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 24, 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)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>          2
  
  
  Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS
  
        On  March 24, 2000 the Registrant entered into a new Bank Credit Agreement
  with  Standard  Bank  London Limited which replaces the  Bank  Credit  Agreement
  between the Registrant and Bank of America, N.A.
  
  
  Item 7.   EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit 10 -  Facility  Agreement  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining  Company  and
                Standard Bank London Limited, dated March 24, 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:  March 31, 2000
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
  
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  
  10 -          Facility  Agreement  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining  Company  and
                Standard Bank London Limited, dated March 24, 2000
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2620}]
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": "592238"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DRIVE", "street2": "NONE", "city": "COEUR D'ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83815-8788", "phone": "208-769-4100"}, "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 24, 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)
  2
  
  Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS
  
        On  March 24, 2000 the Registrant entered into a new Bank Credit Agreement
  with  Standard  Bank  London Limited which replaces the  Bank  Credit  Agreement
  between the Registrant and Bank of America, N.A.
  
  Item 7.   EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit 10 -  Facility  Agreement  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining  Company  and
                Standard Bank London Limited, dated March 24, 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:  March 31, 2000
  3
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.              TITLE
  
  10 -          Facility  Agreement  by  and  between  Hecla  Mining  Company  and
                Standard Bank London Limited, dated March 24, 2000