Silica bricks had been in arc-furnace roofs of various sizes and steelmaking practices. The resulting materials were examined with reference to mineral and chemical changes. Silica bricks develope definite zones while in service. These zones represent a concentration gradient through the brick that results from the thermal gradient across the brick and from the furnace atmosphere. There are major brick losses by spalling as well as by melting of the hot-face surface in an iron-oxide rich liquid.