Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced that based upon the restrictions contained in the Bank Credit Agreement and the need to conserve cash the July 1, 2009, quarterly dividend payments to the holders of all three classes of Hecla’s preferred stock have been deferred. The three classes of stock are the Hecla Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and the 12% Convertible Preferred Stock.

At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today, Friday, May 29, 2009, John H. Bowles and George R. Nethercutt, Jr., were re-elected to three-year terms on the Hecla Mining Company Board of Directors.

Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, mines, processes and explores for silver and gold in the United States and Mexico. A 118-year-old company, Hecla has long been well known in the mining world and financial markets as a quality producer of silver and gold. Hecla's common and preferred shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL, HL-PrB and HL-PrC.

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

Hecla Mining Company
Don Poirier, vice president – corporate development, 208-769-4128