Method for producing metal powder

A method for producing a metal powder containing iron provided on a surface thereof with a glassy thin film, the method comprising:

• converting a solution into microfine droplets, wherein the solution contains a thermally decomposable metal compound comprising an iron compound and a glass precursor that produces a glassy substance that does not form a solid solution with a metal produced from the thermally decomposable metal compound by thermal decomposition;
• and
• heating the droplets, while the droplets are dispersed in a carrier gas, at a temperature higher than a decomposition temperature of the thermally decomposable metal compound, higher than a decomposition temperature of the glass precursor, and higher than a melting point of the metal produced from the thermally decomposable metal compound, to produce the metal powder comprising the metal and to produce a glassy substance in a vicinity of the surface of the metal powder, wherein
• the glassy substance contains at least 40 mass % of SiO2 in terms of oxide, and
• the glass precursor is prepared such that a melting temperature (TmM) of the metal and a liquid phase temperature (TmG) of a mixed oxide of the glassy substance satisfy the following formula (1):
• −100[° C.]≤(TmM−TmG)≤500[° C.] (1).