A geologic province or geological province is a spatial entity with common geologic attributes. A province may include a single dominant structural element such as a basin or a fold belt, or a number of contiguous related elements. Adjoining provinces may be similar in structure but be considered separate due to differing histories.

Geologic provinces by origin

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Province !! Definition !! Subcategories !! Examples

|-

| Shield || Exposed Precambrian crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks that form tectonically stable areas || ||

  • Arabian-Nubian Shield
  • Canadian Shield

|-

| Platform || Horizontal or gently-lying sedimentary strata covering a basement of igneous or metamorphic rocks ||

  • Carbonate platform

||

  • East European Platform

|-

| Orogen || Linear or arc-shaped formation where continental crust has been folded, deformed and uplifted to form mountain ranges ||

  • Island arc
  • Continental arc
  • Forearc

||

  • Laramide Orogeny
  • Andean Orogeny

|-

| Basin || Low-lying formation of rock strata formed by tectonic warping of previously horizontal strata ||

  • Cratonic basin
  • Foredeep basin
  • Sedimentary basin

||

  • Illinois Basin
  • Paraná Basin

|-

| Large igneous province || Accumulation of igneous rocks, including liquid rock (intrusive) or volcanic rock formations (extrusive) || ||

  • North Atlantic Igneous Province
  • Columbia River Basalt Group

|-

| Extended crust || Continental crust thinned due to extensional strain ||

  • Passive margin
  • Rift

||

  • Basin and Range Province
  • Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province

|}

Geologic provinces by resources

300px|thumb|right|US [[Coal-mining region|coal regions and provinces.]]

Some studies classify provinces based upon mineral resources, such as mineral deposits. There are a particularly large number of provinces identified worldwide for petroleum and other mineral fuels, such as the Niger Delta petroleum province.

See also

  • Physiographic province
  • Geomorphology
  • United States Geological Survey

References

  • Geologic Province Map of the World (NASA)
  • Definitions for the Geologic Provinces (USGS)
  • Geologic Provinces of the United States: Records of an Active Earth (USGS)