Abstract: Roasting reduction of the laterite lean iron ore was tested in reduction atmosphere. The optimal pa-rameters of roasting reduction in reduction atmosphere with a metallization rate up to more than 80% were determined by orthogonal method. The roasting temperature is 1350℃, the roasting time is 25 min and C/O is 0.8. Under the condition of higher temperature or longer roasting time, a separation phenomenon of slag and iron was found. In order to accord with the practical condition, the experiment was carried out in oxidation atmosphere. Because of the oxidation layer in the surface of the pellet, the metallization rate declined to nearly 50%, and it's good for increasing the metalli-zation rate by reducing the oxidation layer. At the same time, the feasibility of roasting reduction in oxidation atmos-phere was approved by the experiment.