Carbon deposited within low-grade iron ore, which was produced using an integrated process of coal pyrolysis and tar decomposition, showed high reactivity as a reducing agent. Coal pyrolysis and tar decomposition were both highly sensitive to temperature and exhibited contrasting behaviours during carbon deposition. In these experiments, the optimum temperatures for pyrolysis and tar decomposition were determined to obtain maximum carbon deposition within porous iron ore. High-temperature pyrolysis generated large amounts of volatile matter (tar and gases), which caused high tar decomposition and produced large amounts of deposited carbon and gases. The deposited carbon was the major product of tar decomposition at lower temperatures (400-600 °C), whereas mainly gases were produced at higher temperatures (700-800 °C), because of gasification of carbon. However, sintering started at 800 °C, and it significantly diminished the BET surface area and pore size distribution. The highest amount of deposited carbon was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C and a tar decomposition temperature of 600 °C. Hamersley ore gave higher amounts of deposited carbon than Robe-river ore because of its large pore size less than 4 nm, which was suitable for carbon deposition. The pore size distribution was a more important factor than the surface area in the carbon deposition process. Based on these results, the proposed system could achieve maximum carbon deposition in porous iron ore and solve problems related to reducing agents, tar materials, and the use of expensive raw materials in the ironmaking industry.