As climate change continues to puzzle countries and scientists worldwide, the European Union targets to achieve climate neutrality until 2050, include hydrogen among the key transition fuels. While focus is mostly on green hydrogen, naturally occurring geologic hydrogen has been recently brought in the spot. Natural hydrogen can be generated by a number of processes e.g. serpentinisation, radiolysis, mantle degassing and bacterial activity, and is found in various geological settings. Among these processes, active serpentinisation in ultramafic rocks-peridotites that persists in orogenic belts and ophiolitic complexes is thought to be the main one generating substantial H2 amounts. A well-known multi-ophiolitic belt is developed along the Balkan peninsula, from Croatia via Albania down to Greece and further to Turkey. The inspiration which initiated the present study, arose from the recently discovered Bulqize chromite mine in Albania degassing large volumes of hydrogen attributed to deep faulted ophiolites. This work will provide an insight into the exploration potential for natural hydrogen in Greece.
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