The Five Physiographic
Provinces of Virginia
The Five Provinces
Virginia is divided into 5 provinces
based on their geologic formations.
After looking at the first few
slides, how many of the
provinces can you name?
Do you know in which
province we live?
Be sure to take good
notes!
There will be a quiz at the
end of this presentation.
1. Coastal Plain
The Coastal Plain runs from the fall
line on the west, to the Atlantic
Ocean on the east
• It is a
terraced
landscape
• 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
Virginia Fossils
• Fossils include
various marine
organisms like
clams, scallops,
sharks teeth, and
other hard
remains
Virginia Fossils
• Paleozoic,
Mesozoic,
and Cenozoic
fossils are
found in
Virginia
2. Piedmont
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
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 )
3. Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Facts
• The billion year
old igneous and
metamorphic
rocks are the
oldest in the
state
Blue Ridge Facts
• It is a high ridge
separating the
piedmont from
the valley and
ridge province
Ready for a quick review?
• 1. Which province, that has
already been described, is known
for having layers of fossils?
Quick Review
• 2. Which province is the largest?
• 3. Which province has the oldest
rocks?
• 4. Which province has slate and
kyanite mines?
Let’s see how you did!
• 1. Coastal Plain
• 2. Piedmont
• 3. Blue Ridge
• 4. Piedmont
4. Valley and Ridge
Province
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
Cambrian fossil algal structures
are found in the V&R Province
Limestone outcrops are common
in the Valley and Ridge Province
This area is also famous for
Karst
• What does karst mean?
• Want some hints?
Sink holes!
Caverns!
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?
5. Appalachian Plateau
Appalachian Plateau Facts
• The Appalachian Plateau has
rugged, irregular topography and is
underlain by ancient, flat-lying
sedimentary rocks
Appalachian Plateau Facts
• Do you
notice any
thing in
these
layers?
COAL!
Virginia Coal
• Most of
Virginia's coal
is found in the
Appalachian
Plateau.
Virginia Coal
• These old
sedimentary
rocks contain
many fossils
and tons of
coal.
• Let’s see how you do on this 10
question quiz.
• Ready? Here we go!
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.
More Questions!
• 4. This province contains billion
year old rocks.
• 5. Which province is underlain by
ancient ,flat-lying sedimentary
rocks?
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?
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?
How did you do?
• Get ready and we’ll check your
answers
• Ready?
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