Sequential extraction of core samples collected from Pulicat Lake, east coast of India, showed that on average, 59% of labile Cr and 28% of labile Al remain adsorbed onto Fe-Mn oxides. Similarly, 61% of labile Al and 36% of labile Cr are associated with organic matter. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that in the Fe-Mn oxides phase, Cr primarily exists with Mn-oxides, while Al remains mainly adsorbed onto Fe-oxides.Factor analysis revealed four factors that could explain 82% of the variance in the data. Changes in water column ionic composition, salinity, dissolution of Fe-Mn oxides during microbial oxidation of organic matter, changes occurring to the organic matter and calcium carbonate during early diagenesis are the key factors influencing the Al and Cr concentrations in the labile fractions. The results of this study are useful to interpret palaeoenvironmental conditions.