GS1 – Geography
Context:
Recent research highlights the Puga Hot Spring in Ladakh as a promising site for studying the origin of life on Earth and for supporting Mars life-detection missions, owing to its extreme geothermal conditions and ability to preserve organic compounds.
Geographical & Geological Significance:
- Location: Situated in the Puga Valley, part of the Changthang Plateau in southeastern Ladakh (UT of Ladakh, India).
- Geothermal Activity: Located within the Himalayan geothermal belt, the area exhibits significant hydrothermal activity.
- Physical Features:
- Presence of hot springs, mud pools, and sulphur deposits.
- Surface temperatures reach up to 84°C, indicating active geothermal processes.
- Rich in borax, sulphur, and lithium.
- Formation of travertine deposits due to continuous calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitation.
Scientific Importance:
- Organic Preservation: Travertine deposits help in preserving key prebiotic molecules like amino acids, formamide, and fatty acids.
- Role in Origin of Life Studies:
- Acts as a natural prebiotic reactor, simulating early Earth-like environments.
- Offers insights into conditions that may have led to the emergence of life.
- Astrobiological Relevance:
- Serves as an analogue for Martian terrain, aiding the development and testing of life-detection tools by ISRO for planetary missions.