Abstract The biological influence over the origin, distribution, composition, texture, and mineralogy of carbonate sediments is stressed. Environmental factors such as light, temperature, and water depth directly affect these biological processes. Abiotic carbonate precipitation is discussed. Three carbonate factories are identified: shallow water tropical; deep water mud mound; cool-water factory developed in high and low latitudes. Basic attributes of each factory are developed. The rimmed shelf and ramp facies models of the tropical factory are detailed with the Belize shelf and Middle East Abu Dhabi as examples. The facies tract of the mud mound factory is detailed and the Devonian Canning Basin used as an example. The role of sea-level changes and carbonate sedimentation in platform development is discussed. High sea-level carbonate sediment shedding combined with lowstand sediment starvation is opposite to what is seen in regions of siliciclastic sedimentation. The dominance and importance of the Dunham rock classification is stressed. Finally, lacustrine carbonates are discussed using the African rift lakes as modern examples and developing a simple model of continental rift lake carbonate sedimentation emphasizing potential source rock and reservoir facies. The Brazil Cretaceous subsalt play of the south Atlantic rift and the potential of its African counterpart are discussed.