I've no idea who is really behind this exercise but I am sure their "miner's spokesman" is not a miner!

When this was first reported he was quoted as saying that Hecla was "hiding" gold from the government because they were getting "a half a kilo per ton" and declaring only a fraction of that..

Obviously that didn't have the desired effect, so now the latest outburst stated that Hecla's recovery rate has DOUBLED! He now claims that it is well known that they get over a kilo per tonne of ore. That's 32 ounces per tonne folks, by far the richest gold mine in the world baring none.

To me that indicates that this whole episode is being orchestrated by somebody who isn't a miner and who really knows absolutely nothing about gold mining, for no other reason than those claims are quite plainly ridiculous. What is also amazing is that they are being published without the slightest attempt at comment or verification.