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):                October 25, 1995
  
  
  
                        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                         83814-8788
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)
  
  
                           (208) 769-4100
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Registrant's Telephone Number)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>  2
  
  Item 5.   Other Events.
            ------------ 
  
            On October 25, 1995, the Registrant issued the press
  release attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein
  by this reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and
            Exhibits.
            --------------------------------------------------------
  
            Exhibit A - Press Release dated October 25, 1995.
  
  
                              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/ Nathaniel K. Adams           
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Name:   Nathaniel K. Adams
                                  Title:  Corporate Counsel and
                                               Assistant Secretary
  
  
  Dated:  October 25, 1995
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>  3
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
                                   -------------
  
       Exhibit A - Press Release dated October 25, 1995
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>  4
                                                         Exhibit A
  [HECLA LOGO]
  
  
  
  
                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
                          October 25, 1995
  
      HECLA REPORTS DISAPPOINTING RESULTS AT GROUSE CREEK MINE
  
       COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-
  PrB:NYSE) today reported results at its Grouse Creek Unit for the
  first nine months of 1995.  The Grouse Creek gold mine, which began
  commercial production in December 1994, has experienced higher than
  expected operating costs per ounce due to lower than anticipated
  gold grades.  These operating costs, which Hecla views as
  unacceptable, have led the company to begin a reevaluation of the
  proven and probable reserves at Grouse Creek and its affect on the
  economics of the project.  Based on information currently available
  to management, this reevaluation could result in a write-down of
  the property.  Hecla holds an 80% interest in the mine, which is
  located in central Idaho in the historic Yankee Fork Mining
  District, near the town of Challis.  The property consists of the
  Sunbeam deposit, which is currently being mined, and the Grouse
  deposit.
  
  OPERATING RESULTS
       During the third quarter of 1995, the Grouse Creek Unit milled
  477,000 tons of ore at an average grade of 0.036 ounce of gold per
  ton for a total of 15,336 ounces for Hecla's account.  In the first
  nine months of the year, Hecla's share of Grouse Creek production
  was 50,534 ounces of gold, or 1,120,000 tons of ore milled at an
  average grade of 0.046 ounce of gold per ton.  Based on extensive
  drilling and ore reserve modeling of the deposit, Hecla had
  anticipated much higher ore grades.  
  
       As a result of the ore grade shortfall, the mine's economic
  performance has failed to meet expectations.  During the third
  quarter of 1995, the average cash cost per ounce of gold was $293,
  with a full cost of $479 per ounce.  For the nine-month period, the
  cash cost averaged $352 per ounce of gold and the full cost was
  $536 per ounce.
  
  GEOLOGIC INTERPRETATION
       Initially, ore reserve estimates for the Sunbeam pit appeared
  to be on target.  The first 12 benches, which were relatively
  small, produced more ounces than anticipated at a grade that was
  very near the ore reserve target.  However, costs during the start-
  up phase of mining were higher than anticipated, mainly due to ore
  feeder problems and harsh winter conditions.  The plant is now
  operating at design capacity, and Hecla believes those start-up
  problems have been resolved.  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>  5
  
       The third quarter mining plan included three larger, higher-
  grade benches in the Sunbeam pit.  As mining advanced in late
  August, September and early October, shortfalls in both ore tonnage
  and grade were encountered.  Consequently, these three benches
  provided only about half the gold that had been predicted by
  drilling and ore reserve modeling.  
  
       Hecla is still evaluating its previous ore reserve estimates,
  but it appears that the area of influence attributed to numerous
  high-grade drill intercepts in the Sunbeam deposit was
  misinterpreted, resulting in an overestimation of reserves. 
  Although the deposit was tightly drilled on 65-foot centers, that
  drill spacing proved to be inadequate to accurately predict the
  grade continuity.  Geologic modeling based on the drilling program
  led Hecla to believe that the high-grade area of the deposit was
  much larger and more continuous than production to date indicates. 
  
  MINE PLAN
       Mining operations will continue for now at the Grouse Creek
  Unit as Hecla proceeds with work on the optimal mine plan to
  extract the ore.  In 1994, the life of the Grouse Creek project had
  been estimated at seven years, with Hecla's share calculated at a
  total of 722,000 contained ounces of gold.  Although planning is
  not yet complete, Hecla believes the new mine plan will result in
  a significantly shorter mine life and fewer ounces recovered at
  current metals prices.
  
  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
       Hecla's management is continuing to evaluate project economics
  and is studying several alternatives to optimize operations at
  Grouse Creek.  Hecla believes, based on current information
  available to management, that in the worst case the remaining
  carrying value for the Grouse Creek Unit of $97 million would be
  written down in the third quarter.  Information regarding a
  potential write-down of the project will be presented to Hecla's
  audit committee and the entire board of directors at its regularly
  scheduled meeting on November 10.  It is expected that board
  decisions regarding the Grouse Creek Unit will be released along
  with the company's full third quarter financial results on the
  afternoon of Friday, November 10.  Hecla's management currently
  does not expect to recommend that operations at the Grouse Creek
  Unit be halted, although all options are under consideration.
  
       Arthur Brown, Hecla's chief executive officer, said he expects
  Hecla's third quarter results to be on track to meet market
  expectations of a third quarter loss in the range of 5 cents to 7
  cents per share.  However, Brown said this estimate does not
  include the effect of any potential write-down of the Grouse Creek
  project.  Brown concluded, "A lot of work remains to be done to
  fully understand the situation at Grouse Creek, but we wanted to
  give our shareholders and the market as much information as we
  could as soon as possible."
  
                                -HL-
  
  Contact:  Bill Booth, vice president - investor and public affairs,
            208-769-4126
            Vicki Veltkamp, manager - corporate communications, 208-769-4144
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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):                October 25, 1995
  
                        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                         83814-8788
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)
  
                           (208) 769-4100
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Registrant's Telephone Number)
  2
  
  Item 5.   Other Events.
            ------------ 
  
            On October 25, 1995, the Registrant issued the press
  release attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein
  by this reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and
            Exhibits.
            --------------------------------------------------------
  
            Exhibit A - Press Release dated October 25, 1995.
  
                              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/ Nathaniel K. Adams           
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Name:   Nathaniel K. Adams
                                  Title:  Corporate Counsel and
                                               Assistant Secretary
  
  Dated:  October 25, 1995
  3
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
                                   -------------
  
       Exhibit A - Press Release dated October 25, 1995
  4
                                                         Exhibit A
  [HECLA LOGO]
  
                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
                          October 25, 1995
  
      HECLA REPORTS DISAPPOINTING RESULTS AT GROUSE CREEK MINE
  
       COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-
  PrB:NYSE) today reported results at its Grouse Creek Unit for the
  first nine months of 1995.  The Grouse Creek gold mine, which began
  commercial production in December 1994, has experienced higher than
  expected operating costs per ounce due to lower than anticipated
  gold grades.  These operating costs, which Hecla views as
  unacceptable, have led the company to begin a reevaluation of the
  proven and probable reserves at Grouse Creek and its affect on the
  economics of the project.  Based on information currently available
  to management, this reevaluation could result in a write-down of
  the property.  Hecla holds an 80% interest in the mine, which is
  located in central Idaho in the historic Yankee Fork Mining
  District, near the town of Challis.  The property consists of the
  Sunbeam deposit, which is currently being mined, and the Grouse
  deposit.
  
  OPERATING RESULTS
       During the third quarter of 1995, the Grouse Creek Unit milled
  477,000 tons of ore at an average grade of 0.036 ounce of gold per
  ton for a total of 15,336 ounces for Hecla's account.  In the first
  nine months of the year, Hecla's share of Grouse Creek production
  was 50,534 ounces of gold, or 1,120,000 tons of ore milled at an
  average grade of 0.046 ounce of gold per ton.  Based on extensive
  drilling and ore reserve modeling of the deposit, Hecla had
  anticipated much higher ore grades.  
  
       As a result of the ore grade shortfall, the mine's economic
  performance has failed to meet expectations.  During the third
  quarter of 1995, the average cash cost per ounce of gold was $293,
  with a full cost of $479 per ounce.  For the nine-month period, the
  cash cost averaged $352 per ounce of gold and the full cost was
  $536 per ounce.
  
  GEOLOGIC INTERPRETATION
       Initially, ore reserve estimates for the Sunbeam pit appeared
  to be on target.  The first 12 benches, which were relatively
  small, produced more ounces than anticipated at a grade that was
  very near the ore reserve target.  However, costs during the start-
  up phase of mining were higher than anticipated, mainly due to ore
  feeder problems and harsh winter conditions.  The plant is now
  operating at design capacity, and Hecla believes those start-up
  problems have been resolved.
  5
  
       The third quarter mining plan included three larger, higher-
  grade benches in the Sunbeam pit.  As mining advanced in late
  August, September and early October, shortfalls in both ore tonnage
  and grade were encountered.  Consequently, these three benches
  provided only about half the gold that had been predicted by
  drilling and ore reserve modeling.  
  
       Hecla is still evaluating its previous ore reserve estimates,
  but it appears that the area of influence attributed to numerous
  high-grade drill intercepts in the Sunbeam deposit was
  misinterpreted, resulting in an overestimation of reserves. 
  Although the deposit was tightly drilled on 65-foot centers, that
  drill spacing proved to be inadequate to accurately predict the
  grade continuity.  Geologic modeling based on the drilling program
  led Hecla to believe that the high-grade area of the deposit was
  much larger and more continuous than production to date indicates. 
  
  MINE PLAN
       Mining operations will continue for now at the Grouse Creek
  Unit as Hecla proceeds with work on the optimal mine plan to
  extract the ore.  In 1994, the life of the Grouse Creek project had
  been estimated at seven years, with Hecla's share calculated at a
  total of 722,000 contained ounces of gold.  Although planning is
  not yet complete, Hecla believes the new mine plan will result in
  a significantly shorter mine life and fewer ounces recovered at
  current metals prices.
  
  BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
       Hecla's management is continuing to evaluate project economics
  and is studying several alternatives to optimize operations at
  Grouse Creek.  Hecla believes, based on current information
  available to management, that in the worst case the remaining
  carrying value for the Grouse Creek Unit of $97 million would be
  written down in the third quarter.  Information regarding a
  potential write-down of the project will be presented to Hecla's
  audit committee and the entire board of directors at its regularly
  scheduled meeting on November 10.  It is expected that board
  decisions regarding the Grouse Creek Unit will be released along
  with the company's full third quarter financial results on the
  afternoon of Friday, November 10.  Hecla's management currently
  does not expect to recommend that operations at the Grouse Creek
  Unit be halted, although all options are under consideration.
  
       Arthur Brown, Hecla's chief executive officer, said he expects
  Hecla's third quarter results to be on track to meet market
  expectations of a third quarter loss in the range of 5 cents to 7
  cents per share.  However, Brown said this estimate does not
  include the effect of any potential write-down of the Grouse Creek
  project.  Brown concluded, "A lot of work remains to be done to
  fully understand the situation at Grouse Creek, but we wanted to
  give our shareholders and the market as much information as we
  could as soon as possible."
  
                                -HL-
  
  Contact:  Bill Booth, vice president - investor and public affairs,
            208-769-4126
            Vicki Veltkamp, manager - corporate communications, 208-769-4144