Mining Explorers 2009: Hecla replenishes Greens Creek silver

After spending $750 million to buy out Rio Tinto's 70.27 percent interest in the Greens Creek Mine in April 2008 and then watching base metal prices plummet, Hecla Mining Co. chose to be prudent in its 2009 exploration of the zinc-rich silver mine.

Though restrained, the Idaho-based silver miner's US$3.4 million exploration budget for Greens Creek continued the tradition of replenishing the reserv...