Process for making iron or steel utilizing lithium containing material as auxiliary slag formers

In the pyrometallurgical production of iron and steel from an iron-containing material in which a slag which functions to refine the molten metal by removing impurities is formed in situ by reaction of the primary flux lime with silica and silicate impurities in said iron-containing material, the improvement which comprises using a material which consists essentially of a lithium-containing mineral as an auxiliary flux to promote reaction between the primary flux lime and said silica and silicate impurities and fluidize said slag.