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
• As sea levels
rose and fell,
fossils were
left at various
layers
• Sand, silt and
clay produced
by erosion of
the Appalachian
Mts. covers the
plain
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. The Blue Ridge
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 sink holes,
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.