Formation of chocolate-tablet boudins in a foreland fold and thrust belt: A case study from the external Variscides (Almograve, Portugal)

Chocolate-tablet boudins of quartzite are restricted to steep limbs of D1-folds along the SW coast of Portugal. The chocolate-tablet geometry results from older vertical and younger horizontal quartz veins. Both sets of veins developed during similar conditions by extension fracture in pre-existing necked domains: (1) both veins show stretched crystal fibers; (2) the boudin aspect ratio is the same in vertical (3.0 ± 1.4) and in horizontal sections (2.9 ± 1.2); (3) temperatures obtained from fluid inclusions are similar (200 ± 20° for vertical and 230 ± 22 °C for horizontal veins) and are compatible with temperatures obtained from illite crystallinity (ca. 200–ca. 250 °C). Given thermal equilibrium between the host rock and the precipitating fluid, the chocolate-tablet boudins formed close to the metamorphic peak. We interpret that the vertical veins developed after the limbs of the D1-folds had attained their steep attitude and the orientation of the greatest and intermediate principal strain axes had interchanged. Subsequently, the initial strain field was restored and opening of horizontal veins led to the chocolate-tablet geometry. The direction of the main shortening direction was constant from the initial buckling stage via isoclinal folding and during all boudinage stages.