Casa Berardi

La Sarre, Quebec

Hecla’s Casa Berardi Mine operates in a politically stable and mining friendly region in Quebec, with good geology and infrastructure. Its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility defines how the mine manages its business and its role in the community.

Underground & Surface

Mine Type

100%

Ownership

22.5 Koz

Silver

90.4 Koz

Gold

***All metals reflect 2023 production

Description & History

Hecla’s Casa Berardi mine is an underground/open-pit gold mine located in western Quebec. In 2023, the mine produced 90,363 ounces of gold and 22,415 ounces of silver.

 

Community Partner

Hecla Quebec is one of the largest private-sector employees and taxpayers in the communities near the Casa Berardi mine

The Casa Berardi Mine is situated 95 kilometres north of La Sarre, Quebec and straddles a 37-kilometre section of the Casa Berardi fault.

The Casa Berardi gold deposits are located along a five kilometre east-west mineralized corridor. They include the East and West mines and the Principal Zones. The Casa Berardi gold deposits can be classified as an Archean sedimentary-hosted lode gold deposit. The gold mineralization is superimposed on a continuous graphitic mudrock unit corresponding to the Casa Berardi Fault plane. Gold occurs mainly south of the Casa Berardi Fault and occasionally on both sides of the fault.

The West Mine shaft deepening project, which included construction of loading pockets and other related infrastructure, was completed in 2014, improving mine operations by providing additional access to the 118 and 123 zones for transporting ore and waste from underground. Excavation of the 985 drift (previously referred to as 1010) from the deepened shaft is underway. This drift is expected to improve ventilation and material handling and also provide a platform for deeper exploration drilling.

The Company began producing ore from the East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP) pit in July 2016. Located near the East mine, the capital for this shallow pit project is expected to be $39 million over 5.5 years. The project has an expected IRR of 90%.

Casa Berardi – A Day in the Life

Casa Berardi’s corporate responsibility is based on three pillars: health and safety for our workers, community involvement and respect for the environment.

Local Insights

Social Responsibility
Safety & Health
Environment
Reports
Contact
Operations
Careers
Exploration
Social Responsibility
Community
Liaison Committee

Social Responsibility

Our social responsibility includes building partnerships in the local communities where we operate.

Hecla Québec wishes to exchange with the community, maintain a constructive dialogue with stakeholders and allow citizens to participate in the continuous improvement of its operations.

In 2022, Hecla Québec adopted a Policy for the Prevention of Forced Labor and Child Labor, with an aim to:

- Implement processes to prevent forced labor and child labor

- Demonstrate clear commitments to prevention

- Identify roles and responsibilities within the organization

COMMITMENTS

  1. Hecla Québec will not subject any person to forced labor, including debt bondage, bonded labor or involuntary prison labor.
  2. Hecla Québec undertakes that no person under the age of 18 shall perform any work which, by its nature or the conditions under which it is performed, is likely to jeopardize his or her health, safety, or morals - as provided for in Quebec legislation.
  3. Hecla Québec undertakes to responsibly protect the health, safety and morals of minors who have voluntarily accepted to hold a position within the company as part of an internship or summer job - as authorized by Quebec legislation.
Social Responsibility

Community

Every year, the Casa Berardi Mine team updates the list of stakeholders and communities that may have an interest in its activities. This update is then refined with the assistance of the Casa Berardi Mine Liaison Committee. If you would like to identify yourself as a stakeholder, please write to us at the e-mail address below. The process can be confidential if you wish. You can also subscribe to our e-mail list, which is used to share our Annual Reports with the community.

I would like to participate or be informed, write to us at: [email protected]

Procedure for communicating with us: At the Casa Berardi Mine, we sincerely believe that the community is a real ally in the continuous improvement of our practices. That's why we've set up accessible communication channels and a transparent, fair communication procedure to take your feedback into account.

Our Community Involvement

Firmly rooted in its community, Hecla Québec is particularly sensitive to the initiatives and efforts that vitalize the region and give it its unique color.

  1. Education
  2. Culture
  3. Health and community
  4. Sport and healthy living
  5. Environment and sustainable development
  6. Economic development

UQAT Foundation

Contributing to the advancement of teaching and research in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, recognizing excellence, community involvement and, above all, the perseverance of local students, are all incentives that led Hecla Québec to sign an historic agreement with the Fondation de l’Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue in 2009.

- $1/ounce of gold produced at the Casa Berardi mine each year is donated to the Fondation de l’UQAT

- To date, $2,000,000 injected in the Hecla Québec Global Development Fund.

Each year, Hecla Québec also awards nearly $50,000 in university, college and professional scholarships.

Community

Liaison Committee

Maintain a constructive dialogue with the community

The role of the Liaison Committee is to serve as a forum for the sharing of information and the consideration of ideas and suggestions from the community, with a view to continuously improving Casa Berardi mine operations.

The Committee's objectives are to:

Foster strong ties with communities of interest:

- By addressing issues that affect them;

- By allowing them to express themselves freely, share their concerns and contribute in searching for solutions;

- By working together to set and achieve common goals.

Solicit input from communities of interest on Casa Berardi Mine's community relations, environmental management and energy efficiency initiatives and commitments.

The role and objectives of the Liaison Committee were established with the stakeholders present at the founding meeting, then adopted by the members at the Committee's first meeting, held in January 2019.

Sector Municipality / Organization
Resident Abitibi-Ouest
Resident North of Quebec
Municipal Abitibi-Ouest
Municipal Resident
Indigenous community Abitibiwinni First Nation
Socio-economic Abitibi-Ouest
Socio-economic North of Quebec
Environment Abitibi-Jamésie Watershed Organization
Education and Formation UQAT - Abitibi-Ouest Center

For the Casa Berardi Mine Liaison Committee Minutes, click here and go to Apercus locaux (halfway down the page), click on the responsabilité sociale tab and then on the Comité de liaison tab. 

Liaison Committee
Safety and Health
Health And Safety Policy
Health and Safety Committee
Honored Supervisors
Recognition in the Field of Safety
Some Achievements

Safety and Health

Hecla Québec is proud to share the significant improvement in its health and safety performance with the community. Since 2015, the team has managed to improve its performance by 70%. The most recent annual OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) rates, which is the most widely used performance indicator within the industry, are presented below. Please note that these performance rates include the number of reportable accidents per 200,000 hours worked, both by our employees and by our contractors working on the Casa Berardi mine site.

- 2020 : 1.71

- 2021 : 1.66

- 2022 : 1.58

- 2023: 2.16

In addition, we apply the following Sustainable Development Protocol:

- Recognize everyone's right to work in a safe and healthy workplace, protecting the safety, health and well-being of our employees, contractors, and visitors to the site

- Encourage health and safety education in the community

- Recognize and encourage the important role of government authorities in imposing effective health and safety measures.

COMMITMENTS

  1. Ensure that our OHS management complies with regulatory requirements and corporate commitments.
  2. Adhere to TSM OHS requirements
  3. Ensure responsible OHS management, providing a safe and healthy workplace, with the aim of minimizing potential impacts on the health and safety of our employees, contractors, and the community, with the intention of avoiding all types of incidents.
  4. Pursue continuous improvement in OHS by identifying and assessing potential impacts, promoting appropriate behaviors and control measures, which are joint responsibilities of the company, employees, and contractors, aiming to establish a culture based on prevention and joint improvement of our performance.
  5. Communicate our OHS commitments to employees, contractors, and the community, and ensure that OHS is seen as everyone's responsibility.
  6. Define, communicate, and verify that OHS management responsibilities, including accountability, are clearly understood by all concerned.
  7. Implement and maintain an OHS management system that includes periodic policy reviews, procedures, and reporting mechanisms to enable proactive and well-understood OHS management.
  8. Implement effective training and incident prevention programs and actively promote health and well-being at work and at home, encouraging our employees, contractors, and the community to strengthen their capacity to adopt safe and healthy practices.
  9. Establish and clearly communicate performance objectives that promote the avoidance of all types of incidents, which are implemented within all company practices, monitored, and reported regularly within internal and external accountability activities.
  10. Provide the necessary resources for the proper implementation of this Policy's commitments.
Safety and Health

Health And Safety Policy

At Hecla Quebec, our commitment to health and safety is the main value that guides all of our actions. We are committed to:

  • Continuing to identify hazards and mitigate risks on our properties so as to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses to zero
  • Taking a proactive approach to creating a safe work environment
  • Being responsible for continuing education and training in health and safety
  • Reviewing the health and safety management system to identify potential areas for improvement
  • Ensuring a detailed assessment of all incidents
Health And Safety Policy

Health and Safety Committee

The Casa Berardi Mine Health and Safety Committee meets monthly to discuss safety strategies, exchange information on potential risks and develop initiatives to reduce risks to workers.

Health and Safety Committee

Honored Supervisors

On September 19, 2023, the Quebec Mining Association (QMA) held its health and safety symposium in Rouyn-Noranda. The QMA highlighted the exceptional work of some of its members by awarding various safety trophies to supervisors who have distinguished themselves over the year.

100,000 hours

Jean-Claude Lavoie was recognized for his excellent performance--100,000 hours of supervision without a lost-time accident with his team.

50,000 hours

Francis Dicaire, Gaétan Tremblay and Rémi Bergeron were rewarded for achieving 50,000 hours of supervision without a lost-time accident with their respective work teams.

Honored Supervisors

Recognition in the Field of Safety 

For the second time in the last three years, Casa Berardi Mine was awarded the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for the Quebec and Maritime Provinces region for outstanding safety performance. This annual award is presented by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to the mine with the lowest frequency of reportable injuries.

Casa Berardi also won the F.J. O'Connell Award for Excellence in Accident Prevention for underground operations of 400,000 hours or more.

At the 59th edition of the provincial mine rescue competition, the Casa Berardi mine team won the silver medal and the following trophies:

  • Management Team Trophy
  • APSM Synergy Trophy (friendly rescue competition)
  • BG4 Challenge Champion Trophy

Recognition in the Field of Safety

Some Achievements

  • Creation by mine employees of an anti-corrosion harness that withstands 60 consecutive shifts underground
  • Implementation of environment, health and safety and quality management software, Intelex
  • Implementation of the lockout program for mobile and fixed equipment

Some Achievements
Environment
Environment Policy
Towards Sustainable Mining Development (TSM)
Environmental Management System
Management of Energy And Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Responsible Management of Mine Tailings
Water Management
Conservation of Biodiversity
Gradual Closure

Environment

For Hecla, operating responsibly means using advanced mining technologies that minimize the impact of exploration and development.  Hecla is also committed to rehabilitating the sites that have hosted its projects to allow for productive use of the territory once the mining activities are completed. Hecla continues to develop new methods that allow our operations to coexist with nature, while limiting the footprint of its activities.

To do this, Hecla has adopted an environmental policy. The main pillars include:

  • Compliance with regulations
  • Continuous improvement
  • Pollution prevention
  • Risk management
Environment

Environment Policy

Hecla is committed to protecting the environment responsibly and strives to minimize environmental impacts and risks for present and future generations. In order to fulfill its responsibilities, the Company will provide the necessary resources to:

  • Design, operate, close and rehabilitate its facilities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations to meet and exceed recognized standards to meet Hecla values
  • Continuously improve our safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible use of resources, products, and materials
  • Promote knowledge and accountability of employees and contractors in the implementation of this policy through the use of the environmental management system
  • Conduct periodic environmental reviews and audits of operations and activities to ensure compliance, identify risks, reduce costs and responsibilities, and improve sustainable operations
  • Strive to reduce energy and water consumption, continuously improving the efficiency of its facilities, projects, and operations
  • Work collaboratively with academic institutions and other organizations to research, develop and use technology and management best practices to reduce environmental impacts
Environment Policy

Towards Sustainable Mining Development (TSM)

Casa Berardi is involved in the Mining Association of Canada Towards Sustainable Mining initiative. In 2022, Hecla commissioned an independent third party to conduct its first TSM external audit, which assessed its performance level for eight Protocols related to environmental, social and governance topics.

The external audit confirmed that the Casa Berardi mine achieves Level A or higher performance for 3 of the 8 Protocols, namely:

  • Tailings management
  • Safety and health at work
  • Relationships with communities and First Nations
Towards Sustainable Mining Development (TSM)

Environmental Management System

In order to control the environmental impacts of its activities, Hecla Québec has implemented responsible practices and a continuous improvement program in environmental performance. The environmental management system allows for a structured, integrated, and planned implementation of efforts to reduce its footprint.

Environmental Management System

Management of Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In implementing the TSM Climate Change Management Protocol, Hecla is working towards the following Sustainable Development Goals:

  • Ensure safe management of the health and safety of its employees, the community and the environment that takes climate change into account
  • Increase resilience and reduce the need for more costly adaptation at a later stage of the mine life cycle
  • Reduce and mitigate the potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change on its operations

COMMITMENTS

  1. Ensure compliance of its climate change management with regulatory requirements and corporate commitments
  2. Adhere to TSM Climate Change Management Requirements
  3. Ensure responsible management of energy consumption, GHG emissions and climate change in order to reduce potential social, economic and environmental impacts
  4. Continue its continuous improvement in data collection, decision support tools and energy consumption management, adapted to the site’s GHG emission sources and the assessed impacts of climate change
  5. Communicate climate change management commitments with employees, contractors and the community
  6. Define clear roles and responsibilities for managing energy performance, GHG emissions and climate change, including accountability arrangements
  7. Establish and maintain a GHG and climate change management system
  8. Engage with the community to understand their climate change concerns and participate in climate change management efforts
  9. Establish measurable, life-cycle performance objectives that are implemented, tracked through key indicators and presented within internal and external accountability activities
  10. Provide the resources necessary for the proper implementation of the commitments of this Policy
Management of Energy And Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Responsible Management of Mine Tailings

By implementing the TSM Tailings Management Protocol, Hecla is working towards the following sustainable development goals:

  • Ensure safe management for all life cycles from design to facility closure
  • Demonstrate responsibility for protecting the safety and health of employees, contractors and the community
  • Minimize social, economic and environmental risks to present and future generations and long-term obligations

COMMITMENTS

  1. Ensure compliance of its management and infrastructure with regulatory requirements, corporate commitments and reasonable and prudent engineering practices
  2. Adhere to TSM Tailings Management Requirements
  3. Continue responsible tailings and infrastructure management to reduce potential short- and long-term social, environmental and economic impacts during the planning, design, construction and management of the tailings management facility
  4. Continue continuous improvement and meet established design criteria, storage areas for solids and liquids, best available technologies and best practices where possible
  5. Communicate waste management commitments with employees, contractors, consultants and the community
  6. Define, communicate and verify understanding of responsibilities for tailings management, including accountability, levels of accountability, authority and jurisdiction
  7. Implement and maintain a tailings management system with the assistance of employees, contractors and consultants, where appropriate
  8. Engage with the community to address their concerns and considerations regarding the design, location, operation and management of tailings
  9. Conduct periodic performance reviews, including independent reviews, to support continuous improvement in health, safety and risk management
  10. Provide the resources necessary for the proper implementation of the commitments of this Policy
Responsible Management of Mine Tailings

Water Management

By implementing the TSM Water Stewardship Protocol, Hecla is working towards the following sustainable development goals:

  • Improve water quality by minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals into wastewater
  • Participate in solutions to avoid water shortages through more efficient use of water, including reuse and recycling, in addition to ensuring that all employees have access to drinking water, appropriate sanitary facilities and occupational hygiene
  • Foster partnerships with the community to rehabilitate aquatic ecosystems and participate in local water management efforts

COMMITMENTS

  1. Ensure compliance of its management and infrastructure with regulatory requirements and corporate commitments
  2. Adhere to TSM water management requirements
  3. Ensure responsible water management in order to reduce potential impacts on surface and groundwater quality and the sustainability of the resource throughout the mine life cycle
  4. Continue its continuous improvement in reducing the amount of clean water used at the site, through reuse and efficiency of its practices
  5. Communicate water management commitments with employees, contractors and the community
  6. Define and communicate water management responsibilities, including accountability, whether within operations or watershed planning
  7. Establish and maintain a water management system that includes a water balance and enables proactive management of water quality and quantity
  8. Engage with the community to understand their concerns and participate in watershed planning activities
  9. Establish performance objectives that are implemented, monitored and reported within internal and external accountability activities, using industry-aligned measures and recognized compliant approaches
  10. Provide the resources necessary for the proper implementation of the commitments of this Policy
Water Management

Conservation of Biodiversity

By implementing the TSM Biodiversity Management Protocol, Hecla is working towards the following sustainable development goals:

  • Consider biodiversity conservation in each stage of the mine life cycle, aiming for the mitigation sequence: avoid, minimize, mitigate and compensate
  • Assess the impact of its activities to preserve the benefits of healthy ecosystems
  • When rehabilitating, restore the vitality and diversity of ecosystems to meet the needs of potential uses
  • Work collaboratively with the community to create research projects, encourage inclusion of traditional knowledge, reduce habitat degradation and biodiversity loss and consider it in local land management processes

COMMITMENTS

  1. Ensure compliance of its biodiversity management with regulatory requirements, corporate commitments and regulated protected areas
  2. Adhere to TSM Biodiversity Management Requirements
  3. Ensure responsible management with a view to reducing potential impacts on biodiversity and critical habitats, in addition to avoiding activities within World Heritage sites
  4. Continue its continuous improvement by updating its Biodiversity Management Plan annually, which will include the assessment and monitoring of the significant components identified
  5. Communicate biodiversity management commitments with employees, contractors and the community
  6. Define and communicate responsibilities for biodiversity management, including accountability
  7. Establish and maintain a biodiversity management system
  8. Engage with the community to understand their concerns and participate in biodiversity engagement activities
  9. Establish performance targets after quantifying and analyzing the impacts of our activities on biodiversity, which will be presented within internal and external accountability activities
  10. Provide the resources necessary for the proper implementation of the commitments of this Policy
Conservation of Biodiversity

Gradual Closure

Responsible planning for the rehabilitation of mining sites is one of the commitments that companies that adhere to the TSM Initiative must undertake. To do so, the Casa Berardi mine ensures that the following statements are respected:

  • Produce and update a Rehabilitation Plan for the current mine, including future developments
  • Provide financial security for expenses estimated in the Rehabilitation Plan in accordance with applicable laws
  • Seize opportunities for incremental remediation throughout the mine life cycle

Progressive rehabilitation opportunities at the Casa Berardi mine include:

Progressive filling of open pits

  • Started since 2022
  • Materials come from the stripping of developing pits
  • Progressive rehabilitation moves forward based on availability of materials including waste rock, dead ground and clay

Rehabilitation and gradual closure of the tailings management facility

  • Progressive rehabilitation of cell #2 achieved at 80%
Gradual Closure
Technical Report Summary-S-K 1300 Report
Sustainable Development Reports

Technical Report Summary-S-K 1300 Report

Technical Report Summary

Technical Report Summary-S-K 1300 Report
Contact Us

Contact Us

Hecla Québec
1010, 3e Avenue Est
Val-d’Or (Québec) J9P 0J6
Telephone : 819 874-4511

Casa Berardi Mine – Community Relations
659, 2e Rue Est
La Sarre (Québec) J9Z 2Y9
Telephone : 819 339-0610

Contact Us
About the Casa Berardi mine

About the Casa Berardi mine

The Casa Berardi mine is located north of the community of Villebois, in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Regional Government, Nord-du-Québec (NDQ) administrative region.

Highlights

  • Location: 60 km north of Villebois and 95 km north of La Sarre
  • Mine type: underground and open-pit
  • Mine life: until 2037
  • Production in 2023: 90,363 ounces of gold and 22,415 ounces of silver
  • Average grade: 2.51 g/t
  • 3500 tonnes of ore processed/day
  • Nearly 1,000 employees and contractors

Mine history

1974: Staking of the first 13 claims (mining titles)

1981: Drilling of discovery holes

1988: Opening of the East mine and start of commercial production

1990: Opening of the West mine

1974 - 1991: Owned by Inco

1997: Closure of mines

1991 - 1998: Property of TVX

1998- 1999: Discovery of Zone 113 (allowed reopening of the West Mine)

1998 - 2004: Exploration on the site

2004 - 2006: Feasibility study and construction

2007: Return to production of the West mine

1998 - 2013: Owned by Mines Aurizon

2013: Acquisition by Hecla Mining

2016: Start of the East mine pit

2019: Announcement of 15-year mine life extension to 2033

2020: Permits obtained for mining of Pit 160 and preparatory work.

2021: Pit 160 goes into production

2022: Surface mining begins

2023: Announcement of mine life extension to 2037

About the Casa Berardi mine
Careers

Careers

By providing a safe work environment for its employees, Hecla Quebec sets itself apart as an employer of choice and a major mining producer. A job awaits you at Hecla Quebec. Join our team.

An experienced management team will assist you in developing your potential. We invite you to consult the list of available positions and send us your curriculum vitae.

Current Openings

Careers
Casa Berardi
Heva-Hosco
Opinaca/Wildcat

Casa Berardi

The regional Casa Berardi project covers the eastern and western extensions of the gold-bearing structures of the Casa Berardi mine, over a distance of more than 35 kilometres. Although previous work has revealed the presence of gold showings, the area remains underexplored and offers excellent potential for discovering new economic deposits. Such a discovery could increase the gold reserves of the Casa Berardi mine and extend its life.

  • Location: 95 km north of La Sarre
  • Stage: Exploration
  • Ownership: Exclusive Ownership
  • Number of mining titles: 324
  • Property area: 162.03 km²
Casa Berardi

Heva-Hosco

The Heva-Hosco exploration property, where our work has progressed well, is located in the Joannès township near Rouyn-Noranda in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The property borders the Cadillac-Larder Lake fault for more than 8 km.

  • Location: 20 km east of Rouyn-Noranda
  • Stage: Exploration
  • Ownership: Exclusive Ownership
  • Number of mining titles: 102
  • Property area: 38.5 km²
  • Measured and indicated resources: 1,202,000 oz for the Hosco project | 76,000 oz for the Heva project
Heva-Hosco

Opinaca/Wildcat

The Opinaca-Wildcat project is located 320 km north of Matagami in the James Bay territory, near the Éléonore mine. The project is made up of two properties, Opinaca and Wildcat.

  • Location: 320 km north of Matagami
  • Stage: Exploration
  • Participation: Joint venture with Everton
  • Resources and Azimut Exploration
  • Number of mining titles: 472
  • Property area: 246.87 km²
Opinaca/Wildcat

Reserves & Resources

Information with respect to proven and probable ore reserves, measured, and inferred resources is set forth below.

Mineral Reserves & Resources
(As of December 31, 2023 unless otherwise noted)

Tons (000)

Silver (oz/ton)

Gold (oz/ton)

Lead (%)

Zinc (%)

Silver (000 oz)

Gold (000 oz)

Lead (Tons)

Zinc (Tons)

Open Pit

Proven Reserves (2,5)

4,240

0.09

379

Probable Reserves (2,5)

11,384

0.08

859

Proven and Probable Reserves (2,5)

15,624

0.08

1,238

Underground

Proven Reserves (2,5)

55

0.12

7

Probable Reserves (2,5)

175

0.15

26

Proven and Probable Reserves (2,5)

230

0.14

33

Open Pit

Measured Resources (12,15)

67

0.03

2

Indicated Resources (12,15)

205

0.03

5

M&I Resources (12,15)

272

0.03

7

Underground

Measured Resources (12,15)

1,099

0.21

234

Indicated Resources (12,15)

3,154

0.19

603

M&I Resources (12,15)

4,253

0.20

837

Open Pit

Inferred Resources (12,15)

828

0.08

64

Underground

Inferred Resources (12,15)

1,475

0.22

332

Totals may not represent the sum of parts due to rounding.

(2) Mineral reserves are based on $17/oz silver, $1600/oz gold, $0.90/lb lead, $1.15/lb zinc, unless otherwise stated. All Mineral Reserves are reported in-situ with estimates of mining dilution and mining loss.
(5) The average reserve cut-off grades at Casa Berardi are 0.11 oz/ton gold underground and 0.03 oz/ton gold for open pit. Metallurgical recovery (actual 2023): 85% for gold; US$/CAN$ exchange rate: 1:1.3. Underground mineral reserves at Casa Berardi were based on a gold price of $1,850/oz.

Note: All estimates are in-situ. Resources are exclusive of reserves.

(12) Mineral resources for operating properties are based on $1,750/oz gold, $21/oz silver, $1.15/lb lead, $1.35/lb zinc and $3.00/lb copper, unless otherwise stated. Mineral resources for non-operating resource projects are based on $1,700/oz for gold, $21.00/oz for silver, $1.15/lb for lead, $1.35/lb for zinc and $3.00/lb for copper, unless otherwise stated.
(15) The average resource cut-off grades at Casa Berardi are 0.12 oz/ton gold for underground and 0.03 oz/ton gold for open pit; metallurgical recovery (actual 2023): 85% for gold; US$/CAN$ exchange rate: 1:1.3.

Reporting requirements in the United States for disclosure of mineral properties as of December 31, 2020 and earlier are governed by the SEC’s Securities Act Industry Guide 7, entitled “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations”; (Guide 7). Effective January 1, 2021, the SEC has issued new rules rescinding Guide 7. Mining companies are not required to comply with the new rules until the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. Thus, the Company will be required to comply with the new rules when filing its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Company is also a “reporting issuer”; under Canadian securities laws, which require estimates of mineral resources and reserves to be prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). NI 43-101 requires all disclosure of estimates of potential mineral resources and reserves to be disclosed in accordance with its requirements. Such Canadian information is included herein to satisfy the Company’s “public disclosure”; obligations under Regulation FD of the SEC and to provide U.S. holders with ready access to information publicly available in Canada.

Reporting requirements in the United States for disclosure of mineral properties under Guide 7 compared to the new SEC rules (Item 1300 of Regulation S-K under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) and the requirements in Canada under NI 43-101 standards are substantially different. This document contains a summary of certain estimates of the Company, not only of Proven and Probable reserves within the meaning of Guide 7, but also of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates estimated in accordance with the new SEC rules and definitional standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Under Guide 7, the term “reserve”; means that part of a mineral deposit that can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. The term “economically”, as used in the definition of reserve, means that profitable extraction or production has been established or analytically demonstrated to be viable and justifiable under reasonable investment and market assumptions. The term “legally”, as used in the definition of reserve, does not imply that all permits needed for mining and processing have been obtained or that other legal issues have been completely resolved. However, for a reserve to exist, Hecla must have a justifiable expectation, based on applicable laws and regulations, that issuance of permits or resolution of legal issues necessary for mining and processing at a particular deposit will be accomplished in the ordinary course and in a timeframe consistent with Hecla’s current mine plans. The terms “Measured resources”, “Indicated resources,”; and “Inferred resources”; are mining terms as defined in accordance with the new SEC rules and NI 43-101. These terms are not defined under Guide 7 and prior to January 1, 2021, were not normally permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC in the United States, except where required to be disclosed by foreign law. The term “resource”; does not equate to the term “reserve”;. Under Guide 7, the material described herein as “Indicated resources”; and “Measured resources”; would be characterized as “mineralized material”; and is permitted to be disclosed in tonnage and grade only, not ounces. The category of “inferred resources”; is not recognized by Guide 7. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in such categories will ever be converted into Proven or Probable reserves. “Resources”; have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of such a “resource”; will ever be upgraded to a higher category or will ever be economically extracted. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a “resource”; exists or is economically or legally mineable. Investors are also especially cautioned that the mere fact that such resources may be referred to in ounces of silver and/or gold, rather than in tons of mineralization and grades of silver and/or gold estimated per ton, is not an indication that such material will ever result in mined ore which is processed into commercial silver or gold.

Operational Highlights

Production

Casa Berardi is an underground trackless mine accessed by declines and a shaft. The mining methods are longhole transversal stoping in 10 meters or more mineralization width, and longitudinal retreat stoping in narrower ore bodies. The mineralized zones put in reserves are of varying thickness, ranging from a few tens of meters to 3 meters, which is the minimum mining width. Most of the hanging walls are sub-vertical (55° to 85°) with typically the graphitic Casa Berardi fault at the footwall. In addition, ore is being produced from the East Mine Crown Pillar (EMCP) pit located near the East mine.

The mine has produced approximately 2.0 million recovered gold ounces since commencing production in 1988, including about 1.0 million recovered ounces since production recommenced in November 2006.

(years ended December 31)

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023
Silver (ounces)31,64024,142

33,517

28,289
22,415
Gold (ounces)134,409121,492

134,511

127,590
90,363

Exploration

In 2024, of the $25.4 million planned for exploration and pre-development spend, 3.8% is planned for Casa Berardi.   Limited underground exploration will be focused in the Principal Area to expand underground mining areas in the short term and test target areas north and south of the Casa Berardi Fault.

Future Plans

The Company has been focused on long-term operational improvement at Casa Berardi.  The transition from underground to fully open-pit mining is underway, and results are exceeding expectations so far.

Casa Berardi Social
& Economic Benefit

Casa Berardi provides large social and economic benefits in its community through volunteerism, investment, and engagement. In 2023, Hecla Quebec was one of the largest private-sector employees and taxpayers in the communities near the mine with a direct economic impact of more than $274 million including over $57 million in wages, $48 million in taxes and fees, and $169 million in purchases from vendors.