One look at Arizona's state capitol building in the heart of downtown Phoenix and the importance of copper becomes clear. The dome of the capitol is crafted with Arizona copper -- a poignant reminder of the importance of copper to our culture and economy. From the discovery of rich mineral deposits by prospectors with picks and burros in the early 1800s to the sophisticated, high technology industry that today makes Arizona an international business leader, copper has spurred Arizona's development and prosperity. To say that the copper industry has grown with Arizona is to understate the obvious. Arizona has grown because of copper. What would build Arizona lay beneath the ground itself.
