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Hot Springs of Demchok, Ladakh, India


Affiliations
1 Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India; Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India., India
2 ONGC Energy Centre, SCOPE Minar, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi 110 092, India., India
3 Geological Survey of India, Central Region, Nagpur 440 006, India., India
4 Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India., India
5 Geological Survey of India, Gangtok 737 101, India., India
 

In this study, two thermal springs are reported from the Demchok area in Ladakh, India. These are characterized by water having low total dissolved solids (TDS) content (~250 mg/l) as well as high pH (9.5) and surface temperature (75°C). Although these hot springs and their medicinal properties are known to locals, they have not been scientifically studied. Relatively low TDS despite high temperature could be due to sluggish ion-exchange processes in the geothermal reservoir. Such a situation might have developed because of the high water-to-rock ratio and/or smaller residence time of the geothermal fluid in the reaction zone.

Keywords

Geothermal Zone, Hot Springs, Ion-Exchange Process, Medicinal Properties, Water–Rock Ratio.
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  • Hot Springs of Demchok, Ladakh, India

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Authors

Parashar Mishra
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India; Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India., India
Ahsan Absar
ONGC Energy Centre, SCOPE Minar, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi 110 092, India., India
Archisman Dutta
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India; Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India., India
Vishal V. Sakhare
Geological Survey of India, Central Region, Nagpur 440 006, India., India
Uday Shankar
ONGC Energy Centre, SCOPE Minar, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi 110 092, India., India
A. P. Thapliyal
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India., India
Pankaj Saini
Geological Survey of India, Gangtok 737 101, India., India
P. K. Singh
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India., India
Joyesh Bagchi
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Lucknow 226 024, India., India

Abstract


In this study, two thermal springs are reported from the Demchok area in Ladakh, India. These are characterized by water having low total dissolved solids (TDS) content (~250 mg/l) as well as high pH (9.5) and surface temperature (75°C). Although these hot springs and their medicinal properties are known to locals, they have not been scientifically studied. Relatively low TDS despite high temperature could be due to sluggish ion-exchange processes in the geothermal reservoir. Such a situation might have developed because of the high water-to-rock ratio and/or smaller residence time of the geothermal fluid in the reaction zone.

Keywords


Geothermal Zone, Hot Springs, Ion-Exchange Process, Medicinal Properties, Water–Rock Ratio.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv124%2Fi9%2F1104-1107