Hecla Raises Greens Creek’s 2026 Silver Guidance and Evaluates Reprocessing Zinc-Lead-Bearing Tailings

Hecla Mining reported that its Greens Creek mine in Southeast Alaska produced 4.23 million oz of silver and 31,509 oz of gold in the first half of 2026, together with significant quantities of zinc and lead. The company raised its 2026 silver production guidance for Greens Creek from 7.5–8.1 million oz to 8.1–8.3 million oz, while lowering all-in sustaining cost guidance from US$0–0.50/oz to negative US$3.75–4.25/oz. A tailings-storage expansion project is expected to support operations through 2045.

Hecla is evaluating a pyrite-concentrate circuit and a tailings-reprocessing initiative. Preliminary work suggests the proposed circuit could add about 1.0–1.2 million oz of silver and 10,000–15,000 oz of gold annually at average reserve grades. The company estimates its dry-stack tailings contain about 310 million lb of zinc and 205 million lb of lead, alongside 51 million oz of silver and 600,000 oz of gold. A proposed 35,000-metric-ton tailings campaign with NVRO Metals remains conditional on NVRO acquiring and commissioning a mine and processing plant; a larger project would proceed to feasibility study only if the pilot is successful.