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 7, 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 4 - Form  of  Warrant Agreement (including the  form
              of  Warrant) by and between Hecla Mining Company
              and the Warrant Agent
       
  Exhibit 99 - Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock  and
               Warrants  by  and between Hecla Mining  Company
               and Purchasers
  
  
  
                                
                                
                            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 7, 1999
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                               -2-
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
  
                                
                          EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  
  4 -           Form  of Warrant Agreement (including the form
                of   Warrant)  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining
                Company and the Warrant Agent
       
  99 -          Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock and
                Warrants  by and between Hecla Mining  Company
                and Purchasers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                               -3-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2927}]
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": "99615980"}, "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 7, 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 4 - Form  of  Warrant Agreement (including the  form
              of  Warrant) by and between Hecla Mining Company
              and the Warrant Agent
       
  Exhibit 99 - Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock  and
               Warrants  by  and between Hecla Mining  Company
               and Purchasers
  
                                
                                
                            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 7, 1999
  
                               -2-
  3
  
                                
                          EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  4 -           Form  of Warrant Agreement (including the form
                of   Warrant)  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining
                Company and the Warrant Agent
       
  99 -          Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock and
                Warrants  by and between Hecla Mining  Company
                and Purchasers
  
                               -3-