TIN SMELTING

Method for continuously smelting in a low-shaft blast furnace pelletized iron-containing tin ores and concentrates in the form of composite carbonized pellets by tapping tin-iron alloy and slag into an elongated launderlike refining furnace operatively connected the blast furnace, continuously separating alloy and slag in the furnace, injecting an oxidant into the separated alloy forming molten tin and slag, tapping tin and slag separately from the furnace. A low-shaft blast furnace for continuously smelting composite carbonized pellets of tin ores and concentrates with cooperating means for pelletizing, carbonizing and feeding the composite pellets into the furnace, a common taphole for continuously tapping tin-iron alloy and slag into an elongated launderlike refining furnace operatively connected to the blast furnace and having an alloy and slag entry point, separate tin- and slag-tapping ends, means for separating alloy and slag, means for injecting oxidant into the alloy, means for continuously separating alloy and slag in the furnace and separate tin and slag tapholes.