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EXHIBIT 10.6

EXPLORATION AGREEMENT AND OPTION TO LEASE

THIS EXPLORATION AGREEMENT AND OPTION TO LEASEdated
  as of November 7, 2003, is between PRICHARD CREEK RESOURCE PARTNERS
  LLC("Grantor"), and NEW JERSEY MINING COMPANY. ("Grantee").

RECITALS

| | A. | Grantor owns certain unpatented lode
        claims more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto and by
        this reference made a part hereof ("Premises")                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
| | -- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | B. | The parties agree for the purposes of
        this Agreement that, subject to the paramount title of the United States,
        the Premises shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the surface
        and subsurface of the Premises, all mines, ores, metals, mineral rights
        and minerals thereon and thereunder, all veins, lodes, extralateral rights
        and mineral deposits now controlled or hereafter acquired by Grantor extending
        from or onto or contained in the Premises; and all water and water rights
        therein, thereon or thereunder.
| | C. | Grantor and Grantee desire to enter
        into this Agreement covering the Premises.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
| | D. | Grantor also desires to grant to Grantee
        an option to lease the Premises.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

AGREEMENT

IN CONSIDERATION of the sum of $10.00 and other good and valuable consideration,
  the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and the promises
  and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. GRANT. Grantor grants
  exclusively to Grantee, its successors or assigns, the right to enter upon the
  Premises, subject to Bureau of Land Management rules, for the purpose of conducting
  a mineral evaluation of the Premises, including, without limitation, the right
  to drill and excavate holes, pits, shafts, and other excavations, construct
  roads and conduct surveys, explorations, sampling, investigations, and other
  operations in such a manner and to the extent that Grantee, in its sole judgment
  and discretion, may deem advisable for the purpose of ascertaining any and all
  facts related to the occurrence of Minerals (hereinafter defined) in and under
  the Premises and the metallurgical and physical properties of any Minerals discovered.
  The term "Minerals" shall mean all metallic and nonmetallic substances, whether
  now or at any time hereafter during the term of this Agreement, known as or
  considered minerals, including, without limitation, all base and precious metals,
  iron, and coal but excluding oil, gas and other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons.

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2. OPTION TO LEASE. Grantor
  hereby grants to Grantee the irrevocable and exclusive option ("Option to Lease")
  during the term hereof to enter into a lease of the Premises, which lease shall
  be in the form of Exhibit B, attached hereto and by this reference made a part
  hereof, and herein referred to as "Said Lease," subject to the terms and conditions
  herein set forth.

Lessee may exercise the Option
  to Lease from time to time at any time prior to the expiration of this Agreement.
  If and when Grantee shall elect to enter into Said Lease, it shall forward to
  Grantor executable copies of Said Lease together with 30,000 shares of Grantees
  common stock and within fifteen (15) days of receipt, Grantor shall execute
  and deliver Said Lease to Grantee together with a recordable short form thereof.

3. TERM. This Agreement
  is granted for a two and one half [2 1/2] year term, commencing on June 13,
  2003, unless sooner terminated under any of the provisions herein.

4. WORK COMMITMENT AND CLAIM
  FEES. Grantee agrees to pay all maintenance fees and perform all required
  work including filing of required forms on a timely schedule to keep the unpatented
  claims in good standing. Grantee shall provide to Grantor copies of all forms
  filed with the Bureau of Land Management and Shoshone County. In addition, Grantee
  agrees to perform an assessment to assure that the unpatented claims of the
  Premises are properly laid out and monumented, according to BLM rules, and will
  correct any deficiences in the name of Grantor.

5. PRODUCTION DURING TERM
  OF EXPLORATION AGREEMENT. During the term of this Agreement, Grantee may
  produce and sell Minerals derived from ores produced during exploration activities,
  including underground drifting and ramping. Grantee shall pay Grantor a production
  royalty of 5% of the Net Smelter Return from such limited production.

6. TITLE TO PREMISES.
  This Agreement is executed and delivered expressly without warranty of any nature
  whatsoever on the part of Grantor, either expressed or implied, not even to
  the return of the consideration paid herefor. If Grantor controls less interest
  than the entire fee mineral estate, amounts to be paid Grantor may be reduced
  proportionately.

7. TECHNICAL DATA. Grantee
  shall furnish Grantor, on a quarterly basis, with copies of all technical data
  pertaining to its operations hereunder, including but not limited to all geological,
  geophysical, geochemical, mapping, drilling, sampling, assay, and other data
  or information pertaining to Grantee's exploration operations hereunder. Such
  data shall be treated as confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Grantee
  shall not be obligated to disclose to Grantor any interpretive data or information
  nor shall Grantee be obligated to disclose any information obtained from Newmont
  Exploration which might conflict with a confidentiality agreement between Newmont
  and Grantee dated June 17, 2003.

8. CONTROL OF EXPLORATION.
  Grantee shall have full discretion in the exploration of the Premises and shall
  in no event be obliged to pursue a specific schedule to explore for, develop,
  drill, mine, mill, or concentrate Minerals.

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9. LESSER INTEREST. If
  Grantor controls less than the entire undivided interest in the Minerals, or
  in any tract included in the Premises, then any payments due Grantor under this
  Agreement shall be due Grantor only in the proportion that its interest bears
  to the whole undivided fee mineral interest. Any interest in the Premises and/or
  Minerals hereafter acquired by Grantor shall be automatically subject to this
  Agreement. If any such acquisition changes Grantor's interest in the Premises
  or Minerals, an appropriate adjustment will be made after Grantee receives written
  notice thereof from Grantor.

10. INDEMNITY. Grantee
  shall assume all liability in connection with its operations on the Premises
  and shall hold Grantor and Owner harmless from any and all liability which may
  arise out of Grantee's operations on the Premises. Grantee shall use its best
  efforts to ensure that the work performed by Grantee hereunder shall be in compliance
  with applicable environmental, safety and health requirements of federal, state
  and local governments. Upon the termination of this Agreement, Grantee shall
  return the Premises to Grantor free and clear of liens for labor done or work
  performed upon the Premises or materials furnished to it for the exploration
  thereof under this Agreement, but Grantee shall have the right to dispute or
  contest the validity of such liens. Grantee's liability under this Section shall
  terminate upon termination of this Agreement except for obligations incurred
  before the date of termination.

11. INSURANCE. Grantee
  will maintain general liability insurance, subject to availability at reasonable
  cost, during the term of this agreement in the amount of $2,000,000. Grantee
  will instruct its insurance agent to issue certificates showing Grantor as an
  additional insured party. Grantee will require all subcontractors, including
  drillers and mining contractors, to supply evidence of insurance and name Grantee
  and Grantor as additional insured parties.

12. FORCE MAJEURE. Grantee
  shall not be liable or in default under any provisions of this Agreement for
  failure to perform any of its obligations hereunder during periods in which
  performance is prevented by any cause reasonably beyond Grantee's control, which
  causes hereinafter are called "force majeure." For the purposes of this Agreement
  the term "force majeure" shall include, but not be limited to, fires, floods,
  windstorms and other damage from the elements; strikes, war, insurrection, mob
  violence and riots; unavailability of materials, labor and transportation; unavailability
  of smelting or refining facilities; interference, action, legislation or regulation
  by governmental or military authority, including a requirement by such authority
  that an environmental impact statement, plan of operation or similar statement
  or document be prepared or approved; litigation; and acts of God or acts of
  the public enemy. The duration of this Agreement and of the time for completion
  of performance by Grantee of its rights and obligations hereunder shall be extended
  for a period equal to the period of disability as a result of the event of force
  majeure, provided Grantee gives Grantor written notice of the existence of the
  event of force majeure. All periods of force majeure shall be deemed to begin
  at the time Grantee stops performance hereunder by reason of force majeure.
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties understand that an event of force
  majeure shall not excuse any obligation to make a payment of common stock required
  by this Agreement.

13. FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL.
  If, at any time during the term of this Agreement, Grantor shall, in response
  to a bona fide offer to purchase all or part of its interest in the Premises
  from a third party, desire to sell or otherwise dispose of such interest, it
  shall notify Grantee in writing of the party to whom it desires to sell such
  interest and the price at which and the terms upon which it desires

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to sell the same, and Grantee shall, within 30 days of receipt of the notice,
  notify Grantor in writing whether it wishes to purchase such interest at the
  price and on the terms set forth in the notice. If Grantee elects to purchase
  such interest, Grantor shall be bound to convey, assign, or otherwise transfer
  such interest to Grantee promptly thereafter at such price and on such terms.
  If Grantee elects not to purchase such interest or fails to give notice of its
  intention within the 30-day period, Grantor shall be free to convey, assign,
  or otherwise transfer such interest to the third party at a price not less than
  stated in the notice or on terms more favorable than those stated in the notice.
  Any conveyance by Grantor to a third party shall be subject to the terms of
  this Agreement, including without limitation Grantee's right to lease the Premises.
  If Grantor shall not have so disposed of such interest to said third party within
  90 days after receipt of notice that Grantee elects not to exercise its right
  of first refusal or after expiration of that party's 30 day period within which
  to give notice, the provisions of this Section shall again apply to the disposition
  by Grantor of any such interest.

14. ASSIGNMENT. Subject
  to the provisions of Section 13 above, Grantor may assign this Agreement whether
  or not Grantees consent is given. Grantee may not assign this Agreement
  without the consent of Grantor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
  except Grantee may assign this Agreement to an affiliate without Grantors
  consent. In the event of any assignment, the rights of either party hereunder
  and the provisions hereof shall extend to their successors and assigns, but
  no change or division in ownership of the Premises, however accomplished, shall
  operate to enlarge the obligations or diminish the rights of either party under
  this Agreement, and neither Grantee nor its successors or assigns shall ever
  be required to make payments or to render reports or notices to more than one
  party. In the event Grantor's interest in the Premises is now or hereafter owned
  by more than one party, Grantee may withhold further payments until all such
  owners have designated a single party to act for all of them hereunder in all
  respects, including but not limited to the giving and receiving of all notices
  and the receipt of all payments and reports. No such change or division in the
  ownership of the Premises shall be binding upon Grantee for any purpose until
  such person acquiring any interest has further furnished Grantee with the instrument
  or instruments, or certified copies thereof, constituting his claim of title
  from the original Grantor. Grantee shall have the right to subcontract with
  others for the performance of exploration work hereunder, subject to all of
  the terms of this Agreement, but no such subcontract shall relieve Grantee of
  its obligations to Grantor hereunder. Grantee hereby discloses to Grantor, which
  disclosure shall be kept confidential, that it has entered into a confidentiality
  agreement with Newmont North America Exploration Limited [Newmont] that requires
  Grantee to allow Newmont the right of first offer if Grantee proposes to dispose
  of its interest in this Agreement.

15. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

15.1 By Grantor. If Grantee
  fails to keep and perform all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement
  on its part to be kept and performed, then Grantor may notify Grantee of the
  default in writing specifying the default. If within ten days after Grantee's
  receipt of such notice, in case of default arising through failure to make any
  payments required by this Agreement, and within 30 days in the case of any other
  default, Grantee shall make such payments, or commence and diligently thereafter
  proceed to correct such other default, this Agreement shall continue in good
  standing. However, upon failure of Grantee to make such payment within ten days
  or to commence within 30 days to cure any other default and diligently thereafter
  proceed to correct the same, Grantor may then, by written notice or demand,
  forthwith terminate this Agreement and fully repossess itself of the Premises,
  and without prejudice to

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any other rights which might otherwise accrue to Grantor for the violation
  of the terms hereof. After such default and termination of this Agreement, Grantee
  shall have no further rights in or right to the possession of the Premises or
  any part thereof or to exercise the Option to Lease.

15.2 By Grantee. Grantee
  may terminate this Agreement in whole or in part at any time upon delivering
  written notice to Grantor. Said notice shall be effective upon delivery. Upon
  such termination, all right, title and interest of Grantee under this Agreement
  shall terminate as to that part of the Premises covered by the notice, and Grantee
  shall not be required to make any further payments, or to perform any further
  obligations hereunder as to said portion of the Premises, except payments or
  obligations which then have accrued under the express provisions of this Agreement
  and which have not been paid or performed.

16. RECORDING OF SHORT-FORM
  NOTICE. The parties hereby agree to execute a short-form counterpart of
  this Agreement contemporaneous herewith for the sole purpose of recordation
  in the real property records sufficient to give record notice, pursuant to the
  laws of the state where the Premises are located of the existence of this Agreement.
  This Agreement shall not be recorded without the consent of Grantee.

17. NOTICES. Any notice
  required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
  delivered in person or sent by regular mail. Notices so mailed shall be deemed
  effective on the third business day after mailing. Until change of address is
  communicated, all notices shall be addressed to:

| | Grantor: | Prichard Creek Resource Partners LLC
| | -------- | ------------------------------------
| |          | P. O. Box 387                       
| |          | Murray, Idaho 83874                 
| |          |                                     
| | Grantee: | New Jersey Mining Company           
| |          | P.O. Box 1019                       
| |          | Kellogg, Idaho 83837                

18.GENERAL.

18.1 Modification. The
  parties hereto by mutual written agreement may, at any time and from time to
  time, amend this Agreement and any of the terms hereof.

18.2 Further Documents.
  The parties hereto further agree to execute all such further documents and do
  all such further things as may be necessary to give full effect to these presents.

18.3 Entire Agreement.
  This is the entire agreement between the parties and no modification shall be
  effective unless in writing and executed by the parties hereto.

18.4 Law. The terms and
  provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws
  of the state where the Premises are located.

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18.5 Signing. Each party
  may rely upon the signature of each other party on this Agreement, which is
  transmitted by facsimile as constituting a duly authorized, irrevocable, actual,
  current delivery of this Agreement with the original ink signature of the transmitting
  party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of the date above written.

|GRANTOR:                   | GRANTEE:                            
|-------------------------- | ------------------------------------
|                           |                                     
|PRICHARD CREEK RESOURCE    | NEW JERSEY MINING COMPANY           
|PARTNERS LLC               |                                     
|                           |                                     
|By: /s/ John W. Beasley    | By: /s/ Fred W. Brackebusch         
|John W. Beasley, Secretary | Fred W. Brackebusch,
      President



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|                   | STATE OF WISCONSIN | )
|------------------ | ------------------ | -
|                   | ) ss.              |  
|COUNTY OF Waushara | )                  |  
|                   |                   

On this 13thday of November, 2003, before me, the undersigned,
  a Notary Public in and for the State of Wisconsin, personally appeared John
  W. Beasley , known to me and to me known to be the Secretary of PRICHARD
  CREEK RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC, a corporation whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
  instrument and acknowledged to me that said individual executed the same.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
  my notarial seal the day in this certificate first above written.

| | Pamela Strey                            
| | ----------------------------------------
| | Notary Public for the State of Wisconsin
| | Residing at Fremont, WI                 
| | My commission expires: 09/19/04         

|STATE OF IDAHO     | )    
|------------------ | -----
|                   | ) ss.
|COUNTY OF SHOSHONE | )    

On this 7thday of November, 2003, before me, the undersigned,
  a Notary Public in and for the State of Idaho, personally appeared Fred W. Brackebusch
  , known to me and to me known to be the President of NEW JERSEY MINING
  COMPANY, a corporation whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument
  and acknowledged to me that said officer executed the same.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
  my notarial seal the day in this certificate first above written.

| | Debra L. Hammerberg                 
| | ------------------------------------
| | Notary Public for the State of Idaho
| | Residing at Mullan, Idaho           
| | My commission expires: 9/17/07      
| |                                     

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|EXHIBIT A
      PREMISES
|------------------------
|                        
|Claim Name              
|                        
|Patti B No. 1           
|Patti B No. 2           
|Patti B No. 3           
|Patti B No. 4           
|Patti B No. 5           
|Superintendent          
|Eveline                 
|                        
|EXHIBIT B               
|                        
|Mining Lease form       



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