Midcontinent stratigraphy of the gulf coastal plain: northern embayment - illinois, kentucky, and missouri, a two-year projecttotal period of performance: 1 15 2024 through 1 14 2026AWARD purpose -…

Midcontinent stratigraphy of the gulf coastal plain: northern embayment - illinois, kentucky, and missouri, a two-year projecttotal period of performance: 1 15 2024 through 1 14 2026AWARD purpose - the primary goal of this project is to establish a working group between the illinois state geological survey, the kentucky geological survey, and the missouri geological survey to address stratigraphic correlation and nomenclature issues across state geologic map boundaries. This working group will be called the northern embayment stratigraphic working group.activities to be performed meetings about the status of the current nomenclature in each state. Year one will mainly be a fact-finding year comparing stratigraphic names and defining stratigraphic issues between states. The surveys will work in their respective states to make an up-to-date stratigraphic column for comparison between the states. Year two will entail reconciliation of problematic terminology between states. Some of the unit problems will need to be resolved with fieldwork to significant outcrops and sampling for biostratigraphic analysis. Also, a drilling program of at least two or three boreholes may be needed to resolve some correlation problems between the states. Deliverables and expected outcomes publish correlation chart for the northern embayment, publish nomenclatural changes or additions for each state and post these changes in an on-line web site at the illinois state geological survey called ilstrat with explanations for the change. Publish cross sections crossing state boundaries both north-south and east-west along with text explanation and update geologic maps at THE1:24,000 scale. Intended beneficiaries the decades-long use of differing terminology by geoscientists working in different states has led to language barriers inhibiting cooperative investigations. Students working on their graduate degrees and university professors would gain from accurate correlations and up-to-date nomenclature in this study area. Industrial minerals companies for expandable clays, sand, and gravel would benefit fromstandardized up-to-date nomenclature. Updating the USGS stratigraphic catalog, geolex, and effecting changes to state geologic maps would benefit all users of geologic information and support the development of the new national map. Subrecipient activities both the KGS and MGS will be providing their current stratigraphic terminology found in the mississippi embayment from their respective states. They will also be sampling and working within their states on problematic areas. The most complete stratigraphic section of all the states is in the jackson purchase area ofwestern kentucky so KGS will be responsible for coring holes in their study area.