A composition of matter comprising a mass of ferrous scrap pieces compressed together in random orientation forming a network of interlocking pieces has been prepared.This ferrous metal network is impregnated with rare earth metals in amount from 15% to 80% by weight of the impregnated body. The rare earth metal impregnated body is useful for treating high melting metals, particularly to deoxidize or desulfurize steel and to produce nodular iron.