2008-05-16 23:17:53 -

www.hecla-mining.com - Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected to declare the regular quarterly dividend of $0.875 per share on the outstanding Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, for a total amount of approximately $138,000. The cash dividend is payable July 1, 2008, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2008. There are

a total of 157,816 shares of Preferred B stock outstanding.

The Board of Directors also unanimously elected to declare the regular quarterly dividend on the outstanding 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in the amount of $1.625 per share, for a total amount of approximately $3.27 million. The cash dividend is payable July 1, 2008, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2008. There are a total of 2,012,500 shares of 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred stock outstanding.

At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today, Friday, May 16, 2008, Phillips S. Baker, Jr., David C. Christensen and Anthony P. Taylor 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, Venezuela and Mexico. A 117-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
Vice president - investor and public relations
Vicki Veltkamp, 208-769-4128