Thermophysical properties and mineralogical composition of the Umbria-Marche carbonate succession (central Italy)

Abstract

Results from laboratory analyses of thermophysical properties and mineralogical composition of rocks belonging to the main geological formations of the Umbria-Marche stratigraphic succession are presented. We carried out measurements of thermal conductivity, porosity, and density. The samples were mineralogically characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction and by calcimetry. Scanning electron microscope analyses were conducted to ascertain the absence of mineralized veins, which could have biased the mineralogical composition. A mixing model was also applied to infer the thermal conductivity. The results can be useful to characterize the behavior of shallow geothermal systems in the study region.