The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in unifying pre-Illinoian glacial till strata in the midcontinent region of the United States. The purpose of this project is to create a multi-state working group to update the correlations on a multi-state level to refine existing glacial stratigraphy that is not adequate for current geological needs. Early to Middle Pleistocene tills and associated glacial sediments in the midcontinent are lumped together and named pre-Illinoian. Geochronologic and stratigraphic evidence revealed that this framework was too simplistic. Individual states have adopted inconsistent nomenclatures and varying approaches to differentiating pre-Illinoian units in the midcontinent. The working group plans to better understand and align multiple till intervals both within states and across state boundaries.
