Terme Caronte geothermal area (Lamezia Terme-Calabria, Italy): preliminary results

Abstract

The investigated Lamezia Terme site is a low-medium enthalpy geothermal area located in Central Calabria (Southern Italy) at the westernmost edge of the Catanzaro Graben (Calabrian Arc). The area was part of the VIGOR project framework, aimed at defining the geothermal potentiality of 8 areas in Southern Italy through the application of geophysical, geochemical and geological techniques. The area was investigated by a multidisciplinary symposium work where geologists, geochemists and geophysicists meet to define the geological and hydrogeological deep structure as well as the hydrothermal resource, throwing light on the deep circulation of water along fractures delimiting the north portion of the Catanzaro Graben. These preliminary results point out Terme Caronte as an interesting area for low-enthalpy geothermal exploitation.