Abstract
THE problem of utilising the earth's internal heat is no new one, but the general attention of scientific workers and of technologists has been directed to this most interesting topic in a more special manner during these last few years, since a practical application of geothermal energy has been successfully achieved at the Boracic Works of Larderello, in the neighbourhood of Larderello, in Tuscany. This plant, which was originated and brought to its present satisfactory state of development by Prince Piero Ginori Conti, was briefly described in NATURE of Jan. 12, 1924. A few additional details as to further results obtained will only efficient source of natural heat supply. Very interesting discussions have arisen as to the origin of natural steam such as occurs in California, Oregon, Chile, New Zealand, Java, and Tuscany, where steam springs or fumaroles appear to be a phenomenon allied to vulcanism, but not entailing the immediate neighbourhood of a volcano. Thus, for example, the Tuscan soffioni appear to be connected with the trachitic eruptions which took place in central Italy in the latter part of the Tertiary Period, but the traces of these eruptions are found at considerable distances from the spots where the fumaroles are situated. These fumaroles FIG. 1.-General view of the Larderello works. doubtless be welcomed by many readers of this journal.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Natural Steam Power Developments at Larderello. Nature 121, 59–62 (1928). https://doi.org/10.1038/121059a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/121059a0