Another way diamonds are brought to the surface is through erosion. Over time, geological processes wear away the Earth's crust, exposing the diamonds hidden deep underground. These diamonds, known as "secondary deposits," are often found in rivers, streams, and coastal areas where they have been carried by water. Once diamonds are brought to the surface, they are typically found in rough, uncut form. These rough diamonds must be carefully extracted and processed to reveal their full beauty and value. Diamond mining involves a variety of techniques, including open-pit mining, underground mining, and marine mining.