Pyrite contribution to Ni and Fe speciation is low and restricted to the sediments close to the shore Clay minerals are the major host for Fe and Ni across the shore-to-reef gradient Fe-rich smectite, glauconite, chrysotile and greenalite/berthierine are the major Fe and Ni-bearing clay minerals identified Greenalite/berthierine is the most Ni-rich clay mineral identified and it is considered to have formed in-situ upon early diagenesis Green clay authigenesis might represent a major process for trace metals cycling in shallow lagoon sedimentary settings *Highlights (for review : 3 to 5 bullet points (maximum 85 characters including spaces per bullet point) Lagoon sediments, trace metals, speciation, green clays, TEM, XAS.