ABSTRACT
Several occurrences of epigenetic, hydrothermal dolomites, replacing Palaeozoic carbonates in Central and Western Europe, have been investigated, to determine the possible relationships between the dolomitisation process and similar hydrothermal events occurring at the end of Variscan orogeny. Data from Ireland, Northern Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic have been compared. The data presented indicate, that only a comparative analysis of coherent geochemical data sets, together with structural and petrographical evidence, allow to distinguish site specific from general characteristics of the dolomites. These common characteristics could have been caused by a major, post-orogenic fluid flow event, not directly related to ore deposition.
