Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of yellow phosphorus. One embodiment involves (a) comminuting a natural phosphate having a grading not exceeding 10 mm. and quartzite into a finely-divided state and mixing together said comminuted phosphates and quartzite to obtain a two-component phosphate-quartzite charge; (b) melting said two-component phosphate-quartzite charge; (c) treating the resulting phosphate-quartzite melt, while in a thin layer, with overheated steam to form fluorine compounds; (d) removing the fluorine compounds; (e) feeding to the surface of the remaining defluorinated melt a three-component charge consisting essentially of a mixture of heat-treated lump phosphate and quartzite having a grading of about from 10-50 mm., together with a reducing agent having a grading of about from 5-25 mm.