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):                March 26, 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 - Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock
                    by and between Hecla Mining Company and
                    Purchaser
  
  
                                          
                                          
                                      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/ John P. Stilwell
                                  --------------------------------
                                  Name:   John P. Stilwell
                                 Title: Vice President - Chief
                                        Financial Officer
  
  
  Dated:  March 26, 1999
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -2-
  
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit No.              Title
  -----------              -----
  
  99             Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock by and
                 between Hecla Mining Company and Purchaser
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -3-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3032}]
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": "99574967"}, "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):                March 26, 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 - Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock
                    by and between Hecla Mining Company and
                    Purchaser
  
                                          
                                          
                                      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/ John P. Stilwell
                                  --------------------------------
                                  Name:   John P. Stilwell
                                 Title: Vice President - Chief
                                        Financial Officer
  
  Dated:  March 26, 1999
  
                                         -2-
  3
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.              Title
  -----------              -----
  
  99             Form of Agreement to purchase Common Stock by and
                 between Hecla Mining Company and Purchaser
  
                                         -3-