1992 - Hecla's board of directors approves the purchase and development of the La Choya gold property in Sonora, Mexico. The purchase marks the Company's first move into the Mexican mining industry. After nearly 100,000 ounces of gold production and four years of operations, Hecla's Yellow Pine Unit in central Idaho is closed.
1993 - Hecla issues 2.3 million shares of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred stock, raising $100 million to be used to develop the La Choya and Grouse Creek properties.
Hecla receives Idaho's top environmental award for "Excellence in Annual Operations of Large Hard Rock Mines," presented for reclamation work at the Yellow Pine gold mine near McCall, Idaho.
1994 - Hecla begins operations at the La Choya gold mine, the Company's first operation in Mexico. The open-pit, heap leach mine in the state of Sonora is the largest gold mine in Mexico at the time, as measured by tons of ore mined per day.
Hecla completes the acquisition of Equinox Resources Ltd., which brings with it the Rosebud gold property in Nevada.
Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hecla, opens its first foreign clay processing plant in Monterrey, Mexico.
Hecla's Lucky Friday Unit celebrates mining its 100 millionth ounce of silver. A decision is made to proceed with underground development of the Gold Hunter expansion area about a mile northwest of the existing Lucky Friday workings.
On December 20, the first gold pour takes place at the Grouse Creek gold mine in central Idaho.
1995 - Hecla Mining Company is awarded two of the Idaho's top reclamation awards for 1994, based on performance at the Company's Grouse Creek mine.
In October, Hecla reports disappointing results at the Grouse Creek mine because of lower-than-anticipated gold grades. A reevaluation of ore reserves commences.
1996 - Hecla announces that mining will continue at the Grouse Creek mine in central Idaho for one more year while the Sunbeam deposit is mined out.
1997 - The Rosebud gold mine in Nevada successfully commences commercial production. The underground, high-grade gold operation is a 50/50 joint venture between Hecla and Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation (later to become part of Newmont).
Hecla's board of directors approves final development plans to double silver production at the Lucky Friday mine in northern Idaho by expanding into the area known as the Gold Hunter expansion area.
In April, mining is suspended at the Grouse Creek gold mine in central Idaho, and the facility is mothballed.
1998 - Lucky Friday begins production out of the new expansion area and doubles annual production to 4.1 million ounces of silver from the mine in 1998.
The La Choya gold reserves are mined out in December, after five years of operation at the northern Mexico mine.
1999 - Hecla Mining Company acquires the assets of Monarch Resources Limited, bringing the La Camorra gold mine in Venezuela and the Saladillo silver/gold exploration property in Mexico into the Hecla fold.
2000 - After four years of operation and a total production of about 375,000 ounces of gold, the Rosebud gold mine in Nevada is mined out and closed down.
2001 - Hecla Mining Company completes the sale of its industrial minerals operations, K-T Group, which includes Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company, K-T Feldspar and K-T Mexico.
Hecla's board of directors appoints Phillips S. Baker, Jr., as President, and Arthur Brown remains as CEO and Chairman of the Board.
2002 - Hecla is the best percentage performer on the New York Stock Exchange, for the second time in its history. The company produced the most gold and silver ever, at 240,000 ounces of gold and 8.7 million ounces of silver.
2003 - Arthur Brown steps down as CEO of Hecla, after 36 years with the company. He retains his position as Chairman of the Board. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., is appointed CEO.
2004 - In October, Hecla celebrated 40 years of listing on the NYSE. Hecla, first incorporated in 1891, is the oldest precious metals company in North America. First publicly listed on the Curb Exchange in 1915 (later the American Stock Exchange), Hecla was listed on the world's premier exchange, the NYSE, in 1964.
2005 - After four years of operation and a total production of about 11.2 million ounces of silver and 155,937 ounces of gold, the San Sebastian mine in Mexico is mined out and closed down. Hecla continues exploration on its San Sebastian property (appx. 346 square miles).
2006 - Hecla reports highest earnings and lowest reported cash cost for silver in its 116-year history and achieves exploration success by increasing silver reserves and resources by 25%.
Ted Crumley, director since 1995, is appointed Chairman of the Board as Arthur Brown retires from the Board, after serving 23 years as a director.
2007 - In March, Hecla Mining Company's market capitalization reaches $1 billion.
Hecla begins the Silver Valley exploration project and begins digitizing over 100 years of historical geological data, maps, etc.