Hot Springs & Origin of Life

• 01 Aug 2025

Source: DST 

Scientists in Puga Valley hot springs, Ladakh, discovered travertine (calcium carbonate) deposits capable of trapping organic molecules like amino acids, fatty acids, and formamide. 

• This supports theories that life may have originated in geothermal environments, similar to early Earth or Mars.  
• The study used techniques like GC-MS-MS, Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Stable Isotope Geochemistry and microscopy. 
• It challenges earlier silica-based origin theories by showing calcium carbonate can preserve biosignatures, acting as a prebiotic reactor. 
• Findings may aid ISRO’s astrobiological missions by guiding biosignature detection on Mars-like terrains. 

Hot Springs & Geysers 

• Hot springs are geothermal features where heated groundwater surfaces in tectonically active areas.  Eg: Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh). 
  • Puga Valley, in southeastern Ladakh, is known for geothermal activity, sulphur springs, and energy potential. 
• Geysers are volcanic geothermal features that erupt hot water and steam when groundwater is superheated by magma in underground cavities. Eg: Yellowstone National Park (USA). 

Hot Springs	Geysers
In a hot spring the heated water flows out continuously without any eruptive activity.   Such hot springs are common in Yellowstone Park US; Badrinath and Manikaran in India.   These hot springs are very healthy for bathing.	In a geyser, hot water and steam are thrown out at intervals in the form of a fountain.   There is an Old Faithful geyser which erupts out exactly in one hour intervals; these are about 100 geysers.

Read More: Geothermal Power in Ladakh