Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. For example, Chromium oxide or chloride, manganese oxide or chloride, zinc oxide or chloride or sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.