Sugar Run Dolomite

Geological formation in Illinois, US

Sugar Run Dolomite
Stratigraphic range: Silurian
Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, made of Sugar Run Dolomite, aka "Athens marble" or "Lemont limestone"
Type	Formation
Lithology
Primary	dolomite
Location
Region	Illinois
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	Sugar Run Stream

The Sugar Run Dolomite is a geologic formation in Illinois. It is a finely-bedded dolomite, preserving fossils dating back to the Silurian period. This formation is named for the Sugar Run stream in Joliet, along which it is well exposed. The dolomite is off-white/grey on freshly cut surfaces, but over time oxidizes to a distinctive cream yellow color, due to trace presence of iron. It is a member of the Niagaran series.^[1]

Use in architecture

This formation has been quarried for building material since the mid-19th century, sometimes sold under the misleading trade name of "Athens marble". It is also known as Joliet or Lemont limestone.^[2] It was used widely in the construction of many Chicago homes and buildings from the 1850s-1880s, including the famous Chicago Water Tower. By the 1890s, it fell out of fashion as a building material in favor of more durable Indiana limestone.

References

^ Bradbury, James (1988). Joliet-Lemont Limestone (PDF). Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^ "Limestoned".

Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 17 December 2021.

Chronostratigraphy of Illinois

Holocene	Glacial alluvium, drift, and loess
Pleistocene	Embayment Megagroup Mounds Gravel Grover Gravel

Pliocene	Embayment Megagroup Mounds Gravel Grover Gravel

Eocene	Embayment Megagroup Wilcox Formation Claiborne Formation
Paleocene	Embayment Megagroup Porters Creek Formation Clayton Formation

Upper

Maastrichtian	Embayment Megagroup Owl Creek Formation McNairy Formation Baylis Formation
Campanian	Embayment Megagroup Post Creek Formation Baylis Formation

⁋

Kasimovian	McLeansboro Group Bond Formation Mattoon Formation Patoka Formation Shelburn Formation
Moscovian	Carbondale Group
Bashkirian	Raccoon Creek Group Brazil Formation Caseyville Formation Mansfield Formation Tradewater Formation Staunton Formation

Serpukhovian	Pope Mega Group Grove Church Kinkaid Limestone Dagonia Sandstone Clore Formation Palestine Sandstone Menard Limestone Waltersburg Formation Vianna Formation Tar Springs Sandstone
Viséan	Pope Mega Group Glen Dean Limestone Hardinsburg Sandstone Haney Limestone Fraileys Formation Beech Creek Limestone Cypress Sandstone Ridenhower Formation Bethel Sandstone Downeys Bluff Limestone Yankeetown Limestone Renault Limestone Aux Vases Sandstone Ste. Genevieve Limestone Golconda Formation Paint Creek Formation Paoli Formation
Tournaisian	Borden Siltstone Chouteau Limestone Fern Glen Formation Meppen Limestone New Albany Formation Springville Shale
Borden Siltstone Burlington Limestone Fort Payne Formation Keokuk Limestone Salem Limestone St. Louis Limestone Ullin Limestone Warsaw Formation

Upper

Famennian	New Albany Shale
Frasnian	New Albany Shale

Middle

Givetian	Cedar Valley Limestone St. Laurent Formation
Eifelian	Grand Tower Limestone Wapsinicon Limestone Detroit River Formation Muscatatuck Group North Vernon Limestone Jeffersonville Limestone

Lower

Emsian	New Harmony Group Clear Creek Chert Clear Creek Formation
Pragian	New Harmony Group Backbone Limestone Hunton Megagroup Backbone Limestone Grassy Knob Chert Bailey Limestone

Ludlow

Ludfordian	Hunton Megagroup Moccasin Springs Formation Racine Dolomite
Gorstian	Hunton Megagroup Moccasin Springs Formation Racine Dolomite

Wenlock

Homerian	Sugar Run Dolomite
Sheinwoodian	Hunton Megagroup Joliet Dolomite St. Clair Limestone Marcus Dolomite

Llandovery

Telychian	Hunton Megagroup Sexton Creek Limestone Marcus Dolomite
Aeronian	Hunton Megagroup Sexton Creek Limestone
Rhuddanian	Bowling Green Dolomite Brainard Shale Fort Atkinson Limestone Neda Formation