Physiographic Provinces of Virginia

Physiographic Physiographic Provinces of Provinces of

VirginiaVirginia

Earth ScienceDeborah Bowyer, ITRT

Virginia is divided into ____ major physiographic provinces

(physio-physical features, graphic—map of).

5

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Valley & RidgeAppalachia

n Plateau

W E

The Coastal PlainA gently seaward sloping surface in

Eastern Virginia

0’ sea level

300’ -Coastal Plain

Sediments

“_______” of loose sediments that have eroded from the mountains.

Pile

The highest elevation is about 300 ft. above sea level.

1. Kinds of rocks:

2. Ages of rocks:

3. Fossils:

Sedimentary, loose sediment

0-225 mya (millions of years ago)

Sea critters

This area is rich in _____ and ______ resources.

sandgravel

b. Major cities are located here.

Fall line:a. Waterfalls and

rapids are located here.

The PiedmontA gently rolling area with hills and A gently rolling area with hills and

valleys (pied-foot, mont-valleys (pied-foot, mont-mountains). This is located in mountains). This is located in

Central Virginia.Central Virginia.

W

EBlue Ridge Piedmon

tCoastal Plain

An episode of ___________that occurred before the formation of the Appalachian Mountains created theserocks. They are partof the ______ ofthe mountains.

subduction

roots

1. Kinds of rocks:

2. Ages of rocks:

3. Fossils:

Igneous and metamorphic(some sediment)

245-570 mya

Exception: Culpepper Co.Dinosaur tracks

None

Blue RidgeA narrow line of mountains north of Roanoke, a broader, upland surface south of Roanoke. _________ mountains in Virginia. The Appalachian mountains are ________ and more _________ than the Rocky Mountains.

Highestolder

eroded

Mount RogersElevation:

5719’

__________________ in Virginia.

Highestpeak

W

1.Kinds of rocks:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Igneous & metamorphic245 mya-1 bya

None

____________ occurred during the Appalachian Mountain formation. These are the ________ rocks in Virginia.

Metamorphosis

oldest

Valley and RidgeAn area of long, parallel ridges

separated by valleys

W

Plateau

Ridges Valleys Great Valley

Blue Ridge

Thrust Faults

Alleghany County

Sections of hard, resistant rocks make up the ridges, while soft, eroded limestone makes up the valleys. ________ has eroded and leaves caves and caverns (karst topography).

Limestone

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:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Sediment

350-570 mya

Sea critters

Appalachian PlateauThis is a series of plateaus separated by faults. “The

Boot”This area is known for rich deposits of ____, ____, and _________.

coal

oilnatural gas

Coal seams

1.Kinds of rocks:

2.Ages of rocks:

3.Fossils:

Sediment

286-360 mya

Scale treesFernsSome sea critters

W E

“Rolling

Hills”

Plateaus

Appalachian Plateau

Valley & Ridge

Alleghany County

Faults