Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  ROYAL GOLD INC
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
03/05/2007		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Battle Mountain Gold Exploration Corp. [BMGX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1660 WYNKOOP STREET, SUITE 1000		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

DENVER, CO 80202-1132		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (right to buy) 03/05/2007 03/04/2008 Common Stock 16,774,192 $ (1) D  
Stock Options (right to buy) 03/05/2007 09/05/2007(2) Common Stock 16,582,940 $ (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
ROYAL GOLD INC
1660 WYNKOOP STREET
SUITE 1000
DENVER, CO 80202-1132		     X    

Signatures

Royal Gold, Inc. By: Karen Gross, Vice President and Corporate Secretary 03/15/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The exercise price is equal to 0.016925 shares of Royal Gold common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
(2) The options may expire at an earlier date. See Remarks below.
(3) The minimum exercise prise is equal to 0.016925 shares of Royal Gold common stock, par value $0.01 per share. See Remarks below.
 
Remarks:
Remarks:
On 3/5/07, Royal Gold, Inc. entered into a Support and Option Agreement with Mark D. Kucher ("Kucher Support Agreement") in connection with the Acquisition Proposal.  Pursuant to the Kucher Support Agreement, Kucher granted Royal Gold an irrevocable option to purchase his Common Stock at an exercise price per share of 0.016925 shares of Royal Gold common stock.  Royal Gold's option to purchase Kucher's shares will terminate upon the twelve-month anniversary of the Support Agreement.  The Kucher Support Agreement is described in and included as an exhibit to the Schedule 13D filed by Royal Gold with the SEC on 3/15/07.

On 3/5/07, Royal Gold, Inc. entered into a Support and Option Agreement with IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD Support Agreement") in connection with Royal Gold entering into a letter agreement making a proposal to acquire 100% of the equity of Battle Mountain Gold Exploration Corp. ("Battle Mountain") accepted 2/28/07 ("Acquisition Proposal").   Pursuant to the IAMGOLD Support Agreement, IAMGOLD granted Royal Gold an irrevocable option to purchase its Common Stock at an option price per share equal to the greater of (i) 0.016925 shares of Royal Gold common stock, (ii) the per share consideration offered pursuant to a superior proposal to acquire Battle Mountain and (iii) the highest price paid by Royal Gold to any other shareholder of Battle Mountain at any time during the ninety days prior to the date that the shareholders of Battle Mountain approve the Acquisition Proposal.  Royal Gold's option to purchase IAMGOLD's shares will terminate, unless previously exercised, upon the earlier of (i) 9/5/07, (ii) five business days after Royal Gold is notified of a superior proposal and (iii) the date on which the IAMGOLD Support Agreement with IAMGOLD terminates.  The IAMGOLD Support Agreement is described in and included as an exhibit to the Schedule 13D filed by Royal Gold with the SEC on 3/15/07.

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