Virginia’s Physiographic Provinces Area defined by geologic activity, rock type, and age

Provinces Coastal Plain (flat) 2. Piedmont (rolling hills) 3. Blue Ridge (mountains) 4. Valley and Ridge (mountains) 5. Appalachian Plateau (elevated flat land) Fall line rapid change in elevation

1. Coastal Plain Rock / Age Resources Topography Sedimentary myo Clay Oil and gas (offshore) Sand and gravel Geologic Activity: CP = product of erosion of the Appalachian Mountains and oceanic sedimentary deposits. 1 Flat (less than 50 m) bordering the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean

2. Piedmont 2 This area is the product of convergence (plates moving together) Rock Metamorphic Igneous Sedimentary Resources Soapstone Slate Gold Pyrite Vermiculite Iron Zinc Copper Coal Topography Rolling hills Geologic Activity Folding Faulting (earthquakes) Intrusions (magma)

3. Blue Ridge 3 Rock / AgeResourcesTopography Metamorphic Igneous 1.2 byo Copper Tin Iron Granite Turquoise Quartzite The Blue Ridge is a high ridge separating the Piedmont and the Valley. It is a result of convergence. Mountains Ridges Geologic Activity: Folding Faulting (earthquakes) intrusions

4. Valley and Ridge 4 Rock and AgeResourcesTopography Sedimentary myo Lime Zinc Gypsum Lead Iron Limestone Mountains * This area is the result of convergence between Africa and North America. Geologic Activity: Folding Faulting (earthquakes) Karst

5. Appalachian Plateau 5 Rock and AgeResourcesGeologic Activity Sedimentary myo Coal Oil Natural gas Folding Faulting (earthquakes) *This area is the result of uplift from the convergence of plates. It is no longer a flat-topped area due to weathering and erosion. Topography: Used to be high, flat area, now hills

Watershed Virginia has nine major river systems. The New, Tennessee and Big Sandy empty (shed) into the Gulf of Mexico. The Chowan and Roanoke empty (shed) into the Albemarle Sound. The Potomac-Shenandoah, Rappahannock, York, and James empty (shed) into the Chesapeake Bay. The area of land where all of the water that is under it or falls on it drains into the same place.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed 15 MILLION people live in this watershed!

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Major Sources of Pollution –Runoff (non point source!) Fertilizers, pesticides, oil, other chemicals from roadways, animal wastes The Solution? –Reduce chemical use –Natural filters

Consolidation and Water Quality Virginia is underlain by igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Throughout the five provinces sedimentary is the dominant rock type. When the rock sediments have enough space for water and air to move through (porous), the water is naturally filtered. As the rock becomes more consolidated (less pore space for water movement), the water is not able to filter naturally. Rock type and consolidation (how tightly packed the grains are within the sediment or bedrock), and age all contribute to the quality of groundwater.

As compaction increases water quality decreases. Space No Space As compaction increases, Water Quality decreases. *Best *Worst