Hecla Declares Silver-Linked Dividend and Adds New Minimum Dividend

Hecla Mining Company ('Hecla?)(NYSE:HL)
is pleased to announce its Board of Directors has elected to declare the
quarterly silver-linked dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock,
based on an average realized silver price of $31.61 in the fourth
quarter of 2011. In addition, the Board of Directors has approved a new
common stock dividend policy, which includes a minimum annual dividend
of $0.01 per share of common stock, payable quarterly. Therefore, the
aggregate declared fourth quarter dividend is $0.0125 per share of
common stock, for a total amount of approximately $3.6 million.

'Our Board′s action to declare the silver-linked dividend and introduce
a minimum quarterly dividend, reiterates Hecla′s excellent operating
margin and strong financial position,? said Hecla′s President and Chief
Executive Officer, Phillips S. Baker, Jr. 'In addition to increased cash
returns, our shareholders will also have an opportunity to benefit from
higher silver prices.?

The cash dividend is payable March 22, 2012, to stockholders of record
on March 15, 2012. There are approximately 285 million shares of common
stock outstanding. Under Hecla's silver price-linked dividend policy, it
is expected that any quarterly common stock dividend declared by the
Company will be based on Hecla's average realized silver price for the
preceding quarter. Realized prices are calculated by dividing gross
revenues for each metal by the payable quantities of each metal included
in concentrate and dor? sold during the period. As noted above, the
average realized silver price per ounce was $31.61 in the fourth quarter
of 2011 compared to the average market price of $31.82 (London PM Fix).
Any quarterly common stock dividend declared by Hecla will increase or
decrease by $0.01 per share ($0.04 annually) for each $5.00 per ounce
incremental increase or decrease in the average realized silver price in
the preceding quarter.

The declaration and payment of dividends remains at the sole discretion
of the Board of Directors and will depend on Hecla′s financial results,
cash requirements (including for preferred dividends, operations,
capital projects, exploration and development, litigation and
settlements, acquisitions, and other items), future prospects and other
factors deemed relevant by the Board. Investors are cautioned that this
new policy is not a guarantee that a dividend will be declared or paid
in any particular period in the future.

Preferred Dividend

The Board of Directors has also elected to declare the regular quarterly
dividend of $0.875 per share on the outstanding Series B Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, on a total of 157,816 shares outstanding.
This represents a total amount to be paid of approximately $138,000. The
cash dividend is payable April 2, 2012, to shareholders of record on
March 15, 2012.

Cautionary Statements

Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated
payments, litigation outcome, production, sales of assets, exploration
results and plans, prospects and opportunities including reserves,
resources, and mineralization, costs, and prices or sales performance
are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'may?, 'will?,
'should?, 'expects?, 'intends?, 'projects?, 'believes?, 'estimates?,
'targets?, 'anticipates? and similar expressions are used to identify
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements 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 and costs,
environmental and litigation risks, operating risks, project development
risks, political and regulatory risks, labor issues, ability to raise
financing and exploration risks and results. Refer to the company's Form
10-K and 10-Q reports for 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 other than as
may be required by law.

Hecla Mining Company

M?lanie Hennessey, Vice President ? Investor
Relations

Direct: 604-694-7729

Direct Main: 800-HECLA91
(800-432-5291)

hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

www.hecla-mining.com