Virginia Geology Notes: The 5 provinces of VA.
Name: ______________
Virginia is divided into_______ provinces based on their _____________________(rock) formations.
1. _____________ _________
Coastal Plain includes a flat region of sedimentary strata (layers of sand, mud, & gravel) that extends east of the
Fall Line for more than 100 miles where it meets the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
•The Coastal Plain runs from the ___________ ______ on the west, to the ______________ ___________
on the east. The Fall Line is a low east-facing cliff paralleling the Atlantic coast, there are many
waterfalls where rivers cross this line. It is where the rocks transition from harder to softer.
•It is a _______________________ landscape (like stair steps down toward the ocean)
•It is the ______________________ Virginia province, it was formed most recently.
•_________________ (sand, silt and clay) produced by _____________ of the __________________ Mts.
covers the plain, including the beaches. Remember, our mountains once had higher elevations!
•Due to climate changes, sea levels rose and fell and _________________ were left at various layers
•Fossils include various _________________ organisms like clams, scallops, sharks teeth, and other hard
remains. Paleozoic era, Mesozoic era, and Cenozoic era fossils are found in Virginia.
•35 million years ago a large ______________________ crashed into the shallow sea (now known as the
Chesapeake Bay) and created a crater 90 km in diameter. It is now buried under 1.2 km of sediment.
2. ______________________
•Pied = Foot, Mont = hill/mountain
Piedmont means “____________________”
The Piedmont is the largest province and is separated from the Coastal Plain by a Fall Line, and it extends
westward to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
•It is an area of rolling ___________ underlain by ancient igneous and metamorphic rock (underneath)
•It is the ___________________ of the provinces
Mining the Piedmont: High quality _____________ is mined from this area (used for billiards, chalkboards, roofs)
•The Piedmont has one of the worlds largest _______________ mines (used for electronics)
3. ___________________________________
Blue Ridge consists of a long, narrow NE-SW trending mountain chain and is the oldest area in the state of VA.
•It is a high ___________ __________________the Piedmont from the Valley and Ridge province
•The 1.2 billion year old igneous and metamorphic rocks are the __________________ in the state.
•Highest point in Virginia is in the ______________________(Mount Rogers, Grayson County)
Ready for a quick review?
1. Which province, that has already been described, is known for having layers of fossils?_____________
2. Which province is the largest?______________________
3. Which province has the oldest rocks?________________________
4. Which province has slate and kyanite mines? _______________________________
5. What river feature is often found where a river crosses the fall line? ______________________
4. ____________________________________
The Valley and Ridge includes the area between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains
•An area of long parallel _______________ & __________________ underlain by ancient folded and
faulted sedimentary rocks (550 – 300 my old)
•Cambrian Period __________ _______________ are found in the Valley & Ridge Province, which means
that this area was once a _________________ ________.
•___________________outcrops are common in the Valley and Ridge Province.
•This area is also famous for________________ topography.
•____________ is an irregular limestone region with sinkholes, caves, underground streams, and caverns.
5.________________________________________
The Appalachian Plateau is the western most province and it continues into West Virginia.
A _________________ is a plain with a high elevation.
•The Appalachian Plateau has rugged, irregular topography with deep narrow _____________ and steep,
rugged __________________ sides caused by the down cutting (erosion) of rivers and _______________.
•It is underlain by ancient, flat-lying _____________________rocks.
•Most of Virginia's __________________ is found in the Appalachian Plateau and is mined for energy.
•These old ____________________ rocks contain many _______________ and tons of ___________.
Questions!
1.Which province is covered by sand, silt and clay?
2. Which province has Cambrian Period algae fossils?
______
3. Which province has a terraced landscape?
4. Which province contains 1.2 billion year old rocks?
5. Which province is underlain by ancient, flat-lying sedimentary rocks?
6. Which province has rolling hills underlain by ancient rocks?
7. What do we call an irregular limestone region with sinkholes and caverns? ______
8. Which province is at the most western part of the state?
9. In which province is Harrisonburg located?
10. Which province is famous for coal mining?