The Five Physiographic Provinces of Virginia

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Virginia Geology

• The Five Physiographic Provinces of Virginia

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The Five Provinces
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Virginia is divided into 5 provinces based on
their geologic formations.
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After looking at the first few slides, how many
of the provinces can you name?

• Do you know in which province we live?

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1. Coastal Plain
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The Coastal Plain runs from the fall line on the
west, to the Atlantic Ocean on the east

• It is a terraced landscape

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• Sand, silt and clay produced by erosion of the
  Appalachian Mts. covers the plain
• As sea levels rose and fell, fossils were left at
  various layers

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Virginia Fossils

• Fossils include various marine organisms like
  clams, scallops, sharks teeth, and other hard
  remains

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Virginia Fossils

• Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic fossils are
  found in Virginia

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2. Piedmont
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Facts about the Va. Piedmont

• It is an area of rolling hills underlain by
  ancient igneous and metamorphic rock
• It is the largest of the provinces

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Mining the Piedmont

• High quality slate is mined from this area
• The Piedmont host one of the worlds largest
  kyanite mines
• ( see picture of kyanite )

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3. Blue Ridge Mountains
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Blue Ridge Facts

• The billion year old igneous and metamorphic
  rocks are the oldest in the state

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Blue Ridge Facts

• It is a high ridge separating the piedmont from
  the valley and ridge province

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Ready for a quick review?

• 1. Which province, that has already been
  described, is known for having layers of fossils?

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Quick Review

• 2. Which province is the largest?
• 3. Which province has the oldest rocks?
• 4. Which province has slate and kyanite mines?

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Lets see how you did!

• 1. Coastal Plain
• 2. Piedmont
• 3. Blue Ridge
• 4. Piedmont

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4. Valley and Ridge Province
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Valley and Ridge

• The Valley and Ridge Province is an area of long
  parallel ridges and valleys underlain by ancient
  folded and faulted sedimentary rocks

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Cambrian fossil algal structures are found in the
VR Province
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Limestone outcrops are common in the Valley and
Ridge Province
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This area is also famous for Karst

• What does karst mean?
• Want some hints?

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Sink holes!
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Caverns!
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Think you figured it out?

• Karst is an irregular limestone region with
  sinks, underground streams, and caverns
• The Valley and Ridge Province is famous for its
  caverns, can you name one?

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5. Appalachian Plateau
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Appalachian Plateau Facts

• The Appalachian Plateau has rugged, irregular
  topography and is underlain by ancient,
  flat-lying sedimentary rocks

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Appalachian Plateau Facts

• Do you notice any thing in these layers?

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COAL!
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Virginia Coal

• Most of Virginia's coal is found in the
  Appalachian Plateau.

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Virginia Coal

• These old sedimentary rocks contain many fossils
  and tons of coal.

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Quiz Time

• Lets see how you do on this 10 question quiz.
• Ready? Here we go!

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Questions!

• 1.Which province is covered by sand, silt and
  clay?
• 2.Which province has Cambrian algal fossils?
• 3. This province has a terraced landscape.

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More Questions!

• 4. This province contains billion year old rocks.
• 5. Which province is underlain by ancient
  ,flat-lying sedimentary rocks?

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More Questions!

• 6. This province has rolling hills underlain by
  ancient rocks.
• 7. What do we call an irregular limestone region
  with sink holes and caverns?

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More Questions!

• 8. Which province is at the most western part of
  the state?( province 5 )
• 9. Which province is the largest?
• 10.Which province is famous for coal?

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How did you do?

• Get ready and well check your answers
• Ready?

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The Answers

• 1. Coastal Plain
• 2. Valley and Ridge
• 3. Coastal Plain
• 4. Blue Ridge
• 5. Appalachian Plateau

• 6. Piedmont
• 7.Karst
• 8. Appalachian Plateau
• 9. Piedmont
• 10. Appalachian Plateau

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THE END