Hecla - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Basic]

2002-05
NEWS RELEASE




HECLA HITS HIGH-GRADE GOLD AT DEPTH AT LA CAMORRA;
UPDATES DRILLING PROGRESS IN MEXICO;
SELLS A PORTION OF CAC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2002

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-PrB:NYSE) continues to receive encouraging assay results from its exploration program at its La Camorra underground gold mine in Venezuela. The mid-level drilling program is exploring about 100 meters below the known reserve information on the Betzy and Main veins in the area currently being mined.

Hecla has received assays from the first hole and from a wedge drilled off the first hole in the Betzy Vein. The first intercept graded more than 1.5 ounces of gold per ton (54 grams per tonne), over a two-meter diluted mining width. Confirming that high-grade assay was the wedge off the drill hole, which intercepted ore grading more than 3.3 ounces of gold per ton (115 grams per tonne), over a two-meter diluted mining width.

The 12-hole, mid-level drilling program at La Camorra, intended to expand the overall resource at the property, will continue over the next 3-4 months. A more tightly spaced definition-drilling program to convert resources to reserves for mine planning will begin next month.

Hecla President and Chief Operating Officer Phil Baker said, “This is further confirmation of what we believe to be true: that La Camorra will be a long-lived, high-grade underground mine for some time to come. We will continue to define and extend the resource through our drilling program at La Camorra in the coming months.”

MEXICO
In central Mexico, at Hecla’s San Sebastian silver mine, definition drilling on the Francine vein continues to confirm and enhance the geologic resource model. The most recent intercepts within the mining plan average more than 38 ounces of silver per ton (1,314 grams per tonne) and 0.46 ounce of gold per ton (15.6 grams per tonne).

According to Baker, if the current drilling program and mining operation continue to experience these high grades, Hecla’s production estimates for San Sebastian would likely increase. Hecla will evaluate these estimates at quarter end. Current production estimates showed San Sebastian mining about 2 million ounces of silver and 25,000 ounces of gold in 2002, at less than $2.50 total cash cost per ounce of silver.

Also at San Sebastian, a 14-hole drilling program has commenced on the Cerro Pedernalillo vein system, with very encouraging early results. All of the holes have intersected the vein system, with a significant number of the holes encountering ore-grade mineralization. The drilling program has given indications of an ore shoot with a strike length of over 100 meters in length, with good opportunities to increase the strike length. This initial drilling program will allow Hecla to follow up with very focused targets to define the resource envelope. Baker said, “Drilling success continues to be a characteristic of the San Sebastian exploration program, where last year we brought 8 million ounces of silver into the proven and probable reserve category at a cost of 10 cents an ounce. We are in a great geologic environment at San Sebastian with tremendous future potential there.”

CAC SALE
Hecla also announced that the sale of the pet operations of Colorado Aggregate Company (CAC) was completed earlier this week. The sale closed for approximately $1.5 million in cash. Hecla continues to pursue the sale of the remaining assets of the industrial minerals segment and has signed a letter of intent to sell the briquette operations of CAC.

Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d`Alene, Idaho, mines and processes silver and gold in the United States, Venezuela and Mexico. A 111-year-old company, Hecla has long been well known in the mining world and financial markets as a primary silver producer. Hecla`s common and preferred shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL and HL﷓PrB.

Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated payments, production, sales of assets, exploration results and plans, costs, prices or sales performance are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and 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, project development risks and ability to raise financing. Refer to the company`s Form 10-Q and 10-K 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.

Contact: Vicki J. Veltkamp, vice president – investor and public relations, 208/769-4144
Hecla`s Home Page can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.hecla-mining.com

[schuh]

Hecla jetzt bei 1,44 USD in New York.
Welchen Wert traut man dieser Aktie zu ???????????????????????

[derunsichtbarefreund]

und ich arsch hab sie diese woche für 1,61 verkauft. könnte mich in denselbigen beißen. wieder einmal lehrgeld bezahlt.

wenn ich nächsten mal eine position eingehe, las ich mich nicht mehr von pessimsten in diesem board beeinflußen

DUF .. der fels in ..

[Backesova]

Hey DUV,
vertrau nur Dir selbst!!!
Und den drei G"s von Kostolani.
Gruß Backesova

[SchwarzGold]

Friday March 22, 2:19 pm Eastern Time
U.S. gold miner Hecla wins new Venezuela concession
CARACAS, Venezuela, March 22 (Reuters) - Venezuela`s state gold mining enterprise CVG-Minerven said Friday it had given U.S. miner Hecla Mining Co. (NYSE:HL - news) the go-ahead to rent a gold mining concession in southeastern Bolivar state.

CVG-Minerven president Franqui Patines said the two sides would now negotiate a definitive rental contract for the Block B concession in Bolivar`s El Callao, which includes the gold mine called Chile.

In a statement sent to Reuters, Patines said the bid for the concession made by the Coer D`Alene, Idaho-based mining company had ``surpassed the minimum economic and technical requirements demanded.``

An initial $22 million over three years would be invested in the Chile mine, whose potential output was estimated at 100,000 ounces of gold a year, the statement added. Depending on the results of exploration in additonal areas, this production could reach up to 200,000 ounces a year.

From resources generated by exploitation of the Chile mine, Hecla would then proceed to invest in two other mines, Laguna and Panama, which had been idle for the last 50 years but still possesed high potential gold content, CVG-Minerven said.

Patines said the initiative by Hecla was an example of how state holding Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana (CVG), through its gold mining arm Minerven, was moving to revitalize the country`s mining sector through deals with private partners.

``This is a sign of confidence from international investors in the nation`s economic and social development,`` he said.

Hecla already operates another gold mine in Bolivar state, La Camorra.

[weisenstein]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Quote
HL 1.85 0.00
delayed 20 mins - disclaimer
Quote Data provided by Reuters



Monday March 25, 8:07 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Hecla Mining Company
Hecla Acquires Lease On Historic Block B in Venezuela
COEUR D`ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2002--Hecla Mining Company (HL & HL-PrB:NYSE) today announced it received confirmation from CVG-Minerven, the Venezuelan government-owned gold mining company, that Hecla has been awarded the lease on Block B in Venezuela`s prolific El Callao gold mining district, subject to a definitive agreement.

Hecla currently operates the La Camorra gold mine in Venezuela, a low-cost, high-grade mine that produced more than 150,000 ounces of gold in 2001 at an average total cash cost of $133 per ounce. Hecla`s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Arthur Brown, said, ``This agreement will give us exclusive rights to a major gold mining district in Venezuela. We have had great success with our current gold operation in that country and are very pleased with the potential to expand our presence there, especially on such a prospective property. One of Hecla`s strengths is our ability as underground, narrow vein, hardrock miners and these deposits fit perfectly with Hecla`s skills and expertise. This is a good opportunity to grow the company and increase its value to our shareholders for the long term.``

Block B is a 1,795 hectare land position in the heart of the historic El Callao gold district. Included in the land position are the Chile, Laguna and Panama mines, which produced more than 1.5 million ounces of gold between 1921 and 1946.These operations were shut down due to events surrounding the end of World War II and technical difficulties. Hecla will initially focus on the Chile mine, which produced more than 550,000 ounces of gold at an average ore grade of more than one ounce of gold per ton. Recent drilling at the Chile mine has revealed high-grade intercepts and shows continuation of the structure. Brown said, ``In addition to the Chile, Laguna and Panama mines, Block B contains several promising exploration targets as well as numerous other historically operated gold mines which have exciting further potential.``

Hecla will begin negotiations in April with CVG-Minerven on a definitive lease agreement. Hecla has agreed to pay $500,000 upon signing the final agreement. Six months after signing, Hecla would pay $1.25 million to CVG-Minerven, with an additional $1 million payment in another six months. These payments would give Hecla the right to explore and develop Block B. CVG-Minerven would also receive a sliding royalty of 2% to 3% on any future production from the property. Hecla anticipates an extensive drilling program to confirm the recent drilling performed by Minerven and to expand the already identified resource.

Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in Coeur d`Alene, Idaho, mines and processes silver and gold in the United States, Venezuela and Mexico. A 111-year-old company, Hecla has long been well known in the mining world and financial markets as a primary silver producer. Hecla`s common and preferred shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols HL and HL-PrB.