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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: