Facies, depositional environment and diagenesis of the Mobarak Formation in Valiabad area, Central Alborz

The aim of this study is to determine microfacies and diagenetic processes of the Mobarak Formation with the age of early Carboniferous in Valiabad section, at Karaj-Chalus road. The thickness of the formation at this section is 339 m and consists of limestone with intercalations of shale and marl. According to lithological characteristics, the MobarakFormationis subdivided into 8 rock units and is disconformably overlain by the Lalun Formation and underlain by Dozdeband Formation. Thirteen microfacies have been recognized on the basis of depositional texture and petrographic analysis. These carbonate facies belong to four major sub- environments including beach/tidal flat, lagoon, barrier/sand shoal and open marine. The formation deposited in a homoclinal carbonate ramp.