Transcripción del resumen del autor. Chalk develops as a result of diagenesis of pelagic calcareous ooze. In a newly deposited ooze sediment, porosity ranges from 60% to 80% but porosity reduces with burial. We studied how different porosity reduction mechanisms change the strength of these deep sea carbonate-rich sediments and effect Biot's coefficient, ß. In calcareous ooze, ß is one. Mechanical compaction reduces porosity, but only leads to a minor decrease in ß. Recrystallization renders particles smoother, but does not lead to reduction in ß unless it gives rise to pore stiffening cementation. Pore stiffening cementation causes ß to fall, even when porosity remains constant. Biot's coefficient correlates with strength-indicating properties: compressional and shear modulus, oedometer modulus, yield strength, strain from direct loading and creep strain. Our data indicate that ß may be used for predicting the diagenetic process involved in porosity reduction and strengthening of chalk during burial diagenesis.

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