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                                                                     Exhibit 12
                          BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD COMPANY
        COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO
                 COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
                          (in thousands, except ratios)
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<CAPTION>
                                                                             Nine Months Ended          
                                                                               September 30,            
                                                                     ---------------------------------- 
                                                                         1996                   1995    
                                                                     -----------             ---------- 
<S>                                                                 <C>                      <C>        
EARNINGS COMPUTATION USING                                                                              
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA                                                                      
(Loss) Income before income taxes and minority interest             $  (26,453)              $ 47,442   
Minority interest in loss (income) of majority-owned subsidiaries       11,899                 (3,768)  
                                                                     ---------               --------   
(Loss) Income before income taxes                                      (14,554)                43,674   
                                                                     ---------               --------   
Add fixed charges included in (loss) income:                                                            
  Interest expense                                                       6,133                  5,460   
  Amortization of deferred financing costs                                 186                    156   
  Interest portion of rental expenses (33%)                              1,463                    679   
                                                                    ----------               --------   
   Sub-total fixed charges included in (loss) income                     7,782                  6,295   
                                                                    ----------               --------   
(Loss) Income                                                       $   (6,772)              $ 49,969   
                                                                    ==========               ========   
Fixed Charges                                                                                     
Included in (loss) income                                           $    7,782               $  6,295   
Capitalized interest                                                     4,492                  5,754   
                                                                     ---------               --------   
 Total fixed charges                                                    12,274                 12,049   
                                                                      --------                -------   
Preferred dividends                                                      2,222                  8,763   
                                                                     ---------               --------   
 Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends                      $  14,496               $ 20,812   
                                                                      ========                =======   
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                                           -                   4.15   
                                                                                                        
Amount by which fixed charges exceed earnings                       $   19,046                      -   
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges                                                             
  and preferred dividends                                                    -                   2.40   
                                                                                                        
Amount by which combined fixed charges and                                                                                         
  preferred dividends exceed earnings                                $  21,268                      -   
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