Abstract: A roasting process for the direct reduction of ores containing iron oxides which process comprises the following steps in sequence;1. forming core pellets comprising finely ground ore;2. coating the core pellets with a coke precursor so that the ratio of skin thickness of coke precursor to the diameter of the core pellets is in the range from 0.1:20 to 1:2.3. heating the coated pellets in a substantially non-oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature below 1200.degree. C but high enough to cause the coke precursor to form a coke skin around the core pellet;Wherein the coke precursor comprises from 5 to 25% w/w of a halide salt.

Abstract: A pyrometallurgical reductive process characterised in that firstly pellets comprising a mixture of ore and coke precursor are heated in the absence of air so that the coke precursor is converted to coke and secondly the so formed pellets are treated in a subsequent reductive step to obtain as product discrete pellets comprising reduced ore set in a matrix of coke. Preferably the matrix of coke is in the form of an external coating to the pellet.