Abstract: In both international and national standard methods for the determination of Pb, Zn and Cu in iron ore samples, the different sample digestion procedures should be used for different element determination, which was not only timeconsuming but also increasing the contamination risks and costs. Therefore, an improved method was developed, in which sample was pretreated with HClHF mixed acid only once and then the three elements of Pb, Zn and Cu in sample solution were determined by airacetylene flameatomic absorption spectrometry. The improved method provides the advantages of simple operation, accuracy, crediblity and efficiency. The method has been applied to the determination of Pb, Zn and Cu in imported iron ores.