$20.00
A 1.25 inch Firebrick Copper specimen from Michigan’s historic copper country—polished to reveal bright native copper veining against refractory brick matrix. A compact slice of Great Lakes mining history.
In stock
This hand-selected Firebrick Copper shows lustrous native copper fused into and across fragments of refractory brick. The face is lightly polished to bring out the copper’s flash while preserving the industrial texture of the brick matrix. At ~1.25 inches, it’s a small, display-ready piece with outsized story.
In Michigan’s Keweenaw copper district, late-19th and 20th-century smelters were lined with refractory firebrick to withstand extreme heat during the refining of native copper ore. Over years of operation, molten copper spattered, soaked into pores, and even partially replaced minerals in the bricks, creating hybrid slabs where bright, metallic copper intertwines with cream-to-dark brick fragments. When the smelters were dismantled, collectors and lapidaries salvaged sections of this copper-impregnated brick—today known as Firebrick Copper—as tangible artifacts of the Copper Country’s industrial past. (Origin: Keweenaw smelters such as Calumet & Hecla at Hubbell; comparable material also exists from the Quincy Smelting Works.)
Metal: Native copper (Cu) from Keweenaw ore, fused into brick under smelting temperatures.
Matrix: Silica-rich refractory firebrick that captured spatter and condensate from furnaces; in some pieces the copper seams appear as a mosaic where brick chips are locked into the metal.
The Keweenaw’s smelters (e.g., Calumet & Hecla’s Hubbell works, active from the 1880s into the 1960s) refined vast quantities of native copper. Firebrick Copper is a direct, collectible byproduct of that era—mining heritage you can hold—and is widely appreciated for bookends, display slabs, and lapidary art.
Color/Texture: Bright copper against pale or dark brick fragments; industrial “mosaic” look.
Finish: Satin-to-polished face; natural edges.
Display: Perfect for shelves, desktops, and mining history collections; pairs well with native copper, datolite, and stamp-mill artifacts.
Copper is traditionally associated with vitality, flow, and conductivity—a symbol of turning heat and pressure into usable energy. Paired with firebrick, it speaks to perseverance and transformation.
Handle gently; the copper can develop a natural patina over time. If you prefer a brighter look, wipe with a soft dry cloth. Avoid moisture/chemicals.
| Weight | 3 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | .75 × .25 × 1.25 in |
