Shear Diamonds has announced the 2011 work plan for its Jericho Diamond Mine in Canada's Nunavut territory.

Phase 1 called for an investment of $4.6 million to expand current resources at the Jericho kimberlite complex; explore for new diamondiferous kimberlites in the vicinity of Jericho; and begin work to determine whether the Jericho mine is economically feasible.

Shear has also hired Mineral Services Canada Inc (MSC) to help develop a new geological model for the Jericho property. MSC worked with Shear to identify diamond exploration priorities at the Churchill Diamond Project – one of the largest distributions of known kimberlites in Canada.

Shear Executive Chair Julie Lassonde said that the Jericho Diamond Mine was a "company-transforming acquisition" and that Shear was looking forward to a "pivotal" year.

The Jericho Mine – the first and to date only diamond mine in Nunavut – is one of a portfolio of eight diamond projects in Shear's portfolio, three of which are considered "advanced," with development potential.