Dr. V. Rama Murthy

Research Professor

Institute of Meteoritics

MSC03 2050

1 University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

Phone: 505-277-1631

Fax: 505-277-3577

Email: vrmurthy /at/ unm /dot/ edu

Ph.D., [inst] [year]

Research interests: Application of Isotope Geochemistry and trace-element sytematics to understand a variety of geological and planetary science problems. Ages and the isotopic and trace-element characteristics of meteorites and lunar samples. General geochemistry of the mantle and the origin of basalts. Early history of the Earth and Core-mantle differention. Trace-element partitioning under magma-ocean conditions. Composition and origin of the Earth's Core. Radioactive heat sources in the core.

Recent Publications

Murthy, V. Rama (2007) Radioactive isotopes: Their decay in Mantle and Core. Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism, Eds. D. Gubbins and E. Herrero-Bervera, Springer, p. 854-856.

Murthy, V. Rama, Draper, D. S. and Agee, C. B. (2006) Solubility of Uranium in Fe-S-Si melts at high pressure and temperature and at highly reducing conditions: Uranium as a heat source in the Earth’s core? (abs) Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco.

Murthy, V. Rama (2006) Radioactivity of the Earth and the Case for Potassium in the Core. In Press, Earth, Moon and Planets 99:23-32.

Murthy, V. Rama, van Westernen, W., and Fei, Y. (2003) Experimental evidence that potassium is a substantial radioactive heat source in planetary cores, Nature, 423:163-165.

van Westernen, W., Murthy, V. Rama, and Fei, Y. (2002) Potassium in Planetary Cores? An Experimental Study of Potassium Partitioning between Metal and Silicate Liquids. XXXIII Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1524.