The analysis of various methods for producing iron ore pellets. The problems associated with the production of fluxed pellets are noted, and the reasons for their destruction during recovery, associated with the structural features of the slag ligaments, are examined. A method of intensive heating of the pellets, associated with an increase in the temperature of the coolant at the initial stage of their heat treatment, which has not found application due to the occurrence of stresses in the pellets and the loss of their strength associated with obtaining a zonal structure, is considered. Low efficiency of pellet firing in a high layer is shown because of the reduction in filtration intensity, waterlogging, and layer shrinkage in the drying zone. Unstable operation of roasting machines was noted when using the method of burning gas in a layer in order to reduce the temperature difference along the height of the calcined layer of pellets. An increase in the volume of iron ore materials during the reduction of hematite to magnetite at the initial stage of iron production, associated with their swelling and destruction, is shown. A technology is proposed for firing pellets with partial dissociation of hematite, which allows one to obtain uniform pellets with a bundle in the form of glass, which ensures their high strength during recovery. It was found that the use of pellets with partial dissociation of hematite in blast furnaces led to an increase in the quality of cast iron, the possibility of increasing the consumption of blast and increasing productivity.