Apparatus for the thermal and/or chemical treatment of a readily disintegrating material or for producing pig iron, with a first unit for generating a hot gas, wherein the hot gas is a reduction gas, and a second unit for holding the material to be treated thermally and/or chemically, having at least one material inlet arranged in a top section of the second unit and at least one discharge appliance arranged at the bottom end of the second unit for drawing off the material treated thermally and/or chemically, and having at least one inlet for the hot gas arranged in a bottom zone of the second unit, characterized in that, in particular for processing an at least partially fine material, or for reducing at least partially dust-like or fine metal ores, there are arranged in the second unit a plurality of oblique gas distributor trays, which are staggered in a cascade-like manner, alternately slope in opposite directions and are provided with gas passage holes, there being arranged above each tray at least one drivable conveying appliance which conveys downwards along the slope of the bottom and loosens the material, and in that the material inlet is arranged above a topmost bed in the second unit and is provided with a proportioning appliance.