<p>The outcrop areas of metamorphic rocks in continental setting cover significant regions and their extension zones are even more significant if we also consider the shallow and medium subsurface areas under the sedimentary cover. However, the metamorphic rocks are usually disregarded as potential geothermal reservoirs since they are considered as tight rocks with no or very limited porosity and permeability. Even if this statement is correct, the metamorphic units are frequently associated with a long and complex tectonic evolution and in particular with pre-, syn- and post-metamorphism fractures, which represent potential target zones for the development of geothermal reservoirs. Another limitation to assess the geothermal potentiality of the metamorphic units is the very limited number of deep exploration wells, especially in comparison to other well-investigated reservoirs, such as those located in sedimentary formations.</p><p>The anchizone and epizone metasedimentary rocks in Southern Belgium (Wallonia) cover more than 30% of the territory and probably more than 40% if we also consider the metamorphic rocks under the non-metamorphic formations. These statistics are based on the depth interval between 0 km (outcrop) and 6 km, which are reasonable depths for the development of geothermal projects. The encountered lithologies consist of a few km-thick quartzite and slate formations of Lower Palaeozoic and Lower Devonian ages. These formations are associated with different events with the most significant ones regarding this study being the fracturing events related to the formation of the Rhenohercynian basin during the Devonian and the Dinantian times followed  by the Variscan orogeny during Upper Carboniferous.</p><p>The Havelange borehole was drilled by the Geological Survey of Belgium between 1980-1985 as a gas exploration reaching a maximum depth of 5648 m (MD). The aim of this borehole was to investigate the presence/absence of a Carboniferous gas reservoir located under the main décollement level of the Ardenne Allochthon. Even if the borehole never reached any Carboniferous rocks, it allowed a better characterization of the transition between shallow Lower Famennian shale units and Lower Devonian meta-sedimentary formations, along with Middle Devonian rocks at intermediate depth. The study conducted in the framework of the H2020 MEET project (www.meet-h2020.com) for the Havelange study-site includes the re-investigation of cores, cuttings and log data acquired during the drilling. The laboratory study entails the mineralogical characterisation of the host rocks and fracture zones as well as the petrophysical and rock mechanical characterisation and this borehole material is completed with outcrop analyses and comparable measurements in analogue zones. The lab and field results are cross-matched with the drilling archives and in particular the drilling report indicating the depths of mud losses, representing intervals of great interest for the potential reconversion of this borehole into a geothermal well.</p>

Spring water geochemistry is applied here to evaluate the geothermal potential in Rhenohercynian fold and thrust belt around the deepest borehole in Belgium (Havelange borehole: 5648 m MD). Fifty springs and (few) wells around Havelange borehole were chosen according to a multicriteria approach including the hydrothermal source of “Chaudfontaine” (T ≈ 36 °C) taken as a reference for the area. The waters sampled, except Chaudfontaine present an in-situ T range of 3.66–14.04 °C (mean 9.83 °C) and a TDS (dry residue) salinity range of 46–498 mg/L. The processing methods applied to the results are: hierarchical clustering, Piper and Stiff diagrams, TIS, heat map, boxplots, and geothermometry. Seven clusters are found and allow us to define three main water types. The first type, locally called “pouhon”, is rich in Fe and Mn. The second type contains an interesting concentration of the geothermal indicators: Li, Sr, Rb. Chaudfontaine and Moressée (≈5 km East from the borehole) belong to this group. This last locality is identified as a geothermal target for further investigations. The third group represents superficial waters with frequently high NO3 concentration. The application of conventional geothermometers in this context indicates very different reservoir temperatures. The field of applications of these geothermometers need to be review in these geological conditions.