Magnetotelluric and Gravity surveys of Pantelleria Island (Southern Italy) for geothermal exploration

Pantelleria island in Southern Italy represents an attractive target area for geothermal energy exploitation. The island is characterised by a high-temperature geothermal system (>150°C/km, as detected from deep borehole measurements), hot fluids, and CO₂ diffuse degassing. Pantelleria has already been the subject of several studies to assess its geothermal potential. To further increase the knowledge about geometry and the physical properties of the main structures of the geothermal system, new magnetotelluric (MT) and gravity surveys have been carried out. The MT modelling relies on the inversion of data collected in 78 independent soundings covering the whole island. Through this survey, a 3D model of the electrical resistivity has been retrieved, highlighting the structures of Pantelleria down to a depth of 2.5 km b.g.l. A new gravity survey of about 120 stations allowed us to obtain new and more detailed Free Air and Bouguer gravity maps, with a spatial resolution of about 600 m.