Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share (in Dollars per share)	($0.03)	($0.01)	($0.02)	$0.05

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries2

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 12, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Senior Notes Due May 1, 2021 [Member]
Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$500	$500

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries3

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$237,836	$190,984	$232,194	$266,463
Other current assets	152,050	91,914	'	'
Properties, plants, and equipment - net	1,776,554	996,659	'	'
Other non-current assets	102,572	98,733	'	'
Total assets	2,269,012	1,378,290	'	'
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	177,904	94,987	'	'
Long-term debt	490,417	11,935	'	'
Non-current portion of accrued reclamation	49,862	93,370	'	'
Non-current deferred tax liability	171,260	'	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	39,180	40,047	'	'
Shareholders' equity	1,327,786	1,137,951	'	'
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,269,012	1,378,290	'	'
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'
Other current assets	2,244	18,091	'	'
Intercompany receivable (payable)	151,295	26,109	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	-1,196,577	-918,526	'	'
Other non-current assets	-85,053	-76,839	'	'
Total assets	-1,128,091	-951,165	'	'
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	-12,994	-30,976	'	'
Non-current deferred tax liability	80,120	'	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	'	-1,663	'	'
Shareholders' equity	-1,195,217	-918,526	'	'
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	-1,128,091	-951,165	'	'
Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	116,255	132,266	123,070	97,850
Other current assets	11,317	7,399	'	'
Properties, plants, and equipment - net	498	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable (payable)	540,038	113,234	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	1,196,577	918,526	'	'
Other non-current assets	11,894	3,059	'	'
Total assets	1,876,579	1,174,484	'	'
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	27,973	3,726	'	'
Long-term debt	490,417	'	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	30,403	32,807	'	'
Shareholders' equity	1,327,786	1,137,951	'	'
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,876,579	1,174,484	'	'
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	29,864	57,075	108,406	168,433
Other current assets	103,839	65,658	'	'
Properties, plants, and equipment - net	1,041,328	991,476	'	'
Intercompany receivable (payable)	-120,727	-64,893	'	'
Other non-current assets	163,073	164,913	'	'
Total assets	1,217,377	1,214,229	'	'
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	144,897	121,221	'	'
Long-term debt	12,559	11,875	'	'
Non-current portion of accrued reclamation	38,061	92,825	'	'
Non-current deferred tax liability	14,124	'	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	8,033	8,651	'	'
Shareholders' equity	999,703	979,657	'	'
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,217,377	1,214,229	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	91,717	1,643	718	180
Other current assets	34,650	766	'	'
Properties, plants, and equipment - net	734,728	5,183	'	'
Intercompany receivable (payable)	-570,606	-74,450	'	'
Other non-current assets	12,658	7,600	'	'
Total assets	303,147	-59,258	'	'
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	18,028	1,016	'	'
Long-term debt	44	60	'	'
Non-current portion of accrued reclamation	11,801	545	'	'
Non-current deferred tax liability	77,016	'	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	744	252	'	'
Shareholders' equity	195,514	-61,131	'	'
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$303,147	($59,258)	'	'

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries4

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$106,629	$81,871	$268,409	$240,043
Cost of sales	-66,937	-32,961	-163,770	-99,423
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	-19,006	-11,601	-53,224	-31,141
General and administrative	-7,720	-5,695	-22,141	-15,723
Exploration and pre-development	-9,241	-17,131	-31,258	-36,725
Gain on derivative contracts	'	-9,053	'	'
Closed operations	'	4,413	'	'
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts	-4,564	-9,053	23,516	-8,113
Aurizon acquisition costs	-768	'	-26,368	'
Other expense	'	-10,714	'	'
Other (expense) income	-9,393	'	-19,308	-26,685
Income (loss) before income taxes	-11,000	-871	-24,144	22,233
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	2,542	-14	1,922	-8,022
Net income (loss)	-8,458	-885	-22,222	14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	2,489	3,085	-2,286	2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	-5,969	2,200	-24,508	16,491
Preferred stock dividends	-138	-138	-414	-414
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	-8,596	-1,023	-22,636	13,797
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	-82,896	-4,619	-68,198	-18,466
Other expense	'	-9,794	'	'
Other (expense) income	87,701	'	87,701	-17,566
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,805	-14,413	19,503	-36,032
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	-86,014	9,794	-87,701	17,566
Net income (loss)	-81,209	-4,619	-68,198	-18,466
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	6,157	-3,085	6,157	-1,820
Comprehensive income (loss)	-75,052	-7,704	-62,041	-20,286
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	-81,209	-4,619	-68,198	-18,466
Parent Company [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	-2,447	-1,758	338	-1,880
General and administrative	-3,550	-2,968	-11,015	-8,632
Exploration and pre-development	-42	-727	-459	-1,128
Gain on derivative contracts	'	-9,053	'	'
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts	-4,564	'	23,516	-8,113
Aurizon acquisition costs	-268	'	-14,416	'
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	82,896	4,619	68,198	18,466
Other expense	'	9,002	'	'
Other (expense) income	-80,483	'	-88,384	15,498
Income (loss) before income taxes	-8,458	-885	-22,222	14,211
Net income (loss)	-8,458	-885	-22,222	14,211
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	2,489	3,085	-2,286	2,280
Comprehensive income (loss)	-5,969	2,200	-24,508	16,491
Preferred stock dividends	-138	-138	-414	-414
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	-8,596	-1,023	-22,636	13,797
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	81,687	83,629	230,562	241,923
Cost of sales	-45,342	-32,961	-133,944	-99,423
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	-15,736	-11,601	-46,630	-31,141
General and administrative	-3,636	-2,658	-10,183	-6,906
Exploration and pre-development	-6,551	-14,081	-23,299	-29,123
Closed operations	'	2,692	'	'
Other expense	'	-7,187	'	'
Other (expense) income	-811	'	1,132	-20,456
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,611	17,833	17,638	54,874
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	-3,795	-9,808	-9,049	-25,588
Net income (loss)	5,816	8,025	8,589	29,286
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	-5,078	226	-1,248	-909
Comprehensive income (loss)	738	8,251	7,341	28,377
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	5,816	8,025	8,589	29,286
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	27,389	'	37,509	'
Cost of sales	-21,595	'	-29,826	'
Depreciation, depletion, amortization	-3,270	'	-6,594	'
General and administrative	-534	-69	-943	-185
Exploration and pre-development	-2,648	-2,323	-7,500	-6,474
Closed operations	'	1,721	'	'
Aurizon acquisition costs	-500	'	-11,952	'
Other expense	'	-2,735	'	'
Other (expense) income	-15,800	'	-19,757	-4,161
Income (loss) before income taxes	-16,958	-3,406	-39,063	-10,820
(Provision) benefit from income taxes	92,351	'	98,672	'
Net income (loss)	75,393	-3,406	59,609	-10,820
Changes in comprehensive income (loss)	-1,079	2,859	-4,909	2,729
Comprehensive income (loss)	74,314	-547	54,700	-8,091
Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders	$75,393	($3,406)	$59,609	($10,820)

Note_14_Guarantor_Subsidiaries5

Note 14 - Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	$5,080	$66,488
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment	-112,806	-81,318
Acquisition of Aurizon Mines	-321,117	'
Other investing activities, net	-3,876	-2,517
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Dividends paid to shareholders	-5,548	-11,114
Borrowings on debt	490,000	'
Proceeds from (payments on) debt	-5,171	-4,561
Other financing activity, net	-1,530	-1,247
Effect of exchange rates on cash	1,820	'
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	46,852	-34,269
Cash and cash equivalents	237,836	232,194
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	-2,071
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Other investing activities, net	'	45,528
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Other financing activity, net	'	-43,457
Parent Company [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	-7,020	36,246
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment	-1,169	-519
Acquisition of Aurizon Mines	-498,705	'
Other investing activities, net	'	-45,528
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Dividends paid to shareholders	-5,548	-11,114
Borrowings on debt	490,000	'
Other financing activity, net	6,431	46,135
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	-16,011	25,220
Cash and cash equivalents	116,255	123,070
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	57,833	38,749
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment	-88,807	-80,313
Other investing activities, net	103	3,403
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from (payments on) debt	-5,171	-4,554
Other financing activity, net	7,936	-17,312
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	-28,106	-60,027
Cash and cash equivalents	29,864	108,406
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	-45,733	-6,436
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to properties, plants, and equipment	-22,830	-486
Acquisition of Aurizon Mines	177,588	'
Other investing activities, net	-3,979	-5,920
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from (payments on) debt	'	-7
Other financing activity, net	-15,897	13,387
Effect of exchange rates on cash	1,820	'
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	90,969	538
Cash and cash equivalents	$91,717	$718