Dia Bras Exploration has started operations at its new Piedras Verdes mill at the Bolivar Property in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The Piedras Verdes mill has a processing capacity of 1,000t a day and is currently operating at 850t a day.

Located 5km from the Bolivar property, the mill will process mineralised rock mined from the Bolivar Alta Ley, El Gallo, Increíble, and Narizona mines.

Dia Bras is also planning to increase the capacity of the mill to 2,000t a day by the third quarter of 2012, with an investment of $8.2m.

The construction to increase capacity of the mill will start in the first quarter of 2012 and will take eight months to complete.