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):                August 20, 2001
  
  
                        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)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>          2
  
  
  Item 5.   Other Events.
            -------------
  
        On  August 20, 2001, Hecla Mining Company (Hecla) announced
  that  it  has reached an agreement in principle with  the  United
  States  and  State  of  Idaho to settle governments'  cliams  for
  natural  resource damages and cleanup costs related  to  historic
  mining practices in the Coeur d'Alene Basin in northern Idaho.
  
        The  News Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99  and  is
  incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
            -----------------------------------------------------
            and Exhibits.
            ------------
  
  
        Exhibit 99 - Hecla Mining Company News Release dated
                     August 20, 2001.
  
  
                              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: August 20, 2001
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                 -2-
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
  
                            EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  Exhibit No.                   Title
  ___________                   _____
  
  
  
  Exhibit 99 - Hecla Mining Company News Release dated August 20, 2001
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                 -3-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "hl8k.txt", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2934}]
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": "1719996"}, "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):                August 20, 2001
  
                        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)
  2
  
  Item 5.   Other Events.
            -------------
  
        On  August 20, 2001, Hecla Mining Company (Hecla) announced
  that  it  has reached an agreement in principle with  the  United
  States  and  State  of  Idaho to settle governments'  cliams  for
  natural  resource damages and cleanup costs related  to  historic
  mining practices in the Coeur d'Alene Basin in northern Idaho.
  
        The  News Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99  and  is
  incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
            -----------------------------------------------------
            and Exhibits.
            ------------
  
        Exhibit 99 - Hecla Mining Company News Release dated
                     August 20, 2001.
  
                              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: August 20, 2001
  
                                 -2-
  3
  
                            EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.                   Title
  ___________                   _____
  
  Exhibit 99 - Hecla Mining Company News Release dated August 20, 2001
  
                                 -3-