The Hecla Mining Co. has resumed operations at its Lucky Friday mine in Idaho’s Silver Valley. This year the mine is expected to produce 2 million oz silver following rehabilitation work on its Silver Shaft and MSHA clearance, according to company officials. Silver concentrate extraction began recently.
According to President and CEO Phillips S. Baker Jr., all employees are being brought back for full production. Work crews have completed the bypass drift at the 5,900 foot level around an area impacted by a 2011 rock burst. In all, Hecla spent $29.8 million on the Silver Shaft rehabilitation and $26.2 million on other unrelated projects at the Lucky Friday mine.
