National News
15-year study details origins, diversity of every known mineral

A 15-year study led by the Carnegie Institution for Science details the origins and diversity of every known mineral on the Earth, a landmark body of work that will help reconstruct the history of life on the earth, guide the search for new minerals and ore deposits, predict possible characteristics of future life, and aid the search for habitable planets and extraterrestrial life.
In twin papers published by American Mineralogist and sponsored in part by NASA, Carnegie scientists Robert Hazen and Shaunna Morrison detail a novel approach to clustering (lumping) kindred species of minerals together or splitting off new species based on when and how they originated.
Once mineral genesis is factored in, the number of “mineral kinds” — a newly-coined term — totals more than 10,500, a number about 75 per cent greater than the roughly 6,000 mineral species recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) on the basis of crystal structure and chemical composition alone.
“This work fundamentally changes our view of the diversity of minerals on the planet,” says Hazen, Staff Scientist with the Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington DC.
“For example, more than 80 per cent of earth’s minerals were mediated by water, which is, therefore, fundamentally important to mineral diversity on this planet. By extension, this explains one of the key reasons why the moon and mercury and even mars have far fewer mineral species than the earth.”
“The work also tells us something very profound about the role of biology,” he adds. “One third of earth’s minerals could not have formed without biology — shells and bones and teeth, or microbes, for example, or the vital indirect role of biology, such as by creating an oxygen-rich atmosphere that led to 2,000 minerals that wouldn’t have formed otherwise.”
“Each mineral specimen has a history. Each tells a story. Each is a time capsule that reveals earth’s past as nothing else can.”
According to the paper, nature created 40 per cent of earth’s mineral species in more than one way — for example, both abiotically and with a helping hand from cells — and in several cases used more than 15 different recipes to produce the same crystal structure and chemical composition.
Of the 5,659 recognized mineral species surveyed by Hazen and colleagues, nine came into being via 15 or more different physical, chemical and/or biological processes — everything from near-instantaneous formation by lightning or meteor strikes, to changes caused by water-rock interactions or transformations at high pressures and temperature spanning hundreds of millions of years.
And, as if to show she has a sense of humour, nature has used 21 different ways over the last 4.5 billion years to create pyrite (aka Fool’s Gold) — the mineral world’s champion of diverse origins.
Pyrite forms at high temperature and low, with and without water, with the help of microbes and in harsh environments where life plays no role whatsoever.
Composed of one part iron to two parts sulfide (FeS2), pyrite is derived and delivered via meteorites, volcanoes, hydrothermal deposits, by pressure between layers of rock, near-surface rock weathering, microbially-precipitated deposits, several mining-associated processes, including coal mine fires, and many other means.
To reach their conclusions, Hazen and Morrison built a database of every known process of formation of every known mineral.
Relying on large, open-access mineral databases, amplified by thousands of primary research articles on the geology of mineral localities around the world, they identified 10,556 different combinations of minerals and modes of formation, detailed in the paper, “On the paragenetic modes of minerals: A mineral evolution perspective.”
National News
Western Railway Announces 4-Hour Jumbo Block Between Vasai Road & Virar On September 20-21 Night

To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of four hours will be taken on UP and DOWN slow lines between Vasai Road and Virar station from 00.15 hrs to 04.15 hrs during the intervening night of Saturday/Sunday, 20th/21st September, 2025.
According to Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek during the block period, all Slow lines suburban trains will be run on fast lines between Vasai Road and Virar station.
Some suburban trains will remain cancelled during the block. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned Station Masters.
*Therefore, there will be NO BLOCK in DAY TIME over Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, 21st September, 2025.*
National News
Palghar: 12 Year Delay Over Extra High-Voltage Substation In Chikhal Dongre; Activists Raise Concern

Palghar: While the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has been allocated the plot at Chikhal Dongre, virar west, to build an Extra High Voltage (EHV) sub-station, it’s been around five years since the ownership is still with the state government.
MSETCL officials confirmed that the tender process for the EHV substation has already been initiated and that efforts are underway to formally take over the plot. However, the delay has raised eyebrows, especially since the project has been pending for over 12 years. Activists allege that the long delay in setting up the EHV has put enormous stress on existing feeders, which are running at full capacity and frequently overloaded.
They also point out that several construction approvals (thousands of new meter connections) in Virar were granted based on this proposed EHV station, making the project crucial for the area’s growing residential and commercial needs.
In September 2013, MSETCL planned a 220/22 kV substation at Chikhal Dongre, Virar West, costing around 12.34 crores. In January 2020, they were allocated a 23000 square meter plot, but ownership remains with the state government, according to Yogesh Vaidya from Swaraj Abhiyan NGO.
He claims the delay in erecting substations has led to excessive load on existing infrastructure due to increased connections in Virar West. A senior MSETCL officer stated that a work order has been issued and the process for obtaining plot ownership is underway, with plans to commission the substation.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Peaceful protest at Mumbai Handiwali Mosque, Muslims are ready to die for their Holy Prophet PBUH, case against Muslim youths should be withdrawn: Raza Academy

he streets and mosques of Mumbai and Maharashtra echoed with the slogans of “Come, Muhammad” when a case was registered in UP for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad”. Throughout Maharashtra, lovers of the Prophet staged a peaceful protest, during which police arrangements were also deployed. After a case was filed against 25 Muslim youth for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad” on Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the name of Muhammad (PBUH) is trending on social media around the world. Muslims in Mumbai and Maharashtra also held peaceful protests after Friday prayers against this action of the UP police. In this protest, Muslims have demanded that the action taken by the police is wrong and that they should withdraw the case and apologize to the Muslim youth. Here, in the Handi Wali Mosque, the preacher and Imam Maulana Ijaz Kashmiri said that the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is famous in the world and Muslims follow their master. The way an FIR has been registered in UP for writing the name of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is completely unfair and now the police is trying to give it a different color. The police have declared it a separate case to divert attention from it, which is not right. Kashmiri said that the FIR registered by the police against the Muslim youth should be withdrawn and they should apologize because the police have tried to spoil the atmosphere by taking this action. He said that Muslims love the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) immensely, that is why they shower their lives on him. After that, Durood Pak and The slogan of “I Love Muhammad” was raised. The devotee of Rasool showed his devotion and love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) by raising the slogan of “I Love Muhammad” in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The police had made strict security arrangements during this time. In Govindi, Mumbai, MLA Abu Asim Azmi also protested with a placard of “I Love Muhammad” along with this, he said that the most popular and pious personality in the world is Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him). The way a case has been registered in UP for writing “I Love Muhammad”, that is why we are protesting peacefully. He said that communal elements object to everything, in such a situation, a conspiracy is also being hatched to spoil the atmosphere of the country, this needs to be paid attention to.
Saeed Noori, head of Raza Academy, said that a Muslim can tolerate everything but cannot tolerate the disrespect of his Prophet and for this he will not hesitate to sacrifice his life because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the part of the faith and belief of Muslims. Therefore, we demand that the police immediately withdraw the case registered against the Muslim youth.
Similarly, protest demonstrations were also held in Aurangabad, Mumbra, Nanded, Bhiwandi, Osmanabad in Maharashtra. In the protest demonstration, the lovers of the Prophet (PBUH) held a placard of Come, Muhammad (PBUH) and raised the slogan of Come, Muhammad. Not only that, a memorandum was given to the collector in Nanded and Jantur. In addition, the lovers of the Prophet demonstrated at the square in Beed.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra12 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra11 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra12 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News11 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra10 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
Crime11 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
National News12 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface