Virginia Geology and Fossils Quiz

What is the Coastal Plain composed of?

• Ancient igneous rocks

• Young sedimentary rocks

• Metamorphic rocks

• Unconsolidated sediments

Which province in Virginia has the oldest igneous and metamorphic rocks?

• Blue Ridge

• Valley and Ridge

• Coastal Plain

• Piedmont

What type of rocks underlie the Piedmont area?

• Sedimentary rocks

• Crystalline basement rocks

• Young sedimentary rocks

• Ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks

What caused the folding and faulting of sedimentary rocks in the Valley and Ridge province?

• Ancient volcanic activity

• Erosion from the Appalachian Mountains

• Sea level rise

• Collision between Africa and North America

Where are most of Virginia's coal resources found?

• Blue Ridge

• Piedmont

• Coastal Plain

• Appalachian Plateau

What is a fossil?

• Remains of ancient plants

• Evidence of volcanic activity

• Impression of former existence of life

• Mineral deposit in rock

How are fossils preserved in rock?

• Metamorphism and foliation

• Sedimentation and compaction

• Crystallization and recrystallization

• Molds, casts, and original bone or shell

What is used to determine the relative ages of rocks?

• Radiometric dating

• Superposition

• Cross-cutting relations

• Fossils

What is radiometric dating used for?

• Identifying fossil types

• Measuring rock density

• Determining the relative age of rocks

• Determining the absolute age of rocks

Where are most Virginia fossils found?

• Coastal Plain and Piedmont

• Valley and Ridge and Appalachian Plateau

• Piedmont and Blue Ridge

• Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge