Hecla Reports 3.3 Million Ounces of Silver and 63,046 Ounces of Gold Production in Third Quarter
2017
Record quarterly gold production at Casa Berardi
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced preliminary silver and gold production results1 for the third quarter of
2017.
THIRD QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS (Preliminary Results)
- Silver production of 3.3 million ounces and gold production of 63,046 ounces, the second highest
level since 2003.
- Silver equivalent production of 11.1 million ounces, the highest equivalent production quarter this
year.2
- Lead production of 5,368 tons; zinc production of 14,498 tons.
- Record gold production and monthly throughput (September) at Casa Berardi since its acquisition.
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $205 million at September 30,
2017, an increase of about $3 million over the second quarter of 2017.
“Operational performance was exceptional in the third quarter with record throughputs at Greens Creek and in September at Casa
Berardi. San Sebastian continues to operate at the upper end of our expectations with the highest quarterly silver production of
the year so far. The mines’ performance has led to substantial increases in production of all four metals over the second quarter
and puts us well on our way to achieving their production guidance and improving per-ounce cost performance,” said Phillips S.
Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “With operating performance and substantially higher zinc and lead prices, our cash position
is $7 million greater than at the end of the year.”
Greens Creek
At the Greens Creek mine, 2.3 million ounces of silver and 12,563 ounces of gold were produced in the third quarter, compared to
2.4 million ounces and 11,988 ounces, respectively, in the third quarter of 2016. The mill operated at an average of
2,391 tons per day (tpd) in the third quarter, a life of mine record.
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See cautionary statement regarding preliminary statements at the end of this
release. |
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Silver equivalent calculation based on average actual prices for each metal in the
quarter as follows: $16.83 for Ag, $1,278 for Au, $1.06 for Pb, and $1.34 for Zn. Guidance calculation based on the following
prices: $17.25 for Ag, $1,225 for Au, $1.05 for Pb, and $1.30 for Zn. |
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Lucky Friday
At the Lucky Friday mine, 88,298 ounces of silver were produced in the third quarter, compared to 887,365 ounces in the third
quarter of 2016, with the decrease due to the ongoing strike by unionized employees. Limited production and capital improvements
are being performed by supervisory staff and are expected to continue during any remaining strike period.
Casa Berardi
At the Casa Berardi mine, 44,141 ounces of gold were produced in the third quarter, a record since the mine was acquired in
2013, including 8,950 ounces from the East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP) pit, compared to total mine production of 31,949 ounces in the
third quarter of 2016. The mill operated at an average of 3,545 tpd in the third quarter compared to 2,805 tpd in the third
quarter 2016, and set a monthly throughput record of 3,913 tpd in September.
San Sebastian
At the San Sebastian mine, 880,885 ounces of silver and 6,342 ounces of gold were produced in the third quarter, compared to
975,610 ounces of silver and 8,189 ounces of gold produced in the third quarter 2016. The mill operated at an average of 397 tpd in
the third quarter.
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PRODUCTION SUMMARY
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Third Quarter Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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| PRODUCTION |
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Increase/
(Decrease)
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Increase/
(Decrease)
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| Silver |
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3,323,157 oz. |
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4,316,664 oz. |
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(23)% |
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9,500,074 oz. |
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13,200,766 oz. |
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(28)% |
| Gold |
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63,046 oz. |
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52,126 oz. |
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21% |
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171,721 oz. |
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170,780 oz. |
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1% |
| Lead 1 |
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5,368 tons |
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10,411 tons |
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(48)% |
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18,426 tons |
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31,840 tons |
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(42)% |
| Zinc |
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14,498 tons |
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14,824 tons |
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(2)% |
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43,002 tons |
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50,321 tons |
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(15)% |
| Greens Creek |
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2,344,315 silver oz. |
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2,445,328 silver oz. |
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(4)% |
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6,205,677 silver oz. |
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7,020,688 silver oz. |
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(12)% |
| Greens Creek |
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12,563 gold oz. |
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11,988 gold oz. |
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5% |
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39,290 gold oz. |
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39,497 gold oz. |
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(1)% |
| Lucky Friday 1 |
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88,298 silver oz. |
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887,365 silver oz. |
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(90)% |
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769,079 silver oz. |
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2,721,991 silver oz. |
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(72)% |
| Casa Berardi 2 |
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44,141 gold oz. |
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31,949 gold oz. |
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38% |
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113,209 gold oz. |
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104,282 gold oz. |
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9% |
| San Sebastian |
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880,885 silver oz. |
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975,610 silver oz. |
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(10)% |
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2,498,638 silver oz. |
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3,434,052 silver oz. |
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(27)% |
| San Sebastian |
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6,342 gold oz. |
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8,189 gold oz. |
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(23)% |
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19,222 gold oz. |
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27,000 gold oz. |
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(29)% |
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| (1) |
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Union workers at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017. Limited
production being carried out by supervisory staff. |
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Casa Berardi also produced 9,659 ounces of silver in the third quarter 2017 and 8,361
ounces of silver for third quarter 2016. |
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Hecla expects to report third quarter 2017 financial results on November 7, 2017.
ABOUT HECLA
Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is a leading low-cost U.S. silver producer with operating mines in Alaska, Idaho and Mexico, and is a
growing gold producer with an operating mine in Quebec, Canada. The Company also has exploration and pre-development properties in
seven world-class silver and gold mining districts in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and an exploration office and investments in
early-stage silver exploration projects in Canada.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Preliminary Results
All measures of the Company’s third quarter of 2017 operating and financial results contained in this news release, including
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, are preliminary and reflect the Company’s expected third quarter 2017 results as
of the date of this news release. Actual reported third quarter 2017 results are subject to management’s final review as well as
review by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and may vary significantly from those expectations because of
a number of factors, including, without limitation, additional or revised information and changes in accounting standards or
policies or in how those standards are applied.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made or information provided in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of
Canadian securities laws. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,”
“targets,” “anticipates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements or forward-looking information include statements or information regarding estimates of silver production for the third
quarter of 2017 on a consolidated basis and at each of the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines, and third quarter
2017 gold production at Casa Berardi. The material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements or
forward-looking information include that the Company’s plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not
require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated, to which the Company’s operations
are subject.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected, anticipated, expected or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metals price
volatility, volatility of metals production and costs, litigation, regulatory and environmental risks, operating risks, project
development risks, political risks, labor issues, ability to raise financing and exploration risks and results. Refer to the
Company’s Form 10K and 10-Q reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The
Company undertakes no obligation and has no intention of updating forward-looking statements other than as may be required by
law.
Hecla Mining Company
Mike Westerlund, 800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)
Vice President – Investor Relations
hmc-info@hecla-mining.com
www.hecla-mining.com
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