HECLA MINING CO/DE/ — Major Shareholding Notification 2010

Feb 17, 2010

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.1)*

HECLA MINING CO.

(Name of Issuer)

COMMON SHARES

(Title of Class of Securities)

422704106

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2009 - Year End Filing

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)

[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)

[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

Page 1 of 5 pages

CUSIP No. 422704106

| 1. — 2. | Names
of Reporting Persons I.R.S.
Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Van Eck Associates Corporation 335 Madison Ave - 19th Fl, New
York, New York 10017 — Check
the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| (a) | N/A | | |
| (b) | | | |
| 3 | SEC
Use Only | | |
| 4. | Citizenship
or Place of Organization: Delaware | | |
| Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned
by Each Reporting Person
With | 5. | Sole
Voting Power | 12,482,173 common
shares |
| | 6. | Shared
Voting Power | None |
| | 7. | Sole
Dispositive Power | 12,482,173 common
shares |
| | 8. | Shared
Dispositive Power | None |
| 9. | Aggregate
Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 12,482,173 Common Shares are
held within mutual funds and other client accounts managed by Van Eck
Associates Corporation, none of which own more than 5% of the outstanding
shares. | | |
| 10. | Check
if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions) N/A | | |
| 11. | Percent
of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
5.3 % | | |
| 12. | Type
of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IA | | |

Page 2 of 5 pages

| Item 1. (a) | | Name
of Issuer HECLA MINING
CO. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Item 1. (b) | | Address
of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 6500
Mineral Drive - Suite 200, Coeur d'Alene, ID
83815-9408 |
| Item 2. (a) | | Name
of Person Filing Van Eck Associates
Corporation |
| Item 2. (b) | | Address
of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence 335 Madison Ave - 19th Fl, New
York, New York 10017 |
| Item 2. (c) | | Citizenship
or Place of Organization: Delaware |
| Item 2. (d) | | Title
of Class of Securities Common
Shares |
| Item 2. (e) | | CUSIP
Number Not
Applicable |
| Item 3. | | If this statement is filed
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person
filing is a: |
| (a) | [ ] | Broker
or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). |
| (b) | [ ] | Bank
as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). |
| (c) | [ ] | Insurance
company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). |
| (d) | [ ] | Investment
company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(15 U.S.C 80a-8). |
| (e) | [X] | An
investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); |
| (f) | [ ] | An
employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); |
| (g) | [ ] | A
parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); |
| (h) | [ ] | A
savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); |
| (i) | [ ] | A
church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company
under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-3); |
| (j) | [ ] | Group,
in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). |

Page 3 of 5 pages

| Item 4. | Ownership. — (a) | Amount
beneficially owned: 12,482,173 Common
Shares | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | (b) | Percent
of class: 5.3 % | |
| | (c) | Number
of shares as to which the person has: | |
| | | (i) | Sole
power to vote or to direct the
vote 12,482,173 Common
Shares |
| | | (ii) | Shared
power to vote or to direct the vote None |
| | | (iii) | Sole
power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 12,482,173 Common
Shares |
| | | (iv) | Shared
power to dispose or to direct the disposition of None |
| Item 5. | Ownership of Five Percent or
Less of a Class Not
applicable | | |
| Item 6. | Ownership of More than Five
Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not
applicable. | | |
| Item 7. | Identification and
Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being
Reported on By the Parent Holding Company Not
applicable. | | |
| Item 8. | Identification and
Classification of Members of the Group Not
applicable | | |
| Item 9. | Notice of Dissolution of
Group Not
applicable. | | |
| Item 10. | Certification | | |
| | By
signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose
or effect. | | |

Page 4 of 5 pages

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

| February
16, 2010 |
| --- |
| Date |
| /S/ John J.
Crimmins |
| Signature |
| John
J. Crimmins ,
Vice President |
| Name/Title |

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath this signature.

Page 5 of 5 pages