ABSTRACTEarly diagenesis of the Upper Cretaceous (late Coniacian to early Santonian) Marshybank Formation was controlled by depositional environment (composition of depositional water, Fe and organic content of the sediment, sedimentation rate, proximity to the shoreline) and influx of meteoric water related to relative sea‐level fall.Five depositional environments, each characterized by a distinct early diagenetic mineral assemblage, have been recognized. Offshore shelf sediments that were deposited in a dysaerobic environment are characterized by abundant framboidal pyrite and rare septarian concretions, composed of ‘early’ calcite and siderite. Intense sulphate reduction, promoted by the dysaerobic depositional water, was the primary influence on early diagenesis. Offshore shelf sediments deposited under aerobic conditions are characterized by abundant concretions, composed of two generations of siderite (S1 and S2). In this environment, methanogenesis, rather than sulphate reduction, was more important. Early diagenesis of the inner shelf sands was generally limited. However, in sands deposited proximal to the shoreline, mixing of marine and meteoric waters promoted crystallization of Fe‐rich chlorite and siderite. The shoreface was characterized by dissolution of detrital minerals in the upper portion, and precipitation of kaolinite or illite/smectite in the lower portion. In the coastal plain environment, brackish water and early reducing conditions resulted in formation of abundant euhedral pyrite. Ankerite, rather than siderite, is the typical early diagenetic carbonate.The δ18O values of the earliest cements (i.e. ‘early’ calcite, siderite S1, inner shelf siderite) indicate crystallization from a low‐18O, marine‐derived porewater. Assuming crystallization at 25°C, a δ18O value of about −7‰ (SMOW) can be estimated for the seaway during Marshybank Formation time. Similar calculations for the overlying Dowling Member (Puskwaskau Formation) suggest that the δ18O value of the seaway increased to about −4% (SMOW), consistent with its transgressive nature. Very low δ18O values are exhibited by siderite S2. These results indicate crystallization during intermediate diagenesis (≥60°C) from meteoric water (≥− 15‰ SMOW) that entered the Marshybank