content: <PAGE>          1
  
                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                                     Washington D. C.  20549
  
                                         
                                         -------------
  
                                            FORM 8-K
  
                           PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported):                     May 18, 1999
  
  
                                  Hecla Mining Company
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
                                        Delaware
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
          (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
              1-8491                                   82-0126240
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Commission File Number)             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
  6500 Mineral Drive
  Coeur d'Alene, Idaho                                 83815-8788
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
  
                               (208) 769-4100
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                       (Registrant's Telephone Number)
  
  
                                         -1-
  
  <PAGE>          2
  
  
  Item 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
  
       Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated May 18, 1999
  
                                          
                                          
                                      SIGNATURE
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange  Act
  of  1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its  behalf
  by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                HECLA MINING COMPANY
  
  
  
  
                                By  /s/ Michael B. White
                                  ----------------------------
                                  Name:   Michael B. White
                                  Title: Vice President -
                                          General Counsel
  
  
  Dated:  May 18, 1999
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -2-
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
                                          
                                          
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
       
  99 -          Press Release dated May 18, 1999
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -3-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2733}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HECLA MINING CO/DE/", "cik": "0000719413", "assigned-sic": "1400", "irs-number": "820126240", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08491", "film-number": "99630767"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DR", "street2": "P O BOX C8000", "city": "COEUR D ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83815-8788", "phone": "2087694100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DRIVE", "street2": "NONE", "city": "COEUR D'ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83815-8788"}}
text: 1
  
                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                                     Washington D. C.  20549
  
                                         
                                         -------------
  
                                            FORM 8-K
  
                           PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported):                     May 18, 1999
  
                                  Hecla Mining Company
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                        Delaware
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
          (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
              1-8491                                   82-0126240
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Commission File Number)             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  6500 Mineral Drive
  Coeur d'Alene, Idaho                                 83815-8788
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
                               (208) 769-4100
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                       (Registrant's Telephone Number)
  
                                         -1-
  2
  
  Item 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
       Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated May 18, 1999
  
                                          
                                          
                                      SIGNATURE
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange  Act
  of  1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its  behalf
  by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                HECLA MINING COMPANY
  
                                By  /s/ Michael B. White
                                  ----------------------------
                                  Name:   Michael B. White
                                  Title: Vice President -
                                          General Counsel
  
  Dated:  May 18, 1999
  
                                         -2-
  3
  
                                          
                                          
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
       
  99 -          Press Release dated May 18, 1999
  
                                         -3-