STATE OF ILLINOIS WILLIAM G. STRATTON, GoHntor DEPARTMENT OP REGISTRATION AND EDUCA'l'ION VERA M. BINKS, Dj,«UJr DIVISION OP THE STATE GEOLOG ICAL SURVEY M. M. LEIGHTON, Cbl;J URBANA B U L L E T I N N 0 . 65, P A 1t T I I GEOLOGY OF THE CHICAGO REGION PART II-IBEPLEISTOCENE BY J llARLBN BRETZ Pll.INTED BYUTHOlllTY A OF THE STATE O"l' lLLlNOlS URBANA, ILLINOIS 1955 STATE OF ILLINOIS WILLIAM G. STRATTON, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION VERA M. BINKS, Director DIVISION OF THE STATE GEOLOG IC AL SURVEY M. M. LEIGHTON, Chief URBANA B u L L E T I N N 0 . 65, p A RT I I GEOLOGY OF THE CHICAGO REGION PART II - THE PLEISTOCEN E BY J HARLEN BRETZ PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS URBANA, ILLINOIS 1955 ORGANIZATION ST ATE OF ILLINOIS HON. WILLIAM G. STRATTON, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION HON. VERA M. BINKS, Director BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURC ES AND CONS ERVAT IO N HON. VERA M. BINKS, Chairman W. H. NEWHOUSE, PH.D., Geology ROGER ADAMS, PH.D., D.Sc., Chemistry R. H. ANDERSON, B.S., Engineering 0 A. E. EMERSO�. PH.D., Biology LEWIS H. TIFFANY, PH.D., Po.D., Forestry W. L. EVERITT, E.E., PH.D., Representing the President of the University of Illinois DELYTE W. MORRIS, PH.D. President of Southern Illinois University GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIVIS IO N M. M. LEIGHTON, PH.D., Chief STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIVISION Natural Resources Building, Urbana M. M. LEIGHTON, PH.D., Chief Esm TOWNLEY, M.S., Geologist and Assistant to the Chief VELDA A. MILLARD, Junior Assistant to the Chief HELES E. McMORRIS, Secretary to the Chief RESEARCH (not including part-time personnel) GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES GEOCHEMISTRY ARTHUR BEVAS, PH.D., D.Sc., Principal Geologist FRANK H. REED, PH.D., Chief Chemist FRASCES H. ALSTERLUND, A.B., Research Assistant GRACE C. JOHNSON, B.S., Research Assistant Coal Chemistry Coal G. R. YOHE, PH.D., Chemist and Head ]ACK A. Sums, M.S., Geologist and Head RUDOLPH L. PEDROTTI, M.S., Research Assistant G. H. CADY, PH.D., Senior Geologist and Head, Emeritus Geologist ROBERT M. KOSANKE, PH.D., Physical Chemistry RAYMOSD SIEVER, PH.D., Geologist }OHS A. HARRISON, M.S., Associate Geologist J. S. MACHIN, PH.D., Chemist and Head PAUL EDWIN PorrER, Pu.D., Associate Geologist KENNETH B. THOMSON, PH.D .• Physicist HAROLD B. STOSEHOUSE, PH.D., Associate Geologist JUANITA WITTERS, M.S., Assistant Physicist MARGARET A. PARKER, M.S., Assistant Geologist TIN Boo YEE, M.S., M.A., Assistant Chemist (on leave) DANIEL L. DEADMORE, B.S., Research Assistant M. E. HOPKINS, M.S., Assistant Geologist KEsNETH E. CLEGG, M.S .• Assistant Geologist Fluorine Chemistry G. C. FINGER, PH.D., Chemist and Head Oil and Gas ROBERT E. OESTERLING, B.A., Assistant Chemist RAYMOSD H. WHITE, B.S., Special Research Ass{stant BELL, PH.D., Geologist and Head A.H. RICHARD H. SHILEY, B.S., Special Research Assistant LESTER L. WHITISG, B.A., Associate Geologist VIRGINIA KLINE, PH.D., Associate Geologist Chemical Engineering WAYNE F. MEESTS, Assistant Geologist DOROTHY E. RosE, B.S., Research Assistant H. W. }ACKMAN, M.S.E., Chemical Engineer and Head MARGARET 0. 0R03, B.A., Assistant Geologist R. J. HELFINSTINE, M.S., Mechanical Engineer and }ACOB VAN DES BERG, B.S., Research Assis/ant Supervisor of Physical Plant P. W. HENLINE, M.S., Chemical Engineer B. J. GREENWOOD, B.S., Mechanical Engineer Petroleum Engineering }AMES C. McCULLOUGH, Research Associate (on leave) PAUL A. VlITHERSPOON, M.S., Petroleum Engineer and ROBERT L. E1s...o;1.ER, B.S., Assistant Chemical Engineer Head WALTER E. COOPER, Technical Assistant FREDERICK SQUIRES, A.B., B.S., Petroleum Engineer, EDWARD A. ScHAEDE, Technical Assistant Emeritus CORSEL MARTA, Technical Assistant Industrial Minerals X-Ray ]. E. LAMAR, B.S., Geologist and Head W. F. BRADLEY, PH.D., Chemist and Head DosALD L. GRAF, PH.D., Geologist }AMES C. BRADBURY, A.M.• Assistant Geologist Analytical Chemistry ROBERT J. CROSK, M.S.• Assistant Geologist 0. W. REES, PH.D., Chemist and Head RAYMOSD S. SHRODE, M.S., Assistant Geologist L. D. McVICKER, B.S., Chemist EMILE D. PIERRON, M.S., Associate Chemist Chy Resources and Cl ay Mineral Technology DONALD R. DICKERSOS, B.S., Assistant Chemist FRANCIS A. CooLICAN, B.S., Assistant Chemist RALPH E. GRIM, PH.D., Consulting Clay Mineralogist CHARLES T. ALLBRIGHT, B.S., Research Assistant W. ARTHUR WHITE, M".S.• Associate Geologist WILLIAM J. ARMON, B.S., Research Assistant HERBERT D. GLASS, PH.D., Associate Geologist RAYMOND ISAAC, B.S., Research Assistant Ass stant Geologist EDWARD C. JosAS, M.S., � PHYLLIS KERN, B.A., Research Assistant EUGENE LANGE, Technical Assistant Groundwater Geology and Geophysical Exploration GEORGE R. ]AMES, Technical Assistant FRANK C. FoLEY, PH.D., Geologist and Head LOIS W. RUFFNER, Technical Assistant MERLYN B. BuHLE, M.S., Associate Geologist FRANCES L. ScHEIDT, Technical Assistant ROBERT E. BERGSTROM, PH.D., Assistant Geologist ]OHN W. FosTER, M.S., Assistant Geologist MINERAL ECONOMICS A <sistant Geologist }AMES E. HACKETT, M.S., W. H. VoSKUIL, PH.D., Mineral Economist CASTLE, Assistant Geologic Draftsman MARGARET J. (on W. L. BUSCH, A.B., Assistant Mineral Economist leave) ETHEL �L KING, Research Assistant WAYNE A. PRYOR, B.S .• Assistant Geologist• LIDIA SELKREGG, D.N.S., Research Assistant ROBERT C. PARKS, Technical Assistant EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION MARGARET H. BARGH, B.S., Research Assistant Engineering Geology and Topographic Mapping '\\rAYNE A. PRYOR, B.S., Assistant Geologist• GEORGE E. EKBLAW, PH.D.. Geologist and llead WILLIAM C. SMITH, M.A., Assistant Geologist RESEARCH AFFILIATES IN GEOLOGY J HARLEN BREIZ, Pir.D., University of Chicago Stratigraphy and Areal Geology }OHS A. BROPHY, M.A., Research Assistant, Stale Geological Sur•ey H. B. WILLMAN, PH.D., Geologist and Head STA:SL�Y E. HARRIS, JR., PH.D., Southern Illinois Uni­ DAVID H. SWANN, PH.D., Geologist versJ.ty , Geologist ELWOOD ATHERTON PH.D., C. LEI.AND HORBERG, PH.D., University of Chicago Associate Geol.ogist CHARLE5 W. CoLLINSOS, PH.D., HEINZ A. LowENSTAM, PH.D., California Institute of DONALD B. SAXBY, M.S., Assistant Geologist Technology T. C. BUSCHBACH. M.S., Assistant Geologist VlILLIAM E. POWERS, PH.D., Northwestern Uni11ersity R. S H L , B.S., Research Assistant HOWARD C WA B PAUL R. SHAFFER, PH.D., Unit•ersity of Illinois CHARLES C. EsGEL, Technical Assistant HAROLD R. WANLESS, PH.D., University of Illinois W R , Assistant JOSEPH F. HO A D J. MARVIN WELLER, l'H.D., University of Chicago Physics CONSULTANTS R. J. PIERSOL, PH.D., Physicist, Emeritus Geology, GEORGE W. WHITE, PH.D., University of Illinois RAL H E. GRIM, PH.D., University of Illinois Topographic Mapping in Cooperation with the Unite:! P L. E. WORKMAN, M.S., Former Head, Subsurface States Geological Survey. Di,11ision *Divided time Ceramics, RALPH K. HURSH, B.S .• Uni'i.'ersity of Illinois Jfechanical Engineering, SEICHI Ko:szo. M.S .• Unit=ersity June 1, 1954 of Illinois GENERAL ADMINIS TRATION (not including part-time personnel) LIBRARY OTHER TECHNICAL SERVICES Research Associate ANNE E. KovA,.,DA, B.S., B.L.S., Librarian W!d. DALE FARRIS, RUBY D. FRISON', Technical Assistant BEULAH M. USFER, Technical Assistant A. W. GoTSTEIN, Research Associate GLESN G. PooR, Research Associate• MINERAL RESOURCE RECORDS GILBERT L. TISBERG, Technical Assistant \\...AY:S-E \\"". �OFFTZ, Supervisory Technical Assistant VIVIAN GORDON, Head Do:so\"OS M. WATKISS, Technical Assistant MARGARET A. BRYANT, B.A., Research Assistant SuE J. Cvs:�•HNGHAM, Terhnical Assistant FINA:\'CIAL RECORDS BETTY CLARK, B.S., Technical Assistant ]EAXINE CLI!\IER, Technical Assistant VELDA A. MILLARD, In Charge Clerk-Typist III ANS P. OSTROM, B.A., Technical Assistant LEO>IA K. ERICKSO>I, LOUISE J. STREEVER, B.A., Technical Assistant VJRGI"IA C. SANDERSON, B.S., Clerk-Typist II MARISE GUARDALABESE, Technical Assistant ]OA>l>I M. DUNBAR, Clerk-Typist I IRMA E. SAMSON, Clerk-Typist I PUBLICATIONS CLERICAL SERVICES MARY CECIL, Clerk-Stenographer II I ]A'1E V. OLSON, B.A., Associate Technical Editor Clerk-Stenographer II I BARBARA ZEIDERS, B.S., Assislanl Editor MARY M. SuLLI\' A", Clerk-Stenographer I I MEREDITH M. CALKl'1S, Geologic Draftsman ETHEL M. HE>!WOOD, B.A., LYLA ;\OFFTZ, Clerk-Stenographer II PHYLLIS J. BARHA-'d, Clerk-Stenographer I TECHNICAL RECORDS LILLIA>I WEAKLEY, Clerk-Stenographer I SHIRLEY CoLVl'1, Clerk-Stenographer I BERE:"llCE REED, Supervisory Technical Assistant BARBARA BARHAM, Clerk-Stenographer I MARILYN DELA:"lD, B.S., Technical Assistant MARY J. DE HAAS, Messenger-Clerk I GE!\"ERAL SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE GLE"" G. PooR, In Charge• lRE�E H. BE:"lSO:"l, Technical Assistant ROBERT 0. ELLIS, Automol-i'i:e .._lfechanic Lois L. REED, Technical Assislanl EVERETIE EDWARDS, Automoli've Mechanic DAVID B. COOLEY, Aulomoiit•e Mechanic's Helper June 1, 1954 *Divided time CONTENT S PAGE Chapter I-Introduction. .. .. .. .. 11 Location and extent of the Chicago region. .. .. 11 Importance of the area. .. .. .. .. 11 Purpose of the investigation.. .. .. .. 13 History of the investigation... .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Acknowledgments . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Previous publications.. .. .. .. .. 14 Chapter II-Topography... .. 15 Introduction . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Physiographic province.... 15 Relief and altitudes... .. .. .. .. 15 Topographic maps.... .. .. .. 16 Geologic factors . .. .. .. .. .. 17 Topographic processes.. .. .. .. 17 Streams........ 17 The cycle of erosion.. .. 17 Topographic age of the Chicago region ..,. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Glaciers. .. .. .. .. 18 Lakes .. .. 19 Waves and shore currents. .. .. 19 Winds..... .. 21 Drainage................................................ .. .. .. 21 Rivers ..... .. .. 21 Chicago River......... 22 Calumet River. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 DesPlaines River. .. .. .. 23 Minor streams. ... ... ... ..... 23 Submerged portion of the Chicago plain. 24 Lake levels .... 25 Topographic features .... 27 Uplands. ........ 27 Moraine ridges .... ·'· 27 Valparaiso morainic system ........... 27 Tinley moraine ... 28 Lake Border moraines.. ........ 28 The lake plain.. .. ....... 29 Shore features of Lake Chicago... ................................. 29 Valleys... ''I" .•.......... ......... · · · · · · · · · · · · · 30 Constructional valleys ...........