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Around Virginia….
To BE or not to BE……an Earth Science teacher.
Most earth science teachers have a degree in one type of earth science….geology, oceanography, astronomy….or maybe just another science in general.
In Virginia, there is a shortage of Earth Science teachers….so I joined a group of teachers at the Math and Science Center to get my license to become an Earth Science teacher.
This is my story…..
To become certified to teach Earth Science, I had
to take several classes….astronomy,
oceanography, meteorology….but the
most important was Geology – both general and
Virginia geology. This meant we would have to travel around the state to
see examples of how Virginia has changed over
the last billion years or so….
And it’s changed….a LOT!
So Let’s GO!
In this virtual field trip, you will be ‘visiting’ each physiographic province (a geological term for region) of Virginia. You can go in any order you wish – just click on the links like you would a website and read about each province, as well as see pictures and real-life examples
from MY trip around Virginia!
Choose 1 of Virginia’s Regions
Appalachian Plateau
Coastal Plain
PiedmontBlue Ridge Valley and Ridge
Or Click on my picture to get an
explanation of how Virginia formed!
Virginia’s Geologic History OKAY….this can get complicated….so focus!
Let’s go back 1.2 Billion years….there is an ancient ocean separating North America and Africa….BUT ‘suddenly’
(meaning over millions of years) the ocean starts to close as the 2 massive continents start to move together
And BAMNorth America and Africa connect to form a huge
supercontinent…over the next 340 million years or so, they slowly separate, leaving a huge proto (old) ocean where limestone deposits (and fossils from the ocean
animals that formed the limestone) are left behindThen……
VA Geologic History
BAMAfrica returns! And this time with
FORCE – Africa slams into the eastern part of the United States. The ground crumples up, like an accordion and the Appalachian Mountains, along with our Blue
Ridge Mountains, form. Take a look at the satellite pic – see how the
ground crumpled up?
VA Geologic History So that’s where our Blue Ridge Mountains came from….AND where our limestone deposits came from (they’re important to the formation of the Valley and Ridge Region).
But what about the Piedmont? And the Coastal Plain? Why are THEY the way they are?
Click on the license plate to go back to the Virginia Map to find out!
Coastal Plain
Our visit to the Coastal Plain starts with taking a look at the sediments that make it up!
It is a terraced landscape, meaning
that it has lots of different sedimentary
layers Check it out – close up! See the fossils?
But Where Did Those Sediments Come From?
Over time, the Appalachian Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains, millions of years old, are weathering and eroding away. The sediments – sand, silt and clay - that make up the Coastal Plain are the remains of those mountains! Along with what has been left over from rising and falling sea levels!
This weathered and eroded soil is what makes the Coastal Plain a pretty flat area….good for growing crops!
Fossils!
Fossils include various marine organisms like clams, scallops, sharks teeth, and other hard
remains – from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic,
and Cenozoic eras
That’s me!
Sea creatures make GREAT fossils!
What do we get from the Coastal Plain?
We get sand and gravel from the Coastal Plain….
which is used for paving, making
concrete, and glass making
Back to the map
Piedmont
Travel to the Piedmont!
• This is OUR region!
• It is an area of rolling hills with ancient igneous and metamorphic rock
• It is the largest of the provinces
PiedmontThe Piedmont is the
region where the sands of the Coastal
Plain meets the metamorphic rock that
was created when Africa separated from
North AmericaThis is my geology class
checking out an old shoreline left over from millions of year
ago when the Coastal Plain was just starting to form….right
across from the Richmond JailMy geology professor is trying to explain to the confused jail guard why we are here…..
Mining the Piedmont High quality slate is mined
from this area
The Piedmont also has one of the world’s largest kyanite mines – used for ceramics and making panels for the space shuttle
Also provides crushed stone that is used for concrete and paving
Back to the map
Us checking
out Kyanite at a mine
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge FactsThe billion year old
igneous and metamorphic rocks are the oldest in the
state (1.2 billion years old)
Formed when Africa first connected to eastern side of North America
Blue Ridge FactsIt is a high, thin ridge
separating the Piedmont from the Valley and Ridge
province – contains the highest mountain in the state – Mt. Rogers near Roanoke
This is where
the Shen. Nat’l
Park is located!
Hiking with
family in Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge – Evidence of Geological Craziness!
These are pictures from Eagle Rock – they carved away at
the rock to build a road….and this is what they saw
You can see how the rock was literally squished so much that it turned over on itself – you can tell that something BIG
had to happen to move all this rock
Valley and Ridge Province
Valley and Ridge
The Valley and Ridge Province is an area of long parallel ridges and valleys with ancient folded and
faulted sedimentary rocks under them
Ridges are sandstoneValleys are limestone
Driving through Valley and Ridge province
Limestone outcrops are also common in the
Valley and Ridge Province
Remember the ancient sea that existed in VA millions of years ago from the geological
history of VA? THIS is where all that
limestone came from – deposits from ancient
shelled organisms
That is why this area is famous for….
KARST topography!
Remember….formation of caves, sinkholes, etc.
Resources from Valley and Ridge
• Limestone is mined and used for….– Construction– Crushed stone– Concrete– Steel making
• Shale (used in cement) • Gypsum (used in insulation and drywall)• Natural Gas / Oil (very small amounts)
Appalachian Plateau
Appalachian Plateau Facts
• The Appalachian Plateau has rugged, irregular topography and has ancient, flat-lying sedimentary rocks
• Has some shallow, marine fossils
Appalachian Plateau Facts
What dark rock do you see in the
background?
Virginia Coal• Most of Virginia's
coal is found in the Appalachian Plateau
• It’s the only real fossil fuel found in VA in numerous amounts