Abstract
THE increased desire for economic independence that accompanied the growth of national sentiment during the War has been shown very clearly in the intensified study and exploitation of natural resources; and the welkin is still ringing with cries of “increase production,” “back to the land,” and “keep the home-fires burning.” Examples of this world-tendency are apparent everywhere: in Central Europe, particularly, brown coal, water-power, and minerals have been greatly developed; in tropical countries, useful vegetable products have been increasingly exploited; and in many lands the rush for petroleum has gathered momentum. Very little, however, has been heard as yet of attempts to utilise the interior heat of the earth, which many believe to be one of the most important potential sources of energy. Only in Italy has a definite and successful effort been made in this direction, namely, by utilising the natural steam which emerges from the earth in volcanic districts. The jets of steam (“soffioni”) and the pools of water, formed in small craters and maintained at boiling temperature by natural steam (“lagoni”), have been known for centuries, but for long were regarded by the peasants as manifestations of unseen and unfriendly powers. The discovery in them of boric acid in 1790, the extraction of this acid on a commercial scale since 1818, and, in particular, the recent pioneer work of Prince Ginori Conti, in association with the Societa Boracifera di Larderello, have completely transformed the picture, and revealed a source of wealth which may play an important part, not only in the future industrial development of Italy, but also in that of other countries that are blessed-and at times cursed-with volcanic activity.
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The Utilisation of Volcanic Steam in Italy. Nature 113, 54–55 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/113054a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/113054a0