Pure fayalite liquid was reduced at 1300°C in variable C/H ratio gas mixtures, all with constantfO2both with and without various cation additives that included Cr2O3, MnO, CaO, TiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, and K2O. Similar studies were also performed on Carol Lake iron ore pellets without these cation additives. The role of cation additives in reduction with CO‐rich gases is minimally important. In hydrogen‐rich reduction studies, the reduction per hour was increased 50% by a 2.5 wt% addition of CaO, increased by about 75% by a 2.5 wt% addition of Cr2O3, and increased by about 50% for a 2.5 wt% addition of MnO as compared to the reduction rate of pure fayalite liquid. Much more dramatic than any cation additive effect is the role of the hydrogen content of the gas mixture. At 1300°C and a fixed –logfO2= 13, the reduction per hour of pure fayalite liquid triples with the replacement of the CO by hydrogen even with just the first 10 vol% of hydrogen. Theoretical discussions of the role of cation additives and gas speciation on fayalite melt structure are pr