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):               September 8, 2000
  
  
                                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 5.   OTHER EVENTS.
  
  
       Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated September 8, 2000
  
  
  
                                      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:  September 8, 2000
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -2-
  
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  
  99 -          Press Release dated September 8, 2000
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2420}]
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": "719629"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DRIVE", "street2": "NONE", "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):               September 8, 2000
  
                                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 5.   OTHER EVENTS.
  
       Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated September 8, 2000
  
                                      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:  September 8, 2000
  
                                         -2-
  3
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  99 -          Press Release dated September 8, 2000