Physiographic
Provinces of Virginia
Earth Science
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
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
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 sediments
2. Ages of rocks:
0-225 MYA
3. Fossils:
Sea critters
4. Features:
Wetlands
This area is rich in _____
sand and
gravel 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
Coastal Plain Note Card:
Flat,
layered w/ sediments & fossils
Youngest region of VA
Formed from the erosion of the
Appalachian Mountains and
deposition of these sediments onto
the Coastal Plain.
Contains gravel and crushed stone
used for road construction.
Fall Line:
a. Waterfalls and rapids
are located here.
b. Major cities are
located here.
Fall line Note Card:


Separates the Coastal Plain from the
Piedmont. It is a boundary between an
upland region and a coastal plain. Rivers
from the upland region drop to the plain as
falls or rapids.
A fall line is formed in an area where the
rivers have eroded away the soft rocks of a
coastal plain more quickly than the older
harder rocks of an upland region.
2. Piedmont
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 )
The Piedmont
A gently rolling area with hills and
valleys (pied-foot, mont-mountains).
This is located in Central Virginia.
Blue Ridge
Piedmont
W
Lynchburg VA
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
Piedmont Note Card:
This is where we live 
 Rolling hills underlain by ancient igneous
and metamorphic rock.
Igneous rocks here are the roots of
volcanoes formed during an ancient
subduction occuring before the formation
of the Appalachian Mountains.
Located west of the fall line.

3. Blue Ridge Mountains
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.
Blue Ridge Note Card:
A
high ridge between the Piedmont and
Valley & Ridge Province.
Billion
year old rocks are
the oldest in the state.
(Metamorphic & Igneous)
Some
Metamorphism occurred during the
formation of the Appalachians.
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
Valley and Ridge
An area of long, parallel ridges
separated by valleys
W
Ridges
Valleys
Great Valley
Blue
Ridge
Plateau
Thrust Faults
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).
Sink holes!
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: Sediment
2.Ages of rocks: 350-570 mya
3.Fossils:
Sea critters
Valley and Ridge Note Card:
Long
parallel ridges and valleys underlain by
ancient folded and faulted sedimentary rock.
Folding and faulting occurred during a
continental collision between Africa and North
America in the late Paleozoic Era.
This collision created the Appalachian
Mountains!
Contains limestone caves or “Karst
Topography”.
Limestone is used to make concrete
5. Appalachian Plateau
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
COAL!
Virginia Coal
 Most
of
Virginia's coal
is found in the
Appalachian
Plateau.
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
Appalachian Plateau Note Card:
Rugged,
Irregular Topography
Underlain by ancient flat lying
Sedimentary Rocks
A series of plateaus separated by
faults
This area contained an ancient
swamp responsible for most of VA’s
coal.
Let’s Review each region: