Molybdenum is recovered from dilute, ammoniacal, molybdenum containing solutions by adding ferrous ions to the solution to precipitate an iron hydroxide-ammonium molybdate complex. The precipitate is separated from the aqueous raffinate and is treated with acid to resolubilize the molybdenum in the complex. Molybdenum values are recovered from the resulting acid solution by ion exchange. The aqueous raffinate is purged of iron and is reused.