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Electromagnetic signatures of the tectono-magmatic processes in eastern Ladakh and their implications for geothermal energy potential of the region.

Pavankumar G, Manglik A, Chakravarthi NN, Babu MD, Kandregula RS.

PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2026.107503 

Magnetotelluric (MT) investigations along the Tso Morari-Pangong Tso transect in eastern Ladakh indicate that the Puga, Chumathang, and Gaik hot springs are connected to a common conductive body at ~5 km depth, suggesting a shared geothermal reservoir. A deeper conductor (5-15 km) beneath Tso Morari lacks surface expression due to its greater depth. A 10-30 km deep anomaly beneath the Shyok Formation and Pangong Metamorphic Complex is linked to deeper sources in western Tibet through the Karakoram Fault and the Ladakh Batholith (~18-20 km thick). Resistivity contrasts across the Indus Suture Zone indicate mid- to lower-crustal heterogeneity and distinct tectonic regimes in the northern part of the transect.

Fig: Cross-sections of the geoelectric model obtained by 3D inversion of MT data. A view of the electrical conductor beneath the Puga and Chumatang hot springs connectivity of different subsurface Conductors beneath the study region and the one in the west Tibet region at 40 km dept.

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