Conserving Ladakh’s geological legacy

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, it becomes ever more important to protect not just rivers and forests but also the silent stories written by rock deposits over millions of years. An example of this is the immature conglomerate deposits at Faruna in Kargil (See photograph). These rock layers are made up of rough, unsorted and weathered fragments. They are more than just ancient debris and are windows into the geological history of the planet. They offer valuable clues to understand past depositional environments and on-going geological processes in the cold, arid landscape of Ladakh. The immature nature of these deposits is reflected in the variety and angularity of the rock fragments. The lack of rounding and sorting implies the sedimentary evolution is still at a youthful stage and sediments have not undergone prolonged reworking. However, these deposits have undergone visible weathering and oxidation over time. The matrix and clasts—fragments created as larger rocks breakdown—now display reddish to brownish colours. These are clear indicators of oxidation processes. Iron-bearing minerals in the clasts reacted with atmospheric oxygen to give the rocks a rusty appearance.

Unfortunately, these remarkable formations are disappearing fast. The march of progress including road expansion, construction, and uncontrolled extraction has resulted in the deposits at Faruna being cut and damaged. What is being lost is not just rock but irreplaceable scientific evidence. These rocks help geologists understand the region’s palaeo-environment. In a place like Ladakh, where the Himalayas continue to evolve and rise, the landscape still holds signs of ancient glacial and river systems and these conglomerate beds are a crucial heritage. These rocks help scientists understand how Ladakh was millions of years back. Were there mighty rivers flowing in this area? Did glaciers cover this land at different points in time? The answers lie in the size, shape, and arrangement of the clasts in these beds. As bulldozers break through layers of ancient deposits, we lose more than just rocks—we lose scientific evidence and geological heritage. In Ladakh’s fragile mountain ecosystem, such knowledge is not just academic but essential for our adaptation and survival. It’s time we start systematically documenting, protecting, and raising awareness about such geological heritage sites. Local authorities, scientists, researchers and local communities can work together to declare such deposits as a geological heritage site. Only then will Faruna’s conglomerate deposits and similar sites continue to speak to future generations.

Text by Tsering Lazes

Photograph by Fatima Bano

Tsering Lazes (Ney) is a medal-holder for her MSc in Geology and is currently serving as Assistant Professor at Government Degree College, Drass.

Fatima Bano is pursuing a BSc in Geology at Government Degree College, Drass.