(Adds details from Globe and Mail report, Newmont's response,...

(Adds details from Globe and Mail report, Newmont's response, background)

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Canada's Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO is exploring a hostile bid for Newmont Mining Corp NEM.N for about $19 billion in stock, potentially one of the largest mining deals ever, the Globe and Mail reported http//www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-barrick-eyes-hostile-bid-as-newmont-set-to-become-no-1-gold-producer on Thursday, citing industry sources familiar with the situation.

The paper said Barrick would also flip some of Newmont's assets to Australia's Newcrest Mining (NCM) .

Under the potential terms, Barrick would keep Newmont's Nevada and African mines, while Newcrest would take over its Australian operations, according to the report.

Barrick, which spent $6.1 billion on buying rival Randgold Resources last month, has formed new management teams and cut administrative costs as part of new Chief Executive Mark Bristow's plan to set the combined company firmly apart from peers.

Bristow had said on a post-earnings call that Barrick Gold would continue to look at M&A opportunities, but believes that the Canadian miner "has enough growth potential in-house."

Barrick faces stiff competition as it will cede its crown as the world's largest gold producer when Newmont closes its $10 billion buyout of smaller rival Goldcorp Inc G.TO ,

Bloomberg reported http//www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/barrick-gold-said-to-have-studied-offer-for-newmont-mining?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-canada&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_content=canada&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social on Thursday that Barrick has studied a bid for Newmont as it looks for ways to boost production, citing people familiar with the matter.

Newmont declined to comment, while Barrick did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.