The Allegheny Plateau is dissected by valleys formed by small streams and springs with elevation differences between valley floors and hilltop peaks differences that usually vary by a few hundred feet. The plateau is underlain by sedimentary rocks of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian age, which bear abundant fossils, mineral deposits such as iron, as well as natural gas, coal and petroleum. These regions fostered 17th-19th century industries locally, even into the 1930s days of mass production.
The Allegheny Plateau is a region with valleys carved by streams and springs, featuring elevation differences of a few hundred feet between valley floors and hilltop peaks. The plateau's bedrock consists of sedimentary rocks from the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods, which are rich in fossils, minerals like iron, and natural resources such as gas, coal, and petroleum. These areas historically supported industries during the 17th to 19th centuries, even extending into the early 20th century's mass production period.