An apparatus for the calcination of fine grained material, particularly material used to produce cement clinker employing at least two separate, essentially parallel preheater lines, one of which is treated with exhaust gases from a clinker-forming zone and the other is equipped with a calcination zone which itself is fed by hot combustion air from the clinker cooler. In the area of the preheater line which is attached to the exhaust gas conduit of the clinker-forming zone, a divider device is arranged for dividing the stream of material. A first conduit directs a portion of the material into the exhaust gas conduit of the clinker-forming zone and a second conduit directs material into the calcination zone. The calcination zone is in the form of a vertical reaction duct having a downwardly bent pipe at its upper end. There is also provided a conduit which connects the vertical reaction duct with the exhaust means for hot gases in the clinker-forming zone.