Physiographic Provinces of Virginia Earth Science

Physiographic Physiographic Provinces of Provinces of

VirginiaVirginia

Earth Science

Virginia is divided into ____ major physiographic

provinces

(physio-physical features, graphic—map of).

5

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Valley & RidgeAppalachia

n Plateau

W E

1. Coastal Plain1. Coastal Plain

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

It is a It is a terraced terraced landscapelandscape

Sand, silt and Sand, silt and clay produced by clay produced by erosion of the erosion of the Appalachian Mts. Appalachian Mts. covers the plaincovers the plain

As sea levels As sea levels rose and fell, rose and fell, fossils were left fossils were left at various layersat various layers

Virginia FossilsVirginia Fossils

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

Virginia FossilsVirginia Fossils

PaleozoicPaleozoic, , MesozoicMesozoic, , and and CenozoicCenozoic fossils are fossils are found in found in VirginiaVirginia

The Coastal PlainA gently seaward sloping surface in

Eastern Virginia

0’ sea level

300’ -Coastal Plain

Sediments

“_______” of loose sediments that have eroded from the mountains.

Pile

The highest elevation is about 300 ft. above sea level.

1. Kinds of rocks:

2. Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

4. Features:

Wetlands

Sedimentary, loose sediments

0-225 MYA

Sea critters

This area is rich in _____ and ______ resources.

These resources are used to build roads.

The Chesapeake Bay is found here where this region borders the Atlantic Ocean.

Also called the Tidewater Region it is the region closest to sea level. (low elevation)

sandgravel

Coastal Plain Note Coastal Plain Note Card:Card:

Flat, layered w/ sediments & Flat, layered w/ sediments & fossilsfossilsYoungest region of VAYoungest region of VAFormed from the Formed from the erosionerosion of the of the Appalachian Mountains and Appalachian Mountains and depositiondeposition of these sediments of these sediments onto the Coastal Plain.onto the Coastal Plain.Contains gravel and crushed Contains gravel and crushed stone used for road stone used for road construction. construction.

a. Waterfalls and rapids

are located here.

b. Major cities are located here.

Fall Line:

Separates the Coastal Plain from the Separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont. It is a boundary between an Piedmont. It is a boundary between an upland region and a coastal plain. upland region and a coastal plain. Rivers from the upland region drop to Rivers from the upland region drop to the plain as falls or rapids. the plain as falls or rapids.

A fall line is formed in an area where A fall line is formed in an area where the rivers have eroded away the soft the rivers have eroded away the soft rocks of a coastal plain more quickly rocks of a coastal plain more quickly than the older harder rocks of an than the older harder rocks of an upland region.upland region.

Fall line Note Card:

2. Piedmont2. Piedmont

Mining the PiedmontMining the Piedmont High quality slate High quality slate

is mined from this is mined from this areaarea

The Piedmont The Piedmont host one of the host one of the worlds largest worlds largest kyanite mineskyanite mines

( see picture of kyanite )( see picture of kyanite )

The PiedmontA gently rolling area with hills and A gently rolling area with hills and

valleys (pied-foot, mont-valleys (pied-foot, mont-mountains). This is located in mountains). This is located in

Central Virginia.Central Virginia.

W

EBlue Ridge Piedmon

tCoastal Plain

Lynchburg VA

An episode of ___________that occurred before the formation of the Appalachian Mountains created theserocks. They are partof the ______ ofthe mountains.

subduction

roots

1. Kinds of rocks:

2. Ages of rocks:

3. Fossils:

Igneous and metamorphic(some sediment)

245-570 mya

Exception: Culpepper Co.Dinosaur tracks

None

Piedmont Note Card:Piedmont Note Card: This is where we live This is where we live Rolling hills underlain by ancient Rolling hills underlain by ancient igneous and metamorphic rock. igneous and metamorphic rock. Igneous rocks here are the roots of Igneous rocks here are the roots of volcanoes formed during an ancient volcanoes formed during an ancient subduction occuring before the subduction occuring before the formation of the Appalachian formation of the Appalachian Mountains. Mountains. Located west of the fall line.Located west of the fall line.

3. Blue Ridge 3. Blue Ridge MountainsMountains

Blue RidgeA narrow line of mountains north of Roanoke, a broader, upland surface south of Roanoke. _________ mountains in Virginia. The Appalachian mountains are ________ and more _________ than the Rocky Mountains.

Highestolder

eroded

Mount RogersElevation:

5719’

__________________ in Virginia.

Highestpeak

W

1.Kinds of rocks:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Igneous & metamorphic245 mya-1 bya

None

____________ occurred during the Appalachian Mountain formation. These are the ________ rocks in Virginia.

Metamorphosis

oldest

Blue Ridge Note Card:Blue Ridge Note Card:A high ridge between the Piedmont A high ridge between the Piedmont and Valley & Ridge Province.and Valley & Ridge Province.

Billion year old rocks areBillion year old rocks are

the oldest in the state.the oldest in the state.

(Metamorphic & Igneous)(Metamorphic & Igneous)

Some Metamorphism occurred Some Metamorphism occurred during the formation of the during the formation of the Appalachians. Appalachians.

Valley and RidgeValley and Ridge The Valley and The Valley and

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

Cambrian fossil algal Cambrian fossil algal structures are found in the structures are found in the

V&R ProvinceV&R Province

Limestone outcrops are Limestone outcrops are common in the Valley and common in the Valley and

Ridge ProvinceRidge Province

Valley and RidgeAn area of long, parallel ridges

separated by valleys

W

Plateau

Ridges Valleys Great Valley

Blue Ridge

Thrust Faults

Sections of hard, resistant rocks make up the ridges, while soft, eroded limestone makes up the valleys. ________ has eroded and leaves caves and caverns (karst topography).

Limestone

Sink holes!Sink holes!

Caverns!Caverns!

Folding and faulting occurred during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains (when N. America collided with Africa and Europe). This occurred during the Paleozoic Era (300-265 million years ago).

1.Kinds of rocks:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Sediment

350-570 mya

Sea critters

Valley and Ridge Note Valley and Ridge Note Card:Card:

Long parallel ridges and valleys Long parallel ridges and valleys underlain by ancient folded and faulted underlain by ancient folded and faulted sedimentary rock.sedimentary rock.Folding and faulting occurred during a Folding and faulting occurred during a continental collision between Africa and continental collision between Africa and North America in the late Paleozoic Era. North America in the late Paleozoic Era. This collision created the Appalachian This collision created the Appalachian Mountains!Mountains!Contains limestone caves or “Karst Contains limestone caves or “Karst Topography”. Topography”. Limestone is used to make concrete Limestone is used to make concrete

5. Appalachian Plateau5. Appalachian Plateau

Appalachian PlateauThis is a series of plateaus separated by faults. “The

Boot”This area is known for rich deposits of ____, ____, and _________.

coal

oilnatural gas

Coal seams

COAL!COAL!

Virginia CoalVirginia Coal

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

1.Kinds of rocks:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Sediment

286-360 mya

Scale treesFernsSome sea critters

W E

“Rolling

Hills”

Plateaus

Appalachian Plateau

Valley & Ridge

Faults

Appalachian Plateau Note Appalachian Plateau Note Card:Card:

Rugged, Irregular TopographyRugged, Irregular TopographyUnderlain by ancient flat lying Underlain by ancient flat lying Sedimentary RocksSedimentary RocksA series of plateaus separated A series of plateaus separated by faultsby faultsThis area contained an ancient This area contained an ancient swamp responsible for most of swamp responsible for most of VA’s coal.VA’s coal.

Let’s Review each region: