Exhibit 10.5

                     BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD EXPLORATION CORP.
                  ONE EAST LIBERTY STREET, SIXTH FLOOR, SUITE 9
                               RENO, NEVADA 89504
                      PHONE: 775-686-6081 FAX: 775-686-6066

Mr.  Mark  Kucher
1725  Knox  Road
Vancouver,  British  Columbia
Canada  V6T  1S4

Subject:     Employment  Agreement

Dear  Mr.  Kucher:

On  behalf  of Battle Mountain Gold Exploration Corporation (the "Company"), the
Board  of  Directors  is pleased to offer you the position of Chairman and Chief
Financial  Officer  of  the  Company.  The terms of your employment relationship
with  the  Company  will  be  as  set  forth  below.

     1.  Position.  You  will be the Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of the
         --------
Company.  As such, you will have the responsibilities as determined by the Board
of  Directors  of  the  Company.

     2. Base Salary. You will be paid a base salary of U.S. $7,500.00 per month,
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effective  retroactively  from  1  January  2004  and  not  payable until Battle
Mountain  Gold  Exploration  Gold  Exploration Corp. is fully vested in Pediment
Gold  LLC.  You will have the option to receive your salary in shares, at market
value,  at any time. You will be entitled to three weeks paid vacation per year.

     3.  Stock and/or Options. You will be granted an option to purchase 500,000
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shares  of  Common Stock at the date of grant, which shall be exercisable at the
rate  of  100%  of  the shares one (1) year after commencement of employment (so
that  at  the  end  of  one (1) year, your option will be fully vested). If your
employment is terminated by the Company prior to the one (1) year anniversary of
your  employment  commencement  date,  the  vesting  of  your  options  will  be
automatically  accelerated so that you are fully vested effective on the date of
termination.

     4.  At-Will  Employment.  As  is true for all employees of the Company, you
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will  be  an  employee-at-will,  meaning  that  either  your  or the Company may
terminate  your  employment  relationship  at  any time, without notice, for any
reason or no reason; provided, however, that if your employment is terminated by
the Company for any reason or if you and the Company mutually decide to end your
employment  with  the  Company  at any time before the third anniversary of your
employment  commencement date, then the Company shall pay your severance at your
then  current  rate  of  salary  through  the  third  anniversary  date,  upon
termination.  Should  the Company not have the necessary funds to pay the entire
amount,  then  a  portion  may be paid by the issuance of treasury shares at the
then  market  price.

5.     Employment Commencement Date.  Your employment with the Company will have
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Commenced  on  1  January  2004.

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     6.  Benefits.  You  will be entitled to the same benefits (if any) that the
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Company  offers  to  its other employees in the ordinary course of its business.

     7.  Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  together  with  your Stock Option
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Agreement,  Constitutes  the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes
all  other  agreements  or  understandings.

The  Board  of  Directors  is pleased to extend this offer, and looks forward to
working  together.  Please indicate your acceptance by signing and returning the
enclosed  copy  of  this  letter.

                                         Sincerely,

                                         By:  BATTLE  MOUNTAIN  GOLD
                                         EXPLROATION CORP., a Nevada corporation
                                         /s/ James E. McKay
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         James  E.  McKay,  Director
                                         /s/ Wade A. Hodges
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Wade  A.  Hodges,  Director
                                         /s/ Brian M. Labadie
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Brian  M.  Labadie,  Director
                                         /s/ Anthony E. W. Crews
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Anthony  E.  W.  Crews,  Director

The  foregoing  terms  and  conditions  are  hereby  accepted:
/s/ Mark Kucher
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Mark  Kucher

Date:  1/12/05
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