Abstract: A method and apparatus, suitable for in-line use, provides for determination of pre-reduction degree (PRD) of an iron oxide material, by application of a neutron inelastic scattering technique. The material is exposed to bombardment with neutrons from a source yielding the neutrons at an energy level sufficient to produce prominent gamma-rays from neutron inelastic scattering. The gamma-rays are captured and analysed to obtain an output representative of the relative weight percentages of the elements iron and oxygen, based on at least one characteristic energy level for gamma-rays emitted by those elements. The PRD for the material is determined on the basis of those weight percentages.