These firebricks are from the smelter at the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company in Hubbell, MI. The smelter was built in 1885 and operated until 1968. Firebrick was used to line the smelter to help keep the furnace from melting. Over time, because of the extreme heat conditions, some of the copper that was being smelted fused and partially replaced the minerals in the firebrick resulting in these rare specimens. All these slabs are coated with a polyurethane based epoxy to give it a "wet" look.

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