Hecla Mining Company (NYSE: HL)has provided an upbeat assessment of its exploration program during the fourthquarter. The company cites continued expansion of high-grade, polymetalliczones at San Sebastian, similar to the Hugh Zone on the Middle and Francineveins. Meanwhile, at Casa Berardi, expanded and refined resources that couldincrease the size of the proposed principal and current East Mine Crown Pillar(EMCP) open pits and discovered mineralization that could lead to new pits inthe west part of the mine. Also, drilling of the 118 and 123 zones at CasaBerardi has discovered high-grade mineralization at depth and to the west. “Wecontinue to expand the polymetallic mineralization at San Sebastian, so much sothat we expect to take a bulk sample this year,” says said Phillips S. Baker,Jr., president and chief executive officer. “At Casa Berardi, our explorationcontinues to confirm the high expectations we had when we acquired it, withexpansions of planned pits and discovery of new open pitable material as wellas new high-grade lenses underground. Finally, drilling at Greens Creekdiscovered high-grade mineralization in the central part of the mine that couldenhance Greens Creek’s already exceptional mine economics and mine life.”
By Allen SykoraFor Kitco News
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