Hecla Mining Reports Q2 Silver Production of 2.48 Million Ounces

Hecla Mining Co. (NYSE:HL) announced preliminary Q2 2015 production results, also releasing an updated annual production estimate.
Highlights include:

• Estimated company-wide silver production for 2015 increased to 10.5-11.0 million ounces from 10.5 million ounces.
• Silver production of 2.48 million ounces, a 2% decrease.
• Gold production of 44,692 ounces, a 3% increase.
• Silver equivalent production of 8.7 million ounces, the same as Q2 2014.²
• Lead production decreased 7% to 9,525 tons and zinc production increased 1% to 17,516 tons.
• Cash and cash equivalents of approximately $190 million as of June 30, 2015.
• Hecla has secured the third party-owned Velardeña mill to process ore from its high-grade San Sebastian project inMexico.

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., president and CEO of Hecla, commented:

Higher grades and recoveries at Greens Creek during the quarter continued to improve the mine’s already strong performance. For a mine producing over 7 million ounces of silver a year, an 8% increase in silver recovery is a significant value driver, especially when coupled with the higher grades. We expect these recoveries and grades to continue at Greens Creek through the remainder of the year.

Click here to read the full Hecla Mining Co. (NYSE:HL) press release.