A process and apparatus for reducing material in particle form in a fluidization zone and at elevated temperature, in particular for reducing fine ore, the particle material being held in the fluidization zone by a treatment gas which flows upward from below. Material in fine particle form is discharged from the fluidization zone with the treatment gas and is separated out of the treatment gas in a deposition zone. In the deposition zone, the stream of treatment gas and discharged material in fine particle form are fed into a separating device which removes the fine particle material from the treatment gas, the treatment gas is extracted from the separating device as off-gas, and the separated fine particle material is removed from the separating device. Coarse-grained material is then introduced into the deposition zone. This reduces the levels of caking and deposits of the fine particle material. A device for carrying out the process includes elements defining the zones.