Over the last two decades,Australian iron ore production has increased substantially and Australian products are now the major component in many Asia Pacific ore blends.Important differentiating characteristics of these ores are that they contain hematite and goethite in varying proportions,are more porous,are lower in bulk density and more easily assimilated to form melt.That the properties of the green bed laid on the sinter strand changes as a result of replacing dense ores m a sinter mix is not surprising.This paper tracks the impact of ore properties on green and sintering bed properties through to the quality of the sinter product.These changes,in turn,alter the speed at which the flame front descends down the bed and the time at which material is subjected to high temperatures.The increased green bed porosity,changes in the heating and cooling experienced by the material and increased melt formation will have an impact on the process that transforms the uniform green particulate bed into a heterogeneous bed composed of large sinter particles interspersed between large void spaces.Results obtained from two blends indicate that sinter plant performance can be maintained and sinter porosity ( reducibility) improved when these ores are used in place of denser ore types.