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

• 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

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. Blue Ridge Mountains

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 sinks, 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.

• Let’s see how you do on this 10 question quiz.

• Ready? Here we go!

Questions!• 1.Which province is covered by

sand, silt and clay?• 2.Which province has Cambrian

algal fossils?• 3. This province has a terraced

landscape.

More Questions!

• 4. This province contains billion year old rocks.

• 5. Which province is underlain by ancient ,flat-lying sedimentary rocks?

More Questions!

• 6. This province has rolling hills underlain by ancient rocks.

• 7. What do we call an irregular limestone region with sink holes and caverns?

More Questions!

• 8. Which province is at the most western part of the state?( province #5 )

• 9. Which province is the largest?• 10.Which province is famous for

coal?

How did you do?

• Get ready and we’ll check your answers

• Ready?

The Answers• 1. Coastal

Plain• 2. Valley and

Ridge• 3. Coastal

Plain• 4. Blue Ridge• 5. Appalachian

Plateau

• 6. Piedmont• 7.Karst• 8. Appalachian

Plateau• 9. Piedmont• 10. Appalachian

Plateau