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Fluid mixing is an important process in the formation of many hydrothermal vein-type deposits. Here, we present evidence from hydrothermal fluorite-barite-quartz veins with Pb-Zn-Cu-(Ag)-sulfides and associated mineralization, indicating that mineral precipitation was initiated by mixing of fluids derived from multiple sources, including mixing between more than two end-member fluid compositions. Based on our observations, we relate the diversity of the hydrothermal veins of the Schwarzwald mining district in terms of mineral assemblage and fluid inclusion chemistry to the disturbed and transient geological environment during ongoing rifting. Literature data on the regional geology, current groundwater reservoirs, formation processes and hydraulic features are augmented by new fluid inclusion analyses from post-Cretaceous, hydrothermal vein minerals including microthermometry, crush leach, Microraman and …