Hecla Mining Company reported zinc and lead production at its mines rose in 2019.
The American miner’s data indicated lead production increased by 20pc to 24,184t (21,939mt) in 2019 from 20,091t in 2018. During Q4 2019, the company produced 6,778t of lead, which is a 44pc rise over the 4,704t mined during the same quarter in 2018.
Across all Hecla mines in 2019, zinc output rose by 5pc to 58,860t in 2019 from 56,923t during the year before. In Q4 2019, zinc production increased by 18pc to 16,188t from 13,711t during the same quarter in 2018.
Hecla—primarily a silver and gold miner, which produces zinc and lead as byproducts of the two precious metals—expects to finish 2020 strong on enhanced precious metals extraction at its Greens Creek, San Sebastian, Casa Beradi, Nevada, and Lucky Friday operations. The latter resumed production, which will accelerate to full capacity, now that the workers’ union ratified a new collective bargaining agreement it reached last month.
Hecla’s silver mines are in Alaska, Idaho and Mexico, while it mines for gold in Nevada, and Quebec, Canada.