Latest news with #GreatOxidationEvent
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh to auction nine mineral blocks; ₹1,600 crore revenue and 3,000 jobs expected from limestone projects
The Chhattisgarh Directorate of Geology and Mining is set to auction nine mineral blocks, including four high-quality limestone blocks in Balodabazar (holding over 200 MT of reserves), which could support a 3–4 MTPA cement/clinker plant. These limestone blocks, rich in CaO content, are located near major cement facilities and are well-connected by rail and road. Their development is projected to generate ₹1,600 crore in revenue and create about 3,000 jobs. Additionally, two iron ore blocks in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai and three bauxite blocks in Mainpat, Surguja, are also up for auction, offering further investment potential. The Chhattisgarh will auction four limestone blocks in Balodabazar district, along with three bauxite blocks in Mainpat, Surguja, and two iron ore blocks in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai. The limestone blocks collectively hold over 200 million tonnes (MT) of reserves, with the potential to support a 3-4 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) cement or clinker unit. A pre-bid conference for these blocks is scheduled for July 1. The limestone blocks include Hirmi II North and South, and Sarseni Guma East and West. These blocks are located in the Balodabazar region, known as the "Cement Capital of Chhattisgarh" due to its rich cement-grade limestone deposits. The limestone from these blocks boasts a calcium oxide (CaO) concentration exceeding 42%, ensuring high-quality input for cement manufacturing. The deposits belong to the Chandi formation of the Raipur Group within the Chhattisgarh Supergroup and are primarily stromatolitic dolomitic limestone. The area benefits from existing infrastructure, proximity to active limestone mines, and major cement plants operated by companies like UltraTech, Ambuja, and Lafarge. 'Operationalisation of these limestone blocks with an integrated cement or clinker plant can boost the state economy by generating an estimated revenue of ₹1,600 crore and creating around 3,000 jobs in mining and cement or clinker production,' according to govt spokesperson. The region is well-connected, with Hathbandh railway station approximately 12 km away and Bhatapara Railway Station 32 km away. Raipur, the state capital, is about 85 km from the Balodabazar blocks via Raipur–Belha Road. The nearest airport is in Raipur, about 92 km from Sarseni Guma and 70 km from Hirmi. In addition to the limestone blocks, two iron ore blocks and three bauxite blocks are also open for auction. The Nachaniya and Bhajidongari iron ore blocks are located in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district. The iron ore deposits belong to the Chilpi Group of Mesoproterozoic age. The Chilpi Group is generally considered to be of Mesoproterozoic age, specifically between 2000 and 1800 Ma (million years ago). It is located in the Bastar Craton of India. The group is known for its banded iron formations (BIFs) and is thought to have been deposited after the Great Oxidation Event but before the "Proterozoic iron ore gap". The three bauxite blocks are in the Mainpat area of Surguja district. Kuniya Bauxite Block holds reserves of 13.55 MnT with 42.32per cent Al2O3, and Aluminous Laterite of 2.67 MnT with 26.63per cent Al2O3. Bauxite pockets and lenses are mostly sub-horizontal. Murtadand Bauxite Block primarily consists of Quaternary-Recent laterite with bauxite and aluminous laterite, holding reserves of 1.1 MnT with 38.56per cent Al2O3. Dandkesra North Extension Bauxite Block largely covered with soil and laterite. Bauxite occurs in lensoidal form within the lateritic horizon, holding reserves of 4.46 MnT with 38.6per cent Al2O3. These blocks offer significant investment and development opportunities in the mining sector, providing substantial reserves for industrial growth.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Our planet's oxygen levels will drop, and there's no way to stop it
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. It's no secret that Earth is doomed. Sure, there's the threat of climate change and the fact that sea levels are rising around the world. But that's not what we're talking about. Instead, our planet's impending doom is actually set to happen billions of years from now, long after we're all gone, when the oxygen levels drop and life as we know it ceases to exist. When this change occurs, it's going to happen pretty rapidly, a study published a few years ago claims. It will be similar to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) that happened over 2.4 billion years ago. Back then, oxygen flooded the Earth's atmosphere, giving birth to life as we know it today, or at least its earliest evolutionary forms. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Researchers have long argued that atmospheric oxygen, which humans need to breathe, is unlikely to be a feature of habitable worlds forever. We've seen other planets around us that appear to have been stripped of their oxygen, like Mars and Venus. And many argue that Earth is set to see a similar future at some point down the line. Of course, the factors resulting in dropping oxygen levels are complex. Not only do we have natural global warming to blame, but human-driven climate change could also play a large role in the end of life on Earth as we know it. Models suggest that Earth's oxygen levels could drop as low as those of Archean Earth, when microbial life was the only life to be found on our little blue and green planet. Those levels of oxygen would, obviously, not be ideal for people or animals that require oxygen to breathe. Of course, there is always the chance that we manage to get off Earth and settle somewhere else before Earth becomes uninhabitable, but if we don't, and humans are still alive billions of years from now, then it will be the end of the road. Overall, Earth's future billions of years from now is looking pretty bleak. Scientists estimate that the sun will explode, effectively ending life in our solar system some 2 billion years from now. Before that happens, life on Earth will change drastically, as oxygen levels are expected to drop almost a million times lower than today, researchers told New Scientist. Luckily, the end of the world isn't the most pressing problem we have to face at the moment, though there are arguments about how we could possibly delay the inevitable. Even if we did, there's not really anything we could do about it but hope Elon Musk and NASA's plan to put humans on Mars in the 2030s works out. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Economic Times
06-06-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
How will Earth take its last breath? New research gives a detailed description of how life on planet will meet its end
A new study, employing NASA's planetary modeling, predicts Earth's oxygen will vanish in roughly one billion years, much sooner than previously thought. Led by Toho University, the research highlights the sun's aging process as a key factor, causing increased water evaporation, rising temperatures, and a failing carbon cycle. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What has the research revealed? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Researchers shorten Earth's lifeline A groundbreaking study by researchers at Toho University, using NASA's advanced planetary modeling, has predicted a major shift in Earth's atmosphere that could make life as we know it in Nature Geoscience, the research suggests that Earth's oxygen could vanish in about one billion years—shedding new light on the long-term evolution of our planet's team ran 400,000 simulations to model how Earth's atmosphere might change as the sun grows hotter with age. While the predicted changes lie far in the future, the findings offer critical insights into planetary science and the eventual fate of Earth's study titled "The Future Lifespan of Earth's Oxygenated Atmosphere" explores a future in which oxygen becomes increasingly scarce due to natural changes in the planet's systems. Led by Kazumi Ozaki, an assistant professor at Toho University in Tokyo, the research examines the geological and astronomical factors influencing long-term shifts in Earth's role of the Sun One of the core factors leading to oxygen depletion is the sun's inevitable aging process. As the sun ages, it will gradually become hotter and brighter. This increase in solar radiation will significantly impact Earth's climate, leading to a series of irreversible changes:As temperatures rise, Earth's water bodies will evaporate more rapidly, increasing atmospheric water vapor levels. This warming will also cause surface temperatures to escalate, gradually creating conditions unsuitable for sustaining life. The heat will disrupt the carbon cycle—a crucial process that regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide—weakening its ability to maintain balance. As a result, plant life will begin to die off, stopping the production of oxygen through photosynthesis. Over time, these cascading effects will lead to a dramatic loss of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, rendering the planet increasingly research revealed that as the carbon cycle deteriorates, the atmosphere will revert to a composition reminiscent of early Earth, characterized by high levels of methane and low oxygen. This transformation mirrors the state before the Great Oxidation Event—a period when Earth's atmosphere became rich in oxygen due to the proliferation of photosynthetic scientific models suggested that Earth's biosphere would last up to two billion years, primarily due to overheating and the eventual depletion of CO₂ necessary for photosynthesis. However, this new research narrows the timeframe, suggesting a much earlier end to oxygen Ozaki emphasized that while the eventual demise of Earth's biosphere was acknowledged, pinpointing the timing and the precise process of deoxygenation remained elusive. This study, using advanced supercomputer simulations, provides a clearer understanding by simulating numerous potential scenarios.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
How will Earth take its last breath? New research gives a detailed description of how life on planet will meet its end
A groundbreaking study by researchers at Toho University, using NASA's advanced planetary modeling, has predicted a major shift in Earth's atmosphere that could make life as we know it impossible. Published in Nature Geoscience, the research suggests that Earth's oxygen could vanish in about one billion years—shedding new light on the long-term evolution of our planet's atmosphere. The team ran 400,000 simulations to model how Earth's atmosphere might change as the sun grows hotter with age. While the predicted changes lie far in the future, the findings offer critical insights into planetary science and the eventual fate of Earth's biosphere. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More The study titled "The Future Lifespan of Earth's Oxygenated Atmosphere" explores a future in which oxygen becomes increasingly scarce due to natural changes in the planet's systems. Led by Kazumi Ozaki, an assistant professor at Toho University in Tokyo, the research examines the geological and astronomical factors influencing long-term shifts in Earth's atmosphere. What has the research revealed? The role of the Sun One of the core factors leading to oxygen depletion is the sun's inevitable aging process. As the sun ages, it will gradually become hotter and brighter. This increase in solar radiation will significantly impact Earth's climate, leading to a series of irreversible changes: Live Events As temperatures rise, Earth's water bodies will evaporate more rapidly, increasing atmospheric water vapor levels. This warming will also cause surface temperatures to escalate, gradually creating conditions unsuitable for sustaining life. The heat will disrupt the carbon cycle—a crucial process that regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide—weakening its ability to maintain balance. As a result, plant life will begin to die off, stopping the production of oxygen through photosynthesis. Over time, these cascading effects will lead to a dramatic loss of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, rendering the planet increasingly uninhabitable. The research revealed that as the carbon cycle deteriorates, the atmosphere will revert to a composition reminiscent of early Earth, characterized by high levels of methane and low oxygen. This transformation mirrors the state before the Great Oxidation Event—a period when Earth's atmosphere became rich in oxygen due to the proliferation of photosynthetic organisms. Researchers shorten Earth's lifeline Earlier scientific models suggested that Earth's biosphere would last up to two billion years, primarily due to overheating and the eventual depletion of CO₂ necessary for photosynthesis. However, this new research narrows the timeframe, suggesting a much earlier end to oxygen production. Kazumi Ozaki emphasized that while the eventual demise of Earth's biosphere was acknowledged, pinpointing the timing and the precise process of deoxygenation remained elusive. This study, using advanced supercomputer simulations, provides a clearer understanding by simulating numerous potential scenarios.
NDTV
03-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Earth Will Lose Its Oxygen: Scientists Warn Of A Rapid Countdown
A recent study reveals that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere, vital for complex life, is expected to last approximately one billion more years. Increasing solar radiation will reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, impairing photosynthesis and leading to a sharp decline in oxygen levels. The study that was published in Nature Geoscience said that this deoxygenation could occur rapidly, rendering Earth inhospitable to most life forms. The findings also suggest oxygen may not be a permanent biosignature on habitable planets, impacting the search for extraterrestrial life. "For many years, the lifespan of Earth's biosphere has been discussed based on scientific knowledge about the steady brightening of the sun and the global carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle. One of the corollaries of such a theoretical framework is a continuous decline in atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming on geological timescales. Indeed, it is generally thought that Earth's biosphere will come to an end in the next 2 billion years due to the combination of overheating and CO2 scarcity for photosynthesis. If true, one can expect that atmospheric O2 levels will also eventually decrease in the distant future. However, it remains unclear exactly when and how this will occur," environmental scientist Kazumi Ozaki from Toho University in Japan said when the study was published. To examine how Earth's atmosphere will evolve in the future, Ozaki and Christopher Reinhard, Associate Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, constructed an Earth system model which simulates climate and biogeochemical processes. Because modelling future Earth evolution intrinsically has uncertainties in geological and biological evolutions, a stochastic approach was adopted, enabling the researchers to obtain a probabilistic assessment of the lifespan of an oxygenated atmosphere. Ozaki ran the model more than 400 thousand times, varying the model parameters, and found that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will probably persist for another one billion years before rapid deoxygenation renders the atmosphere reminiscent of early Earth before the Great Oxidation Event around 2.5 billion years ago. "The atmosphere after the great deoxygenation is characterised by elevated methane, low levels of CO2, and no ozone layer. The Earth system will probably be a world of anaerobic life forms," says Ozaki. Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere represents an important sign of life that can be remotely detected. However, this study suggests that Earth's oxygenated atmosphere would not be a permanent feature and that the oxygen-rich atmosphere might only be possible for 20-30% of the Earth's entire history as an inhabited planet. Oxygen (and photochemical byproduct, ozone) is the most accepted biosignature for the search for life on exoplanets, but if we can generalise this insight to Earth-like planets, then scientists need to consider additional biosignatures applicable to weakly oxygenated and anoxic worlds in the search for life beyond our solar system.
