Abstract: A method of producing reduced iron and light oil from iron ore and heavy oil which comprises a thermal cracking step of subjecting heavy oil to thermal cracking while retaining iron ore particles in a fluidized state to produce light oil and simultaneously to deposit coke as by-product on the surface of the iron ore particles; a gasification step of putting the coke-deposited ore in contact with an oxidizing gas including steam and oxygen in a fluidized state to react the coke with the gas thereby to produce a reducing gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide and of heating the coke-deposited ore upward of a reduction temperature of iron ore by partial oxidization of the coke; and a reduction step of reducing the coke-deposited iron ore in a fluidized state by the reducing gas to produce reduced iron. When the gasification step is performed by an oxidizing gas containing a majority of steam and up to 15 vol. %, based on the steam, of oxygen at 800.degree.-1000.degree. C. under a pressure of 0-10 kg/cm.sup.

Abstract: A method of using coal for reducing iron ore in a fluidized bed to obtain a reduced iron comprising fluidizing and pylolysis of a fine coal in a first fluidized bed, fluidized and thermal cracking the vapored material from the first fluidized bed in a second fluidized bed to deposit carbon on the surface of iron ore particles, fluidizing and reducing the iron ore in a third fluidized bed using reducing gas from generator.

Abstract: Iron ore pellets containing coarse ore particles, having a particle size distribution consisting of 25-40 wt % of coarse ore having a particle size greater than 0.1 mm, less than 21 wt % of medium ore having a particle size of 0.1-0.04 mm, and more than 39 wt % of fine ore having a particle size smaller than 0.04 mm.

Abstract: Fired iron-ore pellets are prepared which have at least two precipitated slag phases of different chemical compositions which appear among the iron-oxide grains of the pellets. The pellets each contain not less than 4% by weight of CaO+SiO.sub.2 so that the resulting pellets have the characteristic of forming large cracks which are formed in the course of reduction of the pellets. The cracks which form cause each pellet to split into several pieces. The fired iron-ore pellets exhibit excellent reducibility.

Abstract: Iron ore pellets having superior reduction and load softening properties in blast furnace operations. The pellets are prepared from a raw material to which is added an amount of magnesia or a MgO feeding source such as that the ratio of MgO to the SiO.sub.2 content of the raw material is at least about 0.5 and the CaO content in the raw material is adjusted so that the ratio CaO/SiO.sub.2 is less than about 0.05.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a direct reduction process for producing reduced iron by reducing iron ores and/or pellets with reducing gases, wherein the iron ores and/or pellets are reduced to a degree of reduction of 30-80% by a reducing gas containing 15-40% by volume of methane at a temperature of more than 950.degree. C. and further reduced by a reducing gas containing high proportion of carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen at a temperature of below 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: Fired iron-ore pellets are disclosed which are prepared by crushing iron ore to be pelletized, mixing a carbonaceous material of grain sizes ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter to the crushed iron ore in an amount of up to 4% by weight, pelletizing the mixture thus prepared, and firing the resulting pellets; thereby providing pellets throughout each of which is dispersed macro-pores of sizes ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter at a ratio of up to 25% relative to all pores contained in each pellet.

Abstract: Fired iron-ore pellets are disclosed which are prepared by crushing iron ore to be pelletized, mixing a carbonaceous material of grain sizes ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter to the crushed iron ore in an amount of up to 4% by weight, pelletizing the mixture thus prepared, and firing the resulting pellets; thereby providing pellets throughout each of which is dispersed macro-pores of sizes ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter at a ratio of up to 25% relative to all pores contained in each pellet.

Abstract: In the present invention, after a powdered iron ore has been subjected to granulation and firing into spherical pellets, a further crushing is applied while adjustment of the particle size of the crushed pellets is made so that the outer surface of the pellets is composed of spherically formed surfaces and crushed surfaces. By doing so, improvements are made in the angle of repose and in the reducing characteristic of iron ore pellets, and eventually an efficient and highly economical blast furnace operation is attained.