DIRECT REDUCED IRON (DRI), ALSO CALLED SPONGE IRON,[1] IS PRODUCED FROM THE DIRECT REDUCTION OF IRON ORE (IN THE FORM OF LUMPS, PELLETS, OR FINES) INTO IRON BY A REDUCING GAS OR ELEMENTAL CARBON PRODUCED FROM NATURAL GAS OR COAL. MANY ORES ARE SUITABLE FOR DIRECT REDUCTION.

DIRECT REDUCTION REFERS TO SOLID-STATE PROCESSES WHICH REDUCE IRON OXIDES TO METALLIC IRON AT TEMPERATURES BELOW THE MELTING POINT
 OF IRON. 

REDUCED IRON DERIVES ITS NAME FROM THESE PROCESSES, ONE EXAMPLE BEING HEATING IRON ORE IN A FURNACE AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 800 TO 1,200 °C (1,470 TO 2,190 °F) IN THE PRESENCE OF THE REDUCING GAS SYNGAS, A MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN AND CARBON MONOXIDE.[2]