  For SU(2) lattice gauge theory, a new SO(3) cooling procedure is proposed
which removes the SU(2)/Z(2) coset fields from the lattice configurations and
reveals a Z(2) vortex vacuum texture different from the P-vortex content
obtained in the maximal center gauge. Cooling can be restricted in a
renormalization group invariant way by a parameter controlling the remaining
SO(3) action density. A gauge invariant Z(2) vortex vacuum emerges
asymptotically if cooling is not restricted. This ``vortex texture'' does not
support the string tension or a finite part of it. The SU(2) action density
associated with the new Z(2) vortex texture has a smooth extrapolation to the
continuum limit. We propose an interpretation as a mass dimension four
condensate related to the gluon condensate featuring in the operator product
expansion.
