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                                                       Exhibit 99
                                                          2002-07
[Hecla Logo]

     NEWS RELEASE


      HECLA RECEIVES $5.6 MILLION FOR HEADQUARTERS BUILDING

                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                          April 9, 2002

     COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO - Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-PrB:NYSE)
today announced it has completed the sale of its
headquarters building in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to JDL Enterprises
of Bellevue, Washington. The sales price was $5.6 million. Hecla
is leasing half of the building, so its headquarters will remain
at the same location.

     Hecla Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Brown said
the majority of the proceeds will be used for Hecla's exploration
programs, which are primarily focused in Mexico and Venezuela.
Brown said, "We've had excellent early results from our
exploration efforts at both the San Sebastian mine in Mexico and
the La Camorra mine in Venezuela. We are eager to move those
programs forward as quickly as possible." He said that earlier in
the year, Hecla had reduced its corporate headquarters staff and
no longer needs the use of the entire building. "It made good
sense to turn this valuable building asset into cash that can be
used to improve our operations and advance our exploration
projects," said Brown.

     Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
mines and processes silver and gold in the United States,
Venezuela and Mexico. A 111-year-old company, Hecla has long been
well known in the mining world and financial markets as a primary
silver producer. Hecla's common and preferred shares are traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL and HL-PrB.

     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, project development risks and ability to raise
financing. Refer to the company's Form 10-Q and 10-K reports for




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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