hecla mining cos silver gold and zinc production fell in the first quarter from a year earlier while lead output rose hecla estimates it produced 33 million ounces of silver in the first three months of 2022 this was down from 35 million ounces in the first quarter of 2021 gold is estimated at 41642 ounces also down from a year earlier when 52004 ounces were produced the first quarter of 2021 included stockpiled ore milled at heclas nevada operations while the latest quarter didnt zinc is likely at 14947 tons down from 16107 tons a year earlier lead is estimated at 10863 tons up from 10704 tons a year earlier greens creek heclas largest producer had slightly higher silver grades and output likely rose 3 from the fourth quarter the company said compared with the first quarter of 2021 silver production at the mine likely fell 6 while gold output rose 14 hecla is on track to grow silver production this year and for each of the next two years while also being the united states thirdlargest zinc producer said president and chief executive officer phillips s baker jr zinc like silver is a critical mineral in the energy transition and is approaching its alltime high price set 15 years ago