In a dated (137Cs, forest fire in the year 1800, industrial development) sediment core of the Huzenbachersee (northern Black Forest, Fed. Rep. of Germany) the chemical speciation of several metals (base cations: Mg, Ca; Al; heavy metals: Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Cd) was evaluated applying sequential chemical extraction. In the sediment core, two distinct periods (2nd half of both 19th and 20th century) of increased amounts of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Fe can be found, indicating phases of industrialization. Elevated contents particuliarly of Cr in lower sediment layers are thought to be caused by local glass factories. In the uppermost sediment layers the bonding strength of several metals shows decreasing tendency (increasing for exchangeable and easily reducible fractions). As a result, secondary contamination of the water column can occur through sediment release especially with Zn and Cd.