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                                                                  Exhibit 10(l)

                        AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES

         THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into effective as of May 1, 1999,
by and between BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD COMPANY, a Nevada corporation with its
principal office at 333 Clay Street, 42nd Floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), and Mr. Karl E. Elers, an
individual residing at 8911 Limerick, Houston, Texas 77024.

                               W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Mr. Elers has been employed by the Company from May 11,
1987 through February 28, 1997; and

         WHEREAS, during Mr. Elers' service with the Company, he has
developed experience, knowledge and unique relationships and skills that are
valuable to the Company; and

         WHEREAS, Mr. Elers separated from active employment with the Company
effective on February 28, 1997; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage Mr. Elers as a consultant on
the terms and conditions set forth below in order to retain access to his
experience, knowledge and unique relationships and skills; and

         WHEREAS, Mr. Elers desires to be engaged as a consultant to the
Company on the terms and conditions set forth below;

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises and
agreement set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. ENGAGEMENT AS CONSULTANT: The Company agrees to retain the
services of Mr. Elers as an independent consultant and Mr. Elers agrees to
render consulting services for the period described in Paragraph 3 hereof and
upon the other terms and conditions herein provided.

         2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONSULTANT: During the period of this
Agreement, Mr. Elers shall act as an independent contractor and agrees to
render to the Company and its affiliates consulting services. During the term
of this Agreement, Mr. Elers shall, at reasonable times and places, hold
himself available to consult with and advise the officers, directors and
other representatives of the Company. Mr. Elers shall use his best
professional skills in rendering the desired services to the Company and
shall be free to use his judgment and discretion as to the methods to be used
in performance of such services. The Company agrees that it shall have no
right to control or direct the details, manner or means by which Mr. Elers
accomplishes the results of the services performed hereunder. Subject to the
reasonable requests and deadlines of the Company, Mr. Elers shall retain
discretion to set his own schedule for the performance of such services and
shall have no obligation to work any particular hours or days. Mr. Elers
shall

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retain the right to contract for similar services with other businesses or
with individuals. Mr. Elers shall also retain the right to accept employment
with any entity.

         3. TERM OF AGREEMENT. The term of this Agreement shall be for a
period of eight (8) months beginning as of May 1, 1999 and ending December
31, 1999; provided, however, that the term of this Agreement shall be subject
to the provisions of Paragraph 5 (termination for cause). In addition, the
Company may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days notice to Mr.
Elers. The term of this Agreement may also be shortened or extended by mutual
written consent of the parties.

         4. COMPENSATION. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid $14,500
per month from May 1, 1999 to July 23, 1999 and $20,000 per month from July
23, 1999 and thereafter to or on behalf of Mr. Elers for the performance of
his consulting services subject to the provisions of Paragraph 5 hereunder.
The Company shall also reimburse Mr. Elers, promptly after receipt of
appropriate receipts and documentation, for all of his expenses, including
meals, lodging, transportation, phone and other out-of-pocket expenses,
reasonably incurred in connection with his performance of services under this
Agreement. Mr. Elers shall be reimbursed at the standard mileage rate
established by the Internal Revenue Service for use of his personal
automobile. Such amounts shall be paid by the Company to Mr. Elers in a
manner mutually agreeable to both parties.

         5. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT FOR CAUSE. If, during the term of this
Agreement, this Agreement is terminated by the Company for cause as defined
in this Paragraph 5, then all payments of compensation under this Agreement
shall be forfeited, except Mr. Elers shall thereafter be entitled to
compensation as described in Paragraph 4 hereof for service rendered under
this Agreement prior to the date of termination.

         Termination by the Company for "cause" shall mean termination by
action of the President of the Company because of the failure of Mr. Elers to
fulfill his obligations under this Agreement or because of serious willful
misconduct by Mr. Elers in respect of his obligations under this Agreement,
such as, for example, the commission by Mr. Elers of a felony or the
perpetration by Mr. Elers of a common-law fraud against the Company.

         6. DEATH OR DISABILITY. If, before December 31, 1999, Mr. Elers
dies, or becomes totally and permanently disabled, the Company shall be
obligated to pay (in the case of death) to his beneficiary or beneficiaries
designated in writing, or to his estate in the absence or lapse of such
designation, or (in the case of such disability) to Mr. Elers or his
representative, the compensation to which he is entitled under Paragraph 4
hereof for service rendered under this Agreement through the date of his
death or his total and permanent disability. For purposes hereof, "total and
permanent disability" means inability to perform the services required
hereunder due to physical or mental disability. Evidence of such disability
shall be certified by a physician acceptable to both the Company and Mr.
Elers.

         7. STATUS OF BENEFIT PLANS. This Agreement shall not entitle Mr.
Elers to participate in any executive compensation, pension, profit-sharing
or similar plan, policy or program or any

                      Agreement for Consulting Services
                                  Page 2 of 6

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welfare plan, policy or program of the Company now existing or hereafter
adopted for the benefit of its employees.

         8. INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall not withhold any
federal, state, city or other taxes from any compensation payable under this
Agreement. Mr. Elers shall be solely and wholly responsible for payment of
all taxes related to payments made by the Company to or for the benefit of
Mr. Elers under this Agreement.

         9. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS. Nothing in this
Agreement shall preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or
with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another
corporation which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings
of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or transfer of
assets and assumption, the term "Company" as used herein, shall mean such
other corporation and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

         10. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS. All payments provided in this Agreement
shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special
or separate funds shall be established and no other segregation of assets
shall be made to assure payment. Mr. Elers shall have no right, title or
interest whatever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid
the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. Nothing contained in this
Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to this provision, shall create or be
construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between
the Company and Mr. Elers or any other person. To the extent that any person
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such rights
shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

         11. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

                  (a) NONASSIGNABILITY. Neither this Agreement nor any right or
         interest hereunder shall be assignable by Mr. Elers, his beneficiaries
         or legal representatives without the Company's prior written consent;
         provided, however, nothing in this Paragraph 11(a) shall preclude (i)
         Mr. Elers from designating a beneficiary to receive any payment
         hereunder upon his death, or (ii) the executors, administrators or
         other legal representatives of Mr. Elers or his estate from assigning
         any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereunto.

                  (b) NO ATTACHMENT. Except as required by law, no right to
         receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation,
         commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge,
         hypothecation, execution, attachment, levy or similar process or
         assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or
         involuntary, to effect such action shall be null, void and of no
         effect.

                  (c) BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
         inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns
         (including, without limitations, any company into or with which the
         Company may merge or consolidate). The Company agrees that it will not
         effect the sale or other disposition of substantially all of its assets
         unless either (i) the person or entity acquiring such assets or a
         substantial portion thereof

                      Agreement for Consulting Services
                                  Page 3 of 6

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         shall expressly assume by an instrument in writing all duties and
         obligations of the Company hereunder or (ii) the Company shall provide,
         through the establishment of a separate reserve therefor, for the
         payment in full of all amounts which are or which may reasonably be
         expected to become payable to Mr. Elers hereunder.

         12.      MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

                  (a) AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement may not be modified
         or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties
         hereto.

                  (b) WAIVER. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be
         deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be an estoppel against the
         enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written
         instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such
         written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically
         stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the
         specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
         such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that
         specifically waived.

         13. HEADINGS. The headings of Paragraphs herein are included solely
for convenience and reference and shall not control the meaning or
interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

         14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement has been executed in Houston,
Texas, and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Texas. For the purposes of this
Agreement, a signed facsimile shall constitute an original.

         15. CONFIDENTIALITY. In providing consulting services to the
Company, Mr. Elers will become acquainted with information proprietary to the
Company. Mr. Elers agrees to maintain such information and any materials
provided to him in confidence and, upon termination of this Agreement, to
return to the Company all Company materials in his possession and thereafter
not to divulge or to disclose any information acquired from the Company to
other parties without the express written consent of the Company. Mr. Elers
will be excused from this obligation with respect to any information which
shall become part of the public domain other than through a breach of this
confidentiality obligation following the termination of this Agreement. This
provision shall survive for a period of two (2) years after the termination
of this Agreement.

                      Agreement for Consulting Services
                                  Page 4 of 6

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, and Mr. Elers has signed this Agreement, all as of the day first
above written.

                             BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD COMPANY

                             By: /s/ John A. Keyes
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Name: John A. Keyes
                                 Title: President and Chief Operating Officer

ATTEST:




/s/ Greg V. Etter
--------------------------
Name: Greg V. Etter
Title: Vice President,
       General Counsel


                             /s/ Karl E. Elers
                             -------------------------------------------------
                             Karl E. Elers


                      Agreement for Consulting Services
                                  Page 5 of 6

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[Letterhead]

                                 March 20, 2000

Mr. Karl E. Elers
Battle Mountain Gold Company
333 Clay Street, 42nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Re:  Agreement for Consulting Services dated May 1, 1999

Dear Karl:

This letter serves as our mutual consent pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the
above-referenced agreement to extend the term of such agreement on a
month-to-month basis effective January 1, 2000, subject to the termination
provision therein.

                               Sincerely,

                               BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD COMPANY



                               /s/ John A. Keyes
                               -------------------------------------------
                               John A. Keyes
                               President and Chief Operating Officer


ATTEST:

/s/ Greg V. Etter
----------------------------------------
Greg Etter
Vice President, General Counsel
   And Corporate Secretary