The Upper Palaeocene (Thanetian) Chehel-Kaman Formation in the Kopet-Dagh Basin of NE Iran is principally composed of carbonates with minor siliciclastics and evaporites. Six stratigraphic sections were measured and more than 1,000 samples were collected for petrographic analysis, together with analyses of carbon and oxygen isotopes and trace element content. Four major carbonate lithofacies (and 13 subfacies) have been identified in previous studies and are interpreted in terms of deposition in a shallow-marine environment. The petrographic analyses indicate that the Chehel-Kaman Formation carbonates have undergone a complex diagenetic history which includes compaction, cementation, micritization, dissolution, silicification, dolomitization, neomorphism and fracturing. delta(18)O and delta(13)C values in Chehel-Kaman Formation limestones range between +0.8 and -15.1% PDB, and -2.82 and +3.5% PDB, respectively. These variations are interpreted to reflect meteoric and burial diagenetic processes. Variations in trace-element concentrations (Fe and Mn increased while Na decreased) also indicated the effects of meteoric flushing. The limestones appear to have been formed at about 28degreesC Chehel-Kaman Formation dolomites were divided into d1 (finely-crystalline) and d2 (coarsely-crystalline) types. Petrographic and geochemical results indicated that the d1 dolomites formed under sabkha conditions from a parental solution at around 26degreesC, while d2 dolomites formed during burial diagenesis with much hotter pore fluids (around 72degreesC). The paragenetic sequence indicates that primary porosity decreased during early stages of diagenesis, although secondary porosity was subsequently created improving the reservoir quality of the carbonates.