NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Hecla Mining Co. says Venezuelan workers are blocking the entrance to its Isidora gold mine, suspending operations.

The Idaho-based silver and gold miner says as many as 30 workers have camped in front of the mine's entrance in Venezuela's southern Bolivar state, closing it for eight working days.

Hecla's Vice President of Investor Relations Vicki Veltkamp says that as of Wednesday, the protest has not affected company output.

Hecla, which mainly mines silver, expects to produce 85,000 to 115,000 ounces of gold this year _ more than half of it in Venezuela.