Physiographic
Provinces of Virginia
Earth Science
Deborah Bowyer, ITRT
5
Virginia is divided into ____
major physiographic provinces
(physio-physical features,
graphic—map of).
W
Appalachian
Plateau
Coastal Plain
Valley & Ridge
E
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
The Coastal Plain
A gently seaward sloping surface in Eastern
Virginia
300’ -Coastal Plain
Pile
“_______”
of loose
sediments
that have
eroded
from the
mountains.
0’ sea level
Sediments
The highest elevation is about 300 ft. above sea level.
1. Kinds of rocks:
Sedimentary, loose sediment
2. Ages of rocks:
0-225 mya (millions of years ago)
3. Fossils:
Sea critters
sand and
This area is rich in _____
gravel resources.
______
Fall line:
a. Waterfalls and
rapids are located
here.
b. Major cities are
located here.
The Piedmont
A gently rolling area with hills and
valleys (pied-foot, mont-mountains).
This is located in Central Virginia.
Blue Ridge
W
Piedmont
Coastal
Plain
E
subduction
An episode of ___________
that occurred before the
formation of the Appalachian
Mountains created these
rocks. They are part
roots of
of the ______
the mountains.
1. Kinds of rocks:
Igneous and metamorphic
(some sediment)
2. Ages of rocks:
245-570 mya
3. Fossils:
None
Exception: Culpepper Co.
Dinosaur tracks
Blue Ridge
A narrow line of mountains north
of Roanoke, a broader, upland
surface south of Roanoke.
Highest mountains in Virginia.
_________
The Appalachian mountains are
older
eroded
________
and more _________
than the Rocky Mountains.
Mount Rogers
Elevation:
5719’
W
Highest
___________
peak
_______
in
Virginia.
1.Kinds of rocks: Igneous &
metamorphic
2.Ages of rocks: 245 mya-1 bya
3.Fossils: None
Metamorphosis
____________ occurred during the
Appalachian Mountain formation.
oldest rocks in
These are the ________
Virginia.
Valley and Ridge
An area of long, parallel ridges
separated by valleys
W
Ridges
Valleys
Great Valley
Blue
Ridge
Plateau
Thrust Faults
Alleghany County
Sections of hard, resistant rocks
make up the ridges, while soft,
eroded limestone makes up the
valleys. ________
Limestone has eroded
and leaves caves and caverns
(karst topography).
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: Sediment
2.Ages of rocks: 350-570 mya
3.Fossils:
Sea critters
Appalachian Plateau
This is a series of plateaus
separated by faults. “The Boot”
This area is known for rich
coal ____,
oil
deposits of ____,
and
natural
gas
_________.
Coal seams
1.Kinds of rocks: Sediment
2.Ages of rocks: 286-360 mya
3.Fossils:
Scale trees
Ferns
Some sea critters
W
E
Appalachian Plateau
Plateaus
Valley &
Ridge
Faults
Alleghany County