This variation of stretching was caused by an inhomogeneous strain even within individual shear planes. Thrusting along the nappe boundary was determined by a stress field of constant attitude. This is shown by a constant stretching lineation throughout the complete deformational history. However, shearing and stretching survived and therefore could modify the orientations of the fold axes. The intercalation of folding and thrusting leads to important consequences with respect to shear sense indicators like the vergence of folds.
Fourth folds are originally N-vergent.
After their passive rotation into a N-S direction the direction of vergence has also been rotated passively. Fourth folds after rotation are W-vergent. Therefore it is necessary to study the movement direction not only at the nappe contact but throughout the strain gradient approaching the nappe boundary to observe the effects of passive rotation where contradictionary senses of shear occur. Judging from the vergence of monoclinic folds no westward thrusting of the Dent Blanche nappe did happen. Deformation related fluid-rock interactions at the northern Dent Blanche nappe, Western Alps.