A process for preparing iron- and chrome-containing pellets comprising the steps: a) producing ore pellets comprising the mixing of chrome ore material, Chrome Ore Process Residue (COPR), b) optionally drying the ore pellets obtained after step a), and c) calcining the ore pellets, wherein less than 3 weight-% of carbonaceous reductant components selected from anthracite, char, coke and bituminous coal are present in step a), wherein the COPR contains • chrome(III) oxide: 7 to 13 weight-%, preferably 7,5 to 12,5 weight-%, • aluminium oxide: 10 to 30 weight-%, preferably 18 to 24 weight-%, • iron(II) oxide: 36 to 44 weight-%, preferably 37 to 42 weight-%, • iron(III) oxide: >0,5% weight-%, preferably >2 weight-%, • magnesium oxide: 9 to 18 weight-%, preferably 10 to 17 weight-%, • calcium oxide: < 10 weight-%, preferably < 5 weight-%, • silicon oxide: 0 to 3 weight-%, preferably 1 to 3 weight-%, • vanadium oxide: < 1 weight-%, preferably < 0.5 weight-%, • sodium oxide: 0 to 5 weight-%, preferably 2 to 5 weight-%, and • sodium monochromate: 0 to 4,7 weight-%, preferably <0,0003 weight-%, whereas the weight-% refer to the weight of the COPR. a) producing ore pellets comprising the mixing of chrome ore material, Chrome Ore Process Residue (COPR), b) optionally drying the ore pellets obtained after step a), and c) calcining the ore pellets, wherein less than 3 weight-% of carbonaceous reductant components selected from anthracite, char, coke and bituminous coal are present in step a), wherein the COPR contains • chrome(III) oxide: 7 to 13 weight-%, preferably 7,5 to 12,5 weight-%, • aluminium oxide: 10 to 30 weight-%, preferably 18 to 24 weight-%, • iron(II) oxide: 36 to 44 weight-%, preferably 37 to 42 weight-%, • iron(III) oxide: >0,5% weight-%, preferably >2 weight-%, • magnesium oxide: 9 to 18 weight-%, preferably 10 to 17 weight-%, • calcium oxide: < 10 weight-%, preferably < 5 weight-%, • silicon oxide: 0 to 3 weight-%, preferably 1 to 3 weight-%, • vanadium oxide: < 1 weight-%, preferably < 0.5 weight-%, • sodium oxide: 0 to 5 weight-%, preferably 2 to 5 weight-%, and • sodium monochromate: 0 to 4,7 weight-%, preferably <0,0003 weight-%, whereas the weight-% refer to the weight of the COPR. wherein less than 3 weight-% of carbonaceous reductant components selected from anthracite, char, coke and bituminous coal are present in step a), wherein the COPR contains • chrome(III) oxide: 7 to 13 weight-%, preferably 7,5 to 12,5 weight-%, • aluminium oxide: 10 to 30 weight-%, preferably 18 to 24 weight-%, • iron(II) oxide: 36 to 44 weight-%, preferably 37 to 42 weight-%, • iron(III) oxide: >0,5% weight-%, preferably >2 weight-%, • magnesium oxide: 9 to 18 weight-%, preferably 10 to 17 weight-%, • calcium oxide: < 10 weight-%, preferably < 5 weight-%, • silicon oxide: 0 to 3 weight-%, preferably 1 to 3 weight-%, • vanadium oxide: < 1 weight-%, preferably < 0.5 weight-%, • sodium oxide: 0 to 5 weight-%, preferably 2 to 5 weight-%, and • sodium monochromate: 0 to 4,7 weight-%, preferably <0,0003 weight-%, whereas the weight-% refer to the weight of the COPR. • chrome(III) oxide: 7 to 13 weight-%, preferably 7,5 to 12,5 weight-%, • aluminium oxide: 10 to 30 weight-%, preferably 18 to 24 weight-%, • iron(II) oxide: 36 to 44 weight-%, preferably 37 to 42 weight-%, • iron(III) oxide: >0,5% weight-%, preferably >2 weight-%, • magnesium oxide: 9 to 18 weight-%, preferably 10 to 17 weight-%, • calcium oxide: < 10 weight-%, preferably < 5 weight-%, • silicon oxide: 0 to 3 weight-%, preferably 1 to 3 weight-%, • vanadium oxide: < 1 weight-%, preferably < 0.5 weight-%, • sodium oxide: 0 to 5 weight-%, preferably 2 to 5 weight-%, and • sodium monochromate: 0 to 4,7 weight-%, preferably <0,0003 weight-%, whereas the weight-% refer to the weight of the COPR. <EOS>