For Immediatee Release TSX Venture Exchange - DIB No. 24-2012 DIA BRAS DRILLING PROGRAMME CONTINUE ES TO EXPAND AND CLARIFY THE SILVER DISSEMINATED MINERALISATION AT ITS PROMONTORIO MINE (CUSI PROPERTY) AND IS DISCOVERING STRUCTURESS INSIDE THE DISSEMINATED ZONE WITH HIGHH SILVER GRADES Toronto, Ontario, July 17, 2012 - Dia Bras Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:DIB)) ( Dia Bras or the Company ) is pleased to report that continued drilling from surface at its Promontorio mine has expanded the wide zones of disseminatedd silver mineralization at the Promontorio mine. Thee extent of the disseminated mineralized zone is becoming clearer and illustrates the significant potential of this discovery. Press Release Highlights: The Company s geologists infer that the disseminated zonee could extend over an area of at least 150 m x 200-300 m, indicating major volume potential. Drill hole DC12B476 at the Promontorio mine cut 8.3 m averaging 1,296 g/t Ag within a 23 m zone averaging 543 g/t Ag within a second-order vein in the disseminated zone. DC07B151 drilled in 2007 cut the same vein 250 m below the surface with 15 m averaging 528 g/ /t Ag, demonstrating the down-dip continuity of this high-grade structure inside the disseminated zone. Since the disseminated zone was recognized, the Companyy has completed 47 surface and 12 underground drill holes in the zone and has conducted rehabilitation off the Promontorio shaft and historical underground workings. During the period January-June, the Company completed 15,129 m of diamond drilling, 619 m of underground drilling at Promontorio mine and 14,510 m off surface drilling on four targets. As our drilling and development continue, we are especially excited about the tremendous upside potential of the Promontorio disseminated zone, stated Daniel Tellechea, President and CEO of Dia Bras Exploration. The remarkably high grades in structures inside the disseminated zone and the larger, overall size of the zone, prove that our recent strategy of a more aggressive explorationn and development program for our Cusi silver property is yielding positive surprises and is proving to have been the right strategy to add shareholder value through organic growth. We are rehabilitating the old workings in this areaa and developing new drilll stations that will allow us to drilll at tighter spacing and determine our developmentt and mine plan for this important discovery. This discovery is significant to Dia Bras becausee it is in an historic mine with underground infrastructure near the areas of disseminated mineralization. The Company will continue its pilot-mining operations at Cusi and plans to releasee a NI 43-101 resource report in late 2012 or early 2013. Promontorioo Disseminated Zone: The Promontorio disseminated zone was first recognized in late summer, 2011 (see press release of September 14, 2011). Since then, the Company has completed 47 surface and 12 underground drill holes in the zone (totaling 9875.5 m and 607.2 m, respectively) and has conducted rehabilitation of the Promontorio shaft and
historical underground workings. Development continues, especially the extension of the ramp from Level 4 with the objective of providing access to the zone for pilot mining and for constructing drill stations that are better positioned to define the zone. The disseminated zone is bounded by the Cusi Fault and occurs in and around the Promontorio Main Vein and several of its subsidiary veins, such as veins J and L, which have strike lengths of hundreds of meters. These veins strike more or less NE and truncate against the NW-trending Cusi Fault (see Figure 1). It is now recognized that between these veins are second-order veins that strike generally E-W but have short strike lengths, on the order of less than 25 m up to100 m. These veins are distributed in a relatively random pattern. These second-order veins and the mm-scale fractures that are more or less parallel to them provided the fluid pathways for the mineralizing hydrothermal fluids that created the disseminated zone. As a result of the random nature of the second-order veins, interpreting their drill intercepts is difficult because a vein may only show up on a single section and pinch out before it reaches the next section 25 m away. Figure 2 is a cross section showing one of these second-order veins and its envelope of disseminated mineralization. Drilling has identified other second-order veins of short strike length, which are shown on Figure 3. The vein in Figure 2 has a short strike length (not defined but probably about 100 m) but varies in width from 10 to 20 m. The vein has been drilled to a depth of 250 m below the surface and is open to depth. More holes at a tight spacing are required to define this vein. It is worth repeating that drill hole DC12B476 cut this second-order vein in the disseminated zone and averaged 1,296 g/t Ag over 8.3 m within 23 m interval averaging 543 g/t Ag. Figure 3 is a plan view of Level 8 of the Promontorio Mine that shows the known limit of the disseminated zone at its southwestern edge and where it is open to the northeast towards and along the Cusi Fault. The vein of Figure 2 can be seen on Figure 3, within the disseminated zone. Although significant drilling remains to be done to determine the limits of the disseminated zone towards the Cusi Fault and to the NW and SE, the Company s geologists believe the volume potential of this zone is large. As shown in Figure 3, the zone has a minimum width of approximately 100 m and is open towards and along the Cusi Fault, an observation that supports the interpretation by the Company s geologists that the zone could extend NW-SE for 200-300 m. Drilling has already shown that the zone extends vertically at least 250 m. Because of the zone s potential size, many holes will have to be drilled to define it. Drill stations planned along the ramp from Level 4 will provide better positions for drilling. Drilling Results Significant results from surface and underground drill holes at Promontorio are presented in Tables 1 & 2, from El Gallo in Table 3, and from Santa Eduwiges in Table 4. Table 1: Summary of Promontorio Surface Drill Results Hole From Core Est. True To (m) Number* (m) Length (m) Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Mn % DC07B151 181.5 196.5 15.0 12.4 nd** 528 0.27 0.21 1.16 428 63.0 93.0 30.0 0.005 63 0.05 0.06 0.76 432 75.0 78.2 3.2 0.023 622 0.66 0.67 0.44 455 93.75 94.45 0.7 0.7 0.169 1,720 0.01 0.02 0.03 465 126.50 132.85 6.35 3.2 0.030 535 0.32 1.12 0.24 and 157.4 161.6 4.2 2.1 0.005 65 0.12 0.10 0.15 and 167.3 216.45 49.15 31.6 0.037 98 0.23 0.26 0.66 and 318.2 329.2 11.0 7.0 0.143 118 0.28 0.41 0.47 470 187.5 201.7 14.2 10.9 0.089 187 0.19 0.32 0.27 472 204.0 219.6 15.6 14.3 0.062 215 0.45 0.49 0.95
and 298.9 303.7 4.8 4.5 0.093 150 1.17 1.96 0.83 476 142.1 165.0 22.9 21.0 0.067 543 0.15 0.13 0.89 incl. 143.9 152.2 8.3 7.6 0.150 1,296 0.27 0.21 1.33 482 255.1 270.2 15.1 11.2 0.131 73 0.76 0.74 0.28 484 118.4 139.1 20.7 19.4 0.023 94 0.09 0.11 0.84 485 124.4 128.7 4.3 3.5 0.052 76 0.75 0.52 0.28 and 135.5 143.5 8.0 5.0 0.059 82 0.40 1.32 0.42 488 121.5 123.8 2.3 0.029 124 0.13 0.12 0.40 and 133.7 146.6 12.9 9.1 0.027 63 0.09 0.09 0.10 492 188.6 224.5 35.9 17.0 0.048 101 0.44 0.42 0.92 493 122.1 124.9 2.8 0.079 335 0.78 0.77 0.03 and 135.4 136.6 1.2 0.080 1,120 0.21 0.51 0.04 497 177.6 184.1 6.5 0.009 94 0.12 0.17 0.77 and 199.4 203.7 4.3 0.012 50 0.09 0.10 0.43 and 216.1 221.0 4.9 0.175 162 1.79 1.11 0.36 and 253.8 266.7 12.9 0.087 53 0.17 0.41 0.33 * All holes have prefix DC12B except DC07B151 (results published January 30, 2008) ** nd = not determined Table 2: Summary of Promontorio Underground Drill Results Hole From Core Est. True To (m) Number* (m) Length (m) Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Mn % 111 19.9 23.5 3.6 0.033 340 0.75 0.59 1.31 and 58.5 69.5 11.0 0.041 136 0.05 0.08 1.07 and 72.0 75.0 3.0 nd** 78 0.07 0.03 0.01 113 9.0 11.4 2.4 nd 124 0.08 0.25 2.94 and 23.4 25.8 2.4 0.026 209 0.20 0.23 0.83 114 30.0 32.4 2.4 nd 445 0.35 0.49 2.02 115 11.2 13.1 1.9 0.032 132 0.16 0.29 1.45 117 33.0 36.0 3.0 nd 112 0.07 0.06 0.17 118 28.5 40.5 12.0 nd 60 0.04 0.08 0.38 * All holes have prefix DC12M ** nd = not determined Table 3: Summary of El Gallo Surface Drill Results Hole From Core Est. True To (m) Number* (m) Length (m) Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Mn % 445 3.55 13.85 10.3 7.9 0.083 186 0.14 0.03 0.07 and 68.85 71.50 2.65 0.9 0.334 330 0.18 0.92 0.03 447 10.2 19.1 8.9 2.5 0.094 211 0.11 0.05 0.04 and 60.6 63.0 2.4 1.2 0.075 116 0.10 0.09 0.02 and 75.0 78.0 3.0 2.3 0.105 123 0.04 0.15 0.08 467 35.2 41.1 5.9 0.021 72 0.02 0.02 0.02 and 50.3 51.4 1.1 0.747 766 0.31 0.09 0.02 and 74.3 76.1 1.8 0.010 222 0.03 0.12 0.09 and 98.3 99.1 0.8 0.168 955 0.12 0.11 0.05 473 61.5 64.5 3.0 0.025 113 0.07 0.11 1.41 and 93.0 99.0 6.0 0.012 105 0.04 0.07 0.84
* All holes have prefix DC12B Table 4: Summary of Santa Eduwiges Surface Drill Results Hole From Core Est. True To (m) Number* (m) Length (m) Width (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Mn % 441 143.05 156.75 13.7 8.0 0.057 126 0.66 0.43 0.23 and 171.9 173.0 1.1 0.8 0.206 129 0.18 0.24 0.59 and 188.05 196.7 8.65 6.6 0.695 345 1.47 0.95 0.65 and 198.0 199.0 1.0 0.6 1.500 477 0.76 0.65 0.44 444 178.40 181.65 3.25 0.115 114 0.69 0.89 0.14 446 133.2 136.2 3.0 1.5 0.839 258 0.21 0.13 0.39 and 148.7 151.7 3.0 2.1 0.665 278 0.30 0.26 1.09 448 186.0 198.6 12.6 8.0 0.196 161 1.83 1.52 0.34 454 103.75 115.00 11.25 0.037 55 0.17 0.30 0.32 466 89.4 93.5 4.1 0.023 67 0.24 0.27 0.95 468 173.3 174.0 0.7 0.155 1,215 10.05 19.70 0.71 and 379.5 380.7 1.2 0.163 771 0.14 0.26 0.58 477 121.25 130.40 9.15 4.0 0.093 78 0.32 0.58 0.66 and 137.2 141.5 4.3 2.5 0.435 352 7.25 1.45 1.44 479 77.3 78.7 1.4 0.6 0.178 239 3.51 5.39 0.49 and 126.9 128.2 1.3 1.0 0.025 215 1.58 4.32 0.28 and 141.0 142.5 1.5 0.5 0.045 137 2.03 5.35 0.10 and 157.8 172.8 15.0 8.5 0.022 83 0.35 0.75 0.19 486 57.9 58.5 0.6 1.957 2,297 0.07 0.11 0.80 and 109.0 109.5 0.5 0.3 0.102 1,370 0.66 1.20 0.67 and 149.7 152.2 2.5 1.5 0.251 140 0.20 0.05 0.95 * All holes have prefix DC12B Cusi Pilot Mining Update: During June, the Company s wholly-owned Malpaso mill processed 4,641 tonnes of development rock averaging 204.4 g/t Ag. Pilot mining provides important information on metallurgy, recovery rates, mining and milling costs, etc., that are essential in determining the economic viability of a project. Development of the Promontorio and Santa Eduwiges mines continues. During the month of June, development at Santa Eduwiges was done on Levels 7.5, 8.5 & 10, three stopes were started, and Ramp 9384 SW was advanced 46 m at -12% from Level 10 towards Level 11. At Promontorio, a contractor was engaged to extend the ramp from Level 4 to Level 9 and to clean and rehabilitate the Promontorio shaft from Level 9 to Level 11. The table below shows the results from sampling of veins along the development drifts: Mine Level Heading Length Avg. Vein Sampled (m) Width (m) Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Promontorio 9 Fte 986 SW 18.0 5.0 152 0.19 0.22 Santa Eduwiges 7 Fte 256 SE 20.0 1.81 181 2.70 5.27 7.5 Fte 604 SW 22.0 1.30 329 1.12 0.98 7.5 Fte 440 NE 23.0 0.97 380 pending pending
8.5 Fte 420 NE 23.0 1.08 552 0.40 0.55 8.5 Reb 672 SW 25.0 1.14 478 1.44 2.23 8.5 Fte 9375 SW 13.0 1.35 267 0.99 0.61 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 NQsize 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 Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. About Dia Bras Dia Bras Exploration is a Canadian mining company focused on precious and base metals in Chihuahua State, other areas of northern Mexico, and most recently at its Yauricocha silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold mine in Peru. The Company is accelerating exploration at the Yauricocha property as well as pursuing the development and exploration of its most advanced Mexican assets the Bolivar Property (copper-zinc-silver) and the Cusi Property (silver-lead) and is exploring in Mexico several precious metal targets such as La Sidra gold project at the Bolivar Property, Las Coloradas silver project at Melchor Ocampo (Zacatecas State), the Bacerac silver project (Sonora State), and the La Verde gold project at the Batopilas Property (Chihuahua State). Dia Bras is also exploring base metal projects in Mexico such as the Corralitos intrusion-hosted molybdenum deposit (Chihuahua State). The Company s shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol DIB. For further information on Dia Bras Exploration Inc. visit www.diabras.com or contact: Daniel Tellechea President & CEO Dia Bras Exploration Inc. 1 (866) 493-9646 Matt Morrish Director, Investor Relations Dia Bras Exploration Inc. 1 (866) 493-9646 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. 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.
Figure 1: Cusi Project Map View
Figure 2: Cross Section Showing disseminatedd silver mineralization. Second-Order Vein in Disseminated Zone and its envelope of
Figure 3: Map of Level 8 showing vein of Figure 2, otherr second-order veins and contours of silver content. Disseminated zone closed off to SW but open elsewhere.