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                         EXHIBIT 99
                              
                              
[Letterhead of Hecla Mining Company]


                                                 May   , 1999



Name and Address of Purchaser

Dear Sirs:

      This  letter sets forth the agreement of _____________
(the  "Purchaser") and Hecla Mining Company (the  "Company")
regarding the purchase by Purchaser from the Company of  the
Company's  common  stock (the "Common Stock")  on  the  date
hereof.  The parties agree as follows:

       1.    This  agreement  relates  to  the  purchase  by
Purchaser of _________ shares of the Company's Common  Stock
for  an  aggregate  purchase price of  $____________,  which
purchase is being settled by the parties on the date hereof.

      2.    The Company represents and warrants that (a) the
shares  of  Common Stock issued by the Company to  Purchaser
have  been registered under the Securities Act of  1934,  as
amended  (the  "Securities Act"), pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-3, Commission File Number 33-59659  (the
`Registration Statement"); and (b) the Company has  filed  a
prospectus  supplement  to  the  Registration  Statement  in
connection with this transaction.

      3.    The  shares of Common Stock purchased  from  the
Company  by  Purchaser hereunder have  been  authorized  for
listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

      4.   The Company will promptly notify Purchaser of (a)
any  stop order or other suspension of the effectiveness  of
the  Registration  Statement and (b) the  happening  of  any
event  as a result of which the prospectus included  in  the
Registration  Statement includes an untrue  statement  of  a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required  to
be  stated  therein,  or necessary to  make  the  statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

     5.   This agreement and the legal relations between the
parties hereto with respect to any purchase of Common  Stock
by  Purchaser  hereunder shall be governed and construed  in
accordance  with the substantive laws of the  State  of  New
York   without  giving  effect  to  the  conflicts  of   law
principles thereunder.



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May  , 1999
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      Please  execute  a  copy of this  letter  which,  when
executed by Purchaser, will constitute an agreement  between
the Company and Purchaser.

                              Very truly yours,

                              HECLA MINING COMPANY



                              By:  /s/ John P. Stilwell
                                 ___________________________
                                    Name:  John P. Stilwell
                                    Title:  Vice President -
                                    Chief Financial Officer



AGREED TO:

Name of Purchaser


By:_____________________________
   Name:
   Title: