First published as an Advance Article on the web 5th July 2005 This study reports U–Pb geochronological data for zircon obtained by laser ablation-multi-collector-ICP-MS using a new collector block design that includes three ion counters and twelve Faraday buckets. The collector configuration allows for simultaneous detection of ion signals from mass 238 U to 203 Tl, an important factor for the achievement of highly precise and reproducible Pb–Pb and Pb–U ratios. The main advantage of the multiple ion counting system is the capability to readily measure low Pb ion signals (o1 Â 10 6 counts per second) resulting from single spot analyses of r40 microns (and corresponding small sample volumes). The latter is an extremely important feature when deciphering multiple domains in complexly zoned zircon populations. A comparative study was conducted between analytical protocols involving non-Tl-and Tl-doped laser ablation runs with regards to evaluating the external reproducibility (i.e., relative standard deviation). The results indicate that the (2s) external reproducibility for both analytical protocols varies between B0.3–1.0% for the 207 Pb/ 206 Pb, and ca. 1.3 to o3.0% for the 206 Pb/ 238 U (and 207 Pb/ 235 U) values. The external reproducibility for the Pb/U values are relatively constant for the Tl-doped analyses, whereas those for the non-Tl runs are inversely correlated with the total absolute (Pb) count rates. The precision and accuracy of both analytical protocols were verified with the analysis of BR266 and 91500 zircon standards and zircons previously dated by ID-TIMS. The instrument configuration and Tl-doping protocol employed here are ideally suited for studies requiring the rapid analysis of a large number (n 4 50) of zircon grains.