• The Hecla Offer provides significant, immediate and certain value and liquidity to U.S. Silver (USSIF.PK) shareholders, BUT it is conditional on the proposed transaction with RX Gold & Silver NOT proceeding
• Beneficial U.S. Silver shareholders (or non-registered shareholders) should contact their broker or other intermediary immediately and instruct them to vote AGAINST the proposed RX transaction
• Registered shareholders should Vote the BLUE proxy (available at www.hecla-mining.com) AGAINST the Proposed Transaction with RX Gold & Silver BEFORE 5:00 p.m. ET today, August 2

COEUR DALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 Heclas 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. Silvers 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 Heclas 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 todays deadline to stop the RX proposal and put themselves in a position to take advantage of Heclas 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. Silvers 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. Heclas BLUE proxy is available at www.hecla-mining.com.

U.S. Silver shareholders with questions about the Hecla Offer can also contact Heclas 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 Heclas 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

Source: Hecla Mining Company

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