The Proceedings of the Ninth International Basement Tectonics Symposium form an interesting and useful series of publications dealing with various aspects of intraplate tectonics. These conferences are generally held alternately in the United States and elsewhere (Cairo, Oslo, Kingston, Canada). The ninth in the series, held in Canberra, Australia in July 1990, presents aspects of the basement tectonics of the Australian continent for the first time. Keynote papers reviewed the tectonic and lineament patterns of Australia, and the structure of the eastern European craton. Unique features such as the Alpine-type nappes in the intracratonic setting of central Australia are presented. Also included are papers on the central USA, South America, Japan, Great Britain and the Middle East. Topics range from the analysis of lineaments and their reactivation and the fracture control of mineral deposits to accounts of the basement control of petroleum deposits.