Exhibit 23(b) ------------- CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-14605, 33-22146, 33-47570, 33-53195, 333-14521 and 333-14523) and Form S-3 (No. 333-51701 and 333-88317) of Battle Mountain Gold Company of our report dated May 12, 2000 relating to the financial statements of Lihir Gold Limited, which appears on page 85 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers PricewaterhouseCoopers Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea November 22, 2000