These are 2 of 4 short water cooled portions of the matte launders that deposit the molten matte into the turbulent water filled granulator and therefore have to be cleaned (shelled) between each tap. The long heated concrete portions of the launder stretch between these sections and the matte tap hole on the floor above. Due to the need to keep the natural gas burners, seen atop the right side of the launders, away from the turbulence of the granulator, the heated launder could not extend all the way down to the granulator. The gray "crusted Over" appearance of this area is due to blow-back from the high intensity reaction of pouring hot metal onto cold water thus, over time, the blow-back will form a grayish layer over the launders and surrounding area. Heavy steel doors enclose this area and entrance is strictly forbidden during the granulation process for obvious safety reasons.