Dia Bras Initiates Sampling of the La India Area at Its Cusi Property and Reports Bonanza Grades of Silver
TORONTO, ONTARIO- May 18, 2011) -Dia Bras Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DIB) ("Dia Bras" or the "Company") is pleased to report that following detailed geologic mapping in the La India area of its 100% owned Cusi Property, the Company has initiated underground sampling of portions of La Durana vein, which extends over 700 m on the surface and was an active area of historic mining. Bonanza grades of silver have been returned from recent underground sampling, as well as from the Company's 2006 drill holes (see Dia Bras news release of October 3, 2006)."La India is an important area for us," states Daniel Tellechea, President and CEO of Dia Bras. "We know that bonanza grades of silver occur in several portions of La Durana. Our objective is to develop La Durana to provide feed for our Malpaso Mill, which will be in addition to the feed from the Santa Eduwiges, Promontorio and San Juan mines. The Cusi area is a historic silver district that we believe has great potential to become once again a major silver producer, and Dia Bras controls the entire district."
The La India area is part of the Company's 11,319 hectare Cusi property. Dia Bras has been focusing its efforts on the Santa Eduwiges – San Juan portion of the property where multiple, silver-dominant veins intersect and conducting pilot-mining by sending mineralized rock to its 100% owned Malpaso Mill, which is located 35 km by road from Santa Eduwiges. Pilot-mining provides important information on metallurgy, recovery rates, mining and milling costs, etc., that is essential in determining the economic viability of a project.
Since early 2011, Dia Bras has accelerated its exploration of the La India area with the objective of initiating pilot-mining in this area, which will increase the tonnage of mineralized rock available to the Malpaso Mill.
Table 1 shows selected sample results from underground sampling of the La Durana vein:
Table 1. Sample Results from La Durana Vein at Level 1
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Sample # Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Vein Area Assay Lab
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379301 0.95 AP(i) 146 San Rafael Malpaso(ii)
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379302 0.50 AP 120 ' '
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379303 1.35 AP 115 ' '
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379304 1.00 AP 219 ' '
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379305 0.75 AP 139 ' '
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379311 0.80 AP 476 ' '
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379312 0.95 AP 8,344 ' '
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379441 2.05 0.138 574 La India Chemex
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379451 1.40 0.322 658 ' '
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379452 0.70 0.252 995 ' '
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379453 0.65 0.286 977 ' '
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379456 0.65 1.990 298 ' '
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(i) AP: Assays Pending
(ii) Malpaso: The Company's lab at the Malpaso Mill; samples have been
submitted to Chemex for confirmation.
Table 2 shows previously-reported assays from the Company's 2006 drill hole DC06B012 (October 3, 2006):
Table 2. Sample Results from 2006 drill hole DC06B012
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Sample # True Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Assay Lab
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606851 1.19 1.690 113 Chemex
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606852 0.34 0.008 35,442 '
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606853 1.02 0.253 819 '
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606854 0.85 0.025 397 '
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Length/Average 3.40 0.674 3,929
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A vein map of the La India-San Juan area is shown in Figure 1 (http://www.diabras.com/files/media/2e814_Vein%20map%20of%20La%20India%20to%20San%20Juan.png), while Figure 2 (http://www.diabras.com/files/media/259a8_Vein%20map%20of%20La%20Durana%20to%20Saturno.png) shows the La Durana-Saturno veins. Locations of the 2006 drill holes previously reported (October 3, 2006) are shown in Figure 3 (http://www.diabras.com/files/media/fe885_2006%20Drill%20hole%20location%20map.png). Sample results from Level 1 of the San Rafael portion of La Durana are shown in Figure 4 (http://www.diabras.com/files/media/3f0e6_La%20Durana%20San%20Rafael%20Sampling%20map%20Level1.png) and results from Level 1 of the La India portion of La Durana are shown in Figure 5 (http://www.diabras.com/files/media/dc693_La%20Durana%20La%20India%20Sampling%20map%20Level1.png).
Method of Analysis at the Malpaso Mill
The samples from the Cusi advanced development project are received at the Malpaso Mill assay laboratory and are dried. The samples are then split for primary and secondary grinding (crushing), divided into four parts and dried again before being pulverized. The samples are weighed with an analytical scale and a scale for fines. The samples are then analyzed by Atomic Absorption for Cu, Zn, Pb, Bi, Co, Mn, Sb, Cd and Fe and by fire assay for gold and silver. The Malpaso Mill assay laboratory follows the international compliance protocol Certificated Materials Reference standards (CCRMP) established by CANMET of Canada for blanks and sample duplicates.
Method of Analysis
Samples were prepared at the ALS Chemex lab facility in Chihuahua, Mexico, and analyzed by ICP and AA methods at their facilities in Vancouver, Canada. Diamond drill samples sent for analysis consisted of half NQ-size and BQ-size diamond core split on site, prepared by the ALS Chemex sample preparation laboratory in Chihuahua, Mexico, and assayed for Au by 50 g fire assay with AA finish, and for Ag by AA on 50 g split sample at the ALS Chemex North Vancouver Laboratory. Assays for Pb, Zn and Cu are analyzed by Induction Coupled Plasma (ICP) at ALS Chemex.
Quality Control
The quality assurance-quality control (QA-QC) of Dia Bras has been described in detail in both RPA's NI 43-101 reports of December 2006 at Cusi and October 2005 for Bolivar.
The technical content of this news release has been approved by Thomas L. Robyn, Ph.D., CPG, RPG, a Director of Dia Bras and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.
About Dia Bras
Dia Bras is a Canadian exploration mining company focused on precious and base metals in Chihuahua State and other areas of northern Mexico. The Company is pursuing the development and exploration of its most advanced assets - the Bolivar Property (copper-zinc-silver) and the Cusi Property (silver). Dia Bras is also exploring several precious metal targets such as La Cascada project at the Bolivar Property, the Las Coloradas project at Melchor Ocampo (Zacatecas State), the Bacerac Property (Sonora State) and the Corralitos, Satevo and La Verde projects at the Batopilas Property (Chihuahua State).
The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'DIB'.
Forward-looking Statements
Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release without limitation regarding new projects, acquisitions, future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contacts:
Dia Bras Exploration Inc.
Daniel Tellechea
President & CEO
1 (866) 493-9646
Dia Bras Exploration Inc.
Karl J. Boltz
Vice President, Corporate Development
1 (866) 493-9646
www.diabras.com