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):                April 2, 1997
  
  
  
                                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 1 of 2 Pages
  
  <PAGE> 2
  
  Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS.
  
            On  April 2,  1997 the  Registrant issued  the press  release attached
  
  
  hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  Item 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
            Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated April 2, 1997.
  
  
                                      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:  April 4, 1997
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                  Page 2 of 2 Pages
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2488}]
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": "97575416"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DR", "street2": "P O BOX C8000", "city": "COEUR D ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83814-8788", "phone": "2087694100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DR", "street2": "P O BOX C8000", "city": "COEUR D ALEN", "state": "ID", "zip": "83814-8788"}}
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):                April 2, 1997
  
                                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 1 of 2 Pages
  2
  
  Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS.
  
            On  April 2,  1997 the  Registrant issued  the press  release attached
  
  hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  Item 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
            Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated April 2, 1997.
  
                                      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:  April 4, 1997
  
                                  Page 2 of 2 Pages