Process of directly reducing iron ore containing nickel

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF DIRECT REDUCTION OF AN IRON ORE CONTAINING NICKEL, SAID PROCESS CONSISTING IN PROVIDING A BATH OF MOLTEN IN THE HEARTH OF A FURNACE CHAMBER; PREPARING CHARGE COMPRISING INTIMATELY MIXED FINELY DIVIDED ORE AND SOLID CARBON AND FLUXING MATERIAL, THE LAST MENTIONED FLUXING MATERIAL TO SLAG OXIDE MATERIAL OF THE ORE DESIRED NOT REDUCED, SAID OXIDE MATERIAL INCLUDING OXIDE OF IRON, HOLDING THE OXIDE OF IRON AS AN IRON OXIDE-SILICATE AGAINST REDUCTION; ADJUSTING THE PROPORTION OF SOLID CARBON REDUCING AGENT TO REDUCE THE NICKEL BUT ONLY PART OF THE IRON FROM THEIR OXIDES; CHARGING SUCH CHARGE ON THE MOLTEN BATH IN SAID FURNACE CHAMBER; HEATING THE THUS CHARGED MATERIAL AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF THE NICKEL BUT ONLY PART OF THE IRON; COLLECTING THE REDUCED METAL IN THE BATH AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUPERHEATING THE REDUCED METAL AND TAPPING IT.