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                            EXHIBIT 10.6
                  LOAN AGREEMENT - THIRD AMENDMENT

     This Loan Agreement - Third Amendment (hereinafter referred to
as "Third  Amendment") is made and  effective as of the  1st day of
August,  1997,  by and  between  Hecla Mining  Company,  a Delaware
corporation, whose  address is  6500 Mineral Drive,  Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho   83814-8788 (hereinafter referred to as "Hecla"), and ConSil
Corp., an Idaho corporation,  which has an address at  500-625 Howe
Street, Vancouver, British Columbia,  V6C 2T6 (hereinafter referred
to as "ConSil").

                      RECITALS AND DEFINITIONS

     WHEREAS,  Hecla  and ConSil  entered  into  that certain  Loan
Agreement  dated June 28, 1996,  as amended February  19, 1997, and
April 16,  1997  (hereinafter  referred  to,  as  amended,  as  the
"Agreement") pursuant  to which ConSil borrowed  certain funds from
Hecla, and  Hecla loaned certain funds to  ConSil, all on the terms
and conditions contained in the Agreement;

     WHEREAS, Hecla  and ConSil wish  again to amend  the Agreement
with this Second  Amendment, on the terms  and conditions specified
herein;

     NOW,  THEREFORE, in  consideration  of the  foregoing and  the
following   mutual   promises,   covenants,    considerations   and
conditions, the parties,  intending to be legally  bound, do hereby
agree as follows:
                             AGREEMENT

     1.  AMENDMENT OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LOAN; INTEREST AND TERM:
Section 1 of the Agreement shall be deemed to read  in its entirety
as follows:

          Until further  notice, and  on the condition  that ConSil
     not be  in default with  respect to any  of the terms  of this
     Loan  Agreement,  or  with  respect to  any  outstanding  note
     evidencing  any  advance  made  hereunder,  Hecla  shall  make
     available  to ConSil  a  loan  not  to  exceed  SEVEN  HUNDRED
     THOUSAND  DOLLARS ($700,000)  (hereinafter referred to  as the
     "Principal  Sum"), on  which  Principal Sum  ConSil shall  pay
     interest  thereon from the date of  advancement of such funds,
     at the prime  rate of  interest specified in  the Wall  Street
     Journal,  plus one and one-half  percent (1.5%) per year until
     paid,  (hereinafter referred  to  as the  "Loan"), which  Loan
     shall be repaid on demand by Hecla, but in no event later than
     September 30, 1997.

     2.    EXECUTION OF  REPLACEMENT  NOTE,  ASSIGNMENTS AND  OTHER
CERTIFICATES.      ConSil   shall   execute   a  replacement   note
substantially in  the form attached  hereto as Exhibit  A, together
with a certificate of its corporate Secretary certifying that:





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     (i)  the individuals executing this Third Amendment and all
          documents delivered in  accordance  herewith were the
          duly appointed officers of ConSil,  authorized  to
          execute and deliver the same; and

     (ii) all representations, warranties and conditions precedent
          set forth in the Agreement are and remain true, accurate,
          correct and fulfilled as of the date of the delivery of
          this Third Amendment.

     3.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Third Amendment and the Agreement
shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated herein and therein, and
any prior understanding or representation of any kind preceding the
date of this Third Amendment shall not be binding on either party
except to the extent incorporated in this Third Amendment and the
Agreement.

     4.  CONSIDERATION.  The consideration for this Third Amendment
shall be deemed to be the extension of additional credit and
additional time for repayment, all as specified in Section 1 of
this Third Amendment, the receipt and adequacy of which ConSil and
Hecla hereby expressly acknowledge.

     5.  LOAN AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE AND OTHERWISE UNAFFECTED.  Hecla
and ConSil expressly acknowledge and agree that the Agreement is in
full force and effect, no default has occurred and except as
expressly amended by this Third Amendment, the Agreement shall
govern the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated
herein and in the Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF duly authorized officers of the parties
executed this Third Amendment on the date first above written.

CONSIL CORP.                  HECLA MINING COMPANY


By /s/ Ralph R. Noyes         By /s/ John P. Stilwell            
  -------------------------     ---------------------------------
     Ralph R. Noyes                John P. Stilwell
     Chairman                      Vice President  
                                   Chief Financial Officer

ATTEST:                       ATTEST:


     /s/ Nigel Cave                /s/ Michael B. White          
---------------------------   -------------------------------------
     Nigel Cave                    Michael B. White
     Secretary                     Secretary







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STATE OF IDAHO      )
                    )    ss.
COUNTY OF KOOTENAI  )

     On this 18th day of August, in the year of 1997, before me,
the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of Idaho,
personally appeared John P. Stilwell and Michael B. White, known or
identified to me to be the Vice President and the Secretary,
respectively, of HECLA MINING COMPANY, the officers who executed
the instrument on behalf of said corporation, and acknowledged to
me that such corporation executed the same.  

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
notarial seal the day and year in this certificate first above
written.



                              /s/  Narda Lee Anthony             
                              -------------------------------------
                              Notary Public
                              Residing at Rathdrum, Idaho
                              My Commission Expires 8/5/2000


STATE OF IDAHO      )
                    )    ss.
COUNTY OF KOOTENAI  )

     On this 18th day of August in the year of 1997, before me, the
undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of Idaho,
personally appeared Ralph R. Noyes, known or identified to me to be
the Chairman of ConSil Corp., the officer who executed the
instrument on behalf of said corporation, and acknowledged to me
that such corporation executed the same.  

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
notarial seal the day and year in this certificate first above
written.



                              /s/  Narda Lee Anthony             
                              -------------------------------------
                              Notary Public
                              Residing at Rathdrum, Idaho
                              My Commission Expires 8/5/2000










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                             EXHIBIT A

                          PROMISSORY NOTE
                          ---------------

$700,000                                      City of Coeur d'Alene
                                                 State of Idaho    

     On August 1, 1997, for value received, ConSil Corp., a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Idaho, promises to pay to Hecla Mining Company, of 6500 Mineral
Drive, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho  83814-8788, at its offices, the
principal amount of seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000), or
such other amount as may be outstanding pursuant to that certain
Loan Agreement dated June 28, 1996, as amended by the certain Loan
Agreement Amendment dated February 19, 1997 and further amended by
that certain Loan Agreement - Second Amendment dated April 16,
1997, and again further amended by that certain Loan Agreement  
Third Amendment of even date herewith between ConSil Corp. and
Hecla Mining Company, as calculated and determined by Hecla Mining
Company, with interest thereon from the date of advancement of such
funds, at the prime rate of interest specified in the Wall Street
Journal, plus one and one-half percent (1.5%) per year until paid,
payable upon the demand of authorized representatives of Hecla
Mining Company.

     If default is made in the payment upon demand, then the entire
amount of principal, interest and any and all costs of collection
shall become immediately due and payable at the option of the
holder of this note, without notice.  This note shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Idaho.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ConSil Corp. has caused this note to be
executed by its duly authorized officers as of the date first
mentioned above.

                              ConSil Corp.


                              By   /s/  Ralph R. Noyes           
                                 ----------------------------------
                                   Ralph R. Noyes
                                   Chairman

                              Attest:


                                   /s/  Nigel Cave               
                              -------------------------------------
                                   Nigel Cave
                                   Secretary






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