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Virginia Geology Guided Notes

Virginia can be divided into 5 geographic provinces. Each province has a unique geologic history.

Blue Ridge

Q: Where is the Blue Ridge located?

Between the Piedmont and the Ridge and Valley Provinces

Q: What types of rock are found here?

Igneous metamorphic and sedimentary

• These are the oldest rocks in Virginia!

Q: What is the topography?

Rugged worn down mountains

Blue Ridge Formation

• !frica and "orth !merica collided and formed the Blue Ridge

• #ontinued pressure pushed the rock west to the Valley and Ridge

• $%&' ()! !frica ripped away from Virginia

• Igneous and (etamorphic rock formed

• When the continents separated the Iapetus *ea was formed+

• ,and was covered with water+

Q: Why are sedimentary rock and fossils found here?

When the continents separated the Iapetus *ea was formed land was covered with water causing sediment to

deposit sedimentary rock was formed

The iedmont

Q: Where is the Piedmont located?

,ocated to the west of the fall line and the east of the Blue Ridge (ountains

• "t is the #argest rovince!

Q: What type of rock is found here?

Igneous and (etamorphic

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Q: What is the topography?• -.ently rolling topography

• /eeply weathered e0posed 1edrock 

• -Becomes less rugged as move away from the Blue Ridge (ountains

iedmont Formation• Remains of an ancient volcanic arc 2think Igneous rock3 collided with and accreted on the 4astern edge

of "orth !merica at the time the !ppalachian (ountains were 1eing 1uilt+

• Remem1er this was the edge of the continent5 the #oastal Plain did not e0ist+

• *tress was put on these rocks5 heat and pressure from the rocks colliding and I."467* rock was 1orn+

Valley $Ridge rovince

Q: Where is the Valley 8 Ridge province located?

Between the Blue Ridge and the Plateau

Q: What type of rocks is here?*edimentary

• Predominantly ,imestones and /olomites

Valley and Ridge Formation

• /uring the #am1rian a shallow sea covered the area which allowed the sedimentary rocks to 1e

deposited

• 9hese rocks folded and faulted when !frica and "orth !merica collided+

• 9his formed the !ppalachian (ountains and pushed some of the rock from the !ppalachian (ountains

over the sedimentary rock+• 9he Igneous and (etamorphic rock from the Blue Ridge (tns has weathered and eroded+

Q: What is the topography like?

arst 9opography

Q: What are e0amples of karst topography?

#aves and sinkholes

%ppalachian lateau

Q: Where is the province located?Western 1order of Virginia

Q: What is the topography like?

Relatively flat areas with steep river valleys plateaus separated 1y faults valleys caused 1y erosion

Q: What types of rocks are found here?

*edimentary• 9he province contains coal natural gas and oil+

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%ppalachian lateau Formation

• 9he folds from the Ridge and Valley ;one flatten out and give way to flattened areas

• 9his area was a marshland 2swamp3 in the Paleo;oic 4ra

The &oastal lain

Q: Where is the coastal plain located?4astern shore of Virginia

Q: What separates the coastal plain from the Piedmont?

<all line

•Economic boundary'boats could not travel past (alls) settled to*ns at (all lines

• "( you live east o( the (all line) *hich province do you live in+ &oastal lain

Q: What types of rocks make up the coastal plain?

*edimentary strata consisting of sands muds and gravels

•

9he coastal plain contains the youngest rocks in Virginia=

Q: What geologic processes formed the coastal plain?

• <ormed from the erositon of earlier mountains

• *ofter sedimentary rock was eroded 1y moving water that form falls

• Repeated *ea ,evel transgressions

Q: What is the topography of the coastal plain?

9erraced landscape

Q: What is a watershed or drainage 1asin?9he area where all of the water drains off and empties into the same larger 1ody of water 

Q: What is the largest drainage 1asin in Virginia?#hesapeake Bay

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,ection Revie* -uestions

>+ ,ist the & geologic provinces in Virginia in order from east to west and give the rock type2s3 found in each:

a+ #oastal Plainsrock type2s3: sedimentary strata

 1+ Piedmontrock type2s3: igneous and metamorphic

c+ Blue Ridgerock type2s3: igneous metamorphic and sedimentary

d+ Ridge and Valley

rock type2s3: sedimentary

e+ !ppalachian Plateau

rock type2s3: sedimentary

+ @ow and from what was the #oastal Plain formed?

<ormed from erosion of mountains

A+ Which province can you find karst topography in Virginia?

+ What is the topography like in the Valley and Ridge province?

arst 9opography: differential weathering and erosion C assorted topography with some relief

&+ Which province contains natural resources like oil and natural gas?

!ppalachian Plateau

D+ Which ore mineral commonly referred to as Efools goldF has 1een found in VirginiaG Piedmont?

Pyrite