Hecla Reports Continued Drilling Success in the Third Quarter

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
today provided an update on its exploration programs during the third
quarter.

Highlights

• Largest quarterly exploration program in company history
• There were up to 20 drills at 10 properties, 5 operating mines, all in
  North America
• Reserve price assumptions to determine this year’s reserves are $14.50
  silver, $1200 gold, $1.15 zinc and $.90 lead, which are all at or
  below current spot prices and about the same as last year. New
  reserves and resources will be provided in first quarter of 2019
• Nevada:
  • Underground drilling at Hollister is identifying new
    mineralization in East Clementine and Gloria areas.
  • Surface drilling at Zeus (Fire Creek) and Hatter Graben
    (Hollister) are expanding resources.
  • Drilling and mine development programs are revealing more
    potential than expected.
• Greens Creek:
  • Underground drilling continues to expand high-grade, near-surface
    resources at Upper Plate and East Ore zones and add to mineralized
    trends along Deep 200 South, Gallagher, and Deep Southwest zones.
  • Surface drilling expands Upper Plate resource and has identified
    bench mineralization 800 feet west of 200 South Bench resource.
• Casa Berardi:
  • Surface drilling is expanding the proposed Principal and West Mine
    Crown Pillar (WMCP) open pits and defining high-grade shoots below
    and east of the Principal and East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP) pits.
  • Underground drilling of the 118 and 123 zones continues to extend
    high-grade mineralization trends along strike and at depth.
    Shallower drilling of the 123 and 124 zones are extending
    high-grade shoots defined by previous surface drilling.
  • Drilling has begun at the East Mine to define high-grade
    extensions of the 148 and 160 zones.
• San Sebastian:
  • In-fill drilling has confirmed and expanded the polymetallic
    resource on Francine Vein with bulk sample planned later in the
    year; mine planning advancing for 2019.
  • Additional oxide mineralization discovered along the West Francine
    Vein and the newly-discovered South Vein.
  • The Esperanza, South and Andrea veins define a continuous vein
    system that extends over 10 miles of strike length with only
    limited exploration.

“With the addition of the Nevada assets, Hecla had the largest quarterly
exploration program in its history,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr.,
President and CEO. “While exploration expense will be less in the fourth
quarter, it is not for lack of good results. All of Hecla’s programs
this year had success that will justify follow-up in the future. But our
focus in the fourth quarter will be at our Nevada operations and San
Sebastian as we work towards the sort of mine life that we have at
Greens Creek and Casa Berardi.”

Nevada

Fire Creek

There were two drill rigs operating underground at Fire Creek in the
third quarter. The first drill rig has recently started to evaluate the
upper portions of Spiral 3 along the Karen and Hui Wu structures where a
number of very high-grade headings suggest the mineralization extends
beyond the current resource (Figure 1). The second drill rig has
completed four of seven holes designed to test the up-dip extent of
Spiral 4 including the Joyce and 06 veins. Additional definition
drilling in the Spiral 2 and Spiral 4 areas is expected to extend mine
life by defining and upgrading new resources. Other high-grade
mineralized areas occur between Haulage 3 and Spiral 2 and will be the
focus of future drilling. Underground drift development is advancing
Haulage 9 to provide an exploration drill platform by early next year.
This platform will enable exploration drilling of the Spiral 9 veins
with the goal of expanding them to the north and south.

Three surface exploration rigs operated at the Fire Creek Mine in the
quarter with the goal of extending current high-grade, gold-bearing
structures. The drills are focused on two targets including: 1) two
drills at the Zeus target northwest of the mine and 2) one drill at the
Far View target southeast of the mine (Figure 2). The first six surface
holes drilled at the Zeus target have intersected a continuous
structure with strong argillic alteration and mineralization typical of
high-grade mineralization in this area. Recent results, including
intersections of 1.67 oz/ton gold over 1.2 feet and 0.46 oz/ton gold
over 12.0 feet at the margins of the basaltic dikes, confirm our
positive opinion of this target (Figure 3). Drilling continues to extend
the resource to the south and at depth. Drilling of the Guard Shack
southeast of the mine encountered structures with strong argillic
alteration typical of the gold-bearing structures in the area and
suggests the mineralization carries further to the south. West of the
Guard Shack target is a geophysical, resistivity-high target that is
believed to be a linking structure between the Joyce and Titan zones and
will be tested later this year.

An Induced Polarization (IP)/resistivity geophysical survey was
completed to the south along the known structural corridor, in the South
Notice area. The survey is designed to help refine targets scheduled
to be drilled later in the year and next year. The survey identified a
target which is interpreted to be either a silica cap or sinter which is
often associated with gold mineralization. In addition, three
north-south striking chargeability highs were identified in the South
Notice target area. Anomalies like these could correspond to sulfide
feeder structures where gold mineralization may be found.

Hollister

Two rigs were active in the Central Hollister, East Clementine
and Gwenivere areas during the third quarter. The Central
Hollister programs targeted up-dip and lateral extensions of the
141, 151, and 213 veins from 5190 level (Figure 4) and down-dip
extension of the 182 vein from 5050 level. Drilling intersected wide
zones of mineralized breccia and narrower, high-grade intersections
included 1.0 oz/ton gold and 1.8 oz/ton silver over 5.1 feet (141 Vein)
and 1.06 oz/ton gold and 8.09 oz/ton silver over 3 .9 feet (151 Vein),
and this mineralization remains open up-dip. The drill program targeting
the down-dip extension of the 182 Vein included intervals of 4.0 oz/ton
gold and 12.1 oz/ton silver over 3.1 feet (including 7.9 oz/ton gold and
23.2 oz/ton silver over 0.9 feet). These drill intercepts strengthened
the resource model in the area and confirm mineralization is open at
depth.

The East Clementine program targeted the 234, 243 and 253 veins
at higher elevations near the unconformity where high-grade
concentrations of gold can occur. Multiple intervals of strongly
oxidized breccias and veinlets were intercepted including 0.60 oz/ton
gold and 0.10 oz/ton silver over 3.0 feet (243 Vein) (Figure 5).
Additional drillholes are in progress to offset a historical intercept
of 1.78 oz/ton gold and 7.74 oz/ton silver over 1.6 feet (233 Vein).
Assays received from the first up-dip hole of the three-hole drill
program intersected 1.8 oz/ton gold and 7.5 oz/ton silver over 1.6 feet
which is about 90 feet from current workings. Mineralization remains
open along strike.

The Gwenivere program was designed to offset two historical
surface reverse circulation (RC) intercepts including 1.3 oz/ton gold
and 0.05 oz/ton silver over 10.0 feet and 1.2 oz/ton gold and 0.13
oz/ton silver over 5.0 feet. Partial assays from the first drillhole
include 1.35 oz/ton gold and 0.29 oz/ton silver over 3.0 feet. This new
zone of mineralization is approximately 1,500 feet from the portal and
represents the discovery of a new vein that is open in all directions.
Initial assays from recent underground drilling in the Gloria Vein,
at the west end of the mine, returned narrow assays of over an ounce
gold per ton including 1.10 oz/ton gold and 2.7 oz/ton silver over 0.5
feet. Underground drifting is being extended to the west to provide a
drill platform for the western extension of this high-grade
mineralization. Additional definition drilling in the Central Hollister,
Gwenivere and West Gloria areas is being planned for the fourth quarter.

Surface drilling of the Rowena Vein, at the south part of the
Hollister vein system (Figure 6), intersected strongly brecciated and
oxidized veining grading 0.19 oz/ton gold over 25.0 feet including 0.30
oz/ton gold over 5.1 feet. This style of gold is more typical of the
high-grade “blanket zone” which extends along the unconformity upward
into the base of the volcanic rocks. Additional drilling could
re-commence after all the assay results are received. The first surface
holes are in progress at Hatter Graben with the intent to extend
the current resource to the east and west. Drill holes at 300-foot
intervals have intersected swarms with multiple veins and mineralized
breccias at the anticipated distance. Assays are pending.

Midas

Surface and underground exploration drilling on the Trinity target,
which is a small, high-grade deposit south of the Midas Mine, was
completed in August. Intersections including 0.47 oz/ton gold and 0.60
oz/ton silver over 4.5 feet and 0.51 oz/ton gold and 26.4 oz/ton silver
over 2.5 feet, are associated with silicification and banded quartz
veins. This drilling suggests vein mineralization may be strongest along
the edges of the Trinity Corridor and mafic dikes and appears to be open
to both to the south and north. The third quarter drilling extended the
strike and dip of several known high-grade ore shoots and filled in gaps
of the drill spacing, which should provide the confidence necessary for
an inferred resource category. The Trinity mineralization is being
remodeled in the fourth quarter in advance of a new resource estimate by
the end of the year.

More complete drill assay highlights from Nevada (Fire Creek, Hollister
and Midas) can be found in Table A at the end of this release and a
presentation showing drill intersection locations is available at the
following: http://ir.hecla-mining.com/interactive/newlookandfeel/4130678/Hecla-Q3-2018-ExplorationUpdate.pdf.

Greens Creek – Alaska

At Greens Creek, drilling in the third quarter and strong assay results
from drilling in the previous quarter have upgraded and expanded the
Deep 200 South, NWW, East Ore, Upper Plate and Southwest Bench zone
resources. Exploration drilling focused on the Deep 200 South Zone,
Gallagher Fault Block and Deep Southwest Zone (Figure 7).

Definition drilling of the Deep 200 South Zone confirmed three
flat-lying, high-grade lenses that are folded to the west and has
enabled portions of bench mineralization to be upgraded to an indicated
resource category (Figure 8). Upper bench mineralization is observed
farther west and at a lower elevation than previously modeled. Recent
intersections include 41.3 oz/ton silver, 0.1 oz/ton gold, 3.2% zinc and
1.7% lead over 9.9 feet and 29.8 oz/ton silver, 0.04 oz/ton gold, 15.5%
zinc and 8.1 lead over 21.9 feet. Definition drilling continued to
target the southern portion of the zone, and results include 63.0 oz/ton
silver, 0.02 oz/ton gold, 4.7% zinc and 2.5% lead over 33.3 feet at the
upper bench and 74.1 oz/ton silver, 0.13 oz/ton gold, 4.4% zinc and 2.1%
lead over 23.0 feet at the lower bench.

Near the mine portal elevation, drilling of the Upper Plate Zone
suggests that there are two, flat-lying ore zones that are folded to the
west (Figure 9). The upper band of mineralization is thicker than the
resource model predicted, including 19.7 oz/ton silver, 0.04 oz/ton
gold, 6.1% zinc and 3.4% lead over 7.6 feet and 13.5 oz/ton silver, 0.02
oz/ton gold, 7.8% zinc and 3.4% lead over 20.2 feet. The lower band of
mineralization occurs beyond the current wireframe to the west and south
and includes an intersection of 41.1 oz/ton silver, 0.05 oz/ton gold,
1.9% zinc and 1.0% lead over 3.5 feet.

The first surface drillholes southwest of the Upper Plate Zone
resource are also defining two mineralized limbs of a fold that are
present over 200 feet from the current resource and remain open to the
south, north, and west. Much of the mineralization is proximal to the
mine contact, but mineralized zones are also present within the
argillites. The mineralized zones vary from 4 to 11 feet in thickness
and transition from white carbonate ore to massive base metal ore and
mineralized argillite. Assays for these intervals include 6.7 oz/ton
silver, 0.1 oz/ton gold, 7.6% zinc and 1.8% lead over 9.9 feet and
higher-grade intervals of 15.7 oz/ton silver, 0.2 oz/ton gold, 12.4%
zinc and 3.9% lead over 7.6 feet and 8.4 oz/ton silver, 0.2 oz/ton gold,
13.4% zinc and 3.7% lead over 3.4 feet. The surface drill program is
complete for the year as final assay results should be received in the
next few weeks. Drilling from surface in the third quarter could expand
this resource further to the west and north creating a substantial
resource that may be in-fill drilled from underground and incorporated
into future Life of Mines (LOMs).

In the East Ore Zone intersections from drilling at the north
end, including 29.9 oz/ton silver, 0.28 oz/ton gold, 19.7% zinc and
10.3% lead over 3.5 feet and 39.7 oz/ton silver, 0.39 oz/ton gold, 7.2%
zinc and 3.0% lead over 5.0 feet, confirm previously modeled resource
estimates, and are particularly strong at lower and higher elevations.
Drilling has also expanded this northern portion of the zone at depth by
over 100 feet. Drilling of targeted gaps between modeled ore zones
intersected mineralization that compares well in thickness and location
to existing trends. Assay results of the Southwest Zone,
including 29.1 oz/ton, 0.01 oz/ton gold, 9.0% zinc and 3.6% lead over
10.8 feet, confirmed and expanded the resource to the west and north.
Definition drilling of the NWW and 9A zones
upgraded the resource model and extended mineralization of the NWW
further east to increase the resource. Exploration drilling targeting
the Deep Southwest intersected mineralization 150 feet south of
previous drill intercepts including 34.9 oz/ton, 0.1 oz/ton gold, 8.0%
zinc and 3.7% lead over 13.9 feet.

The focus of the fourth quarter underground drilling is on the Deep 200
South, East Ore and Upper Plate zones throughout 2018 with additional
drilling targeting the Northwest West and 9A zones.

Surface drilling has identified the western extension of the 200
South Bench mineralization from 700 to 900 feet west of the current
resource. Assays from the first five holes defined 3- to 10-foot
intervals of semi-massive sulfide that grade up to 12% zinc and 3% lead
with silver grades up to 1.5 ounces. This zone includes intersections of
0.2 oz/ton silver, 12.1% zinc and 0.5% lead over 3.2 feet and 0.4 oz/ton
silver, 7.1% zinc and 1.0% lead over 13.1 feet. This may represent part
of a bench syncline that is over 1,000 feet by 750 feet in area and
could add considerably to future resources.

Higher up in these surface holes, mineralization was intersected at the
mine contact and west of the Gallagher Fault. Drill intersections of
this mineralization include 1.1 oz/ton silver, 17.2% zinc and 3.5% lead
over 3.4 feet. This is the first-time mineralization has been
intersected west of the Gallagher Fault this far north (1,800 feet north
of the Gallagher Zone mineralization), potentially opening up a large
area for prospective exploration.

More complete drill assay highlights from Greens Creek can be found in
Table A at the end of this release and a presentation showing drill
intersection locations is available at the following: http://ir.hecla-mining.com/interactive/newlookandfeel/4130678/Hecla-Q3-2018-ExplorationUpdate.pdf.

Casa Berardi – Quebec

During the third quarter, up to six underground drills were used to
refine stope designs, expand reserves and resources in the 118, 121,
123, 124 and 125 zones, and confirm further potential at depth and to
the east and west (Figure 10). Up to four drills on surface completed
in-fill and exploration drilling at the West Mine Crown Pillar (WMCP),
Principal, 134 and 160 zones to potentially expand the proposed
Principal Pit, and provide the basis for an initial pit design of the
WMCP. Resource modeling and pit optimization studies are completed and
confirm the extension of the current East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP) pit
to the west. Deeper drilling has also identified high-grade zones that
extend from the proposed 134, 160 and Principal pits into the
underground.

At the Lower 118 Zone, drilling confirmed the continuity of
multiple mineralized lenses to the west and at depth outside the current
resource boundary. Recent intersections continue to expand this
resource, including 0.24 oz/ton gold over 25.8 feet and 0.20 oz/ton gold
over 25.3 feet. An additional drill is planned to move to the west end
of the 990-drift to evaluate the down-plunge to the west of the 118
Zone. Drilling of the Lower 118 Zone, at the bottom of the mine, has
confirmed continuity of resources and shown mineralization is open at
depth.

Drilling of stacked, high-grade lenses of the 123 Zone is
defining the connection of multiple mineralized lenses for over 1,900
feet of strike length and over 3,600 feet down-dip below the 1070 level
(Figure 11). Near the top of the 123 Zone, step-out drilling to the east
on the 430 level intersected 0.70 oz/ton gold over 15.3 feet and 0.50
oz/ton gold over 4.9 feet and has shown continuity with high-grade
mineralization intersected with drilling from surface. Drilling from the
970 level confirmed multiple lenses that are expected to add to current
mining reserves to the east. Recent drill results from this area include
0.37 oz/ton gold over 11.0 feet and 0.30 oz/ton gold over 8.2 feet.
Drilling below the western extension of the current 123 Zone resource
intersected in this area include 0.40 oz/ton gold over 63.7 feet and
0.25 oz/ton gold over 37.3 feet, and suggest these mineralized lenses
plunge west at depth and remain open for exploration.

High in the mine, drilling has targeted the east extension of the 124
Zone that is down-plunge of the Principal pit mineralization (Figure
12). Recent intersections just north of the Casa Berardi Fault include
0.16 oz/ton gold over 41.6 feet and 0.22 oz/ton gold over 9.2 feet.
Future drilling below the 290 level should define this trend further to
depth. The exploration of the 125 Zone from the 810 level focus
drilling towards the north and targeting splays of the Casa Berardi
Fault to extend the 118 Zone to the east. Initial results are favorable,
and recent intersections include 0.34 oz/ton gold over 6.2 feet and 0.10
oz/ton gold over 10.5 feet, which confirm the model of multi-stacked
lenses along the Casa strike and open the exploration east of the
Principal Mine.

Definition drilling has commenced at the 300 level of the East Mine
to refine the depth extensions from surface of the 160 Zone. In the last
quarter, a second drill is planned for the 485 level to define the
high-grade plunge of the 148 Zone of the East Mine.

During the third quarter exploration drilling on surface targeted the
west extension of the East Mine to investigate the underground
potential of the 146 and 148 lenses and East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP)
open pit. Drills intersections in this area including 0.16 oz/ton over
14.4 feet suggest that the 146 to 160 zone area is open over 1,600 feet
west and 900 feet down dip of the known resources. Drilling of the West
Mine Crown Pillar (WMCP) to evaluate open pit potential west of the
West Shaft continues to intercept strong mineralized structures near
surface (Figure 12). A recent intersection of 0.10 oz/ton gold over 90.0
feet includes an interval of 0.13 oz/ton gold over 34.4 feet. The WMCP
resource modeling is in progress and drilling results should be included
in the end of year 2018 reserves.

For the remainder of 2018, underground drilling is expected to expand
and refine the 118 and 123 zones lower in the mine and the 124-128 zones
closer to surface. Drilling of the 160 Zone from underground has begun
with the goal of refining and expanding a series of broad, high-grade
veins in the newly-accessible East Mine. Surface drilling programs are
planned at the 128-129 zones (Principal area), to define and expand
underground mining potential east of the Principal area along the Casa
Berardi Fault.

More complete drill assay highlights from Casa Berardi can be found in
Table A at the end of the release and a presentation showing drill
intersection locations is available at the following: http://ir.hecla-mining.com/interactive/newlookandfeel/4130678/Hecla-Q3-2018-ExplorationUpdate.pdf.

San Sebastian – Mexico

During the quarter, three core drill rigs and one reverse circulation
(RC) drill operated at San Sebastian. Two drills completed in-fill
drilling in the central portion of the polymetallic zone along the
Francine Vein. Exploration core drilling was directed toward shallower
oxide mineralization along the West and East Francine vein areas, the
recently discovered South Vein, and drilling re-started at the Esperanza
Vein target area (Figure 13).

At the Francine Vein, in-fill drilling within the polymetallic
zone intercepted intervals of semi-massive sulfide with similar grade
and width to the previous exploration drilling results in this area
(Figure 14). Strong drill results include 19.0 oz/ton silver, 4.8%
copper, 16.0% lead, and 13.5% zinc over 4.5 feet and 7.3 oz/ton silver,
1.8% copper, 3.5% lead, and 5.7% zinc over 7.4 feet. An updated Mineral
Resource model has been completed for the polymetallic zone of the
Francine Vein and the in-fill drilling program significantly increased
the quantity of indicated resource material. The model will be used to
determine reserves, mine design and scheduling. A ramp is now being
driven toward this area and a bulk sample is scheduled to be taken
beginning in the fourth quarter of 2018. The material from the bulk
sample will be used for metallurgical studies and a viability test of
the nearby Excellon Mill, where the processing of sulfide ores from San
Sebastian is planned.

Further to the east beyond the San Ricardo Fault, new zones of
vein-hosted, oxide mineralization have been defined by drilling along
the East Francine Vein (EFV) (Figure 14). Drilling continues to
intersect narrow, but high-grade mineralization including intersections
of 15.6 oz/ton silver and 0.01 oz/ton gold over 4.8 feet and 9.6 oz/ton
silver and 0.07 oz/ton gold over 9.3 feet. Mineralization in this area
is defined over 1,200 feet along strike and 800 feet down-dip and this
new zone could represent an important new source of oxide
mineralization. When incorporating the newly-defined mineralization in
East Francine, the total strike length of continuous mineralization
along the Francine Vein exceeds 8,000 feet and can be traced to a depth
of over 2,000 feet.

At the West Francine Vein, in an area located about 1,000 feet
west of any past drilling on the Francine Vein, core drilling followed
up on a high-grade Reverse Circulation (RC) intersection of 23.7 oz/ton
silver and 0.02 oz/ton gold over 6.6 feet. The first few drill core
intercepts at the West Francine are narrow, but high-grade including
57.6 oz/ton silver and 0.02 oz/ton gold over 2.1 feet. Mineralization in
this area is open laterally and at depth. Follow-up, offset drilling is
in progress.

Exploration drilling began at the Esperanza Vein area, located
approximately one and a half miles west of the mine area, that is highly
prospective but has not been core drilled since 2003 (Figure 16). The
Esperanza Vein was cut two times in the third quarter and both
intercepts are wide (10.0 to 15.0 feet), contain strong oxide material
and appear to be moderately mineralized and gold-dominant. Assays are
pending for these intercepts and additional drilling is currently in
progress in this area.

Reconnaissance RC drilling recently discovered a new blind vein under
soil cover in the Saladillo Valley.

Contacts

Hecla Mining Company
Mike Westerlund, 800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)
Vice
President – Investor Relations
hmc-info@hecla-mining.com
http://www.hecla-mining.com

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