Geothermal and Mineral Water Sources, Fendek, M. et al., scale 1:500,000, Atlas of the Slovak Republic, 2002
On the basis of distribution of the collectors of geothermal energy resources and geothermal field activity, 26 perspective areas or structures suitable for exploitation and energetic use were identified in Slovakia. They include above all the Tertiary basins or intra-mountain depressions spread in the zone of the Inner Western Carpathians. Their total area represents 34 % of Slovakia’s territory. The sources of geothermal energy are represented in Slovakia above all by geothermal waters, which are linked to the Triassic dolomite and limestone rocks of the Inner Carpathian tectonic units, and in less extent to the Neogene sands, sandstone rocks, conglomerates or to the Neogene andesite rocks and their pyroclastics. These rocks as collectors of geothermal waters are situated in the depth of 200 – 5,000 m and contain the geothermal waters with temperature 20 – 24 °C. The overall thermal-energetic potential of the geothermal waters of Slovakia represents 5,538 MWt, out of which 4,985 MWt is attributable to the reserves and 553 MWt to the sources. Probes carried out so far confirmed about 1,200 l.s-1 of geothermal waters, the thermal performance of which represents around 270 MWt. More than 1,600 sources of mineral waters linked to all geological and tectonic units occur in the territory of Slovakia. Their minimal yield often does not surpass thousandths or hundredths of l.s-1. Maximum yield though, reaches tens l.s-1 but mostly 50 l.s-1. The minimum temperatures of mineral waters start at the level of the average annual air temperature of the locality and the maximum temperatures seldom exceed 70 °C.