Abstract: Method of reducing metal oxide in a rotary hearth furnace (14) to make a feed stock for a refining vessel when manufacturing alloyed iron, alloyed steel or stainless steel. The rotary hearth furnace includes an annular inner refractory wall (32), an annular outer refractory wall (34), an annular refractory platform (33) between the two walls. Stationary fuel burners (36, 40) are mounted to walls (32, 34) at a position just above an upper surface of the platform. A mixture of a metal oxide and a carbonaceous reductant is placed onto the upper surface of the platform and rotated past the burners. The oxide is heated by an oxidizing flame. Thereafter, a second layer of a reductant is charged over the hot first layer, and both layers are heated for an additional period of time to a temperature of at least 1300.degree. C. to reduce the metal oxide. The metal oxide may be chromium ore, chromium ore concentrate, nickel ore, nickel ore concentrate and stainless steel flue dust. The reductant may be coal or coke.