Abstract: An apparatus for preheating granular ore includes a shaft defined by vertical walls, an inlet chute disposed above the shaft for introducing the ore thereinto by gravity, an ore discharge collector situated underneath the shaft for receiving preheated ore therefrom, and an arrangement for passing heating gases upwardly in the shaft. The discharge collector has vertical side walls and further, there is provided an insert situated in the discharge collector and extending generally horizontally thereacross. The insert has a downwardly widening configuration. A discharge device is disposed at a lower end of the discharge collector.