Abstract: In a method for pretreating charges contaminated with carbon carriers such as, for instance, carbon-carrier-contaminated earths, soils, rocks or minerals having low calorific values for use in clinker kilns, the mentioned charges are introduced into a reactor (8) and heated or dried with gases. The heated gases are drawn off at temperatures below 1250° C., preferably between 700 and 900° C., and the heated or dried charge is separately discharged at temperatures between 500° C. and 1000° C., wherein the temperatures are set and maintained to stabilize the temperature distribution within the reactor (8) by controlling the supply of fresh air, the supply of water or water vapour, by controlling the feed rate of the charge and/or of process gases such as, e.g., tertiary air as well as, if required, by burning fuels. The gases drawn off from the reactor (8) are at least partially recirculated into the reactor (8) and/or supplied to a precalcining stage and/or a preheating stage of the clinker kiln (1).