The present work studied the softening and melting properties of different burden structures including pellet, sinter and mixed burden (pellet mixed with sinter) with a pellet ratio of 33.65%. The content of high chromic vanadium titano-magnetite in sinter and pellet was different. The experimental results indicated that the compositions of the burden have an important effect on the softening and melting properties. The softening and melting properties of pellet burden structure were improved when the high basicity sinter was added into the acid pellet forming mixed burden. The softening and melting properties of mixed burden with a pellet ratio of 33.65% were better than other burden structures. The initial softening temperature, the temperature interval of softening, the starting melting temperature, the temperature interval of melting, and maximum differential pressure were 1100 degrees C, 130 degrees C, 1250 degrees C, 130 degrees C and 15.7 kPa, respectively. By comparing the contents of Ti, V and Cr of iron that had dripped through the different burden structures, the content of valuable components (Ti 0349%, V 0.244% and Cr 0.094%) was highest of the pig iron collected from the mixed burden. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.