Nonisothermal thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was used to evaluate the reactivity of a chromite mineral [(Fe2+, Mg)(Cr, Al, Fe3+)(2)O-4] towards Cl-2 + CO, Cl-2 + N-2 and Cl-2 + O-2 gaseous mixtures up to 1000 degreesC. Full chlorination and volatilization of reaction products were achieved at about 975 degreesC using Cl-2 + CO, while only about 40% of the sample have reacted at 1000 degreesC using Cl-2 + N-2 and Cl-2 + O-2. The effect of the temperature on the oxychlorination with Cl-2 + O-2 Of the chromite mineral was studied between 600 and 1050 degreesC using isothermal TG measurements. The results show that the oxychlorination of chromite occurs in two stages. The initial stage of the oxychlorination was characterized by average values of apparent activation energy of about 151 and 57 kJ/mol for the temperatures lower and higher than 825 degreesC, respectively. While a value of about 262 kJ/mol was found for the second stage of the oxychlorination process between 925 and 1050 degreesC. The effects of temperature on the oxychlorination of the simple chromite constituents (Cr2O3, Fe2O3 and MgO) were also studied.