1

[Hecla Logo]
                                                       Exhibit 99
                                                          2000-15


                          NEWS RELEASE

     HECLA CONSERVES CASH, DEFERS JANUARY 1, 2001, DIVIDEND

                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                        November 10, 2000


     COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO - Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-
PrB:NYSE) today announced that in the interest of cash
conservation, its board of directors has elected to defer the
January 1, 2001, payment of dividends to the holders of Hecla
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. Hecla Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Brown said, "We
continue to implement measures we believe are necessary to reach
our goal of creating an adequate cash cushion going into next
year and for the longer term. Unfortunately, deferring the
dividend on the preferred stock in January is a necessary element
of these measures."   Other measures include reducing general and
administrative expenses, deferring most discretionary
expenditures and moving forward with asset sales. This is the
second quarter since the preferred stock was issued in 1993 that
the dividend has not been declared.

     Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
is one of the United States' best-known silver producers. The
company also produces gold and is a major supplier of ball clay,
kaolin and other industrial minerals. Hecla's operations are
principally in the U.S., Mexico and Venezuela.

     Statements made which are not historical facts, such as
anticipated payments, production, sales of assets, exploration
results and plans, costs, prices or sales performance are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected, anticipated, expected or
implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, metals price volatility, volatility of metals
production, industrial minerals market conditions and project
development risks. Refer to the company's Form 10-Q and 10-K
reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact
expected future results. The company undertakes no obligation and
has no intention of updating forward-looking statements.

Contact:  Vicki J. Veltkamp, vice president - investor and public
                     relations, 208/769-4144




      Hecla's Home Page can be accessed on the Internet at
                   http://www.hecla-mining.com