<P> Coal mining takes place in the three mountainous regions at 40 distinct coal beds near Mesozoic basins . Besides coal, resources such as slate, kyanite, sand, and gravel are mined, with an annual value over $2 billion as of 2006 . </P> <P> Virginia has a low risk on earthquakes, especially in the northern part of the state . The Virginia seismic zone has not had a history of regular earthquake activity . Earthquakes are rarely above 4.5 in magnitude because Virginia is located centrally on the North American Plate, far from plate boundaries . Locations near tectonic plates suffer earthquakes frequently . The largest recorded earthquake, at an estimated 5.9 magnitude, was in 1897 near Blacksburg . The largest since then was in August 2011, when a 5.8 magnitude quake struck near Mineral, Virginia and was felt moderately to strongly throughout the state . </P> <P> The climate of Virginia varies according to location, and becomes increasingly warmer and humid farther south and east . Most of the state has a humid subtropical climate, from the Blue Ridge Mountains and southern Shenandoah Valley to the Atlantic coast . In the Blue Ridge Mountains, the climate becomes subtropical highland . </P> <P> The World Wildlife Fund defines four ecoregions in Virginia: Middle Atlantic coastal forests near the Atlantic coast in the southeast corner of the state, Southeastern mixed forests on the Piedmont, Appalachian - Blue Ridge forests on the Appalachian Mountains, and Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests in the far west . </P>

What is the geography and climate of virginia