The kinetics of the hydrogen reduction of iron oxides in granular calcined bauxite were studied at 550-1,050C in a shallow bed reactor. The iron oxides behaved as a dispersion of particulate iron oxide in a porous alumina matrix in which the iron oxide particles were reduced independently. The observed rates of reaction were found to be virtually independent of the bauxite grain size. At 800,C and above, the reduction was multistage, Le.1. Fe203 +2Al203 (matrix) 2FeAl204, and2. FeAl204 Fe0 +Al203.Reaction 1 was very rapid. Reaction 2 was much slower, the latter stages being controlled, at least in part, by phYSIcal changes of the Fe0 and a-Al203 produced in the reaction. Owing to the observed nature of the material, the reaction rate controlling steps could not be determined.