The paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of possible reactions of reduction of oxides, of which
natural chromite consists. The phase composition of natural chromite is calculated according to the chemical
composition of chrome raw materials of Kempirsay massif. Temperature dependences of Gibbs energy change for
ferrochromite and magnochromite reduction reactions by carbon are determined, natural chromite is considered as a
solid solution consisting of three spinels FeO·Cr2O3-MgO·Cr2O3 - MgO·Al2O3. Thermodynamic temperatures of the
beginning of reduction of iron and chromium by various reactions from chromite with formation of free reaction
products are estimated. It is shown that the recovery of iron and chromium from chromite is thermodynamically
difficult with respect to free ferrochromite and magnochromite.