Hecla Mining Co. aims to resume production at its big Lucky Friday silver mine in Idaho by the end of February.

The mine experienced an underground rock burst last week that injured seven workers.

The company backed its 2011 silver production forecast at more than nine million ounces with cash costs unchanged at about $1 per ounce.

Next year, Hecla expects to increase silver production to more than 9.5 million ounces, including the loss of two months of production at Lucky Friday.

Hecla will not repair the area where the rock burst occurred. Instead, Hecla is planning a 750-foot bypass creating a new haulage way, which will be a significant distance from where the rock burst occurred and in a previously mined area reducing the risk of future rock bursts, Hecla said in a statement.

Shortly after the Dec. 14 rock burst, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration issued an order closing the mine.

Hecla is working with MSHA to finalize the investigation and lift the closure order to start the development of the new haulage way, resume construction of the #4 Shaft, and work on other maintenance projects, the company said.

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