Objective: to analyze and determine the potential of alkaline earth bentonite clays of Ukraine for use as a binder in the production of iron ore pellets. Methods: performing rheological studies of bentonite clay samples and their chemical analysis, electron microscopic studies of samples. Results: the analysis of the chemical composition and requirements for the rheological characteristics of bentonite clays used in the production of iron ore pellets at metallurgical enterprises of Russia and Ukraine is carried out. The swelling indicators and water absorption of monoionic forms of bentonites of some deposits in water of different hardness are given. The quality of pellets with bentonites, that have a different exchange complex, during an industrial water of various hardness usage is examined. The analysis of the mineralogical and chemical composition, as well as the size and composition of the exchange complex of alkaline-earth bentonite clays of the Cherkasy deposit (Ukraine), which has the largest reserves of such clays in the CIS is carried out. It is shown that clays suitable for the production of pellets are located near the surface of the earth. A comparative analysis of the strength characteristics of pellets using bentonites with an alkaline and alkaline-earth exchange complex is presented. 484 Comparative tests of pelletizing of charges with different humidity and with the addition of 0.5% alkaline bentonite and a mixture of clays of the IV and II layers of the Cherkasy deposit have been carried out. It is shown that with increasing humidity in granules with both types of binders, the dynamic strength, porosity and temperature of the “impact” of granules increase with a minimum difference in the absolute values of indicators with different binders