Hecla Mining Reports Drilling And Exploration Results

 

COEUR D’ALENE, ID - Hecla Mining Company reported that drilling at San Sebastian mine has identified polymetallic zones similar to the Hugh Zone on the Middle and West Francine veins. Surface and underground drilling at the Casa Berardi mine in Canada has expanded and refined resources to increase the size and number of the open pits and extended high-grade lenses along strike and at depth in the underground. Drilling of East Ore, NWW and Upper Plate zones is expected to convert resources into reserves in the upper and central part of the Greens Creek Mine in Alaska.

“Exploration success continues at San Sebastian with the discovery of additional high-grade mineralization that has the potential to extend the mine life. When we restarted San Sebastian we had less than a two-year mine plan and now we see potential through 2020 and beyond. As well, new zones are emerging along both the Middle and Francine veins with similar mineralogy as the Hugh Zone, a 1.5 million ton polymetallic resource, so we see the underground sulphide deposit potentially growing to further extend mine life,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President and CEO. “At Casa Berardi, the exploration confirms our view of the exploration potential we believed was possible when we acquired the property. The surface program is expanding the open pits and the underground is identifying new lenses with good grades. Finally, drilling at Greens Creek has discovered high-grade mineralization high up in the mine which could enhance Greens Creek’s already exceptional mine economics.”

At San Sebastian, during the quarter, three core drills were active along the Middle, Francine and West Francine vein areas.

In-fill holes were drilled primarily along the western portion of the Middle Vein to aid stope design for underground mine development. The results of in-fill drilling are consistent with or better than those from previous drilling. These veins are narrow but show good continuity and are open to the west and at depth. Assay results from in-fill drilling this quarter include, 0.26 oz/ton gold and 54.9 oz/ton silver over 3.5 feet and 0.19 oz/ton gold and 41.3 oz/ton silver over 4.4 feet.

Some drilling of the West Middle Vein was directed toward a new zone of high-grade mineralization that is similar to the mineralization in the previously discovered Hugh Zone on the Francine Vein. Assay results from this new zone include 0.02 oz/ton gold, 9.5 oz/ton silver, 3% copper, 2% lead, and 5% zinc over 4.0 feet and 0.07 oz/ton gold, 12.0 oz/ton silver, 4% copper, 6% lead, and 9% zinc over 5.4 feet. This mineralization is located about 300 feet west and 300 feet below the new Middle Vein underground mine development. In addition to containing high-grade gold and silver, this area also has potentially recoverable quantities of copper, lead, and zinc.