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):           November 17, 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 November 20, 2000 the Hecla Mining Company (the "Company") issued a news
  release  announcing  that  is  had  entered into  a  definitive  stock  purchase
  agreement with Zemex U.S. Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zemex  Corp.
  of Toronto, Canada, regarding the sale of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary,
  Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company, for a purchase price of $68 million.
  
       The  definitive stock purchase agreement and the news release are attached
  hereto  as Exhibits 10.1 and 99.1, respectively, and each is incorporated herein
  by reference.
  
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
       Exhibit 10.1  - Stock Purchase Agreement dated November  17, 2000 between
                       Hecla Mining Company and Zemex U.S. Corporation
  
       Exhibit 99.1 -  News Release dated November 20, 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:  November 28, 2000
  
  
  
                                         -2-
  
  <PAGE>          3
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
  Exhibit No.                   Title
  ___________                   _____
  
  
  Exhibit 10.1 - Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 17, 2000 between
                 Hecla Mining Company and Zemex U.S. Corporation
  
  
  Exhibit 99.1 - News Release dated November 20, 2000
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                         -3-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "HECLA MINING COMPANY FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3459}]
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": "777767"}, "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):           November 17, 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 November 20, 2000 the Hecla Mining Company (the "Company") issued a news
  release  announcing  that  is  had  entered into  a  definitive  stock  purchase
  agreement with Zemex U.S. Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zemex  Corp.
  of Toronto, Canada, regarding the sale of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary,
  Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company, for a purchase price of $68 million.
  
       The  definitive stock purchase agreement and the news release are attached
  hereto  as Exhibits 10.1 and 99.1, respectively, and each is incorporated herein
  by reference.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
       Exhibit 10.1  - Stock Purchase Agreement dated November  17, 2000 between
                       Hecla Mining Company and Zemex U.S. Corporation
  
       Exhibit 99.1 -  News Release dated November 20, 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:  November 28, 2000
  
                                         -2-
  3
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.                   Title
  ___________                   _____
  
  Exhibit 10.1 - Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 17, 2000 between
                 Hecla Mining Company and Zemex U.S. Corporation
  
  Exhibit 99.1 - News Release dated November 20, 2000
  
                                         -3-