This paper studies Iranian metallurgy of the 4th and 3rd millennium B.C., focusing upon ores from mines in Iran and Afghanistan. Analyses of metals include plasma source emission spectroscopy and spark source spectrometry. Statistical multidimensional treatment of data (i.e., principal components analysis and factorial analysis) relates ore compositions to geographical areas. A stanniferous river-bed area west of Afghanistan was explored; samples of cassiterite were collected and analyzed. -- AATA