Selective partial reduction of iron oxides in weathered ilmenite ore with lignite char as the reductant was studied in a specially designed reactor both in the absence and presence of sodium chloride as the catalyst at near isothermal conditions. The experimental data of fractional reduction vs time is interpreted by means of a nucleation and growth model. The kinetic parameter of activation energy are estimated under both catalysed and uncatalysed conditions. X-ray diffraction pattern and the reduced samples depict the progress of solid-solid reformation reactions involving ferrous pseudobrookite and rutile at 1173 K. Further, SEM photographs and half widths of XRD peaks show that the catalyst alters the morphology and introduces defects in the reduced ilmenite ore as well. The potential of the catalyst to favorably modify the ilmenite structure for further processing is pointed out.