The analysis of trace metals and their distribution in marine sediments is a very important step toward understanding geochemical and environmental processes and their possible changes due to anthropogenic activities. The present work reports results concerning the distribution of some major (Al), (Fe), and trace (Be, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn) elements in Antarctic marine sediments. Chemical data were evaluated before and after extraction with 0.5 N HCl, taking into account the textural character of the sediments. The mean values of total metals in the ฯฝ2-mm granulometric fraction were (mg/kg) (Al) 56,100 ฯฎ 3900; (Be) 2.04 ฯฎ 0.25; (Cd) 0.26 ฯฎ 0.16; (Cr) 20.3 ฯฎ 8.3; (Fe) 16,400 ฯฎ 4800; (Mn) 359 ฯฎ 108; (Ni) 6.31 ฯฎ 3.5; (Pb) 20.7 ฯฎ 2.8; (Sn) 2.12 ฯฎ 0.71; and (Zn) 42.3 ฯฎ 10.4. With the exception of Be, all the elements showed higher concentrations in the fraction ฯฝ63 m. The efficiency of extraction with 0.5 N HCl was generally low, as expected for unpolluted sediments. The relative percentage extraction of various elements was similar in the two fractions, with the exception of lead which presented a sensibly increased value in the fraction ฯฝ63 m. The results indicate that our samples are typical of areas not affected by anthropogenic inputs of elements and that potential polluting compounds are not bound within the structure of clay minerals.