Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) ("Hecla") today announced that it has filed a preliminary prospectus supplement to its existing shelf registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to an underwritten public offering of 30 million shares of its common stock. The underwriters will also have a 30-day option to purchase up to 4.5 million additional shares of common stock from Hecla to cover over-allotments, if any.

Hecla intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, along with funds available in the company’s treasury, to retire the $220 million bridge loan facility that was part of the financing obtained to purchase the remaining 70.27% of the Greens Creek joint venture in April 2008, as well as for other general corporate purposes. The acquisition provided Hecla with 100% ownership of the world’s fifth largest and lowest-cost silver mine, which is expected to increase the company’s silver production to approximately 11 million ounces in 2009. Hecla President and Chief Executive Officer Phillips S. Baker, Jr., said, “Greens Creek is a wonderfully long-lived, low-cost asset that will benefit Hecla and its shareholders for many years to come, and I am confident the value this property adds to our company will be recognized in our share price in the future.”

Merrill Lynch & Co. and Scotia Capital will act as the joint book-running managers for the offering. BMO Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets will act as co-managers for the offering.

Hecla has filed a shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) and a preliminary prospectus supplement with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Hecla has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Hecla, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you a copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement and prospectus in the registration statement if you request it by calling Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll-free at 212-449-1000 or Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. toll-free at 212-225-6853.

The shelf registration statement relating to the foregoing has previously been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective upon filing.