<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY AUDITED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000313395
<NAME>                        THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         2951691
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2027103
<ALLOWANCES>                                   27026
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               5092944
<PP&E>                                         18004944
<DEPRECIATION>                                 5035892
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 18431560
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          5225784
<BONDS>                                        242470
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       159385
<OTHER-SE>                                     12803921
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   18431560
<SALES>                                        2799677
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2994942
<CGS>                                          1068493
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1961910
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (16404)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             106410
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                943026
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            943026
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   943026
<EPS-BASIC>                                  .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .06