Samples of surface sediments were collected along the Czech part of the Elbe River. The average contents of 19.5 mg/kg Co, 55.1 mg/kg Ni and 3.57 mg/kg Be in the silt-clay fractions (≤ 63 µm) are close to the background values and are a consequence of natural enrichment through rock denudation. Locally higher values were found only exceptionally. The elevated contents of Cr (191.2 mg/kg) and especially Zn (866 mg/kg) are apparently derived from anthropogenic sources. It was found by six-step sequential analysis that Co, Cr, Ni and Be are concentrated in all the geochemical phases except for exchangeable forms. Zn is primarily present in the exchangeable form and in the adsorbed, largely on clay minerals.