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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                         [WHITE & CASE LLP LETTERHEAD]


July 15, 1998


Newmont Mining Corporation
1700 Lincoln Street
Denver, Colorado  80203

Dear Sirs:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), in the form in which it is to be filed today by Newmont
Mining Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Newmont"), with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") relating to (i) shares of common stock,
par value $1.60 per share, of Newmont (the "Common Shares"), which include
preferred stock purchase rights (the "Rights") which, prior to the occurrence of
certain events, will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common
Shares, (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $5.00 per share, of Newmont
(the "Preferred Shares"), which may be convertible into Common Shares, (iii)
depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares") evidenced by depositary receipts
(the "Depositary Receipts") which will represent fractional interests in
Preferred Shares and (iv) warrants to purchase Common Shares (the "Warrants").
The Common Shares, the Preferred Shares, the Depositary Shares and the Warrants
are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities". The Securities are
being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act. The aggregate public offering price of the Securities
will not exceed $341,225,825.

         The Warrants are to be issued pursuant to the terms of a Warrant
Agreement (the "Warrant Agreement"), in the form filed as Exhibit 4.9 to the
Registration Statement, between Newmont and a bank or trust company to be named
by Newmont (the "Warrant Agent"). The Depositary Receipts evidencing Depositary
Shares are to be issued under a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement"), in
the form filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement, between Newmont and
a bank or trust company to be named by Newmont (the "Depositary"). The Rights
will be issued pursuant to a 


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Newmont Mining Corporation
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Rights Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1990, as amended (the "Preferred Stock
Rights Agreement"), between Newmont and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as
successor Rights Agent.

         Based upon our examination of such documents, certificates, records,
authorizations and proceedings as we have deemed relevant, it is our opinion
that:

         1. With respect to the Common Shares, when (a) the issuance of the 
Common Shares has been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, (b) the
certificates for the Common Shares have been duly executed by Newmont,
countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and duly delivered to the
purchasers thereof against payment therefor, (x) the Common Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (y) the Rights, if any,
included with the Common Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued.

         2. With respect to the Preferred Shares, when (a) the issuance of the 
Preferred Shares has been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, (b)
the Certificate of Designations establishing the terms of the Preferred Shares
has been duly approved by appropriate corporate action, duly executed by Newmont
and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (c) the
certificates for the Preferred Shares have been duly executed by Newmont,
countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and delivered to the purchasers
thereof against payment therefor, and (d) if the Preferred Shares are
convertible into Common Shares, (i) the issuance of such Common Shares has been
duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, (ii) the Preferred Shares are
presented for conversion in accordance with the terms thereof and (iii) the
certificates for such Common Shares have been duly executed by Newmont,
countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and duly delivered upon such
conversion to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with the terms of such
Preferred Shares, (x) the Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and (y) if the Preferred Shares are convertible into Common
Shares, the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the Rights, if any, included
with the Common Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued.

         3. With respect to the Depositary Shares, when (a) the Deposit 
Agreement pursuant to which the Depositary Receipts are to be issued has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by Newmont and the Depositary, (b) the
issuance of the Preferred Shares underlying the Depositary Shares has been duly
authorized by appropriate corporate action, (c) the Certificate of Designations
establishing the terms of the Preferred Shares has been duly approved by
appropriate corporate action, duly executed by Newmont and filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (d) the certificates for the
Preferred Shares have been duly executed by Newmont, countersigned by the
transfer agent therefor and deposited pursuant to the Deposit Agreement in
exchange for the Depositary Receipts, (e) the Depositary Receipts have been duly
executed by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor,
and (f) if the Preferred Shares are convertible into Common Shares, (i) the
issuance of such Common Shares has been duly authorized by 


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Newmont Mining Corporation
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appropriate corporate action, (ii) the Preferred Shares are presented for
conversion in accordance with the terms thereof and (iii) the certificates for
such Common Shares have been duly executed by Newmont, countersigned by the
transfer agent therefor and duly delivered upon such conversion to the persons
entitled thereto in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares, (x) the
Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to
the rights specified in the Depositary Receipts and in the Depositary Agreement;
(y) the Preferred Shares represented by such Depositary Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and (z) if the Preferred Shares
represented by such Depositary Shares are convertible into Common Shares, the
Common Shares issuable upon conversion of such Preferred Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the Rights, if any, included with the
Common Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued.

         4. With respect to the Warrants, when (a) the Warrant Agreement 
pursuant to which the Warrants are to be issued has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by Newmont and the Warrant Agent, (b) the issuance of the
Warrants, and the issuance of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants, have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, (c) the
certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed by Newmont and
countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the
Warrant Agreement and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment
therefor, (d) the Warrants are duly exercised, and the exercise price therefor
paid, in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agreement,
and (e) the certificates for the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants have been duly executed by Newmont, countersigned by the transfer agent
therefor and duly delivered to the persons entitled thereto upon such exercise,
(x) the Warrants will be valid and legally binding obligations of Newmont,
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general
equitable principles (regardless of whether the issue of enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (y) the Common Shares issued
upon exercise of the Warrants will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and the Rights, if any, included with the Common Shares will be
duly authorized and validly issued.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm appearing under the
caption "Validity of Securities" in the Prospectus forming part of the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.

                                            Very truly yours,



                                            /s/ White & Case LLP

MSB:JMC