<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE EXPLORATION COMPANY AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 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> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 968516 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2253349 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3478199 <PP&E> 20484397 <DEPRECIATION> 6856345 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 17553815 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 5003793 <BONDS> 529742 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 159385 <OTHER-SE> 11860895 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 17553815 <SALES> 7497375 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7497375 <CGS> 4556988 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5999326 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 640396 <INCOME-PRETAX> 931545 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 931545 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 931545 <EPS-BASIC> .06 <EPS-DILUTED> .06