Exhibit 23

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
Getchell Gold Corporation:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(No.  33-80335) on Form S-8 of Getchell Gold  Corporation - Getchell Gold 401(k)
Savings Plan of our report dated June 26, 1998, relating to the statement of net
assets  available for plan benefits of the Getchell Gold 401(k)  Savings Plan as
of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the related statement of changes in net assets
available  for plan benefits and related  schedules for the year ended  December
31, 1997,  which report  appears in the December 31, 1997 annual  report on Form
11-K of the Getchell Gold 401(k) Savings Plan.





                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Denver, Colorado
June 29, 1998

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