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Hecla Mining Announces First Quarter Production; 10% Increase in Silver Production over Q4 2022
10% increase in silver production over Q4 2022 COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho / Apr 13, 2023 / Business Wire / Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced its prelimin
About this update from Hecla Mining Company
[{"type":"text","content":"10% increase in silver production over Q4 2022 COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho / Apr 13, 2023 / Business Wire / Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced its preliminary silver and gold production and progress on Keno Hill for the first quarter of 2023.1 HIGHLIGHTS (1st Quarter 2023 compared to 4th Quarter 2022) 10% increase in silver production and as anticipated 9% decrease in gold production. Greens Creek silver production increased 14%. Lucky Friday silver production increased 3%. Lead production increased 6%, zinc production unchanged. Development at Keno Hill 30% more than the fourth quarter. “Hecla's silver mines delivered another strong operational quarter with new milestones achieved at both Greens Creek and Lucky Friday,\" said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President and CEO. \"Greens Creek set a new quarterly throughput record as we continue our work towards achieving 2,600 tpd while Lucky Friday reported its fourth consecutive quarter of silver production exceeding 1 million ounces. Keno Hill’s increased development keeps it on track for commencing production in the third quarter, so silver production is expected to be in excess of 2.5 million ounces for the year.\" Baker continued, “This quarter’s production growth is an important step toward producing approximately 17 million ounces of silver this year and increasing production to 20 million ounces by 2025, allowing Hecla to continue to be the world’s fastest growing established silver producer.\" OPERATIONS Greens Creek The Greens Creek mine produced 2.8 million ounces of silver and 14,885 ounces of gold in the first quarter, an increase of 14% and 15%, respectively, over the fourth quarter of 2022. The mill achieved a new throughput record of 2,591 tons per day (tpd) for the quarter. Increased silver production was due to a combination of higher throughput, a 3% increase in grade, and a 9% increase in recovery. Increased gold production was attributable to higher throughput and recovery partially offset by lower grades. Lucky Friday The Lucky Friday mine produced 1.3 million ounces of silver in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 1.2 million ounces produced in the fourth quarter (a 3% increase). The increase is primarily attributable to a 5% increase in mill throughput. Mill throughput of 1,059 tpd in the first quarter of 2023 continued to build upon multiple milestones a...