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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                    NEWS

IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    CONTACT: JOSEPH J. BAYLIS
                                                                (713) 653-7239



              BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD ANNOUNCES CONTINUING EXPLORATION
                         SUCCESS AT PHOENIX; VERA/NANCY

         Houston, October 4, 2000 -- Battle Mountain Gold Company (BMG-NYSE;
BMC-TSE) today said that development drilling during the summer at its
Phoenix development project in Nevada continued to yield good results. A
table incorporating these results is attached. These results are not included
in the current reserve calculation, which now stands at 6.1 million ounces.
An updated reserve calculation will be reported at year end.

         At the Pajingo Complex in Australia, where Battle Mountain has as
50% interest, recent drilling has focused on extending the limits of the
Vera-Nancy ore horizon. Drilling along the northerly extension returned
positive results from the Anne structure, 1,500 ft. north of the Cindy pit,
including 0.34 opt Au/12.5 ft. and 0.43 opt Au/20 ft. Drilling along the
southern extension has continued to expand Vera South and a significant new
structure called Jandam has been identified 1,200 ft. south of Vera South.
Battle Mountain believes that the results are very favorable. Recent drill
holes include 1.12 opt Au /27 ft., 0.68 opt Au/48 ft. and 0.59 opt Au over
110 ft. Additionally, new drilling 2,200 ft. further south has intersected a
second new zone, the Zed structure, returning 0.53 opt Au /113 ft.

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                                                                       more....
BMG announces drill results, add 1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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             SELECTED DRILL INTERCEPTS, JULY 15 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
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      DRILL HOLE         TARGET           INTERCEPT (IN FEET)         AU     AG      CU
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      NO.    TYPE         AREA            FROM     TO      WIDTH    (OPT)   (OPT)    (%)
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IRON CANYON DEVELOPMENT
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<S>         <C>        <C>                <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>
      9141    RC       Wing Fault          225     270     45       0.119   1.81    0.14
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      9142    RC       Wing Fault          215     235     20       0.058   1.50    0.05
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PHOENIX PIT DEVELOPMENT
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      8977    RC    North Fortitude        485     505     20       0.076   0.29    0.06
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      8980    RC    North Fortitude        505     525     20       0.106   2.12    0.42
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      9154    RC   So. Battle Formation    925    1010     85       0.062   0.18    0.14
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      9155    RC   So. Battle Formation    295     315     20       0.659   0.19    0.01
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       "      "    So. Battle Formation    410     450     40       0.203   0.39    0.23
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       "      "    So. Battle Formation    735     785     50       0.044   0.23    0.14
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       "      "    So. Battle Formation   1095    1135     40       0.046   0.39    0.41
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      9156    RC   So. Battle Formation    280     385    105       0.030   0.21    0.29
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       "      "    So. Battle Formation    410     460     50       0.099   0.08    0.06
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       "      "    So. Battle Formation    960    1025     65       0.062   0.51    0.50
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      9158    RC   So. Battle Formation    750     790     40       0.097   0.23    0.08
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      8981    RC        East Pit           140     160     20       0.003   0.37    0.65
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       "      "         East Pit           280     380    100       0.005   0.13    1.08
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      9163    RC        East Pit           45      215    170       0.003   0.15    0.57
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      9164    RC        East Pit            5      90      85       0.003   0.27    0.47
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GREATER MIDAS DEVELOPMENT
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      9129    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    485     525     40       0.051   0.18    0.16
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      9134    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    180     295    115       0.045   0.20    0.09
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      9185    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    200     250     50       0.080   0.12    0.07
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      9186    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill     0      20      20       0.138   0.23    0.14
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      9187    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    205     250     45       0.054   0.01    0.04
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       "      "    Tomboy-Superior Hill    265     285     20       0.030   0.06    0.06
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      9188    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    350     395     45       0.044   1.27    0.61
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      9189    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    360     395     35       0.077   0.20    0.15
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      9190    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    300     365     65       0.070   0.34    0.13
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      9399    RC   Tomboy-Superior Hill    235     255     20       0.126   0.08    0.03
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      9130   DDH      North Midas          243     275     32       0.075   1.33    0.88
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      9304    RC      North Midas          90      190    100       0.019   0.43    0.14
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       "      "       North Midas          275     420    145       0.119   1.78    0.78
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      9506    RC      North Midas          125     190     65       0.019   0.20    0.33
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      9507    RC      North Midas           0      35      35       0.026   0.12    0.17
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       "      "       North Midas          70      125     55       0.060   0.87    0.11
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      9505    RC       Box Canyon          10      45      35       0.088   1.49    0.04
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       "      "        Box Canyon          65      145     80       0.070   0.19    0.03
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       "      "        Box Canyon          185     230     45       0.046   0.11    0.02
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COPPER BASIN EXPLORATION
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      4407    RC     Empire-No. Lights     35      70      35       0.060   0.11    0.10
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     220     260     40       0.042   0.65    0.09
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     320     350     30       0.061   0.35    0.05
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     380     400     20       0.096   0.78    0.05
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      4413    RC     Empire-No. Lights     40      150    110       0.045   0.29    0.23
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     110     320    210       0.014   0.07    0.40
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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                                                                       more....
BMG announces drill results, add 2


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      4415    RC     Empire-No. Lights     290     320     30       0.086   0.11    0.10
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     470     505     35       0.001   0.05    1.95
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     540     590     50       0.009   0.06    0.83
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      4419    RC     Empire-No. Lights     310     470    160       0.055   0.08    0.10
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      4420    RC     Empire-No. Lights     220     245     25       0.088   0.21    0.02
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     255     295     40       0.030   0.07    0.21
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      4421    RC     Empire-No. Lights     160     200     40       0.005   0.10    0.23
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     435     490     55       0.074   0.47    0.05
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      4425    RC     Empire-No. Lights     150     205     55       0.009   0.05    0.50
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     320     390     70       0.051   0.10    0.08
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       "      "      Empire-No. Lights     440     500     60       0.049   0.03    0.05
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</TABLE>

PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements about
Battle Mountain Gold Company that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor
for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not
historical facts. These statements include financial projections and estimates
and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and
expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and
statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are
generally identified by the words "expect," "anticipates," "believes,"
"intends," "estimates" and similar expressions. The forward-looking information
and statements in this press release are subject to various risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the
control of Battle Mountain, that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking
information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those
discussed or identified in the public filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) made by Battle Mountain; risks and uncertainties with
respect to the effect of gold price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and
general economic conditions such as changes in interest rates and the
performance of the financial markets, changes in domestic and foreign laws,
regulations and taxes, changes in competition and pricing environments, the
occurrence of significant natural disasters, civil unrest and general market and
industry conditions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Information regarding the identity of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of stockholders of Battle Mountain
in connection with its proposed merger with a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont
Mining Corporation, and their interests in the solicitation, are set forth in a
Schedule 14A filed by Battle Mountain on June 21, 2000 with the SEC. Newmont and
Battle Mountain will be filing a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other
relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC. Battle
Mountain filed preliminary proxy materials with the SEC on September 22, 2000.
INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
NOW AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE DEFINITIVE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION. Investors are able to obtain the
documents free of charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). In addition,
documents filed with the SEC by Newmont may be obtained free of charge by
contacting Newmont Mining Corporation, 1700 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203,
(303) 863-7414. Documents filed with the SEC by Battle Mountain will be
available free of charge by contacting Battle Mountain Gold Company, 333 Clay
Street, 42nd Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, (713) 650-6400. INVESTORS SHOULD READ
THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE
BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION.