The growing global demand for steel industry decarbonisation, alongside the rapid development of advanced and energy-efficient direct reduction iron (DRI) technologies, has significantly increased the demand for high-quality iron ore pellets. While concentrates of other ore types are being used to produce iron ore pellets, magnetite concentrates are widely employed as primary feedstock for iron ore pellet production. Magnetite is oxidised in the roasting process, which generates extra heat and reduces the roasting temperature, leading to reduced energy consumption. The characteristics of iron ore concentrate plays an important role in the formation of green balls and the structure and final properties of fired pellets. In this study, the preheating and roasting behaviour of pellets from a magnetite concentrate are systematically investigated. Furthermore, the induration mechanisms governing the consolidation of the pellets are examined in detail. Based on experimental results and mechanistic insights, a series of technical strategies is proposed and tested to optimise the pellet quality.