Hecla Mining (HL) 10-K 18 Feb 21 2020 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 16, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0000719413
Entity Registrant Name	HECLA MINING CO/DE/
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-8491
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0664171
Entity Address, Address Line One	6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Coeur d’Alene
Entity Address, State or Province	ID
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	83815-9408
City Area Code	208
Local Phone Number	769-4100
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,705,927,032
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		535,187,791
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.25 per share
Trading Symbol	HL-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share
Trading Symbol	HL
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Sales of products	$ 691,873	$ 673,266	$ 567,137
Cost of sales and other direct production costs	389,040	450,349	353,994
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	157,130	199,518	134,044
Total cost of sales	546,170	649,867	488,038
Gross profit	145,703	23,399	79,099
Other operating expenses:
General and administrative	35,561	35,832	36,542
Exploration	15,853	15,919	35,695
Pre-development	2,442	3,150	4,887
Research and development	0	535	5,441
Provision for closed operations and environmental matters	3,929	4,690	6,119
Other operating expense	8,864	3,043	1,596
Loss (gain) on disposition of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests	572	4,643	(2,793)
Ramp-up and suspension costs	24,911	12,051	20,693
Foundation grant	1,970	0	0
Acquisition costs	20	645	10,045
Total other operating expense	94,122	80,508	118,225
Income (loss) from operations	51,581	(57,109)	(39,126)
Other income (expense):
(Loss) gain on derivative contracts	(22,074)	(3,971)	40,253
Gain (loss) on disposition of investments	0	923	(34)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	10,268	(2,389)	(2,816)
Net foreign exchange (loss) gain	(4,605)	(8,236)	10,310
Other net expense	(2,256)	(4,429)	(907)
Interest expense, net	(49,569)	(48,447)	(40,944)
Total other (expense) income:	(68,236)	(66,549)	5,862
Loss before income taxes	(16,655)	(123,658)	(33,264)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(135)	24,101	6,701
Net loss	(16,790)	(99,557)	(26,563)
Preferred stock dividends	(552)	(552)	(552)
Loss applicable to common stockholders	(17,342)	(100,109)	(27,115)
Comprehensive loss:
Net income (loss)	(16,790)	(99,557)	(26,563)
Unrealized loss and amortization of prior service on pension plans	(3,559)	(3,277)	(1,550)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions	7,980	8,436	(13,814)
Unrealized holding (losses) gains on investments	0	0	(2,443)
Total change in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	4,421	5,159	(17,807)
Comprehensive loss	$ (12,369)	$ (94,398)	$ (44,370)
Basic loss per common share after preferred dividends (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.06)
Diluted loss per common share after preferred dividends (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.06)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	527,329	490,449	433,419
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	527,329	490,449	433,419

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			58 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020
Operating activities:
Net loss		$ (16,790)	$ (99,557)	$ (26,563)
Non-cash elements included in net loss:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		164,026	204,475	140,905
(Gain) loss on disposition of investments		0	(923)	34
Unrealized (gain) loss on investments		(10,268)	2,389	2,816
Adjustment of inventory to market value		0	1,399	8,191
Fee on prepayment of debt with shares of common stock		0	2,855	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests		572	4,643	(2,793)
Provision for reclamation and closure costs		6,189	6,914	6,090
Deferred income taxes		(5,505)	(33,387)	(9,699)
Stock compensation		6,458	5,668	6,278
Amortization of loan origination fees		3,666	2,637	2,077
Loss (gain) on derivative contracts		5,578	5,613	(15,366)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)		2,680	8,025	(7,104)
Foundation grant		1,970	0	0
Other non-cash items		(176)	42	(66)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of business acquired:
Accounts receivable		(1,080)	(10,939)	9,843
Inventories		(13,208)	16,146	(27,512)
Other current and non-current assets		2,381	15,618	(1,726)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		19,379	(24,355)	17,795
Accrued payroll and related benefits		14,445	9,226	(2,425)
Accrued taxes		3,561	(3,155)	645
Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities		(3,085)	7,532	(7,199)
Net cash provided by operating activities		180,793	120,866	94,221
Investing activities:
Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests		(91,016)	(121,421)	(136,933)
Proceeds from sale of investments		0	1,760	0
Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment		331	183	2,411
Insurance proceeds received for damaged property		0	0	4,377
Purchases of investments		(2,216)	(389)	(31,971)
Maturities of investments		0	0	64,895
Purchase of other companies, net of cash and restricted cash acquired		0	0	(139,326)
Net cash used in investing activities		92,901	119,867	236,547
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	$ 49,000	0	49,019	6,744	$ 73,500
Dividends paid to common stockholders		(8,600)	(4,914)	(4,393)
Dividend paid to preferred stockholders		(552)	(552)	(552)
Debt issuance and credit facility fees paid		(1,356)	(976)	(2,638)
Acquisition of treasury shares from employee equity awards		(2,745)	(2,231)	(2,694)
Borrowings on debt		716,327	279,500	102,024
Repayments of debt		(716,500)	(279,500)	(106,036)
Repayments of finance leases		(5,953)	(7,157)	(7,339)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(19,379)	33,189	(14,884)
Effect of exchange rates on cash		(1,107)	875	(1,515)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents		67,406	35,063	(158,725)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		63,477	28,414	187,139
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 63,477	130,883	63,477	28,414	$ 130,883
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest		(34,853)	(42,972)	(38,400)
Income taxes		7,913	(3,385)	115
Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock and warrants issued for acquisition of other companies		0	(325)	252,544
Addition of finance lease obligations		9,113	6,506	7,008
Recognition of operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets		0	22,365	0
Common stock contributed to pension plans		16,032	3,600	7,595
Common stock issued for 401(k) match		4,624	3,862	3,705
Payment of accrued compensation in restricted stock units		5,096	8,274	4,863
Common stock issued for prepayment of debt		0	33,457	0
Marketable equity securities received for sale of mineral interest		$ 0	$ 2,257	$ 0

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 129,830	$ 62,452
Accounts receivable:
Trade	27,864	11,952
Taxes	1,584	20,048
Other, net	9,745	6,421
Inventories:
Concentrates, doré, stockpiled ore, and metals in transit and in-process	57,936	30,364
Materials and supplies	38,608	35,849
Other current assets	19,114	12,038
Total current assets	284,681	179,124
Investments	15,148	6,207
Restricted cash and investments	1,053	1,025
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net	2,345,219	2,423,698
Operating lease right-of-use assets	10,628	16,381
Deferred income taxes	2,912	3,537
Other non-current assets	8,083	7,336
Total assets	2,667,724	2,637,308
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	68,516	57,716
Accrued payroll and related benefits	31,807	26,916
Accrued taxes	8,349	4,776
Finance leases	6,491	5,429
Operating leases	3,008	5,580
Accrued reclamation and closure costs	5,582	4,581
Accrued interest	14,157	5,804
Current derivative liabilities	11,737	6,170
Other current liabilities	138	2
Total current liabilities	149,785	116,974
Finance leases	9,274	7,214
Operating leases	7,634	10,818
Accrued reclamation and closure costs	110,466	103,793
Long-term debt	507,242	504,729
Deferred tax liability	132,475	138,282
Pension liability	44,144	56,219
Other non-current liabilities	4,364	6,856
Total liabilities	965,384	944,885
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11)
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 750,000,000 shares; issued 2020 — 538,487,415 shares and 2019 — 529,182,994 shares	134,629	132,292
Capital surplus	2,003,576	1,973,700
Accumulated deficit	(379,519)	(353,331)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(32,889)	(37,310)
Less treasury stock, at cost; 2020 — 6,821,044 and 2019 — 6,287,271 shares issued and held in treasury	(23,496)	(22,967)
Total stockholders’ equity	1,702,340	1,692,423
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 2,667,724	$ 2,637,308

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	5,000,000	5,000,000
Series B preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Series B preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	157,816	157,816
Series B preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	157,816	157,816
Series B preferred stock, liquidation preference	$ 7,891	$ 7,891
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	750,000,000	750,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	537,487,415	529,182,994
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	6,821,044	6,287,271

Consolidated Statements of Chan

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balances	$ 39	$ 100,926	$ 1,619,816	$ (218,089)	$ (23,373)	$ (18,042)	$ 1,461,277
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	39	100,926	1,619,816	(218,089)	(23,373)	(18,042)	1,461,277
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	(26,563)	0	0	(26,563)
Change in accounting for marketable equity securities	0	0	0	1,289	(1,289)	0	0
Stock issued to directors	0	40	553	0	0	0	593
Common stock issued for cash, net of offering costs	0	641	6,105	0	0	0	6,746
Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared				(552)			(552)
Stock issued for 401(k) match	0	267	3,438	0	0	0	3,705
Restricted stock units granted			5,649				5,649
Common stock and warrants issued for purchase of another company	0	18,819	233,725	0	0	0	252,544
Common stock dividends declared	0	0	0	(4,393)	0	0	(4,393)
Common stock issued for employee incentive compensation	0	309	4,554	0	0	(1,308)	3,555
Common stock issued to pension plans	0	684	6,911	0	0	0	7,595
Restricted stock unit distributions	0	270	(270)	0	0	(1,386)	(1,386)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0	(17,807)	0	(17,807)
Balances	39	100,926	1,619,816	(218,089)	(23,373)	(18,042)	1,461,277
Balances	39	121,956	1,880,481	(248,308)	(42,469)	(20,736)	1,690,963
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	39	121,956	1,880,481	(248,308)	(42,469)	(20,736)	1,690,963
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	(99,557)	0	0	(99,557)
Stock issued to directors	0	63	392	0	0	0	455
Common stock issued for cash, net of offering costs	0	5,353	43,666	0	0	0	49,019
Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared	0	0	0	(552)	0	0	(552)
Stock issued for 401(k) match	0	470	3,392	0	0	0	3,862
Restricted stock units granted	0	0	5,213	0	0	0	5,213
Common stock dividends declared	0	0	0	(4,914)	0	0	(4,914)
Common stock issued for employee incentive compensation	0	899	7,375	0	0	(1,595)	6,679
Common stock issued to pension plans	0	596	3,004	0	0	0	3,600
Restricted stock unit distributions	0	291	(291)	0	0	(636)	(636)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0	5,159	0	5,159
Adjustment to fair value of warrants issued for purchase of another company	0	0	(325)	0	0	0	(325)
Common stock issued for prepayment of debt	0	2,664	30,793	0	0	0	33,457
Balances	39	121,956	1,880,481	(248,308)	(42,469)	(20,736)	1,690,963
Balances	39	132,292	1,973,700	(353,331)	(37,310)	(22,967)	1,692,423
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	39	132,292	1,973,700	(353,331)	(37,310)	(22,967)	1,692,423
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	(16,790)	0	0	(16,790)
Stock issued to directors	0	97	1,389	0	0	0	1,486
Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared	0	0	0	(552)	0	0	(552)
Stock issued for 401(k) match	0	397	4,227	0	0	0	4,624
Restricted stock units granted	0	0	4,975	0	0	0	4,975
Common stock dividends declared	0	0	0	(8,600)	0	0	(8,600)
Common stock issued for employee incentive compensation	0	700	4,396	0	0	(1,266)	3,830
Common stock issued to pension plans	0	717	15,315	0	0	0	16,032
Restricted stock unit distributions	0	426	(426)	0	0	(1,479)	(1,479)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0	4,421	0	4,421
Balances	39	132,292	1,973,700	(353,331)	(37,310)	(22,967)	1,692,423
Treasury shares issued to charitable foundation	0	0	0	(246)	0	2,216	1,970
Balances	$ 39	$ 134,629	$ 2,003,576	$ (379,519)	$ (32,889)	$ (23,496)	$ 1,702,340

Consolidated Statements of Ch_2

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Stock issued to directors, shares (in shares)	391,000	253,000	162,000
Common stock issued for cash, shares (in shares)		21,410,000	2,565,000
Stock issued for 401(k) match, shares (in shares)	1,584,000	1,882,000	1,068,000
Common stock and warrants issued for purchase of another company, shares (in shares)			75,276,000
Common stock dividends declared, per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock issued for employee incentive compensation,shares (in shares)	2,800,000	3,597,000	1,237,000
Common stock issued to pension plans, shares (in shares)	2,869,000	2,384,000	2,736,000
Restricted stock unit distributions, shares (in shares)	1,702,000	1,164,000	1,079,000
Common stock issued for prepayment of debt, sahres (in shares)		10,665,000
Treasury shares issued to charitable foundation, shares (in shares)	650,000

Note 1- The Company

Note 1- The Company	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 1: Hecla Mining Company, and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Hecla”, “we”, “us” or “the Company”), is primarily a precious metals mining company with five 2006 October 14, 1891 References to “CAD” and “MXN” refer to the Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso, respectively.

Note 2 - Summary of Significant

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note 2: A. Principles of Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Other Information The 2019 19" March 11, 2020, 19 March 2020, 19, March 24 April 15, April, May 30. March first 2020 2020, 2020 2020 March 2020. 19 2020. We took precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of COVID- 19, Note 7 may 19 B. Assumptions and Use of Estimates may C. Cash and Cash Equivalents three D. Investments Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recognized on a specific identification basis. Unrealized gains and losses are included in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. E. Inventories Stockpiled ore inventory represents ore that has been mined, hauled to the surface, and is available for further processing. Stockpiles are measured by estimating the number of tons added and removed from the stockpile, the amount of contained metal ounces or pounds (based on assay data) and the estimated metallurgical recovery rates (based on the expected processing method). Costs are allocated to a stockpile based on relative values of material stockpiled and processed using current mining costs incurred up to the point of stockpiling the ore, including applicable overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to mining operations, and removed at each stockpile’s average cost per recoverable unit. In-process inventory represents material that is currently in the process of being converted to a saleable product. Conversion processes vary depending on the nature of the ore and the specific processing facility, but include mill in-circuit, flotation, and carbon-in-leach. In-process material is measured based on assays of the material fed into the process and the projected recoveries of the respective processing plants. In-process inventory is valued at the lower of the average cost of the material fed into the process attributable to the source material coming from the mine and stockpile plus the in-process conversion costs, including applicable amortization relating to the process facilities incurred to that point in the process, or net realizable value. Finished goods inventory includes doré and concentrates at our operations, doré in transit to refiners or at refiners waiting to be processed, and bullion in our accounts at refineries. F. Restricted Cash December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019. G. Properties, Plants and Equipment The costs of removing overburden and waste materials to access the ore body at an open-pit mine prior to the production stage are referred to as "pre-stripping costs." Pre-stripping costs are capitalized during the development stage. Where multiple open pits exist at an operation utilizing common facilities, pre-stripping costs are capitalized at each pit. The production stage of a mine commences when salable materials, beyond a de minimis amount, are produced. Stripping costs incurred during the production stage are treated as variable production costs included as a component of inventory, to be recognized in cost of sales and other direct production costs in the same period as the revenue from the sale of inventory. Costs for exploration, pre-development, secondary development at operating mines, including drilling costs related to those activities (discussed further below), and maintenance and repairs on capitalized properties, plants and equipment are charged to operations as incurred. Exploration costs include those relating to activities carried out (a) in search of previously unidentified mineral deposits, (b) at undeveloped concessions, or (c) at operating mines already containing proven and probable reserves, where a determination remains pending as to whether new target deposits outside of the existing reserve areas can be economically developed. Pre-development activities involve costs incurred in the exploration stage that may not Drilling, development and related costs are either classified as exploration, pre-development or secondary development, as defined above, and charged to operations as incurred, or capitalized, based on the following criteria: • whether the costs are incurred to further define mineralization at and adjacent to existing reserve areas or intended to assist with mine planning within a reserve area; • whether the drilling or development costs relate to an ore body that has been determined to be commercially mineable, and a decision has been made to put the ore body into commercial production; and • whether, at the time the cost is incurred: (a) the expenditure embodies a probable future benefit that involves a capacity, singly or in combination with other assets, to contribute directly or indirectly to future net cash inflows, (b) we can obtain the benefit and control others’ access to it, and (c) the transaction or event giving rise to our right to or control of the benefit has already occurred. If all of these criteria are met, drilling, development and related costs are capitalized. Drilling and development costs not not • completion of a favorable economic study and mine plan for the ore body targeted; • authorization of development of the ore body by management and/or the board of directors; and • there is a justifiable expectation, based on applicable laws and regulations, that issuance of permits or resolution of legal issues and/or contractual requirements necessary for us to have the right to or control of the future benefit from the targeted ore body have been met. Drilling and related costs of approximately $4.4 million, $14.4 million, and $11.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018, When assets are retired or sold, the costs and related allowances for depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current period net income (loss). Idle facilities placed on standby are carried at the lower of net carrying value or estimated fair value. The net carrying values of idle facilities on standby are written down to salvage value upon reaching the end of their economic life. Therefore, with the exception of depreciation recorded on mobile equipment used in ongoing exploration and reclamation efforts at such properties, we do not not Included in properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests on our consolidated financial statements are mineral interests, which are tangible assets that include acquired undeveloped mineral interests and royalty interests. Undeveloped mineral interests include: (i) mineralized material and other resources which are measured, indicated or inferred with insufficient drill spacing or quality to qualify as proven and probable reserves; and (ii) inferred material not We capitalize portions of interest costs incurred on our debt as a part of the cost of constructing or acquiring certain qualifying assets. The amount of interest capitalized represents the portion of interest cost incurred during the construction or acquisition periods that theoretically could have been avoided if expenditures for the qualifying assets had not third H. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization not J. Proven and Probable Ore Reserves may Undeveloped mineral interests and value beyond proven and probable reserves are not I. Impairment of Long-lived Assets may not Although management has made what it believes to be a reasonable estimate of factors based on current conditions and information, assumptions underlying future cash flows, which includes the estimated value of mineral interests, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Estimates of undiscounted future cash flows are dependent upon, among other factors, estimates of: (i) metals to be recovered from proven and probable ore reserves and identified mineralization and other resources beyond proven and probable reserves, (ii) future production and capital costs, (iii) estimated metals prices (considering current and historical prices, forward pricing curves and related factors) over the estimated remaining mine life and (iv) market values of mineral interests. It is possible that changes could occur in the near term that could adversely affect our estimate of future cash flows to be generated from our operating properties. If estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of a property, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the property. J. Proven and Probable Ore Reserves Reserve estimates will change as existing reserves are depleted through production, as additional reserves are proven and added to the estimates and as market prices of metals, production or capital costs, smelter terms, the grade or tonnage of the deposit, throughput, dilution of the ore or recovery rates change. K. Leases Operating and finance lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term. Leases acquired in a business combination are also measured based on the present value of the remaining leases payments, as if the acquired lease were a new lease at the acquisition date. When the rate implicit to the lease cannot be readily determined, we utilize our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of the future lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is derived from information available at the lease commencement date and represents the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The ROU asset includes any lease payments made and lease incentives received prior to the commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets also include any cumulative prepaid or accrued rent when the lease payments are uneven throughout the lease term. The ROU assets and lease liabilities may We adopted the guidance under ASU No. 2016 02 842 January 1, 2019, No. 2016 02, not twelve not not L. Pension Plans and Other Post-retirement Benefits • recognize the funded or underfunded status of our defined benefit plans in our consolidated financial statements; and • recognize as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) the actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not See Note 9 M. Income and Production Taxes We evaluate uncertain tax positions in a two not not 50% We classify mine license taxes incurred in the states of Alaska and Idaho as other direct production costs reported in our gross profits. Net proceeds taxes incurred in Nevada, mining duties in Mexico, and resource taxes incurred in Quebec, Canada are classified as income taxes. For additional information, see Note 6 Income Taxes N. Reclamation and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations) At our non-operating properties, we accrue costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when it is probable that such costs will be incurred and they are reasonably estimable. Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations have historically been recognized no not Future closure, reclamation and environmental-related expenditures are difficult to estimate in many circumstances, due to the early stage nature of investigations, uncertainties associated with defining the nature and extent of environmental contamination, the application of laws and regulations by regulatory authorities, and changes in reclamation or remediation technology. We periodically review accrued liabilities for such reclamation and remediation costs as evidence becomes available indicating that our liabilities have potentially changed. Changes in estimates at our non-operating properties are reflected in current period net income (loss). O. Revenue Recognition and Trade Accounts Receivable P. Risk Management Contracts Refining, selling and shipping costs related to sales of doré, metals from doré, and carbon are recorded to cost of sales as incurred. Sales and accounts receivable for concentrate shipments are recorded net of charges by the customers for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated by us with the customers. Charges are estimated by us upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges typically do not See Note 12 P. Foreign Currency P. Risk Management Contracts We recognized total net foreign exchange losses of $4.6 million and $8.2 million, and a net gain of $10.3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018, Q. Risk Management Contracts not no December 31, 2020 2019, not December 31, 2020 2019, See Note 11 December 31, 2020. R. Stock Based Compensation no For additional information on our restricted stock unit compensation, see Note 10. S. Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Common Share Potential dilutive shares of common stock include outstanding unvested restricted stock awards, performance-based share awards, stock units, warrants and convertible preferred stock for periods in which we have reported net income. For periods in which we report net losses, potential dilutive shares of common stock are excluded, as their conversion and exercise would be anti-dilutive. See Note 14 T. Comprehensive Income (Loss) U. Research and development December 31, 2019 2018 not December 31, 2020. V. New Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Updates Adopted In June 2016, No. 2016 13 326 January 1, 2020, not In August 2018, No. 2018 13 820 January 1, 2020, not In August 2018, No. 2018 14 715 20 two December 15, 2020, December 31, 2020, not In March 2020, No. 2020 04 848 March 12, 2020 December 31, 2022. not Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective in Future Periods In December 2019, No. 2019 12 740 December 15, 2020, In August 2020, No. 2020 06 470 20 815 40 December 15, 2021,

Note 3 - Investments

Note 3 - Investments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Investment [Text Block]	Note 3. At December 31, 2020 2019, December 31, 2020 2019, 2020. 2019. December 2020, January 2021. 2020 2019,

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, Eq

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 4: Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests Our major components of properties, plants, equipment, and mineral interests are (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Mining properties, including asset retirement obligations $ 818,819 $ 762,355 Development costs 526,714 503,111 Plants and equipment 1,129,200 1,056,512 Land 32,983 32,909 Mineral interests 969,589 1,018,380 Construction in progress 347,099 360,827 3,824,404 3,734,094 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,479,185 1,310,396 Net carrying value $ 2,345,219 $ 2,423,698 During 2020, Mineral interests include amounts for value beyond proven and probable reserves ("VBPP") related to mines and exploration or pre-development interests acquired by us which are not December 31, 2020, A review of our Nevada operations, including the relevant carrying value of our long-term assets there, was conducted during the second 2019 2019. 2020, There were no 2019 2020 not December 31, 2020. third second 2020, December 31, 2020. third not no third December 31, 2020 Finance and Capital Leases We periodically enter into lease agreements, primarily for equipment at our operating units, which we have determined to be finance leases under accounting guidance that became effective on January 1, 2019, December 31, 2020 2019, Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests Note 7

Note 5 - Environmental and Recl

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Environmental and Reclamation Activities [Text Block]	Note 5: The liabilities accrued for our reclamation and closure costs at December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Operating properties: Greens Creek $ 42,716 $ 44,695 Lucky Friday 12,818 10,473 Casa Berardi 11,730 4,510 San Sebastian 6,882 7,399 Nevada Operations 26,062 24,754 Non-operating properties: Troy mine 5,340 6,069 Johnny M 6,065 6,065 Republic 1,500 1,500 All other sites 2,935 2,909 Total 116,048 108,374 Reclamation and closure costs, current (5,582 ) (4,581 ) Reclamation and closure costs, long-term $ 110,466 $ 103,793 The activity in our accrued reclamation and closure cost liability for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 Balance at January 1, 2018 $ 86,045 Accruals for estimated costs 250 Accretion expense 5,309 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans 1,280 Liability addition due to acquisition of the Nevada Operations unit 19,571 Payment of reclamation obligations (4,066 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 108,389 Accruals for estimated costs 472 Accretion expense 7,122 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans (4,522 ) Payment of reclamation obligations (3,087 ) Balance at December 31, 2019 108,374 Accretion expense 5,912 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans 2,543 Payment of reclamation obligations (781 ) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 116,048 Asset Retirement Obligations Below is a reconciliation as of December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Balance January 1 $ 91,831 $ 89,417 Changes in obligations due to changes in reclamation plans 2,543 (4,522 ) Accretion expense 5,912 7,122 Payment of reclamation obligations (78 ) (186 ) Balance at December 31 $ 100,208 $ 91,831 In the fourth 2020, CAD$29.1 CAD$15.7 In the fourth 2020, In the fourth 2020, In the second 2020, The AROs related to the changes described above were discounted using a credit adjusted, risk-free interest rate of between 2.75% and 7.5% and inflation rates ranging from 2% to 4%.

Note 6 - Income Taxes

Note 6 - Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 6: Major components of our income tax (provision) benefit for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Current: Domestic $ (868 ) $ (701 ) $ (454 ) Foreign (6,355 ) (7,289 ) (4,382 ) Total current income tax provision (7,223 ) (7,990 ) (4,836 ) Deferred: Domestic 4,392 15,243 7,147 Foreign 2,696 16,848 4,390 Total deferred income tax benefit 7,088 32,091 11,537 Total income tax (provision) benefit $ (135 ) $ 24,101 $ 6,701 Domestic and foreign components of (loss) income before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Domestic $ (2,104 ) $ (49,874 ) $ (44,513 ) Foreign (14,551 ) (73,784 ) 11,249 Total $ (16,655 ) $ (123,658 ) $ (33,264 ) The annual tax (provision) benefit is different from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to our pretax (loss) income. The reasons for the difference are (in thousands): 2020 2019 2018 Computed “statutory” benefit (provision) $ 3,498 21 % $ 25,968 21 % $ 6,986 21 % Percentage depletion 5,327 32 3,030 2 3,158 10 Change in valuation allowance 786 5 686 1 (2,304 ) (7 ) State taxes, net of federal tax benefit (1,164 ) (7 ) 2,648 2 (849 ) (3 ) Foreign currency remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities (4,824 ) (29 ) (8,629 ) (7 ) 6,747 20 Rate differential on foreign earnings 991 6 3,947 3 (469 ) (1 ) Compensation (458 ) (3 ) (1,056 ) (1 ) (970 ) (3 ) Foreign withholding taxes — — — — 278 1 Mining and other taxes (3,572 ) (22 ) (1,242 ) (1 ) (3,501 ) (11 ) Other (719 ) (4 ) (1,251 ) (1 ) (2,375 ) (7 ) Total (provision) benefit $ (135 ) (1 )% $ 24,101 19 % $ 6,701 20 % At December 31, 2020 2019, December 31, 2020 2019 Deferred tax assets: Accrued reclamation costs $ 32,938 $ 30,038 Deferred exploration 11,623 13,762 Foreign net operating losses 13,303 12,013 Domestic net operating losses 198,438 175,024 Pension and benefit obligation 12,341 13,866 Foreign exchange loss 19,808 21,719 Foreign tax credit carryforward 3,358 4,149 Miscellaneous 18,385 30,871 Total deferred tax assets 310,194 301,442 Valuation allowance (77,210 ) (86,634 ) Total deferred tax assets 232,984 214,808 Deferred tax liabilities: Miscellaneous (2,551 ) (904 ) Properties, plants and equipment (359,996 ) (348,649 ) Total deferred tax liabilities (362,547 ) (349,553 ) Net deferred tax liability $ (129,563 ) $ (134,745 ) As discussed in Note 16 July 2018. not 2020, 2019 2018, 382. not We evaluated the positive and negative evidence available to determine the amount of valuation allowance required on our deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2020 2019, December 2017 ( December 31, 2017 not not December 31, 2020. 2017, not December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020, 2019 2018, 2020 2019 2018 Balance at beginning of year $ (86,634 ) $ (94,981 ) $ (78,684 ) Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets acquired with the Klondex acquisition — 5,905 (11,470 ) Decrease related to non-recognition of deferred tax assets due to uncertainty of recovery and (increase) related to non-utilization of net operating loss carryforwards 786 686 (5,700 ) Decrease related to utilization and expiration of deferred tax assets, other 8,638 1,756 873 Balance at end of year $ (77,210 ) $ (86,634 ) $ (94,981 ) As of December 31, 2020, December 31, 2017 2021. 2018 2031 2040. may 382. December 31, 2020, no 382. not We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. We are no 2001, 2015. not We had no December 31, 2020 2019. not not 12

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 7: Debt Summary Our debt as of December 31, 2020 February 15, 2028 ( 2020 July 9, 2025 ( December 31, 2019 2021 "2021 December 31, 2020 2019 December 31, 2020 Senior Notes IQ Notes Total Principal $ 475,000 $ 37,886 $ 512,886 Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs (6,462 ) 818 (5,644 ) Long-term debt balance $ 468,538 $ 38,704 $ 507,242 December 31, 2019 2021 Notes Principal $ 506,500 Unamortized discount and issuance costs (1,771 ) Long-term debt balance $ 504,729 The following table summarizes the scheduled annual future payments, including interest, for the Senior Notes and IQ Notes as of December 31, 2020 December 31, 2020. Senior Notes IQ Notes 2021 $ 34,438 $ 2,468 2022 34,438 2,468 2023 34,438 2,468 2024 34,438 2,468 2025 34,438 39,173 2026 34,438 — 2027 34,438 — 2028 479,301 — Total $ 720,367 $ 49,045 Senior Notes On February 19, 2020, February 19, 2020, March 19, 2020, 2021 The Senior Notes are recorded net of a 1.16% initial purchaser discount totaling $5.5 million. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year from the date of issuance or from the most recent payment date on which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on February 15 August 15 August 15, 2020. 2020, 2019 2018, 2021 2021 2020 2021 one February 19, 2020 2021 March 19, 2020, 2021 The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our subsidiaries (the "Guarantors"). The Senior Notes and the guarantees are, respectively, Hecla's and the Guarantors' general senior unsecured obligations and are subordinated to all of Hecla's and the Guarantors' existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing that secured debt. In addition, the Senior Notes are effectively subordinated to all of the liabilities of Hecla's subsidiaries that are not The Senior Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or after February 15, 2023, February 15, 2023, may twelve February 15, 2023, ( twelve February 15, 2024, ( twelve February 15, 2025, February 15, 2026. may February 15, 2023 Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of Senior Notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder's Senior 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 Senior Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Investissement Qu bec Notes On July 9, 2020, CAD$50 USD$36.8 CAD$1.8 CAD$48.2 CAD $12.5 July 9, August 9, September 9 October 9, 2020, first CAD$0.6 January 9 July 9 January 9, 2021. CAD$100 four July 9, 2020. 2020, Ressources Qu bec Notes On March 5, 2018, CAD$40 USD$30.8 2018 May 1, 2021 ( May 1 November 1 May 1, 2018. December 2019, CAD$43.8 USD$33.5 2019 2018, 2019 Credit Facility In July 2018, February 7, 2023. 100% December 31, 2020: Interest rates: Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate 2.25 - 4.00% Spread over alternative base rate 1.25 - 3.00% Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts 0.5625 - 1.00% Covenant financial ratios: Senior leverage ratio (debt secured by liens/EBITDA) not more than 2.50:1 Leverage ratio (total debt less unencumbered cash/EBITDA) not more than 4.00:1 Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA/interest expense) not less than 3.00:1 We are also able to obtain letters of credit under the facility, and for any such letters we are required to pay a participation fee of between 2.25% and 4.00% of the amount of the letters of credit based on our total leverage ratio, as well as a fronting fee to each issuing bank of 0.20% annually on the average daily dollar amount of any outstanding letters of credit. There were $20.3 million in letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2020. We believe we were in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility agreement as of December 31, 2020. $210.0 2020, no December 31, 2020. Finance and Capital Leases We have entered into various lease agreements, primarily for equipment at our operating units, which we have determined to be finance leases under accounting guidance that became effective on January 1, 2019, December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019, 2020, 2019 2018 December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020 At December 31, 2020, Twelve-month period ending December 31, 2021 $ 7,053 2022 4,801 2023 3,116 2024 1,849 Total 16,819 Less: imputed interest (1,054 ) Net finance lease obligation $ 15,765 Operating Leases We have entered into various lease agreements, primarily for equipment, buildings and other facilities, and land at our operating units and corporate offices, which we have determined to be operating leases. Some of the operating leases allow for extension of the lease beyond the current term at our option. We have considered the likelihood and estimated duration of the extension options in determining the lease term for measurement of the liability and right-of-use asset. For our operating leases as of December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020. 2020 2019, December 31, 2020. December 31, 2020 At December 31, 2020, Twelve-month period ending December 31, 2020 $ 3,811 2021 2,870 2022 2,521 2023 555 2024 526 More than 5 years 2,339 Total 12,622 Effect of discounting (1,980 ) Operating lease liability $ 10,642

Note 8 - Commitments, Contingen

Note 8 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Obligations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 8: General We follow GAAP 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 Lucky Friday Water Permit Matters In December 2013, 308 no. 3 December 2015. may Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County and San Mateo Creek Basin, New Mexico In May 2011, may August 2012, not December 2014 three 1 no 2 3 January 2021, fourth 2014, October 2019 2020. The Johnny M Mine is in an area known as the San Mateo Creek Basin (“SMCB”), which is an approximately 321 not not may In July 2018, may Carpenter Snow Creek and Barker-Hughesville Sites in Montana In July 2010, 1980s 6 1988. In June 2011, may may In February 2017, April 2017. June December 1983, In August 2018, may not Claim for Indemnification Against CoCa Mines, Inc. In 1991, 2014 2019, 1989 may 2016, may October 30, 2019, Litigation Related to Klondex Acquisition On September 11, 2018, not July 2018 On May 24, 2019, one March 19, 2018 May 8, 2019, 10 20 1934 10b 5 second June 19, 2019, Debt See Note 7 December 31, 2020. Other Commitments Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 Note 7 December 31, 2020, Other Contingencies We also have certain other contingencies resulting from litigation, claims, EPA investigations, and other commitments and are subject to a variety of environmental and safety laws and regulations incident to the ordinary course of business. We currently have no may may no not

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Retirement Benefits [Text Block]	Note 9: Pensions and Other Post-retirement Plans We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees. The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets over the two December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 172,909 $ 144,638 Service cost 5,334 4,401 Interest cost 5,618 6,482 Change due to mortality change (1,521 ) (2,130 ) Change due to discount rate change 17,040 25,806 Actuarial return (loss) 121 (395 ) Benefits paid (6,547 ) (5,893 ) Benefit obligation at end of year 192,954 172,909 Change in fair value of plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 116,067 96,329 Actual return on plan assets 14,801 21,536 Employer contributions 23,731 4,095 Benefits paid (6,547 ) (5,893 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year 148,052 116,067 Underfunded status at end of year $ (44,902 ) $ (56,842 ) The following table provides the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Current liabilities: Accrued benefit liability $ (758 ) $ (622 ) Non- current pension liability: Accrued benefit liability (44,144 ) (56,219 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss 53,085 49,525 Net amount recognized $ 8,183 $ (7,316 ) The benefit obligation and prepaid benefit costs were calculated by applying the following weighted average assumptions: Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Discount rate: net periodic pension cost 3.32 % 4.59 % Discount rate: projected benefit obligation 2.64 % 3.32 % Expected rate of return on plan assets 6.45 % 6.37 % Rate of compensation increase: net periodic pension cost 2.00 % 2.00 % Rate of compensation increase: projected benefit obligation 2.00 % 2.00 % The above assumptions were calculated based on information as of December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019, Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following in 2020, 2019, 2018 Pension Benefits 2020 2019 2018 Service cost $ 5,334 $ 4,401 $ 5,009 Interest cost 5,618 6,482 5,508 Expected return on plan assets (7,489 ) (5,982 ) (6,536 ) Amortization of prior service benefit 117 61 61 Amortization of net gain from earlier periods 4,652 4,389 3,726 Net periodic pension cost $ 8,232 $ 9,351 $ 7,768 The service cost component of net periodic pension cost is included in the same line items of our consolidated financial statements as other employee compensation costs. The net expense of $2.9 million, $5.0 million and $2.8 million for 2020, 2019, 2018, The allocations of investments at December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019, Hecla Lucky Friday 2020 2019 2020 2019 Cash — % 6 % — % 6 % Large cap U.S. equities 17 % 14 % 16 % 14 % Small cap U.S. equities 8 % 7 % 9 % 7 % Non-U.S. equities 26 % 22 % 26 % 22 % Fixed income 21 % 19 % 21 % 19 % Real estate 11 % 14 % 12 % 15 % Absolute return hedge funds 5 % 5 % 4 % 5 % Company stock 12 % 13 % 12 % 12 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % "Company stock" asset category in the table above includes our common stock in the amounts of $17.2 million and $14.7 million at December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019, Each plan's statement of investment policy delineates the responsibilities of the board, the retirement/pension committee, the investment manager(s), and investment adviser/consultant, and provides guidelines on investment management. Investment objectives are established for each of the asset categories included in the pension plans with comparisons of performance against appropriate benchmarks. Each plan's policy calls for investments to be supervised by qualified investment managers. The investment managers are monitored on an ongoing basis by our outside consultant, with formal reporting to us and the consultant performed each quarter. The policy sets forth the following allocation of assets: Target Maximum Large cap U.S. equities 17 % 20 % Small cap U.S. equities 8 % 10 % Non-U.S. equities 25 % 30 % Fixed income 23 % 28 % Real estate 15 % 18 % Absolute return 5 % 7 % Company stock/Real return 7 % 13 % Each plan's statement of investment policy and objectives aspires to achieve the assumed long term rate of return on plan assets established by the plan’s actuary plus one Accounting guidance has established a hierarchy of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The three Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: The fair values by asset category in each plan, along with their hierarchy levels, are as follows as of December 31, 2020 Hecla Lucky Friday Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Investments measured at fair value Interest-bearing cash $ 367 $ — $ — $ 367 $ 111 $ — $ — $ 111 Common stock 13,947 — — 13,947 3,203 — — 3,203 Mutual funds 69,994 — — 69,994 15,786 — — 15,786 Total investments in the fair value hierarchy 84,308 — — 84,308 19,100 — — 19,100 Investments measured at net asset value Real estate funds 12,708 3,428 Hedge funds 5,823 1,215 Common collective funds 17,545 3,925 Total investments measured at net asset value 36,076 8,568 Total fair value $ 84,308 $ — $ — $ 120,384 $ 19,100 $ — $ — $ 27,668 The fair values by asset category in each plan, along with their hierarchy levels, were as follows as of December 31, 2019 Hecla Lucky Friday Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Investments measured at fair value Interest-bearing cash $ 5,709 $ — $ — $ 5,709 $ 1,441 $ — $ — $ 1,441 Common stock 11,835 — — 11,835 2,827 — — 2,827 Mutual funds 46,317 — — 46,317 10,999 — — 10,999 Total investments in the fair value hierarchy 63,861 — — 63,861 15,267 — — 15,267 Investments measured at net asset value Real estate funds 12,659 3,445 Hedge funds 4,336 1,161 Common collective funds 12,255 3,083 Total investments measured at net asset value — — — 29,250 — — — 7,689 Total fair value $ 63,861 $ — $ — $ 93,111 $ 15,267 $ — $ — $ 22,956 Generally, investments are valued based on information provided by fund managers to each plan's trustee as reviewed by management and its investment advisers. Mutual funds and equities are valued based on available exchange data. Commingled equity funds consist of publicly-traded investments. Fair value for real estate funds, hedge funds and common collective equity funds is measured using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient ("NAV"), and has not no no December 31, 2020, Investment strategy Redemption terms Real estate funds Invest in real estate properties among the four Allowed quarterly with notice of between 45 60 Hedge funds Invest in a variety of asset classes which aim to diversify sources of returns Allowed quarterly with notice of 90 Common collective funds Invest in U.S. large cap or small/medium cap public equities in actively traded managed equity portfolios Allowed daily or with notice of 30 The following are estimates of future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, related to our pension plans (in thousands): Year Ending December 31, Pension Plans 2021 $ 8,314 2022 8,199 2023 8,420 2024 8,661 2025 9,419 Years 2026-2030 47,269 During 2020, January 2021, not 2021, may 2021. The following table indicates whether our pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations ("ABO") in excess of plan assets, or plan assets exceeded ABO (amounts are in thousands). December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 ABO Exceeds Plan Assets Plan Assets Exceed ABO ABO Exceeds Plan Assets Plan Assets Exceed ABO Projected benefit obligation $ 192,954 $ — $ 172,908 $ — Accumulated benefit obligation 189,931 — 168,239 — Fair value of plan assets 148,051 — 116,067 — For the pension plans, the following amounts are included in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net" on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, not Pension Benefits Unamortized net (gain)/loss $ 51,660 Unamortized prior service cost 1,425 Non-U.S. employees are not Capital Accumulation Plans Our Capital Accumulation Plan ("Hecla 401 may 2020, 2019, 2018. 401 2020, 2019, 2018. We also maintain a 401 six may not 2020, 2019, 2018.

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 10: Equity Common Stock We are authorized to issue 750,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share, of which 538,487,415 shares of common stock were issued and 6,821,044 shares issued and held in treasury, for a net of 531,666,371 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, each share of common stock is entitled to: (i) one no may Dividends In September 2011 February 2012, two 1 2 September 2020, 1 first 2 first Quarterly average realized silver price per ounce Quarterly dividend per share Annual dividend per share $25 $0.005 $0.02 $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 The following table summarizes the quarterly common stock dividends declared by our board of directors for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 2020: (A) (B) (A+B) Declaration date Silver-price- linked component per share Minimum annual component per share Total dividend per share Total dividend amount (in millions) Month of payment February 14, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.0 March 2018 May 9, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.0 June 2018 August 8, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 September 2018 November 6, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 December 2018 February 20, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 March 2019 May 7, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 June 2019 August 5, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 September 2019 November 6, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 December 2019 February 21, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 March 2020 May 6, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 June 2020 August 5, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 September 2020 November 6, 2020 $0.005 $0.00375 $0.00875 $4.6 December 2020 In the third fourth 2020, third fourth 2020. 2018, 2019 2020, no 2011, no 1990. At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement Pursuant to an equity distribution agreement dated February 23, 2016, December 31, 2020, fourth 2019 1933, 3. Common Stock Repurchase Program On May 8, 2012, may December 31, 2020, may February 16, 2021, 2020. Preferred Stock Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.25 per share. The preferred stock is issuable in series with such voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and other rights and such qualifications, limitations and restrictions as may may December 31, 2020, Ranking The Series B preferred stock ranks senior to our common stock and any shares of Series A junior participating preferred stock ( none While any shares of Series B preferred stock are outstanding, we may not 66 2/3% Dividends Series B preferred stockholders are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of our assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of $3.50 per share of Series B preferred stock. Dividends on the Series B preferred stock are payable quarterly in arrears on October 1, January 1, April 1 July 1 not not All quarterly dividends on our Series B preferred stock for 2018, 2019 2020 Redemption The Series B preferred stock is redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at $50 per share, plus all dividends undeclared and unpaid on the Series B preferred stock up to the date fixed for redemption. Liquidation Preference The Series B preferred stockholders are entitled to receive, in the event that we are liquidated, dissolved or wound up, whether voluntary or involuntary, $50 per share of Series B preferred stock plus an amount per share equal to all dividends undeclared and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution to such holders (the “Liquidation Preference”), and no no December 31, 2020 2019, Voting Rights Except in certain circumstances and as otherwise from time to time required by applicable law, the Series B preferred stockholders have no not Conversion Each share of Series B preferred stock is convertible, in whole or in part at the option of the holders thereof, into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $15.55 per share of common stock (equivalent to a conversion rate of 3.2154 shares of common stock for each share of Series B preferred stock). The right to convert shares of Series B preferred stock called for redemption will terminate at the close of business on the day preceding a redemption date (unless we default in payment of the redemption price). Stock Award Plans We use stock-based compensation plans to aid us in attracting, retaining and motivating our employees, as well as to provide incentives more directly linked to increases in stockholder value. These plans provide for the grant of options to purchase shares of our common stock, the issuance of restricted stock units, performance-based shares and other equity-based awards. Stock-based compensation expense amounts recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 twelve Stock Incentive Plan During the second 2010, 2010 20,000,000 second 2019, 2010 2010 December 31, 2020, 2010 Directors Stock Plan In 2017, may 25% may first 1 2 3 4 5 two 2020, 2019, 2018, 2020, 2019 2018, December 31, 2020, Restricted Stock Units Unvested restricted stock units granted by the board of directors to employees are summarized as follows: Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Unvested, January 1, 2020 3,997,168 $ 2.46 Granted (unvested) 1,688,111 $ 3.03 Canceled (70,236 ) $ 2.08 Distributed (vested) (1,678,909 ) $ 2.83 Unvested, December 31, 2020 3,936,134 $ 2.55 The 3,936,134 unvested units at December 31, 2020 1,988,079 in June 2021 1,428,145 in June 2022 519,910 in June 2023 Unvested units will be forfeited by participants upon termination of employment in advance of vesting, with the exception of termination due to retirement if certain criteria are met. Since the earliest grant date of unvested units (which was 2017 2020, December 31, 2020 June 2023. Performance-Based Shares We periodically grant performance-based share awards to certain executive employees. The value of the awards (if any) is based on the ranking of the market performance of our common stock relative to the performance of the common stock of a group of peer companies over a three thirty 2019 2020, December 31, 2020 December 31, 2022. In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units, performance-based shares and other stock grants, employees have in the past, at their election and when permitted by us, chosen to satisfy their tax withholding obligations through net share settlement, pursuant to which we withhold the number of shares necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations and pay the obligations in cash. Pursuant to such net settlements, in 2020, 2019, Warrants As discussed in Note 16 one December 31, 2020. April 2032. February 2029. Common stock contributed to the Hecla Charitable Foundation In June 2020, second 2020. 501 3 2007

Note 11 - Derivative Instrument

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 11: Foreign Currency Our wholly-owned subsidiaries owning the Casa Berardi and San Sebastian mines are USD-functional entities which routinely incur expenses denominated in CAD and MXN, respectively, and such expenses expose us to exchange rate fluctuations between the USD and CAD and MXN. In April 2016, October 2016, not December 31, 2020. December 31, 2020, CAD$293.8 US$223.0 2021 2024 no December 31, 2020. five As of December 31, 2020 2019, December 31, Balance sheet line item: 2020 2019 Other current assets $ 3.5 $ 0.6 Other non-current assets 4.2 0.6 Current derivatives liability — 0.4 Other non-current assets — 1.0 Net unrealized gains of approximately $7.6 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of December 31, 2020. December 31, 2020 twelve December 31, 2020. December 31, 2020. Metals Prices We may five We are currently using financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of shipment and final settlement. In addition, we are using financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead (but not December 31, 2020 2019: December 31, 2020 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 2021 settlements 1,282 4 23,314 4,905 $ 25.00 $ 1,858 $ 1.19 $ 0.90 Contracts on forecasted sales 2021 settlements — — 41,557 30,876 N/A N/A $ 1.17 $ 0.88 2022 settlements — — 18,519 — N/A N/A $ 1.28 N/A December 31, 2019 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 2020 settlements 2,556 10 21,550 5,159 $ 17.20 $ 1,481 $ 1.04 $ 0.88 Contracts on forecasted sales 2020 settlements — — 441 11,740 N/A N/A $ 1.13 $ 0.98 In June 2019, not December 31, 2020, These forward and put option contracts are not At December 31, 2020 2019, December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Balance sheet line item: Contracts in an asset position Contracts in a liability position Net asset (liability) Contracts in an asset position Contracts in a liability position Net asset (liability) Other current assets $ 0.2 $ (0.2 ) $ — $ — $ — $ — Other non-current assets 0.5 (0.1 ) 0.4 — — — Current derivatives liability 0.1 (11.8 ) (11.7 ) 2.1 (7.9 ) (5.8 ) We recognized a $16.4 million net loss during 2020 We recognized a $22.1 million net loss during 2020 2020 third 2019 2018, no 2020. not Credit-risk-related Contingent Features Certain of our derivative contracts contain cross default provisions which provide that a default under our revolving credit agreement would cause a default under the derivative contract. As of December 31, 2020, not December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020,

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sa

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 12: We discover, acquire and develop mines and other mineral interests and produce and market concentrates, containing silver, gold (in the case of Greens Creek), lead and zinc, (ii) carbon material containing silver and gold, and (iii) doré containing silver and gold. We are currently organized and managed in five General corporate activities not not The tables below present information about our reportable segments as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Net sales to unaffiliated customers: Greens Creek $ 327,820 $ 299,722 $ 265,650 Lucky Friday 63,025 16,621 9,750 Casa Berardi 209,224 192,944 210,339 San Sebastian 32,906 56,210 50,224 Nevada Operations 58,898 107,769 31,174 Total sales to unaffiliated customers $ 691,873 $ 673,266 $ 567,137 Income (loss) from operations: Greens Creek $ 108,230 $ 84,868 $ 70,293 Lucky Friday (1,711 ) (12,520 ) (20,199 ) Casa Berardi 1,359 (33,499 ) 881 San Sebastian 2,793 569 (14 ) Nevada Operations (6,674 ) (49,224 ) (26,715 ) Other (52,416 ) (47,303 ) (63,372 ) Total (loss) income from operations $ 51,581 $ (57,109 ) $ (39,126 ) Capital additions (including non-cash additions): Greens Creek $ 23,665 $ 35,829 $ 43,631 Lucky Friday 27,284 7,861 14,236 Casa Berardi 47,576 33,906 39,816 San Sebastian (47 ) — 3,906 8,492 Nevada Operations 4,003 42,154 35,721 Other 38 73 4,555 Total capital additions $ 102,519 $ 123,729 $ 146,451 Depreciation, depletion and amortization: Greens Creek $ 49,692 $ 47,587 $ 46,511 Lucky Friday 11,473 1,175 1,012 Casa Berardi 69,572 73,960 71,302 San Sebastian 3,548 9,772 4,602 Nevada Operations 22,845 67,024 10,617 Total depreciation, depletion and amortization $ 157,130 $ 199,518 $ 134,044 Other significant non-cash items: Greens Creek $ 3,103 $ 2,868 $ 3,325 Lucky Friday 881 996 618 Casa Berardi (1,741 ) 5,203 696 San Sebastian 456 492 419 Nevada Operations 2,039 2,911 8,758 Other 6,426 (6,595 ) (23,358 ) Total other significant non-cash items $ 11,164 $ 5,875 $ (9,542 ) Identifiable assets: Greens Creek $ 610,360 $ 639,047 $ 637,386 Lucky Friday 520,463 440,615 437,499 Casa Berardi 694,522 703,511 754,248 San Sebastian 42,617 48,294 44,152 Nevada Operations 513,309 528,466 581,194 Other 286,453 277,375 249,465 Total identifiable assets $ 2,667,724 $ 2,637,308 $ 2,703,944 The following are our long-lived assets by geographic area as of December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 United States $ 1,701,307 $ 1,748,406 Canada 635,788 660,859 Mexico 8,124 14,433 Total long-lived assets $ 2,345,219 $ 2,423,698 Our products consist of metal concentrates and carbon material, which we sell to custom smelters, metal traders and third may For sales of metals from refined doré, which we currently have at our Casa Berardi and San Sebastian units, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price is known, and revenue is recognized at the time of transfer of control of the agreed-upon metal quantities to the customer by the refiner. For sales of unrefined doré, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price is known, and revenue is recognized at the time of transfer of title and control of the doré containing the agreed-upon metal quantities to the customer. Refining, selling and shipping costs related to sales of doré and metals from doré are recorded to cost of sales as incurred. For sales of carbon materials, which we have at our Nevada Operations unit commencing in 2020 For concentrate sales, which we currently have at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price can be reasonably estimated, and revenue is recognized generally at the time of shipment. Concentrates sold at our Lucky Friday unit typically leave the mine and are received by the customer within the same day. However, there is a period of time between shipment of concentrates from our Greens Creek unit and their physical receipt by the customer, and judgment is required in determining when control has been transferred to the customer and the performance obligation has been met for those shipments. We have determined control is met, title is transferred and the performance obligation is met upon shipment of concentrate parcels from Greens Creek because, at that time, 1 2 3 4 5 Judgment is also required in identifying what our performance obligations for our concentrate sales are. Most of our concentrate sales involve “frame contracts” with smelters that can cover multiple years and specify certain terms under which individual parcels of concentrates are sold. However, some terms are not The consideration we receive for our concentrate sales fluctuates due to changes in metals prices between the time of shipment and final settlement with the customer. However, we are able to reasonably estimate the transaction price for the concentrate sales at the time of shipment using forward prices for the month of settlement, and previously recorded sales and accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement with the customer. Also, it is unlikely a significant reversal of revenue for any one December 31, 2020, Note 11 Sales and accounts receivable for concentrate shipments are recorded net of charges for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated by us with the customers, which represent components of the transaction price. Charges are estimated by us upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges typically do not may Sales of metal concentrates and metal products are made principally to custom smelters, third Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Greens Creek 47.4 % 44.5 % 46.7 % Lucky Friday 9.1 % 2.5 % 1.8 % Casa Berardi 30.2 % 28.7 % 37.1 % San Sebastian 4.8 % 8.3 % 8.9 % Nevada Operations 8.5 % 16.0 % 5.5 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Sales of products by metal for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Silver $ 260,227 $ 192,235 $ 144,609 Gold 356,166 388,602 313,076 Lead 48,776 35,777 33,829 Zinc 95,065 89,656 99,800 Less: Smelter and refining charges (68,361 ) (33,004 ) (24,177 ) Sales of products $ 691,873 $ 673,266 $ 567,137 The following is sales information by geographic area based on the location of smelters and metal traders (for concentrate shipments) and the location of parent companies (for doré sales to metal traders) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 United States $ 292,704 $ 53,612 $ 48,437 Canada 145,670 379,095 322,402 Japan 39,418 48,841 42,885 Netherlands (923 ) 38,420 — Korea 165,302 154,581 145,263 China 66,082 — 66 Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts $ 708,253 $ 674,549 $ 559,053 Sales by significant product type for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Doré and metals from doré $ 266,536 $ 340,912 $ 306,328 Carbon 60,302 37,645 5,239 Lead concentrate 281,050 200,456 148,880 Zinc concentrate 76,481 74,160 80,938 Bulk concentrate 23,884 21,376 17,668 Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts $ 708,253 $ 674,549 $ 559,053 Sales of products for 2020, 2019 2018, Note 11 Sales from continuing operations to significant metals customers as a percentage of total sales were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 CIBC 32.7 % 23.1 % 29.7 % Teck Metals Ltd. 16.1 % 8.2 % 8.4 % Ocean Partners 13.9 % 5.7 % 2.5 % Korea Zinc 13.3 % 17.4 % 17.8 % Scotia 2.9 % 24.0 % 15.3 % Our trade accounts receivable balance related to contracts with customers was $27.9 million at December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019, no We have determined our contracts do not We do not not not December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019.

Note 13 - Fair Value Measuremen

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurement	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	Note 13: Accounting guidance has established a hierarchy for inputs used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 3 three Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: The table below sets forth our assets and liabilities (in thousands) 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. See Note 9 Balance at December 31, 2020 Balance at December 31, 2019 Input Hierarchy Level Assets: Cash and cash equivalents: Money market funds and other bank deposits $ 129,830 $ 62,452 Level 1 Current and non-current investments: Equity securities – mining industry 19,389 6,207 Level 1 Trade accounts receivable: Receivables from provisional concentrate sales 27,864 11,952 Level 2 Derivative contracts - other current assets and other non-current assets: Metal forward and put option contracts 381 — Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts 7,647 1,184 Level 2 Restricted cash balances: Certificates of deposit and other deposits 1,053 1,025 Level 1 Total assets $ 186,164 $ 82,820 Liabilities Derivative contracts - current derivative liabilities and other non-current liabilities: Metal forward and put option contracts $ 11,737 $ 5,777 Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts 19 1,437 Level 2 Total liabilities $ 11,756 $ 7,214 Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value, and a small portion consists of municipal bonds having maturities of less than 90 Current and non-current restricted cash balances consist primarily of certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities, and other deposits and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities of companies in the mining industry which are valued using quoted market prices for each security. Trade accounts receivable include amounts due to us for shipments of concentrates, doré, metals sold from doré, and carbon material sold to customers. 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 ship loading, or at the time of arrival at the customer for trucked products). 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 prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled due to the time elapsed between shipment and final settlement with the customer. 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 customer. We obtain the forward metals prices used each period from a pricing service. Changes in metals 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 exposure to changes in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and MXN, and the impact on CAD- and MXN-denominated operating costs incurred at our Casa Berardi and San Sebastian units (see Note 11 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 Note 11 not Our Senior Notes, which were recorded at their carrying value of $468.5 million, net of unamortized initial purchaser discount and issuance costs at December 31, 2020, December 31, 2020. 1 Note 7

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Share

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	Note 14: We calculate basic loss per share using, as the denominator, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share uses, as its denominator, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive common shares during the period using the treasury stock method for options, warrants, and restricted stock units, and if-converted method for convertible preferred shares. Potential dilutive common shares include outstanding restricted stock unit awards, stock units, warrants and convertible preferred stock for periods in which we have reported net income. For periods in which we reported net losses, potential dilutive common shares are excluded, as their conversion and exercise would not not The following table represents net loss per common share – basic and diluted (in thousands, except loss per share): Year ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Numerator Net loss $ (16,790 ) $ (99,557 ) $ (26,563 ) Preferred stock dividends (552 ) (552 ) (552 ) Net loss applicable to common shares $ (17,342 ) $ (100,109 ) $ (27,115 ) Denominator Basic weighted average common shares 527,329 490,449 433,419 Dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and warrants — — — Diluted weighted average common shares 527,329 490,449 433,419 Basic loss per common share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (0.06 ) Diluted loss per common share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (0.06 ) For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018, no

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Com

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]	Note 15: The following table lists the beginning balance, yearly activity and ending balance of each component of "Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net" (in thousands): Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Securities Changes in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions Adjustments For Pension Plans Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Balance January 1, 2018 $ 3,719 $ 5,030 $ (32,122 ) $ (23,373 ) Change in accounting (1,289 ) — — (1,289 ) 2018 change (2,443 ) (13,814 ) (1,550 ) (17,807 ) Balance December 31, 2018 (13 ) (8,784 ) (33,672 ) (42,469 ) 2019 change — 8,436 (3,277 ) 5,159 Balance December 31, 2019 (13 ) (348 ) (36,949 ) (37,310 ) 2020 change — 7,980 (3,559 ) 4,421 Balance December 31, 2020 $ (13 ) $ 7,632 $ (40,508 ) $ (32,889 ) The $1.3 million change in accounting in unrealized gains (losses) on securities for 2018 January 1, 2018 No. 2016 01. Income Tax Effect of: Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Securities Changes in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions Adjustments For Pension Plans Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Balance January 1, 2018 $ 1,791 $ — $ 10,120 $ 11,911 2018 change (1,791 ) — 2,455 664 Balance December 31, 2018 — — 12,575 12,575 2019 change — — — — Balance December 31, 2019 — — 12,575 12,575 2020 change — — — — Balance December 31, 2020 $ — $ — $ 12,575 $ 12,575 See Note 3 Note 9 Note 11

Note 16 - Acquisitions

Note 16 - Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 16: Acquisitions Acquisition of Klondex On July 20, 2018, three 110 two US$0.8411 April 2032, February 2029. The following summarizes the 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 $ 161,704 Hecla stock issued ( 75,276,176 3.22 242,389 Hecla warrants issued 9,830 Total consideration $ 413,923 Fair value of net assets acquired: Assets: Cash $ 12,874 Accounts receivable 3,453 Inventory - supplies 6,565 Inventory - finished goods, in-process material and stockpiled ore 10,075 Other current assets 2,583 Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests 510,015 Non-current investments 1,596 Non-current restricted cash and investments 9,504 Total assets 556,665 Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 17,799 Accrued payroll and related benefits 8,245 Accrued taxes 421 Lease liability 2,080 Debt 35,086 Asset retirement obligation 19,571 Deferred tax liability 59,540 Total liabilities 142,742 Net assets $ 413,923 The allocation of purchase price above was finalized in the second 2019, 2019 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 unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not (unaudited) Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2018 Sales $ 680,261 Net (loss) income (19,574 ) (Loss) income applicable to common shareholders (20,126 ) Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share (0.04 ) The pro forma financial information includes adjustments to eliminate amounts related to the Canadian assets previously owned by Klondex, which were transferred to Havilah and not

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	A. Principles of Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Other Information The 2019 19" March 11, 2020, 19 March 2020, 19, March 24 April 15, April, May 30. March first 2020 2020, 2020 2020 March 2020. 19 2020. We took precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of COVID- 19, Note 7 may 19
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	B. Assumptions and Use of Estimates may
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	C. Cash and Cash Equivalents three
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	D. Investments Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recognized on a specific identification basis. Unrealized gains and losses are included in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	E. Inventories Stockpiled ore inventory represents ore that has been mined, hauled to the surface, and is available for further processing. Stockpiles are measured by estimating the number of tons added and removed from the stockpile, the amount of contained metal ounces or pounds (based on assay data) and the estimated metallurgical recovery rates (based on the expected processing method). Costs are allocated to a stockpile based on relative values of material stockpiled and processed using current mining costs incurred up to the point of stockpiling the ore, including applicable overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to mining operations, and removed at each stockpile’s average cost per recoverable unit. In-process inventory represents material that is currently in the process of being converted to a saleable product. Conversion processes vary depending on the nature of the ore and the specific processing facility, but include mill in-circuit, flotation, and carbon-in-leach. In-process material is measured based on assays of the material fed into the process and the projected recoveries of the respective processing plants. In-process inventory is valued at the lower of the average cost of the material fed into the process attributable to the source material coming from the mine and stockpile plus the in-process conversion costs, including applicable amortization relating to the process facilities incurred to that point in the process, or net realizable value. Finished goods inventory includes doré and concentrates at our operations, doré in transit to refiners or at refiners waiting to be processed, and bullion in our accounts at refineries.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	F. Restricted Cash December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	G. Properties, Plants and Equipment The costs of removing overburden and waste materials to access the ore body at an open-pit mine prior to the production stage are referred to as "pre-stripping costs." Pre-stripping costs are capitalized during the development stage. Where multiple open pits exist at an operation utilizing common facilities, pre-stripping costs are capitalized at each pit. The production stage of a mine commences when salable materials, beyond a de minimis amount, are produced. Stripping costs incurred during the production stage are treated as variable production costs included as a component of inventory, to be recognized in cost of sales and other direct production costs in the same period as the revenue from the sale of inventory. Costs for exploration, pre-development, secondary development at operating mines, including drilling costs related to those activities (discussed further below), and maintenance and repairs on capitalized properties, plants and equipment are charged to operations as incurred. Exploration costs include those relating to activities carried out (a) in search of previously unidentified mineral deposits, (b) at undeveloped concessions, or (c) at operating mines already containing proven and probable reserves, where a determination remains pending as to whether new target deposits outside of the existing reserve areas can be economically developed. Pre-development activities involve costs incurred in the exploration stage that may not Drilling, development and related costs are either classified as exploration, pre-development or secondary development, as defined above, and charged to operations as incurred, or capitalized, based on the following criteria: • whether the costs are incurred to further define mineralization at and adjacent to existing reserve areas or intended to assist with mine planning within a reserve area; • whether the drilling or development costs relate to an ore body that has been determined to be commercially mineable, and a decision has been made to put the ore body into commercial production; and • whether, at the time the cost is incurred: (a) the expenditure embodies a probable future benefit that involves a capacity, singly or in combination with other assets, to contribute directly or indirectly to future net cash inflows, (b) we can obtain the benefit and control others’ access to it, and (c) the transaction or event giving rise to our right to or control of the benefit has already occurred. If all of these criteria are met, drilling, development and related costs are capitalized. Drilling and development costs not not • completion of a favorable economic study and mine plan for the ore body targeted; • authorization of development of the ore body by management and/or the board of directors; and • there is a justifiable expectation, based on applicable laws and regulations, that issuance of permits or resolution of legal issues and/or contractual requirements necessary for us to have the right to or control of the future benefit from the targeted ore body have been met. Drilling and related costs of approximately $4.4 million, $14.4 million, and $11.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018, When assets are retired or sold, the costs and related allowances for depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current period net income (loss). Idle facilities placed on standby are carried at the lower of net carrying value or estimated fair value. The net carrying values of idle facilities on standby are written down to salvage value upon reaching the end of their economic life. Therefore, with the exception of depreciation recorded on mobile equipment used in ongoing exploration and reclamation efforts at such properties, we do not not Included in properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests on our consolidated financial statements are mineral interests, which are tangible assets that include acquired undeveloped mineral interests and royalty interests. Undeveloped mineral interests include: (i) mineralized material and other resources which are measured, indicated or inferred with insufficient drill spacing or quality to qualify as proven and probable reserves; and (ii) inferred material not We capitalize portions of interest costs incurred on our debt as a part of the cost of constructing or acquiring certain qualifying assets. The amount of interest capitalized represents the portion of interest cost incurred during the construction or acquisition periods that theoretically could have been avoided if expenditures for the qualifying assets had not third
Regulatory Depreciation and Amortization, Policy [Policy Text Block]	H. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization not J. Proven and Probable Ore Reserves may Undeveloped mineral interests and value beyond proven and probable reserves are not
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	I. Impairment of Long-lived Assets may not Although management has made what it believes to be a reasonable estimate of factors based on current conditions and information, assumptions underlying future cash flows, which includes the estimated value of mineral interests, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Estimates of undiscounted future cash flows are dependent upon, among other factors, estimates of: (i) metals to be recovered from proven and probable ore reserves and identified mineralization and other resources beyond proven and probable reserves, (ii) future production and capital costs, (iii) estimated metals prices (considering current and historical prices, forward pricing curves and related factors) over the estimated remaining mine life and (iv) market values of mineral interests. It is possible that changes could occur in the near term that could adversely affect our estimate of future cash flows to be generated from our operating properties. If estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of a property, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the property.
Proven and Probable Ore Reserves [Policy Text Block]	J. Proven and Probable Ore Reserves Reserve estimates will change as existing reserves are depleted through production, as additional reserves are proven and added to the estimates and as market prices of metals, production or capital costs, smelter terms, the grade or tonnage of the deposit, throughput, dilution of the ore or recovery rates change.
Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]	K. Leases Operating and finance lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term. Leases acquired in a business combination are also measured based on the present value of the remaining leases payments, as if the acquired lease were a new lease at the acquisition date. When the rate implicit to the lease cannot be readily determined, we utilize our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of the future lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is derived from information available at the lease commencement date and represents the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The ROU asset includes any lease payments made and lease incentives received prior to the commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets also include any cumulative prepaid or accrued rent when the lease payments are uneven throughout the lease term. The ROU assets and lease liabilities may We adopted the guidance under ASU No. 2016 02 842 January 1, 2019, No. 2016 02, not twelve not not
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]	L. Pension Plans and Other Post-retirement Benefits • recognize the funded or underfunded status of our defined benefit plans in our consolidated financial statements; and • recognize as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) the actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not See Note 9
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	M. Income and Production Taxes We evaluate uncertain tax positions in a two not not 50% We classify mine license taxes incurred in the states of Alaska and Idaho as other direct production costs reported in our gross profits. Net proceeds taxes incurred in Nevada, mining duties in Mexico, and resource taxes incurred in Quebec, Canada are classified as income taxes. For additional information, see Note 6 Income Taxes
Reclamation and Remediation Cost [Policy Text Block]	N. Reclamation and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations) At our non-operating properties, we accrue costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when it is probable that such costs will be incurred and they are reasonably estimable. Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations have historically been recognized no not Future closure, reclamation and environmental-related expenditures are difficult to estimate in many circumstances, due to the early stage nature of investigations, uncertainties associated with defining the nature and extent of environmental contamination, the application of laws and regulations by regulatory authorities, and changes in reclamation or remediation technology. We periodically review accrued liabilities for such reclamation and remediation costs as evidence becomes available indicating that our liabilities have potentially changed. Changes in estimates at our non-operating properties are reflected in current period net income (loss).
Revenue [Policy Text Block]	O. Revenue Recognition and Trade Accounts Receivable P. Risk Management Contracts Refining, selling and shipping costs related to sales of doré, metals from doré, and carbon are recorded to cost of sales as incurred. Sales and accounts receivable for concentrate shipments are recorded net of charges by the customers for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated by us with the customers. Charges are estimated by us upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges typically do not See Note 12
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	P. Foreign Currency P. Risk Management Contracts We recognized total net foreign exchange losses of $4.6 million and $8.2 million, and a net gain of $10.3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018,
Risk Management Contracts [Policy Text Block]	Q. Risk Management Contracts not no December 31, 2020 2019, not December 31, 2020 2019, See Note 11 December 31, 2020.
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]	R. Stock Based Compensation no For additional information on our restricted stock unit compensation, see Note 10.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	S. Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Common Share Potential dilutive shares of common stock include outstanding unvested restricted stock awards, performance-based share awards, stock units, warrants and convertible preferred stock for periods in which we have reported net income. For periods in which we report net losses, potential dilutive shares of common stock are excluded, as their conversion and exercise would be anti-dilutive. See Note 14
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	T. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]	U. Research and development December 31, 2019 2018 not December 31, 2020.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	V. New Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Updates Adopted In June 2016, No. 2016 13 326 January 1, 2020, not In August 2018, No. 2018 13 820 January 1, 2020, not In August 2018, No. 2018 14 715 20 two December 15, 2020, December 31, 2020, not In March 2020, No. 2020 04 848 March 12, 2020 December 31, 2022. not Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective in Future Periods In December 2019, No. 2019 12 740 December 15, 2020, In August 2020, No. 2020 06 470 20 815 40 December 15, 2021,

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, _2

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 2019 Mining properties, including asset retirement obligations $ 818,819 $ 762,355 Development costs 526,714 503,111 Plants and equipment 1,129,200 1,056,512 Land 32,983 32,909 Mineral interests 969,589 1,018,380 Construction in progress 347,099 360,827 3,824,404 3,734,094 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,479,185 1,310,396 Net carrying value $ 2,345,219 $ 2,423,698

Note 5 - Environmental and Re_2

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 Operating properties: Greens Creek $ 42,716 $ 44,695 Lucky Friday 12,818 10,473 Casa Berardi 11,730 4,510 San Sebastian 6,882 7,399 Nevada Operations 26,062 24,754 Non-operating properties: Troy mine 5,340 6,069 Johnny M 6,065 6,065 Republic 1,500 1,500 All other sites 2,935 2,909 Total 116,048 108,374 Reclamation and closure costs, current (5,582 ) (4,581 ) Reclamation and closure costs, long-term $ 110,466 $ 103,793
Accrued Reclamation and Closure Cost Liability Activity [Table Text Block]	Balance at January 1, 2018 $ 86,045 Accruals for estimated costs 250 Accretion expense 5,309 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans 1,280 Liability addition due to acquisition of the Nevada Operations unit 19,571 Payment of reclamation obligations (4,066 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 108,389 Accruals for estimated costs 472 Accretion expense 7,122 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans (4,522 ) Payment of reclamation obligations (3,087 ) Balance at December 31, 2019 108,374 Accretion expense 5,912 Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans 2,543 Payment of reclamation obligations (781 ) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 116,048
Schedule of Change in Asset Retirement Obligation [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 Balance January 1 $ 91,831 $ 89,417 Changes in obligations due to changes in reclamation plans 2,543 (4,522 ) Accretion expense 5,912 7,122 Payment of reclamation obligations (78 ) (186 ) Balance at December 31 $ 100,208 $ 91,831

Note 6 - Income Taxes (Tables)

Note 6 - Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Current: Domestic $ (868 ) $ (701 ) $ (454 ) Foreign (6,355 ) (7,289 ) (4,382 ) Total current income tax provision (7,223 ) (7,990 ) (4,836 ) Deferred: Domestic 4,392 15,243 7,147 Foreign 2,696 16,848 4,390 Total deferred income tax benefit 7,088 32,091 11,537 Total income tax (provision) benefit $ (135 ) $ 24,101 $ 6,701
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Domestic $ (2,104 ) $ (49,874 ) $ (44,513 ) Foreign (14,551 ) (73,784 ) 11,249 Total $ (16,655 ) $ (123,658 ) $ (33,264 )
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Computed “statutory” benefit (provision) $ 3,498 21 % $ 25,968 21 % $ 6,986 21 % Percentage depletion 5,327 32 3,030 2 3,158 10 Change in valuation allowance 786 5 686 1 (2,304 ) (7 ) State taxes, net of federal tax benefit (1,164 ) (7 ) 2,648 2 (849 ) (3 ) Foreign currency remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities (4,824 ) (29 ) (8,629 ) (7 ) 6,747 20 Rate differential on foreign earnings 991 6 3,947 3 (469 ) (1 ) Compensation (458 ) (3 ) (1,056 ) (1 ) (970 ) (3 ) Foreign withholding taxes — — — — 278 1 Mining and other taxes (3,572 ) (22 ) (1,242 ) (1 ) (3,501 ) (11 ) Other (719 ) (4 ) (1,251 ) (1 ) (2,375 ) (7 ) Total (provision) benefit $ (135 ) (1 )% $ 24,101 19 % $ 6,701 20 %
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 2019 Deferred tax assets: Accrued reclamation costs $ 32,938 $ 30,038 Deferred exploration 11,623 13,762 Foreign net operating losses 13,303 12,013 Domestic net operating losses 198,438 175,024 Pension and benefit obligation 12,341 13,866 Foreign exchange loss 19,808 21,719 Foreign tax credit carryforward 3,358 4,149 Miscellaneous 18,385 30,871 Total deferred tax assets 310,194 301,442 Valuation allowance (77,210 ) (86,634 ) Total deferred tax assets 232,984 214,808 Deferred tax liabilities: Miscellaneous (2,551 ) (904 ) Properties, plants and equipment (359,996 ) (348,649 ) Total deferred tax liabilities (362,547 ) (349,553 ) Net deferred tax liability $ (129,563 ) $ (134,745 )
Summary of Positions for which Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Balance at beginning of year $ (86,634 ) $ (94,981 ) $ (78,684 ) Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets acquired with the Klondex acquisition — 5,905 (11,470 ) Decrease related to non-recognition of deferred tax assets due to uncertainty of recovery and (increase) related to non-utilization of net operating loss carryforwards 786 686 (5,700 ) Decrease related to utilization and expiration of deferred tax assets, other 8,638 1,756 873 Balance at end of year $ (77,210 ) $ (86,634 ) $ (94,981 )

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_2

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 Senior Notes IQ Notes Total Principal $ 475,000 $ 37,886 $ 512,886 Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs (6,462 ) 818 (5,644 ) Long-term debt balance $ 468,538 $ 38,704 $ 507,242 December 31, 2019 2021 Notes Principal $ 506,500 Unamortized discount and issuance costs (1,771 ) Long-term debt balance $ 504,729
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]	Senior Notes IQ Notes 2021 $ 34,438 $ 2,468 2022 34,438 2,468 2023 34,438 2,468 2024 34,438 2,468 2025 34,438 39,173 2026 34,438 — 2027 34,438 — 2028 479,301 — Total $ 720,367 $ 49,045
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	Interest rates: Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate 2.25 - 4.00% Spread over alternative base rate 1.25 - 3.00% Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts 0.5625 - 1.00% Covenant financial ratios: Senior leverage ratio (debt secured by liens/EBITDA) not more than 2.50:1 Leverage ratio (total debt less unencumbered cash/EBITDA) not more than 4.00:1 Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA/interest expense) not less than 3.00:1
Finance Lease, Liability, Fiscal Year Maturity [Table Text Block]	Twelve-month period ending December 31, 2021 $ 7,053 2022 4,801 2023 3,116 2024 1,849 Total 16,819 Less: imputed interest (1,054 ) Net finance lease obligation $ 15,765
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]	Twelve-month period ending December 31, 2020 $ 3,811 2021 2,870 2022 2,521 2023 555 2024 526 More than 5 years 2,339 Total 12,622 Effect of discounting (1,980 ) Operating lease liability $ 10,642

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_2

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]	Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 172,909 $ 144,638 Service cost 5,334 4,401 Interest cost 5,618 6,482 Change due to mortality change (1,521 ) (2,130 ) Change due to discount rate change 17,040 25,806 Actuarial return (loss) 121 (395 ) Benefits paid (6,547 ) (5,893 ) Benefit obligation at end of year 192,954 172,909 Change in fair value of plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 116,067 96,329 Actual return on plan assets 14,801 21,536 Employer contributions 23,731 4,095 Benefits paid (6,547 ) (5,893 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year 148,052 116,067 Underfunded status at end of year $ (44,902 ) $ (56,842 )
Pension Benefits Recognized Balance Sheet Location [Table Text Block]	Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Current liabilities: Accrued benefit liability $ (758 ) $ (622 ) Non- current pension liability: Accrued benefit liability (44,144 ) (56,219 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss 53,085 49,525 Net amount recognized $ 8,183 $ (7,316 )
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions [Table Text Block]	Pension Benefits 2020 2019 Discount rate: net periodic pension cost 3.32 % 4.59 % Discount rate: projected benefit obligation 2.64 % 3.32 % Expected rate of return on plan assets 6.45 % 6.37 % Rate of compensation increase: net periodic pension cost 2.00 % 2.00 % Rate of compensation increase: projected benefit obligation 2.00 % 2.00 %
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]	Pension Benefits 2020 2019 2018 Service cost $ 5,334 $ 4,401 $ 5,009 Interest cost 5,618 6,482 5,508 Expected return on plan assets (7,489 ) (5,982 ) (6,536 ) Amortization of prior service benefit 117 61 61 Amortization of net gain from earlier periods 4,652 4,389 3,726 Net periodic pension cost $ 8,232 $ 9,351 $ 7,768
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]	Hecla Lucky Friday 2020 2019 2020 2019 Cash — % 6 % — % 6 % Large cap U.S. equities 17 % 14 % 16 % 14 % Small cap U.S. equities 8 % 7 % 9 % 7 % Non-U.S. equities 26 % 22 % 26 % 22 % Fixed income 21 % 19 % 21 % 19 % Real estate 11 % 14 % 12 % 15 % Absolute return hedge funds 5 % 5 % 4 % 5 % Company stock 12 % 13 % 12 % 12 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
Investment Policy Allocation [Table Text Block]	Target Maximum Large cap U.S. equities 17 % 20 % Small cap U.S. equities 8 % 10 % Non-U.S. equities 25 % 30 % Fixed income 23 % 28 % Real estate 15 % 18 % Absolute return 5 % 7 % Company stock/Real return 7 % 13 %
Fair Value of Plan Assets by Category [Table Text Block]	Hecla Lucky Friday Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Investments measured at fair value Interest-bearing cash $ 367 $ — $ — $ 367 $ 111 $ — $ — $ 111 Common stock 13,947 — — 13,947 3,203 — — 3,203 Mutual funds 69,994 — — 69,994 15,786 — — 15,786 Total investments in the fair value hierarchy 84,308 — — 84,308 19,100 — — 19,100 Investments measured at net asset value Real estate funds 12,708 3,428 Hedge funds 5,823 1,215 Common collective funds 17,545 3,925 Total investments measured at net asset value 36,076 8,568 Total fair value $ 84,308 $ — $ — $ 120,384 $ 19,100 $ — $ — $ 27,668 Hecla Lucky Friday Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Investments measured at fair value Interest-bearing cash $ 5,709 $ — $ — $ 5,709 $ 1,441 $ — $ — $ 1,441 Common stock 11,835 — — 11,835 2,827 — — 2,827 Mutual funds 46,317 — — 46,317 10,999 — — 10,999 Total investments in the fair value hierarchy 63,861 — — 63,861 15,267 — — 15,267 Investments measured at net asset value Real estate funds 12,659 3,445 Hedge funds 4,336 1,161 Common collective funds 12,255 3,083 Total investments measured at net asset value — — — 29,250 — — — 7,689 Total fair value $ 63,861 $ — $ — $ 93,111 $ 15,267 $ — $ — $ 22,956
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]	Year Ending December 31, Pension Plans 2021 $ 8,314 2022 8,199 2023 8,420 2024 8,661 2025 9,419 Years 2026-2030 47,269
Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 ABO Exceeds Plan Assets Plan Assets Exceed ABO ABO Exceeds Plan Assets Plan Assets Exceed ABO Projected benefit obligation $ 192,954 $ — $ 172,908 $ — Accumulated benefit obligation 189,931 — 168,239 — Fair value of plan assets 148,051 — 116,067 —
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	Pension Benefits Unamortized net (gain)/loss $ 51,660 Unamortized prior service cost 1,425

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Potential Per Share Dividend Amounts Quarterly Price Levels [Table Text Block]	Quarterly average realized silver price per ounce Quarterly dividend per share Annual dividend per share $25 $0.005 $0.02 $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 Dividends Payable [Table Text Block]	(A) (B) (A+B) Declaration date Silver-price- linked component per share Minimum annual component per share Total dividend per share Total dividend amount (in millions) Month of payment February 14, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.0 March 2018 May 9, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.0 June 2018 August 8, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 September 2018 November 6, 2018 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 December 2018 February 20, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 March 2019 May 7, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 June 2019 August 5, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.2 September 2019 November 6, 2019 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 December 2019 February 21, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 March 2020 May 6, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 June 2020 August 5, 2020 $— $0.0025 $0.0025 $1.3 September 2020 November 6, 2020 $0.005 $0.00375 $0.00875 $4.6 December 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]	Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Unvested, January 1, 2020 3,997,168 $ 2.46 Granted (unvested) 1,688,111 $ 3.03 Canceled (70,236 ) $ 2.08 Distributed (vested) (1,678,909 ) $ 2.83 Unvested, December 31, 2020 3,936,134 $ 2.55
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Unvested Shares Expected to Vest [Table Text Block]	1,988,079 in June 2021 1,428,145 in June 2022 519,910 in June 2023

Note 11 - Derivative Instrume_2

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Foreign Exchange Contracts, Statement of Financial Position [Table Text Block]	December 31, Balance sheet line item: 2020 2019 Other current assets $ 3.5 $ 0.6 Other non-current assets 4.2 0.6 Current derivatives liability — 0.4 Other non-current assets — 1.0
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 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 2021 settlements 1,282 4 23,314 4,905 $ 25.00 $ 1,858 $ 1.19 $ 0.90 Contracts on forecasted sales 2021 settlements — — 41,557 30,876 N/A N/A $ 1.17 $ 0.88 2022 settlements — — 18,519 — N/A N/A $ 1.28 N/A December 31, 2019 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 2020 settlements 2,556 10 21,550 5,159 $ 17.20 $ 1,481 $ 1.04 $ 0.88 Contracts on forecasted sales 2020 settlements — — 441 11,740 N/A N/A $ 1.13 $ 0.98
Schedule of Derivatives Instruments Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Balance sheet line item: Contracts in an asset position Contracts in a liability position Net asset (liability) Contracts in an asset position Contracts in a liability position Net asset (liability) Other current assets $ 0.2 $ (0.2 ) $ — $ — $ — $ — Other non-current assets 0.5 (0.1 ) 0.4 — — — Current derivatives liability 0.1 (11.8 ) (11.7 ) 2.1 (7.9 ) (5.8 )

Note 12 - Business Segments, _2

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Net sales to unaffiliated customers: Greens Creek $ 327,820 $ 299,722 $ 265,650 Lucky Friday 63,025 16,621 9,750 Casa Berardi 209,224 192,944 210,339 San Sebastian 32,906 56,210 50,224 Nevada Operations 58,898 107,769 31,174 Total sales to unaffiliated customers $ 691,873 $ 673,266 $ 567,137 Income (loss) from operations: Greens Creek $ 108,230 $ 84,868 $ 70,293 Lucky Friday (1,711 ) (12,520 ) (20,199 ) Casa Berardi 1,359 (33,499 ) 881 San Sebastian 2,793 569 (14 ) Nevada Operations (6,674 ) (49,224 ) (26,715 ) Other (52,416 ) (47,303 ) (63,372 ) Total (loss) income from operations $ 51,581 $ (57,109 ) $ (39,126 ) Capital additions (including non-cash additions): Greens Creek $ 23,665 $ 35,829 $ 43,631 Lucky Friday 27,284 7,861 14,236 Casa Berardi 47,576 33,906 39,816 San Sebastian (47 ) — 3,906 8,492 Nevada Operations 4,003 42,154 35,721 Other 38 73 4,555 Total capital additions $ 102,519 $ 123,729 $ 146,451 Depreciation, depletion and amortization: Greens Creek $ 49,692 $ 47,587 $ 46,511 Lucky Friday 11,473 1,175 1,012 Casa Berardi 69,572 73,960 71,302 San Sebastian 3,548 9,772 4,602 Nevada Operations 22,845 67,024 10,617 Total depreciation, depletion and amortization $ 157,130 $ 199,518 $ 134,044 Other significant non-cash items: Greens Creek $ 3,103 $ 2,868 $ 3,325 Lucky Friday 881 996 618 Casa Berardi (1,741 ) 5,203 696 San Sebastian 456 492 419 Nevada Operations 2,039 2,911 8,758 Other 6,426 (6,595 ) (23,358 ) Total other significant non-cash items $ 11,164 $ 5,875 $ (9,542 ) Identifiable assets: Greens Creek $ 610,360 $ 639,047 $ 637,386 Lucky Friday 520,463 440,615 437,499 Casa Berardi 694,522 703,511 754,248 San Sebastian 42,617 48,294 44,152 Nevada Operations 513,309 528,466 581,194 Other 286,453 277,375 249,465 Total identifiable assets $ 2,667,724 $ 2,637,308 $ 2,703,944
Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 United States $ 1,701,307 $ 1,748,406 Canada 635,788 660,859 Mexico 8,124 14,433 Total long-lived assets $ 2,345,219 $ 2,423,698
Schedules of Concentration of Risk, by Risk Factor [Table Text Block]	Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Greens Creek 47.4 % 44.5 % 46.7 % Lucky Friday 9.1 % 2.5 % 1.8 % Casa Berardi 30.2 % 28.7 % 37.1 % San Sebastian 4.8 % 8.3 % 8.9 % Nevada Operations 8.5 % 16.0 % 5.5 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]	Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Silver $ 260,227 $ 192,235 $ 144,609 Gold 356,166 388,602 313,076 Lead 48,776 35,777 33,829 Zinc 95,065 89,656 99,800 Less: Smelter and refining charges (68,361 ) (33,004 ) (24,177 ) Sales of products $ 691,873 $ 673,266 $ 567,137 Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Doré and metals from doré $ 266,536 $ 340,912 $ 306,328 Carbon 60,302 37,645 5,239 Lead concentrate 281,050 200,456 148,880 Zinc concentrate 76,481 74,160 80,938 Bulk concentrate 23,884 21,376 17,668 Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts $ 708,253 $ 674,549 $ 559,053
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 United States $ 292,704 $ 53,612 $ 48,437 Canada 145,670 379,095 322,402 Japan 39,418 48,841 42,885 Netherlands (923 ) 38,420 — Korea 165,302 154,581 145,263 China 66,082 — 66 Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts $ 708,253 $ 674,549 $ 559,053
Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]	Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 CIBC 32.7 % 23.1 % 29.7 % Teck Metals Ltd. 16.1 % 8.2 % 8.4 % Ocean Partners 13.9 % 5.7 % 2.5 % Korea Zinc 13.3 % 17.4 % 17.8 % Scotia 2.9 % 24.0 % 15.3 %

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_2

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurement (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	Balance at December 31, 2020 Balance at December 31, 2019 Input Hierarchy Level Assets: Cash and cash equivalents: Money market funds and other bank deposits $ 129,830 $ 62,452 Level 1 Current and non-current investments: Equity securities – mining industry 19,389 6,207 Level 1 Trade accounts receivable: Receivables from provisional concentrate sales 27,864 11,952 Level 2 Derivative contracts - other current assets and other non-current assets: Metal forward and put option contracts 381 — Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts 7,647 1,184 Level 2 Restricted cash balances: Certificates of deposit and other deposits 1,053 1,025 Level 1 Total assets $ 186,164 $ 82,820 Liabilities Derivative contracts - current derivative liabilities and other non-current liabilities: Metal forward and put option contracts $ 11,737 $ 5,777 Level 2 Foreign exchange contracts 19 1,437 Level 2 Total liabilities $ 11,756 $ 7,214

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Sha_2

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Numerator Net loss $ (16,790 ) $ (99,557 ) $ (26,563 ) Preferred stock dividends (552 ) (552 ) (552 ) Net loss applicable to common shares $ (17,342 ) $ (100,109 ) $ (27,115 ) Denominator Basic weighted average common shares 527,329 490,449 433,419 Dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and warrants — — — Diluted weighted average common shares 527,329 490,449 433,419 Basic loss per common share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (0.06 ) Diluted loss per common share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (0.06 )

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_2

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Securities Changes in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions Adjustments For Pension Plans Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Balance January 1, 2018 $ 3,719 $ 5,030 $ (32,122 ) $ (23,373 ) Change in accounting (1,289 ) — — (1,289 ) 2018 change (2,443 ) (13,814 ) (1,550 ) (17,807 ) Balance December 31, 2018 (13 ) (8,784 ) (33,672 ) (42,469 ) 2019 change — 8,436 (3,277 ) 5,159 Balance December 31, 2019 (13 ) (348 ) (36,949 ) (37,310 ) 2020 change — 7,980 (3,559 ) 4,421 Balance December 31, 2020 $ (13 ) $ 7,632 $ (40,508 ) $ (32,889 ) Income Tax Effect of: Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Securities Changes in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions Adjustments For Pension Plans Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Balance January 1, 2018 $ 1,791 $ — $ 10,120 $ 11,911 2018 change (1,791 ) — 2,455 664 Balance December 31, 2018 — — 12,575 12,575 2019 change — — — — Balance December 31, 2019 — — 12,575 12,575 2020 change — — — — Balance December 31, 2020 $ — $ — $ 12,575 $ 12,575

Note 16 - Acquisitions (Tables)

Note 16 - Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Notes Tables
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	Consideration: Cash payments $ 161,704 Hecla stock issued ( 75,276,176 3.22 242,389 Hecla warrants issued 9,830 Total consideration $ 413,923 Fair value of net assets acquired: Assets: Cash $ 12,874 Accounts receivable 3,453 Inventory - supplies 6,565 Inventory - finished goods, in-process material and stockpiled ore 10,075 Other current assets 2,583 Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests 510,015 Non-current investments 1,596 Non-current restricted cash and investments 9,504 Total assets 556,665 Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 17,799 Accrued payroll and related benefits 8,245 Accrued taxes 421 Lease liability 2,080 Debt 35,086 Asset retirement obligation 19,571 Deferred tax liability 59,540 Total liabilities 142,742 Net assets $ 413,923
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]	(unaudited) Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2018 Sales $ 680,261 Net (loss) income (19,574 ) (Loss) income applicable to common shareholders (20,126 ) Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share (0.04 )

Note 2 - Summary of Significa_2

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)oz	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019USD ($)
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent, Total	$ 1,053	$ 1,025
Capitalized Drilling Costs	4,400	14,400	$ 11,600
Operating Lease, Liability, Total	10,642
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized	(4,605)	(8,236)	$ 10,310
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	$ 10,628	$ 16,381
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Operating Lease, Liability, Total				$ 22,400
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (Year)	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (Year)	17 years
Casa Berardi [Member]
Decrease in Expected Gold Production Due to Suspension (Ounce) | oz	11,700
Suspension Costs	$ 1,600
San Sebastian [Member]
Suspension Costs	1,800
Greens Creek [Member]
Suspension Costs from Quarantining Employee Per Week	$ 2,300

Note 3 - Investments (Details T

Note 3 - Investments (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity Securities, FV-NI	$ 15,100	$ 6,200
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Cost	9,900	9,800
Available-for-sale Equity Securities, Acquired During Period, Cost Basis	2,200	2,700
Marketable Equity Securities Received for Sale of Mineral Interest	0	2,257	$ 0
Long-term Investments, Total	15,148	6,207
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Unrealized Gain (Loss), Total	10,300	(2,400)
Other Assets, Current	19,114	$ 12,038
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member]
Long-term Investments, Total	(4,200)
Other Assets, Current	$ 4,200

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, _3

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	$ 91,016	$ 121,421	$ 136,933
Suspension Related Costs	13,500
Assets on Care and Maintenance, Depreciation Expense	5,600
Costs for Mining Material	7,700
Costs Related to Mining Non-refractory Ore	11,500
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance	2,345,219	2,423,698
Capital Leased Assets, Gross, Total	74,000	64,900
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Accumulated Depreciation	51,700	$ 44,300
Mineral Interests [Member] | NEVADA
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance	474,300
Lucky Friday [Member]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	25,700
Greens Creek [Member]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	19,700
Mining Assets, Value Beyond Proven and Probable Reserves (VBPP)	132,600
Casa Berardi [Member]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	40,900
Mining Assets, Value Beyond Proven and Probable Reserves (VBPP)	321,100
San Sebastian [Member]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	500
Nevada Operations [Member]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	4,000
Mining Assets, Value Beyond Proven and Probable Reserves (VBPP)	$ 382,200

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, _4

Note 4 - Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments - Major Components of Property, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 3,824,404	$ 3,734,094
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,479,185	1,310,396
Net carrying value	2,345,219	2,423,698
Mining Properties Including Asset Retirement Obligations [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	818,819	762,355
Mine Development [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	526,714	503,111
Plant and Equipment [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,129,200	1,056,512
Land [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	32,983	32,909
Mineral Interests [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	969,589	1,018,380
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 347,099	$ 360,827

Note 5 - Environmental and Re_3

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020CAD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Ending Balance	$ 116,048			$ 108,374		$ 116,048	$ 108,389	$ 86,045
Asset Retirement Obligation, Liabilities Incurred	1,500
Casa Berardi [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate Before Discounting		$ 29.1			$ 15.7
Asset Retirement Obligation, Liabilities Incurred	6,700
Lucky Friday [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate Before Discounting	36,900			34,300
San Sebastian [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate Before Discounting	600
Asset Retirement Obligation, Liabilities Incurred	$ 600
Greens Creek [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate Before Discounting			$ 107,700	$ 114,900
Asset Retirement Obligation, Liabilities Incurred			$ 5,100
Minimum [Member]
Inflation Rate, Asset Retirement Obligation						2.00%
Minimum [Member] | Reclamation and Abandonment Costs [Member] | Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member]
Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.0575					0.0575
Minimum [Member] | Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member]
Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.0275					0.0275
Maximum [Member]
Inflation Rate, Asset Retirement Obligation						4.00%
Maximum [Member] | Reclamation and Abandonment Costs [Member] | Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member]
Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.145					0.145
Maximum [Member] | Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member]
Derivative Liability, Measurement Input	0.075					0.075

Note 5 - Environmental and Re_4

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities - Liabilities Accrued for Reclamation and Closure Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reclamation and closure costs	$ 116,048	$ 108,374	$ 108,389	$ 86,045
Reclamation and closure costs, current	(5,582)	(4,581)
Reclamation and closure costs, long-term	110,466	103,793
Operating Properties [Member] | Greens Creek [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	42,716	44,695
Operating Properties [Member] | Lucky Friday [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	12,818	10,473
Operating Properties [Member] | Casa Berardi [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	11,730	4,510
Operating Properties [Member] | San Sebastian [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	6,882	7,399
Operating Properties [Member] | Nevada Operations [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	26,062	24,754
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Troy Mine [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	5,340	6,069
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	6,065	6,065
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Republic [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	1,500	1,500
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | All Other Sites [Member]
Reclamation and closure costs	$ 2,935	$ 2,909

Note 5 - Environmental and Re_5

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities - Accrued Reclamation and Closure Cost Liability Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Balance	$ 108,374	$ 108,389	$ 86,045
Accruals for estimated costs		472	250
Accretion expense	5,912	7,122	5,309
Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans	2,543	(4,522)	1,280
Liability addition due to acquisition			19,571
Payment of reclamation obligations	(781)	(3,087)	(4,066)
Balance	$ 116,048	$ 108,374	$ 108,389

Note 5 - Environmental and Re_6

Note 5 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities - Reconciliation of Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Balance January 1	$ 91,831	$ 89,417
Changes in obligations due to changes in reclamation plans	2,543	(4,522)
Accretion expense	5,912	7,122
Payment of reclamation obligations	(78)	(186)
Balance at December 31	$ 100,208	$ 91,831

Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details

Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 13, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Total		$ 129,563	$ 134,745
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total		135	(24,101)	$ (6,701)
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Total		$ 77,210	86,634	$ 94,981	$ 78,684
Operating Loss Carryforwards Expiration Period (Year)		20 years
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance		$ 0	0
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Total		72,500
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total		788,200
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Indefinite Carryforward Period		292,900
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total		53,500
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Canada Revenue Agency [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Total		2,600
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Mexican Tax Authority [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Total		2,100
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total		477,900
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member]
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Total		59,500
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total	$ (6,300)	$ (4,400)	$ (15,200)

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Major C

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Major Components of Income Tax Provision (Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Domestic	$ (868)	$ (701)	$ (454)
Foreign	(6,355)	(7,289)	(4,382)
Total current income tax provision	(7,223)	(7,990)	(4,836)
Domestic	4,392	15,243	7,147
Foreign	2,696	16,848	4,390
Total deferred income tax benefit	7,088	32,091	11,537
Total (provision) benefit	$ (135)	$ 24,101	$ 6,701

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Compone

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Components of Income (Loss) from Operations Before Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income (Loss) from continuing operations	$ (16,655)	$ (123,658)	$ (33,264)
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Income (Loss) from continuing operations	(2,104)	(49,874)	(44,513)
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Income (Loss) from continuing operations	$ (14,551)	$ (73,784)	$ 11,249

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Reconci

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to Annual Tax Provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Computed “statutory” benefit (provision), Amount	$ 3,498	$ 25,968	$ 6,986
Computed “statutory” benefit (provision), Percentage	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Percentage depletion, Amount	$ 5,327	$ 3,030	$ 3,158
Percentage depletion, Percentage	32.00%	2.00%	10.00%
Change in valuation allowance, Amount	$ 786	$ 686	$ (2,304)
Change in valuation allowance, Percentage	5.00%	1.00%	(7.00%)
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit, Amount	$ (1,164)	$ 2,648	$ (849)
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit, Percentage	(7.00%)	2.00%	(3.00%)
Foreign currency remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities, Amount	$ (4,824)	$ (8,629)	$ 6,747
Foreign currency remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities, Percentage	(29.00%)	(7.00%)	20.00%
Rate differential on foreign earnings, Amount	$ 991	$ 3,947	$ (469)
Rate differential on foreign earnings, Percentage	6.00%	3.00%	(1.00%)
Compensation, Amount	$ (458)	$ (1,056)	$ (970)
Compensation, Percentage	(3.00%)	(1.00%)	(3.00%)
Foreign withholding taxes, Amount	$ 0	$ 0	$ 278
Foreign withholding taxes, percentage	0.00%	0.00%	1.00%
Mining and other taxes, Amount	$ (3,572)	$ (1,242)	$ (3,501)
Mining and other taxes, percentage	(22.00%)	(1.00%)	(11.00%)
Other, Amount	$ (719)	$ (1,251)	$ (2,375)
Other, Percentage	(4.00%)	(1.00%)	(7.00%)
Total (provision) benefit	$ (135)	$ 24,101	$ 6,701
Total (provision) benefit	(1.00%)	19.00%	20.00%

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Compo_2

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Components of the Net Deferred Tax Asset (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accrued reclamation costs	$ 32,938	$ 30,038
Deferred exploration	11,623	13,762
Foreign net operating losses	13,303	12,013
Domestic net operating losses	198,438	175,024
Pension and benefit obligation	12,341	13,866
Foreign exchange loss	19,808	21,719
Foreign tax credit carryforward	3,358	4,149
Miscellaneous	18,385	30,871
Total deferred tax assets	310,194	301,442
Valuation allowance	(77,210)	(86,634)	$ (94,981)	$ (78,684)
Total deferred tax assets	232,984	214,808
Miscellaneous	(2,551)	(904)
Properties, plants and equipment	(359,996)	(348,649)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(362,547)	(349,553)
Net deferred tax liability	$ (129,563)	$ (134,745)

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Changes

Note 6 - Income Taxes - Changes in the Valuation Allowance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Balance at beginning of year	$ (86,634)	$ (94,981)	$ (78,684)
Balance at end of year	(77,210)	(86,634)	(94,981)
Increase Due to Uncertainty of Recovery [Member]
Valuation allowance, deferred tax asset, increase (decrease)	786	686	(5,700)
Decrease Related to Utilization and Expiration [Member]
Valuation allowance, deferred tax asset, increase (decrease)	8,638	1,756	873
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member] | Business Acquisition [Member]
Valuation allowance, deferred tax asset, increase (decrease)	$ 0	$ 5,905	$ (11,470)

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_3

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Feb. 16, 2026	Oct. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Sep. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Aug. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Jul. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Mar. 19, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2019CAD ($)shares	Feb. 15, 2026	Feb. 15, 2025	Feb. 15, 2024	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Jul. 09, 2020USD ($)	Jul. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Feb. 19, 2020USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 05, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 05, 2018CAD ($)	May 31, 2016USD ($)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total												$ 716,327	$ 279,500	$ 102,024
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs												1,356	976	2,638
Paid-in-Kind Prepayment of Debt Fee												0	2,855	0
Finance Lease, Liability, Total							$ 12,600					15,765	12,600
Finance Lease, Liability, Current							5,429					6,491	5,429
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent							7,214					9,274	7,214
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Amortization, Total							20,600					22,300	20,600
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Amortization												7,400	5,900	5,300
Finance Lease, Interest Expense												600	700	700
Finance Lease, Liability, Payment, Due, Total												16,819
Finance Lease, Liability, Undiscounted Excess Amount												$ 1,054
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Year)												2 years
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent												6.70%
Operating Lease, Liability, Total												$ 10,642
Operating Lease, Liability, Current							5,580					3,008	5,580
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent							10,818					7,634	10,818
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset							$ 16,381					10,628	16,381
Operating Lease, Expense												7,200	7,500
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total												$ 12,622
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Year)												5 years 4 months 24 days
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate												6.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																		$ 250,000			$ 100,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount												$ 20,300
Proceeds from Lines of Credit, Total												210,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit												210,000
Long-term Line of Credit, Total												0
Letter of Credit [Member]
Letter of Credit Outstanding, Fronting Fee																		0.20%
Letter of Credit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Letter of Credit, Participation Fee, Percent																		2.25%
Letter of Credit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Letter of Credit, Participation Fee, Percent																		4.00%
Conversion of Series 2018A Senior Notes Into Common Stock [Member]
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued (in shares) | shares							10.7	10.7
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount							$ 33,500	$ 43.8
Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term Debt, Gross												512,886
Interest Expense, Debt, Total												40,200	$ 36,300	36,300
Long-term Debt, Total												$ 507,242
Senior Notes [Member] | The 2028 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage												7.25%					7.25%
Long-term Debt, Gross												$ 475,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																	$ 475,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total						$ 469,500
Underwriting Discount on Senior Notes																	1.16%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount, Total																	$ 5,500
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage												100.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage, Net of Cash Proceeds of Equity Offerings												35.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage, Including Accrued and Unpaid Interest												101.00%
Long-term Debt, Total												$ 468,538
Senior Notes [Member] | The 2028 Senior Notes [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage	100.00%								101.813%	103.625%	105.438%
Senior Notes [Member] | The 2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							6.875%						6.875%
Long-term Debt, Gross							$ 506,500						$ 506,500
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net, Total												1,700
Long-term Debt, Total							$ 504,729						504,729
Senior Notes [Member] | IQ Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage															6.515%	6.515%
Long-term Debt, Gross												37,886
Debt Instrument, Face Amount															$ 36,800	$ 50
Interest Expense, Debt, Total												900
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium, Percentage of Principal															103.65%	103.65%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium, Total																$ 1.8
Debt Instrument, Effective Annual Yield															5.74%	5.74%
Long-term Debt, Total												$ 38,704				$ 48.2
Debt Instrument, Number of Issuance Installments															4	4
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt		$ 12.5	$ 12.5	$ 12.5	$ 12.5
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs					$ 0.6
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Investment Over Next Four Years																$ 100
Series 2018-A Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																			4.68%	4.68%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																			$ 30,800	$ 40
Interest Expense, Debt, Total													4,200	$ 1,100
Paid-in-Kind Prepayment of Debt Fee													$ 2,900

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_4

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases - Debt Summary (Details) - Senior Notes [Member] $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Jul. 09, 2020CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Principal	$ 512,886
Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs	(5,644)
Long-term debt balance	507,242
The 2028 Senior Notes [Member]
Principal	475,000
Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs	(6,462)
Long-term debt balance	468,538
IQ Notes [Member]
Principal	37,886
Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs	818
Long-term debt balance	$ 38,704	$ 48.2
The 2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Principal			$ 506,500
Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs			(1,771)
Long-term debt balance			$ 504,729

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_5

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases - Future Payments of Long-term Debt (Details) - Senior Notes [Member] $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
The 2028 Senior Notes [Member]
2021	$ 34,438
2022	34,438
2023	34,438
2024	34,438
2025	34,438
2026	34,438
2027	34,438
2028	479,301
Total	720,367
IQ Notes [Member]
2021	2,468
2022	2,468
2023	2,468
2024	2,468
2025	39,173
2026	0
2027	0
2028	0
Total	$ 49,045

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_6

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases - Credit Facility (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Maximum [Member]
Senior leverage ratio (debt secured by liens/EBITDA)	2.50
Leverage ratio (total debt less unencumbered cash/EBITDA)	4
Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA/interest expense)	3
New Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts	0.5625%
New Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts	1.00%
New Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate	2.25%
New Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate	4.00%
New Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate	1.25%
New Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate	3.00%

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_7

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases - Maturities of Finance Lease (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
2021	$ 7,053
2022	4,801
2023	3,116
2024	1,849
Total	16,819
Less: imputed interest	(1,054)
Net finance lease obligation	$ 15,765	$ 12,600

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facilit_8

Note 7 - Debt, Credit Facility and Leases - Maturities of Operating Lease (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
2020	$ 3,811
2021	2,870
2022	2,521
2023	555
2024	526
More than 5 years	2,339
Total	12,622
Effect of discounting	(1,980)
Operating lease liability	$ 10,642

Note 8 - Commitments, Conting_2

Note 8 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Obligations (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Environmental Remediation Expense								$ 3,929	$ 4,690	$ 6,119
Contractual Obligation, Total								100
Finance Lease, Liability, Payment, Due, Total								16,819
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total								12,622
Performance Obligation Commitments [Member]
Surety Bonds								183,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount								20,300
Lucky Friday [Member]
Open Purchase Orders								4,200
Casa Berardi [Member]
Open Purchase Orders								700
Greens Creek [Member]
Open Purchase Orders								2,000
Nevada Operations [Member]
Open Purchase Orders								$ 500
Canadian Assets of Klondex [Member]
Ownership Percentage			13.00%
PRP Lawsuit in Mineral County, Colorado [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value	$ 5,000
Lawsuit filed in Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice [Member] | Waterton Warrants [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period, Value			$ 3,700
Class of Warrant or Right, Warrants Entitled, Value			8,900
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member]
Payment Of Response Costs				$ 1,100	$ 1,100
Estimated Response Costs			$ 9,600				$ 6,100
Environmental Remediation Expense		$ 6,100					$ 5,600
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Estimated Alternative Response Costs				0
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Estimated Alternative Response Costs				$ 221,000
Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund Site, Cascade County, Montana [Member]
Estimated Response Costs						$ 4,500
Estimated Future Response Cost						$ 100,000

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_3

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2021	Feb. 18, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets			6.45%	6.37%
Defined Benefit Plan Assumed Long Term Rate Basis Spread			1.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer			$ 23,731,000	$ 4,095,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match			55.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay			5.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount			$ 10,000	10,000	$ 4,000
Capital Accumulation 401(K) Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer			$ 4,600,000	3,900,000	3,700,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match			100.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay			6.00%
Minimum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent			2.00%
Minimum [Member] | Capital Accumulation 401(K) Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent			1.00%
Maximum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent			50.00%
Maximum [Member] | Capital Accumulation 401(K) Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent			50.00%
Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer			$ 16,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year			6,000,000
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year			800,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities, Common Stock [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Investment within Plan Asset Category, Amount			17,200,000	14,700,000
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) Except Service cost			$ 2,900,000	$ 5,000,000	$ 2,800,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets		6.40%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer	$ 16,800,000

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_4

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Change in Benefit Obligation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 172,909	$ 144,638
Service cost	5,334	4,401	$ 5,009
Interest cost	5,618	6,482	5,508
Change due to mortality change	(1,521)	(2,130)
Change due to discount rate change	17,040	25,806
Actuarial return (loss)	121	(395)
Benefits paid	(6,547)	(5,893)
Benefit obligation at end of year	192,954	172,909	144,638
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	116,067	96,329
Actual return on plan assets	14,801	21,536
Employer contributions	23,731	4,095
Benefits paid	(6,547)	(5,893)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	148,052	116,067	$ 96,329
Underfunded status at end of year	$ (44,902)	$ (56,842)

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_5

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current liabilities:
Accrued benefit liability	$ (758)	$ (622)
Accrued benefit liability	(44,144)	(56,219)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	53,085	49,525
Net amount recognized	$ 8,183	$ (7,316)

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_6

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Benefit Obligation and Prepaid Benefit Costs Assumptions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Discount rate: net periodic pension cost	3.32%	4.59%
Discount rate: projected benefit obligation	2.64%	3.32%
Expected rate of return on plan assets	6.45%	6.37%
Rate of compensation increase: net periodic pension cost	2.00%	2.00%
Rate of compensation increase: projected benefit obligation	2.00%	2.00%

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_7

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Net Periodic Pension Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Service cost	$ 5,334	$ 4,401	$ 5,009
Interest cost	5,618	6,482	5,508
Expected return on plan assets	(7,489)	(5,982)	(6,536)
Amortization of prior service benefit	117	61	61
Amortization of net gain from earlier periods	4,652	4,389	3,726
Net periodic pension cost	$ 8,232	$ 9,351	$ 7,768

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_8

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Employee Allocations of Investments and Measurement Dates by Asset Category (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	100.00%	100.00%
Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	100.00%	100.00%
Cash [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	0.00%	6.00%
Cash [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	0.00%	6.00%
Large Cap US Equity [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	17.00%	14.00%
Large Cap US Equity [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	16.00%	14.00%
Small Cap US Equity [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	8.00%	7.00%
Small Cap US Equity [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	9.00%	7.00%
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	26.00%	22.00%
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	26.00%	22.00%
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	21.00%	19.00%
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	21.00%	19.00%
Real Estate [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	11.00%	14.00%
Real Estate [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	12.00%	15.00%
Hedge Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	5.00%	5.00%
Hedge Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	4.00%	5.00%
Common Stock [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	12.00%	13.00%
Common Stock [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Allocation of investments	12.00%	12.00%

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pla_9

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Investment Policy Allocation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020
Large Cap US Equity [Member]
Investment policy allocation	17.00%
Large Cap US Equity [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	20.00%
Small Cap US Equity [Member]
Investment policy allocation	8.00%
Small Cap US Equity [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	10.00%
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member]
Investment policy allocation	25.00%
Debt Security, Government, Non-US [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	30.00%
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Investment policy allocation	23.00%
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	28.00%
Real Estate [Member]
Investment policy allocation	15.00%
Real Estate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	18.00%
Absolute Return [Member]
Investment policy allocation	5.00%
Absolute Return [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	7.00%
Real Return [Member]
Investment policy allocation	7.00%
Real Return [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment policy allocation	13.00%

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pl_10

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Fair Value by Asset Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Total fair value	$ 148,052	$ 116,067	$ 96,329
Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	120,384	93,111
Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	27,668	22,956
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	84,308	63,861
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	19,100	15,267
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	84,308	63,861
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	19,100	15,267
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	36,076	29,250
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	8,568	7,689
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	367	5,709
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	111	1,441
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	367	5,709
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	111	1,441
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	13,947	11,835
Common Stock [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	3,203	2,827
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	13,947	11,835
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	3,203	2,827
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Mutual Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	69,994	46,317
Mutual Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	15,786	10,999
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	69,994	46,317
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	15,786	10,999
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	0	0
Real Estate Investments [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	12,708	12,659
Real Estate Investments [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	3,428	3,445
Hedge Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	5,823	4,336
Hedge Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	1,215	1,161
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Total fair value	17,545	12,255
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Total fair value	$ 3,925	$ 3,083

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pl_11

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Future Benefit Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
2021	$ 8,314
2022	8,199
2023	8,420
2024	8,661
2025	9,419
Years 2026-2030	$ 47,269

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pl_12

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Accumulated Benefit Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Projected benefit obligation	$ 192,954	$ 172,908
Accumulated benefit obligation	189,931	168,239
Fair value of plan assets	$ 148,051	$ 116,067

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Pl_13

Note 9 - Employee Benefit Plans - Pension and Benefit Plan Amounts Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Unamortized net (gain)/loss	$ 51,660
Unamortized prior service cost	$ 1,425

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equit_2

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Jul. 20, 2018	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 16, 2021	Feb. 23, 2016	May 08, 2012	Jun. 30, 2010
Common Stock, Shares Authorized (in shares)			750,000,000		750,000,000	750,000,000	750,000,000		750,000,000	750,000,000	750,000,000	750,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.25		$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25		$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total (in shares)			538,487,415			538,487,415			538,487,415	538,487,415	538,487,415	538,487,415
Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance (in shares)			6,821,044		6,287,271	6,821,044	6,287,271		6,821,044	6,821,044	6,821,044	6,821,044
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)			531,666,371			531,666,371			531,666,371	531,666,371	531,666,371	531,666,371
Average Realized Silver Price, Minimum Dividend, Threshold (in dollars per share)			$ 25		$ 30	$ 25	$ 30		$ 25	$ 25	$ 25	$ 25
Average Realized Silver Price Per Ounce			$ 25.16	$ 25.32
At-the-market Equity Distribution Agreement, Maximum Proceeds														$ 75,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)					21,410,231		21,410,000	2,565,000			28,583,845
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock					$ 49,000,000	$ 0	$ 49,019,000	$ 6,744,000			$ 73,500,000
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs					$ 1,000,000						$ 1,500,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized (in shares)			5,000,000		5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000		5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.25		$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25		$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)			157,816		157,816	157,816	157,816		157,816	157,816	157,816	157,816
Percent of Shareholders' Consent Needed to Create or Issue Stock Ranking Senior to Series B Preferred Stock			66.67%			66.67%			66.67%	66.67%	66.67%	66.67%
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value			$ 7,891,000		$ 7,891,000	$ 7,891,000	$ 7,891,000		$ 7,891,000	$ 7,891,000	$ 7,891,000	$ 7,891,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total			$ 3,500,000			$ 3,500,000			$ 3,500,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 3,500,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)			3,936,134		3,997,168	3,936,134	3,997,168		3,936,134	3,936,134	3,936,134	3,936,134
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Measurement Period Used to Value Performance-based Awards (Year)						3 years
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Treasury Stock Reissued (in shares)						650,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued						$ 1,970,000
Hecla Charitable Foundation [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Treasury Stock Reissued (in shares)		650,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued		$ 2,000,000
Treasury Stock, Reissued, Weighted Average Cost Basis (in dollars per share)		$ 3.41
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price		$ 2,200,000
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)	75,276,176
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share)	$ 8.02
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period (in shares)	4,136,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Each Warrant or Right (in shares)	1
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition Expiring April 2032 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding (in shares)	2,068,000
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition Expiring February 2029 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding (in shares)	2,068,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share)	$ 1.57
Satisfy Withholding Obligations [Member]
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in dollars per share)						$ 2.32	$ 2.10
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares (in shares)						1,183,773	1,060,480
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value						$ 2,700,000	$ 2,200,000
2010 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in shares)																20,000,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)			12,443,518			12,443,518			12,443,518	12,443,518	12,443,518	12,443,518
Directors Stock Plan [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense						$ 1,500,000	500,000	$ 600,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)			2,476,644			2,476,644			2,476,644	2,476,644	2,476,644	2,476,644
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Method of Measuring Cost of Award Participant, Numerator							$ 120,000
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, before Forfeiture (in shares)						391,244	252,819	161,630
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense						$ 6,500,000	$ 5,700,000	$ 6,300,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense						3,600,000				$ 5,100,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount			$ 4,900,000			4,900,000			$ 4,900,000	4,900,000	$ 4,900,000	$ 4,900,000
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense									39,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount			$ 100,000			$ 100,000			$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Per-Dollar-Amount (in dollars per share)						$ 3.50
Preferred Stock, Redemption Price Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 50			50			$ 50	$ 50	$ 50	$ 50
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 50			$ 50			$ 50	$ 50	$ 50	$ 50
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value			$ 7,900,000			$ 7,900,000			$ 7,900,000	$ 7,900,000	$ 7,900,000	$ 7,900,000
Preferred Stock, Voting Rights						one
Preferred Stock Conversion Price (in dollars per share)			$ 15.55			$ 15.55			$ 15.55	$ 15.55	$ 15.55	$ 15.55
Preferred Stock Conversion Rate (in dollars per share)			$ 3.2154			$ 3.2154			$ 3.2154	$ 3.2154	$ 3.2154	$ 3.2154
Subsequent Event [Member]
Share Price (in dollars per share)													$ 6.13
Common Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased (in shares)															20,000,000
Cumulative Stock Repurchased (in shares)			934,100			934,100			934,100	934,100	934,100	934,100
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in dollars per share)												$ 3.99
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased (in shares)			19,100,000			19,100,000			19,100,000	19,100,000	19,100,000	19,100,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired (in shares)						0
Minimum [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in dollars per share)						$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Maximum [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in dollars per share)						$ 0.015

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equit_3

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock Dividend Policy (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020$ / shares
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 1 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.005
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.02
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 2 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.01
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.04
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 3 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.02
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.08
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 4 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.03
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.12
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 5 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.04
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.16
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 6 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.05
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.20
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 7 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.06
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.24
Quarterly Average Realized Price, Level 8 [Member]
Quarterly dividend per share (in dollars per share)	0.07
Annual dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equit_4

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock Dividends Declared by Our Board of Directors (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)$ / shares
Declared February 14, 2018 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1
Declared May 9,2018 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1
Declared August 8, 2018 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.2
Declared November 6, 2018 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.2
Declared February 20, 2019 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.2
Declared May 7, 2019 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.2
Declared August 5, 2019 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.2
Declared November 6, 2019 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.3
Declared February 21, 2020 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.3
Declared May 6, 2020 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.3
Declared August 5, 2020 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0025
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 1.3
Declared November 6, 2020 [Member]
Minimum annual component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00375
Total dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00875
Total dividend amount (in Dollars) | $	$ 4.6
Silver-price-linked component per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.005

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equit_5

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity - Unvested Restricted Stock (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020$ / sharesshares
Unvested (in shares) | shares	3,997,168
Unvested, weighted average fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.46
Granted (unvested) (in shares) | shares	1,688,111
Granted (unvested), weighted average fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 3.03
Canceled (in shares) | shares	(70,236)
Canceled, weighted average fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.08
Distributed (vested) (in shares) | shares	(1,678,909)
Distributed (vested), weighted average fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.83
Unvested (in shares) | shares	3,936,134
Unvested, weighted average fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.55

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equit_6

Note 10 - Stockholders' Equity - Unvested Units Expected to Vest (Details) - shares	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Unvested units expected to vest (in shares)	3,936,134	3,997,168
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche One [Member]
Unvested units expected to vest (in shares)	1,988,079
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Two [Member]
Unvested units expected to vest (in shares)	1,428,145
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Three [Member]
Unvested units expected to vest (in shares)	519,910

Note 11 - Derivative Instrume_3

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)oz$ / oz	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020CAD ($)$ / oz
Maximum Allocation of Forecasted CAD-demonimated Operating Costs			75.00%			75.00%
Forecasted CAD-denominated Operating Costs to be Hedged, Term (Year)			5 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Ending Balance			$ 7,600
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net			2,700
Gain (Loss) on Components Excluded from Assessment of Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Effectiveness			0
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net, Total			(5,578)	$ (5,613)	$ 15,366
Derivative, Gain on Derivative					$ 8,100
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months			$ 3,100
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Casa Berardi [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative, Number of Instruments Held, Total			143			143
Derivative, Notional Amount			$ 223,000			$ 293.8
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Casa Berardi [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate			1.2702			1.2702
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Casa Berardi [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate			1.3785			1.3785
Silver Contracts [Member]
Derivative, Average Price Risk Option Strike Price (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz			16.50			16.50
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Mass (Ounce) | oz			1,100,000
Gold Contracts [Member]
Derivative, Average Price Risk Option Strike Price (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz			1,650			1,650
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Mass (Ounce) | oz			12,992
Unsettled Concentrate Sales Contracts [Member]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net, Total			$ (16,400)
Forecasted Future Concentrate Contracts [Member]
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net, Total			(22,100)
Derivative, Gain on Derivative	$ 6,700	$ 32,800
Commodity Contract [Member]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Amount Not Offset Against Collateral, Total			12,200
Derivative, Fair Value, Obligations Under the Agreements			$ 12,200

Note 11 - Derivative Instrume_4

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments - Foreign Currency (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current derivatives liability	$ 11,737	$ 6,170
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Other current assets	3,500	600
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Other non-current assets	4,200	600
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Current Derivative Liabilities [Member]
Current derivatives liability	0	400
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Other non-current assets	$ 0	$ 1,000

Note 11 - Derivative Instrume_5

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments - Summary of Forward Sales Contracts (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020ozlb$ / oz$ / lb	Dec. 31, 2019ozlb$ / oz$ / lb
Silver 2021 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | oz	1,282
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz	25
Silver 2020 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | oz		2,556
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz		17.20
Gold 2021 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | oz	4
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz	1,858
Gold 2020 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | oz		10
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / oz		1,481
Zinc 2021 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb	23,314
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb	1.19
Zinc 2020 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb		21,550
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb		1.04
Lead 2021 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb	4,905
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb	0.90
Lead 2020 Settlements for Provisional Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb		5,159
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb		0.88
Zinc 2021 Settlements for Forecasted Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb	41,557
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb	1.17
Zinc 2020 Settlements for Forecasted Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb		441
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb		1.13
Lead 2021 Settlements for Forecasted Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb	30,876
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb	0.88
Lead 2020 Settlements for Forecasted Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb		11,740
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb		0.98
Zinc 2022 Settlements for Forecasted Sales [Member]
Ounces/pounds under contract (Ounce) | lb	18,519
Average price per ounce/pound (in USD per Ounce) | $ / lb	1.28

Note 11 - Derivative Instrume_6

Note 11 - Derivative Instruments - Fair Value of Forward and Put Option Contracts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Other current assets, liability position	$ (11,737)	$ (6,170)
Forward and Put Option Contracts [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Other current assets	200	0
Other current assets, liability position	(200)	0
Other current assets, net	0	0
Forward and Put Option Contracts [Member] | Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Other current assets, net	400	0
Other non-current assets	500	0
Other non-current assets, liability position	(100)	0
Forward and Put Option Contracts [Member] | Current derivatives liability [Member]
Other current assets	100	2,100
Other current assets, liability position	(11,800)	(7,900)
Other current assets, net	$ (11,700)	$ (5,800)

Note 12 - Business Segments, _3

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, lb in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)ozlb	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Number of Reportable Segments	5
Derivative, Loss on Derivative	$ 16,400	$ 1,300
Derivative, Gain on Derivative			$ 8,100
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current, Total	$ 27,864	11,952
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Ending Balance		$ 0
Silver Contracts [Member]
Metals Contained in Concentrates (Ounce) | oz	1,700,000
Gold [Member]
Metals Contained in Concentrates (Ounce) | oz	4,516
Zinc [Member]
Metals Contained in Concentrates (Ounce) | lb	26.4
Lead [Member]
Metals Contained in Concentrates (Ounce) | lb	9.1

Note 12 - Business Segments, _4

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Information About Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Net sales	$ 691,873	$ 673,266	$ 567,137
Income (loss) from operations	51,581	(57,109)	(39,126)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	102,519	123,729	146,451
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	157,130	199,518	134,044
Other significant non-cash items	11,164	5,875	(9,542)
Identifiable assets	2,667,724	2,637,308	2,703,944
Greens Creek [Member]
Net sales	327,820	299,722	265,650
Income (loss) from operations	108,230	84,868	70,293
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	23,665	35,829	43,631
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	49,692	47,587	46,511
Other significant non-cash items	3,103	2,868	3,325
Identifiable assets	610,360	639,047	637,386
Lucky Friday [Member]
Net sales	63,025	16,621	9,750
Income (loss) from operations	(1,711)	(12,520)	(20,199)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	27,284	7,861	14,236
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	11,473	1,175	1,012
Other significant non-cash items	881	996	618
Identifiable assets	520,463	440,615	437,499
Casa Berardi [Member]
Net sales	209,224	192,944	210,339
Income (loss) from operations	1,359	(33,499)	881
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	47,576	33,906	39,816
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	69,572	73,960	71,302
Other significant non-cash items	(1,741)	5,203	696
Identifiable assets	694,522	703,511	754,248
San Sebastian [Member]
Net sales	32,906	56,210	50,224
Income (loss) from operations	2,793	569	(14)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)		3,906	8,492
San Sebastian	(47)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,548	9,772	4,602
Other significant non-cash items	456	492	419
Identifiable assets	42,617	48,294	44,152
Nevada Operations [Member]
Net sales	58,898	107,769	31,174
Income (loss) from operations	(6,674)	(49,224)	(26,715)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	4,003	42,154	35,721
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	22,845	67,024	10,617
Other significant non-cash items	2,039	2,911	8,758
Identifiable assets	513,309	528,466	581,194
Other Segments [Member]
Income (loss) from operations	(52,416)	(47,303)	(63,372)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions)	38	73	4,555
Other significant non-cash items	6,426	(6,595)	(23,358)
Identifiable assets	$ 286,453	$ 277,375	$ 249,465

Note 12 - Business Segments, _5

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Long-lived Assets by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Long-lived assets	$ 2,345,219	$ 2,423,698
UNITED STATES
Long-lived assets	1,701,307	1,748,406
CANADA
Long-lived assets	635,788	660,859
MEXICO
Long-lived assets	$ 8,124	$ 14,433

Note 12 - Business Segments, _6

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Percentage of Sales by Segments (Details) - Revenue Benchmark [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Percentage of sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Greens Creek [Member]
Percentage of sales	47.40%	44.50%	46.70%
Lucky Friday [Member]
Percentage of sales	9.10%	2.50%	1.80%
Casa Berardi [Member]
Percentage of sales	30.20%	28.70%	37.10%
San Sebastian [Member]
Percentage of sales	4.80%	8.30%	8.90%
Nevada Operations [Member]
Percentage of sales	8.50%	16.00%	5.50%

Note 12 - Business Segments, _7

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Sales of Products (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Sales of products	$ 691,873	$ 673,266	$ 567,137
Less: Smelter and refining charges	(68,361)	(33,004)	(24,177)
Sales by significant product type	708,253	674,549	559,053
Silver Contracts [Member]
Sales of products	260,227	192,235	144,609
Doré and Metals from Doré [Member]
Sales by significant product type	266,536	340,912	306,328
Gold [Member]
Sales of products	356,166	388,602	313,076
Carbon [Member]
Sales by significant product type	60,302	37,645	5,239
Lead [Member]
Sales of products	48,776	35,777	33,829
Lead Concentrate [Member]
Sales by significant product type	281,050	200,456	148,880
Zinc [Member]
Sales of products	95,065	89,656	99,800
Zinc Concentrate [Member]
Sales by significant product type	76,481	74,160	80,938
Bulk Concentrate [Member]
Sales by significant product type	$ 23,884	$ 21,376	$ 17,668

Note 12 - Business Segments, _8

Note 12 - Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Sales by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Sales by geographical area	$ 708,253	$ 674,549	$ 559,053
UNITED STATES
Sales by geographical area	292,704	53,612	48,437
CANADA
Sales by geographical area	145,670	379,095	322,402
JAPAN
Sales by geographical area	39,418	48,841	42,885
NETHERLANDS
Sales by geographical area	(923)	38,420	0
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Sales by geographical area	165,302	154,581	145,263
CHINA
Sales by geographical area	$ 66,082	$ 0	$ 66

Note 12- Business Segments, Sal

Note 12- Business Segments, Sales of Products and Significant Customers - Sales from Continuing Operations to Significant Metals Customers As a Percentage of Total Sales (Details) - Customer Concentration Risk [Member] - Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CIBC [Member]
Significant metal customers	32.70%	23.10%	29.70%
Teck Metals Ltd [Member]
Significant metal customers	16.10%	8.20%	8.40%
Ocean Partners [Member]
Significant metal customers	13.90%	5.70%	2.50%
Korea Zinc [Member]
Significant metal customers	13.30%	17.40%	17.80%
Scotia [Member]
Significant metal customers	2.90%	24.00%	15.30%

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_3

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurement (Details Textual) - Senior Notes [Member] $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Notes Payable, Total	$ 468.5
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 519.1

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_4

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurement - Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Receivables from provisional concentrate sales	$ 9,745	$ 6,421
Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Certificates of deposit and other deposits	1,053	1,025
Total assets	186,164	82,820
Total liabilities	11,756	7,214
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Money market funds and other bank deposits	129,830	62,452
Equity securities – mining industry	19,389	6,207
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Receivables from provisional concentrate sales	27,864	11,952
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Metal forward and put option contracts	381	0
Foreign exchange contracts	7,647	1,184
Metal forward and put option contracts	11,737	5,777
Foreign exchange contracts	$ 19	$ 1,437

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Sha_3

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Share (Details Textual) - shares shares in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)	0	0	0

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Sha_4

Note 14 - Loss Per Common Share - Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Net income (loss)	$ (16,790)	$ (99,557)	$ (26,563)
Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared	(552)	(552)	(552)
Loss applicable to common stockholders	$ (17,342)	$ (100,109)	$ (27,115)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	527,329	490,449	433,419
Dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and warrants (in shares)	0	0	0
Diluted weighted average common shares (in shares)	527,329	490,449	433,419
Basic loss per common share after preferred dividends (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.06)
Diluted loss per common share after preferred dividends (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.06)

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_3

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update	$ 0
AOCI, Accumulated Gain (Loss), Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Parent [Member]
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update	$ (1,300)

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_4

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Balance	$ 1,692,423	$ 1,690,963	$ 1,461,277
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	4,421	5,159	(17,807)
Balances	1,702,340	1,692,423	1,690,963
AOCI, Accumulated Gain (Loss), Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Parent [Member]
Balance	(13)	(13)	3,719
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			(1,300)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	(2,443)
Balances	(13)	(13)	(13)
Balance, tax	0	0	1,791
Change, tax	0	0	(1,791)
Balance, tax	0	0	0
AOCI, Accumulated Gain (Loss), Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Parent [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			(1,289)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance	(348)	(8,784)	5,030
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,980	8,436	(13,814)
Balances	7,632	(348)	(8,784)
Balance, tax	0	0	0
Change, tax	0	0	0
Balance, tax	0	0	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Transition Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance	(36,949)	(33,672)	(32,122)
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,559)	(3,277)	(1,550)
Balances	(40,508)	(36,949)	(33,672)
Balance, tax	12,575	12,575	10,120
Change, tax	0	0	2,455
Balance, tax	12,575	12,575	12,575
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance	(37,310)	(42,469)	(23,373)
Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standard Update			(1,289)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	4,421	5,159	(17,807)
Balances	(32,889)	(37,310)	(42,469)
Balance, tax	12,575	12,575	11,911
Change, tax	0	0	664
Balance, tax	$ 12,575	$ 12,575	$ 12,575

Note 16 - Acquisitions (Details

Note 16 - Acquisitions (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Jul. 20, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Jul. 19, 2018shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019shares	Dec. 31, 2018shares	Dec. 31, 2020shares
Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total (in shares) | shares							538,487,415
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares) | shares			21,410,231		21,410,000	2,565,000	28,583,845
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period (in shares) | shares	4,136,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Each Warrant or Right (in shares) | shares	1
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition Expiring April 2032 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding (in shares) | shares	2,068,000
Warrants in Connection with Klondex Mines Acquisition Expiring February 2029 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding (in shares) | shares	2,068,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.57
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total (in shares) | shares	182,048,945	180,499,319
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares) | shares		1,549,626
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member]
Business Acquisition, Share Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.27
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	100.00%
Business Combination, Consideration, Cash Alternative, Price Per Share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.47
Business Combination, Consideration, Share Alternative, Share Exchange Rate	0.6272
Business Combination Consideration, Combined Alternative, Price Per Share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.8411
Business Combination Consideration, Combined Alternative, Share Exchange Rate	0.4136
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 161,704
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares	75,276,176
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares) | shares	75,276,176
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 8.02
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Cash Used to Settle Award	$ 2,000
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	242,389
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period, Value	9,800
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total	413,923
Business Combination, Subscrition of New Formed Company, Value	7,000
Business Combination, Settlement of Certain Equity Compensation Value	1,500
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Consideration Transferred				$ (300)
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Inventory				(200)
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Property, Plant, and Equipment				(11,500)
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Accrued Payroll and Related Benefits				(2,100)
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Noncurrent Deferred Tax Liability				(9,800)
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities				$ 500
Klondex Mines Ltd [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 153,200
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares	75,276,176

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Prelim

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - Klondex Mines Ltd [Member] $ in Thousands	Jul. 20, 2018USD ($)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 161,704
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	242,389
Hecla warrants issued	9,830
Total consideration	413,923
Cash	12,874
Accounts receivable	3,453
Inventory - supplies	6,565
Inventory - finished goods, in-process material and stockpiled ore	10,075
Other current assets	2,583
Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests	510,015
Non-current investments	1,596
Non-current restricted cash and investments	9,504
Total assets	556,665
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17,799
Accrued payroll and related benefits	8,245
Accrued taxes	421
Lease liability	2,080
Debt	35,086
Asset retirement obligation	19,571
Deferred tax liability	59,540
Total liabilities	142,742
Net assets	$ 413,923

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Prel_2

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (Parentheticals) - Klondex Mines Ltd [Member]	Jul. 20, 2018$ / sharesshares
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares	75,276,176
Stock Issued, per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 3.22

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Pro Fo

Note 16 - Acquisitions - Pro Forma Information (Details) - Klondex Mines Ltd [Member] $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / shares
Sales	$ 680,261
Net (loss) income	(19,574)
(Loss) income applicable to common shareholders	$ (20,126)
Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ (0.04)