The subjects of the papers that make up the volume vary from the preparation of national maps to examples of the many uses of regional maps. The anomalities that are discussed range in areal dimension from hundreds of kilometers to tons of meters. The majority of the papers illustrate the utility of the maps in mapping structures and lithologic variations wirhin the continenetal crust, the configuration of the crystalline basements rocks, zones of crustal weakness, distribution of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks and the geometry of sedimentary basins. Most cases are drawn from the United States and Canada, but examples from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia are included.