MULLAN - In the middle of Friday afternoon, there were about 20 vehicles in the Lucky Friday Mine's parking lot. The wheel atop the iconic green headframe was not spinning.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has closed the Silver Shaft, said MSHA spokesperson Amy Louviere, because "the shaft inspection revealed hazards associated with falling material."

Hecla Mining Company officials, who own the mine, would not confirm or deny the closure.

"The investigation is ongoing," said Hecla spokesperson Melanie Hennessey. "That has not changed, and it hasn't been completed yet."

MSHA closed the mine after two recent accidents, causing seven injuries and one death. The plan was to re-open the mine in the end of February after a new haulage way was complete, which would bypass damage caused by December's injurious rock burst. Now, sources close to the mine say that project could be put off until the Silver Shaft is up and running again.

Last time a similar situation happened, sources reported, the mine was closed for two months.

As of last week, Hecla reported that 70 percent of its employees were put to work on projects besides mining and drilling, and they expected that number to increase in the near future. Now, without a second escapeway from the mine, few workers can be underground. Qualified employees have been given the option to work at other Hecla properties until the Lucky Friday is back in production, such as the Star mine in Burke, or in Alaska or Colorado.