Process for the direct production of sponge iron particles and liquid crude iron from iron ore in lump form

In a process for the direct production of sponge iron particles and liquid crude iron from iron ore in lump form, wherein the iron ore is reduced to sponge iron particles in a direction reduction means by a hot reducing gas, and sponge iron particles which are discharged from the direct reduction means are fed to a melting gasifier in which the heat required for melting the sponge iron, and reducing gas, are produced from coal which is introduced into the melting gasifier and oxygen-bearing gas is blown thereinto, at least a part of the reducing gas, after cooling to a temperature necessary for reduction being passed into the reduction zone of the direct reduction means, the improvement comprising separating the sponge iron particles which are discharged from the direct reduction means into a fine grain fraction and a coarse grain fraction and passing only the fine grain fraction to the melting gasifier.