Method of forming a bonded particulate refractory material for use in metalworking, comprising the steps of (i) providing a fine particulate metal oxide having an average primary particle size of 50 μm or less; (ii) providing an aqueous alkaline composition; (iii) providing a particulate refractory mould material; (iv) providing a surfactant and/or a metal hydroxide; (v) mixing the said fine particulate metal oxide, the said aqueous alkaline composition, the said particulate refractory mould material, and said surfactant and/or metal hydroxide; and (vi) shooting the obtained mixture in a core shooter; wherein the total moisture level in the combined said fine particulate metal oxide and said aqueous alkaline composition is in the range of 10 wt.-% to less than 30 wt.-%, based on the total weight of particulate metal oxide and aqueous alkaline composition; wherein the total content of the said fine particulate metal oxide and the said aqueous alkaline composition in the obtained mixture of the said fine particulate metal oxide, the said aqueous alkaline composition and the said particulate refractory mould material is in a range of from more than 0.5 wt.-% to less than 5.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the obtained mixture; wherein the weight ratio of the said aqueous alkaline composition provided in step (ii) and the said fine particulate metal oxide provided in step (i) is in a range of 0.05 to 0.5, based on the theoretical dry alkaline comprised in the said aqueous alkaline composition; wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.001 wt. -% to about 1.0 wt-%, based on the total weight of the obtained mixture; and no more than 0.25 wt.-% additional water is added to the said mixture besides the water contained in the initially provided components of the mixture, based on the total weight of the mixture obtained. (i) providing a fine particulate metal oxide having an average primary particle size of 50 μm or less; (ii) providing an aqueous alkaline composition; (iii) providing a particulate refractory mould material; (iv) providing a surfactant and/or a metal hydroxide; (v) mixing the said fine particulate metal oxide, the said aqueous alkaline composition, the said particulate refractory mould material, and said surfactant and/or metal hydroxide; and (vi) shooting the obtained mixture in a core shooter; wherein the total moisture level in the combined said fine particulate metal oxide and said aqueous alkaline composition is in the range of 10 wt.-% to less than 30 wt.-%, based on the total weight of particulate metal oxide and aqueous alkaline composition; wherein the total content of the said fine particulate metal oxide and the said aqueous alkaline composition in the obtained mixture of the said fine particulate metal oxide, the said aqueous alkaline composition and the said particulate refractory mould material is in a range of from more than 0.5 wt.-% to less than 5.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the obtained mixture; wherein the weight ratio of the said aqueous alkaline composition provided in step (ii) and the said fine particulate metal oxide provided in step (i) is in a range of 0.05 to 0.5, based on the theoretical dry alkaline comprised in the said aqueous alkaline composition; wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.001 wt. -% to about 1.0 wt-%, based on the total weight of the obtained mixture; and no more than 0.25 wt.-% additional water is added to the said mixture besides the water contained in the initially provided components of the mixture, based on the total weight of the mixture obtained.