<PAGE>
                                                               EXHIBIT 10.9


                            STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the        day of             , 199   .

BETWEEN:

           GEOGRAPHICS, INC.

           (hereinafter referred to as the "Company")

                                                           OF THE FIRST PART

AND:

           (hereinafter referred to as the "Optionee")

                                                          OF THE SECOND PART

WHEREAS:

A.         The Optionee, is a director or employee of the Company or its 
wholly-owned subsidiary, or an employee of a company providing management 
services to the Company, as the case may be.

B.         The Company wishes to grant the Optionee an option to purchase 
common shares in the capital of the Company.

C.         The Company's shares are listed and posted for trading on The 
Toronto Stock Exchange.

           NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES THAT in consideration of 
the sum of $1.00 given by the Optionee to the Company, (the receipt of which 
is hereby acknowledged by the Company), the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.         The Company hereby grants the Optionee an option to purchase a 
total of ___________ common shares in its capital (the "Option") at a price of 
$_______ Cdn. per share exercisable on or before _________________ (the "Expiry 
Date").

2.         In order to exercise the Option, the Optionee shall, before 5 p.m. 
on the Expiry Date, give notice to the Company of the Optionee's intention to 
exercise the Option in whole or in part, such notice to be accompanied by 
cash, bank draft, money order, or certified cheque, payable to the Company, 
in the appropriate amount.


<PAGE>

                                        -2-



3.         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the exercise of 
the options granted hereunder will be subject to the Optionee obtaining the 
prior consent to the exercise by the directors of the Company, which consent 
shall not be unreasonably withheld; it being understood that the rights 
granted hereunder are granted as an incentive for future performance.

4.         If the Optionee:

      (a)  dies prior to the expiration of the Option, the Optionee's legal
           representative may, within one (1) year from the Optionee's death
           and prior to the Expiry Date of the Option, exercise that portion
           of the Option which remains outstanding after which time the
           Option shall terminate; and

      (b)  ceases to act as a director or employee of the Company or its
           wholly-owned subsidiary or as an employee of a Company providing
           management services to the Company for any reason other than the
           Optionee's death, the Option shall terminate thirty (30) days
           after the date of such cessation.

5.         If the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the 
Company are at any time changed by subdivision, consolidation, re-division, 
reduction in capital, reclassification or recapitalization (such changes are 
herein called collectively "Capital Alterations"), not including any issuance 
of additional shares for consideration, the Option shall be adjusted as 
follows:

      (a)  The number and class of shares in respect of which the Option is
           granted shall be adjusted in such a manner as to parallel the 
           change created by the Capital Alterations in the class and total
           number of the issued and outstanding common shares; and

      (b)  The exercise price of each share in respect of which the Option
           shall operate shall be increased or decreased proportionately,
           as the case may require, so that upon exercising the Option the
           same proportionate shareholdings at the same aggregate purchase
           price shall be acquired after such Capital Alterations as would 
           have been acquired before the Capital Alterations.

6.         The Option granted is personal to the Optionee and may not be 
assigned or transferred in whole or in part.


<PAGE>

                                        -3-



7.         This Agreement constitutes and expresses the whole agreement of 
the parties with reference to the appointment of the Optionee and with 
reference to any of the matters or things herein discussed or mentioned with 
reference to such appointment, all promises, representations and 
understandings relative thereto being merged herein.

8.         This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with 
the laws of the Province of British Columbia.

9.         This Agreement shall be subject to the approval of all securities 
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto executed this Agreement as 
of the date first above written.

THE COMMON SEAL OF                          )
GEOGRAPHICS, INC.                           )
was hereunto affixed in the presence of:    )                     c/s
                                            )
____________________________________________)
Authorized Signatory                        )
                                            )
____________________________________________)
Authorized Signatory                        )
                                            )
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED                )
by the Optionee in the presence of:         )
                                            )
_____________________________________       )        _________________________
Name                                        )        NAME:
                                            )
_____________________________________       )
Address                                     )
                                            )
_____________________________________       )
Occupation                                  )