Exhibit 10.6(b)

                Written description of objectives for 2004 under
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          the Hecla Mining Company Short-Term Performance Payment Plan
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         The following is a description of certain terms of the Hecla Mining
Company (the "Company") Short-Term Performance Payment Plan (the "Plan")
provided pursuant to paragraph (b)(10)(iii) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K, which
requires a written description of material terms and conditions of a
compensatory plan not contained in a formal document.

         The Board of Directors, based on recommendations of the Company's
senior management and the Compensation Committee, established targeted
quantitative and qualitative goals for corporate performance. For 2004,
corporate performance quantitative goals include total gold and silver
production, production costs per ounce for silver and gold, cost containment,
environmental costs, capital expenditures and resource development goals.
Corporate qualitative goals include, among other goals, a successful investor
relations program, acquisitions, positive stock performance and completion of a
preferred stock exchange.

         In addition to quantitative and qualitative goals for corporate
performance, the Board of Directors, based on recommendations of the Company's
senior management and the Compensation Committee, established targeted
quantitative and qualitative goals for individual performance for each executive
officer other than the Chief Executive Officer.

         The Chief Executive Officer's performance payment for 2004 will be
based solely on corporate performance. The other executive officers' performance
payments will be based 60% upon corporate performance with 40% based upon
individual performance.

         For 2004, a performance payment pool was targeted based on the annual
cash salary equal to 60% for the Chief Executive Officer and 40% for each Vice
President.






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