Hecla Reminds U.S. Silver Shareholders to Take Action before 5:00 P.M. ET Today to Stop the Proposed Transaction with RX Gold & Silver

Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
('Hecla?) today reminded common shareholders of U.S. Silver Corporation
(TSX:USA) ('U.S. Silver?) that, in order to take advantage of Hecla′s
offers to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of U.S. Silver
for CDN$1.80 per common share in cash and to acquire each outstanding
common share purchase warrant for CDN$0.205 (its 'in the money? amount
based on such price per common share) (together, the 'Hecla Offer?),
they must act TODAY before 5:00 p.m. ET to stop U.S. Silver′s proposed
transaction with RX Gold & Silver (the 'RX Proposal?).

The Hecla Offer is conditional upon the RX Proposal not proceeding or
such transaction otherwise terminating; U.S. Silver shareholders need to ?REVOKE ?proxies
voted for the RX Proposal (if your shares have been previously voted for
it) and vote ?AGAINST ?it immediately, before the August 2,
2012 proxy submission deadline.

'We are encouraged by the support we have received so far from U.S.
Silver shareholders,? said Hecla′s President and Chief Executive
Officer, Phillips S. Baker, Jr. 'That being said, it is important that
as many U.S. Silver shareholders as possible take action before today′s
deadline to stop the RX proposal and put themselves in a position to
take advantage of Hecla′s superior offer. Every vote counts.?

Instructions for Beneficial U.S. Silver Shareholders

If you are a beneficial U.S. Silver Shareholder, call your investment
advisor, stockbroker, bank, trust company, other nominee or intermediary
through which you hold your U.S. Silver shares immediately and instruct
them to vote AGAINST the proposed RX transaction. Brokers and other
intermediaries each have their own voting instructions, which need to be
carefully followed to ensure that your instructions are counted. It is
also important to note that your broker or other intermediary may have a
deadline that falls ?before ?August 2, 2012. Therefore, it is
imperative that you act immediately.

Instructions for Registered U.S. Silver Shareholders

If you are voting your Shares by proxy, U.S. Silver′s Transfer Agent,
Valiant Trust Company, must receive your signed proxy by mail at 310-606
4 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 9Z9, or by facsimile at
1-855-375-6916, ?not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on
August 2, 2012.

How to Change your Vote

A Registered Shareholder may revoke a previously voted form of proxy at
any time before it has been exercised by completing a form of proxy that
is dated later than the form of proxy being revoked and mailing it to
Valiant Trust Company so that it is received before 5:00 p.m.
(Toronto time) on August 2, 2012. Hecla′s BLUE proxy is available at www.hecla-mining.com.

U.S. Silver shareholders with questions about the Hecla Offer can also
contact Hecla′s information agent, MacKenzie Partners Inc., toll-free
within the U.S. and Canada at 1(800) 322-2885 or Call Collect: (212)
929-5500, by fax: (212) 929-0308 or email: ?proxy@mackenziepartners.com.

About Hecla Mining Company

Established in 1891, Hecla Mining Company is a leading low cash cost
silver producer in the U.S. The company has two operating mines and
exploration properties in four world-class silver mining districts in
the U.S. and Mexico.

Cautionary Statements

Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated
payments, litigation outcome, production, sales of assets, exploration
results and plans, prospects and opportunities including reserves,
resources, and mineralization, costs, and prices or sales performance
are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'may,? 'will,?
'should,? 'expects,? 'intends,? 'projects,? 'believes,? 'estimates,?
'targets,? 'anticipates? and similar expressions are used to identify
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected, anticipated, expected or
implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
metals price volatility, volatility of metals production and costs,
environmental and litigation risks, operating risks, project development
risks, political and regulatory risks, labor issues, ability to raise
financing and exploration risks and results. Refer to the company's Form
10-K and 10-Q reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may
impact expected future results. The company undertakes no obligation and
has no intention of updating forward-looking statements other than as
may be required by law.

Cautionary Statements to Investors on Reserves and Resources

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits mining
companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral
deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce.
We use certain terms on this release, such as 'resource,? 'other
resources,? and 'mineralized materials? that the SEC guidelines strictly
prohibit us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. investors
are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 10-K and Form
10-Q. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's
website at ?www.sec.gov.

Contacts

U.S. Silver shareholders with questions about the Hecla Offer can
also contact Hecla′s information agent, MacKenzie Partners Inc.,
toll-free within the U.S. and Canada at 1(800) 322-2885 or Call Collect:
(212) 929-5500, by fax: (212) 929-0308 or email: ?proxy@mackenziepartners.com.

Hecla Mining Company

Sr. Vice President - CFO

Jim Sabala,
208-209-1255

Direct Main: 1-800-HECLA91 (1-800-432-5291)

hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

www.hecla-mining.com