Mississippi Embayment Research Center

The Mississippi Embayment Research Center (MERC) at the University of Memphis is an emerging geologic sample repository and multidisciplinary research center. It began in 2024 to address future science, engineering, and workforce needs in the Mississippi Embayment region. The MERC is actively seeking funding for state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation, including a Geoprobe 8150LS rotary sonic drill rig, which will enable the recovery of relatively undisturbed sediment and groundwater samples from depths up to 150 meters. This equipment is crucial for exploring the subsurface architecture of the Mississippi Embayment, which includes abundant nationally significant resources such as the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, Mississippi Embayment aquifer system, heavy mineral sands, and geohazards like the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).