Table 2 Environmental Conditions at Sites in Larderello, Tuscany and Pisciarelli

Monte Rotondo-4 (MR4in)

Interlithic, Biomat among trachytic and detritic rocks, on the hot soil

Indirectly exposed

50°C

0–1

Monte Rotondo-5 (MR5en)

Endolithic, Biomat grew inside the thin sandy rock layers

Never exposed

37°C

1

Monte Rotondo-6 (MR6en)

Endolithic, Biomat grew inside the thin sandy rock layers

Never exposed

32°C

1

Sasso Pissano-1 (SP1in)

Interlithic, Biomat in a ravine of a crumbly wall between the detritus

Indirectly exposed

29–31°C

0.5–1

Sasso Pissano-3 (SP3en)

Endolithic, Biomat formed a thin layer inside a crumbly rock

Never exposed

30°C

1.0

Pisciarelli -B (PBen)

Endolithic, Biomat grew inside the layers of the alunite opal rock

Never exposed

18–30°C

0.5–1