Puga Hot Spring, Ladakh: A Window into Early Life and Astrobiology

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.
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